Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 654: Laws and Domains

Chapter 654: Laws and Domains

Immediately after Vlad’s consciousness connected with the mysterious Soul Book, overwhelming waves of information and cosmic insights flooded his mind. Without hesitation, he delved deeply into the secrets of the Law of Space.

The Law of Space was among the most profound and powerful Laws in existence. Ever-present and fundamental, it governed the very structure, dimensions, and continuity of physical and metaphysical realities.

This Law dictated precisely where everything existed, how far apart things stood, and what separated them. It was not simply a matter of distances—it was the law that defined positional reality itself.

At a foundational level, the Law of Space interacted intimately with concepts of continuity and separation.

Space was the embodiment of "the between."

Every object or being, from vast celestial bodies down to quantum particles, existed separated by some degree of space. By mastering this Law, one could manipulate space itself—collapsing it to bring distant objects near instantly or stretching it to separate oneself from harm.

Vlad’s eyes widened with a profound sense of awe and fascination at this understanding. Just these two simple spatial concepts, collapsing and stretching, were incredibly powerful.

By extending distances, one could render oneself untouchable, endlessly beyond an enemy’s reach. Conversely, by collapsing distances, one could appear instantly before their opponent, catching them off-guard and delivering decisive, fatal blows.

Pushing his mental focus to its absolute limit, Vlad continued his exploration, immersing himself deeper into the endless ocean of knowledge the Soul Book offered.

At a more advanced level, Vlad discovered how the Law of Space dealt with the fundamental fabric of dimensions themselves—how they could be twisted, interconnected, or reshaped entirely. He learned that it was possible to bridge two distant points instantaneously, forming wormholes, or even fold expansive regions of space into tiny areas, compressing a vast fortress into a small, portable box.

When Vlad reached this realization, his eyes sharpened with intense curiosity. Eagerly, he dove even deeper into the most basic theoretical components of spatial manipulation, particularly fascinated by the concepts of spatial anchoring and coordinates, explained clearly within the Soul Book.

Every object in existence had spatial coordinates that defined its precise location within a given frame of reference. Through mastery of the Law of Space, these coordinates could be altered instantly, without traditional movement, resulting in instantaneous teleportation. Additionally, one could anchor a target firmly in space, effectively freezing their spatial coordinates and rendering them immobile.

After grasping these theoretical foundations firmly, Vlad eagerly turned the pages of the Soul Book further. A new section appeared before him, titled simply "Domains."

Domains, as described, were the specific manifestations or applied branches of a greater Law. Each Law was a fundamental metaphysical principle—a grand governing force of reality itself—while its Domains were practical interfaces through which cultivators could harness and manifest the Law’s power in tangible ways.

If the Law was considered an "element," then the Domain was its specialized "technique."

To cultivate a Law, one had to first deepen their comprehension and attunement to its essence. However, true power required the mastery and expression of its corresponding Domains.

Vlad couldn’t help but nod in agreement as he internalized this knowledge. Through his Voidborn Embodiment Cultivation Technique, he was continuously enhancing his understanding of the Law of Space. Yet only by mastering its Domains could he genuinely claim control over spatial forces.

The higher one’s comprehension of a Law, the greater their ability to cultivate and demonstrate the power of specific Domains. For example, a cultivator training the Domain of Teleportation might initially teleport only a few meters, yet as their comprehension improved, they could travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers instantly.

Mastering multiple Domains provided greater versatility and overall control of a Law. Yet Vlad quickly noticed a warning: if one’s attention was divided excessively between many Domains, it risked wasting valuable time and potential. It was always more beneficial to achieve excellence in a focused specialization than to remain merely average in multiple skills.

Vlad spent five additional days meticulously studying and absorbing every detail within the Soul Book. Only when he felt thoroughly satisfied with his comprehension did he finally set it aside.

"My theoretical foundation is finally solid enough," Vlad murmured confidently. "Now it’s time for practical application."

Without delay, Vlad focused all his attention back on the powerful Void Severance Technique. This particular technique was extraordinary both offensively and defensively.

With it, a cultivator could slice effortlessly through entire armies, simultaneously creating rifts in the very fabric of space, capable of sundering and obliterating anything unfortunate enough to encounter them.

The Soul Book clearly labeled its corresponding Domain as the "Sundering Domain," specializing in cutting, tearing, and fracturing spatial dimensions.

Vlad spent two focused days carefully practicing Void Severance. Soon, his eyes glowed with newfound clarity and enlightenment. Due to his potent combination of Demon Soul, Legendary Bloodline, and Sage Ability, Vlad’s progress was remarkably swift.

Although he was still far from fully mastering this profound technique, his current proficiency was more than sufficient to showcase its might on the battlefield. Vlad knew very well that practical battles would sharpen his technique far faster than continued isolated meditation.

Rising confidently from his meditation position with a wide, determined smile, Vlad exited his residence for the first time in weeks. While his heart burned with eagerness to test his newfound strength directly against powerful foes, he first went to the Marshal’s castle.

Unlike previous visits, there was nobody waiting for him, a detail which made perfect sense considering Vlad had spent nearly three weeks secluded inside his residence.

However, Marshal Maximo quickly learned of Vlad’s presence and promptly arrived at the castle entrance, his sharp eyes narrowing immediately as he assessed Vlad’s aura.

A subtle, meaningful gleam appeared within Maximo’s experienced gaze. He sensed something extraordinary radiating from Vlad—a presence that already contained traces of the profound Laws, intricately woven through both flesh and soul. The Marshal’s heart swelled with amazement and admiration as he inwardly acknowledged Vlad’s rapid progress.

"It’s barely been a month, yet I already sense the aura of Laws within his body. This boy is truly something else entirely."

Marshal Maximo quickly suppressed his astonishment, breaking into a warm, genuine smile as he greeted Vlad openly.

"Good to see you again, boy!" he announced in a clear, friendly voice.