"Have you perhaps ever heard the term, 'Worldly Force?'"
Obviously, Ezekiel didn't.
The concept of Worldly Force wasn't well known at all. Since this world was one that was ruled by Law, other forms of energy were relatively ignored.
After all, even if they were studied, they couldn't be used to the efficiency of laws, so their study was never invested in.
Damien wasn't like the rest of the world, particularly in the way he had made contact with several different types of energy over the course of his life.
"Worldly Force" was something he was especially familiar with, since it was similar to a concept he used often as a Star Master in the lower universe.
Ezekiel had a confused expression on his face, as if he had no idea what was happening at all.
It was expected, so Damien went into an explanation of what exactly "Worldly Force" was.
"It could be said that Laws are the foundation of the world, and that is a correct statement. Laws are indeed the creators and upholders of reality. However, they are not the only source of energy in the universe."
"For instance, mana is not created by law, or as a product of law. Mana is a natural energy of the universe that exists simply because the universe exists."
"Worldly Force is the same."
Damien waved his hand through the air. A strange energy followed his movements, something clear enough for Ezekiel to sense, but too vague for him to understand.
"Worldly Force is quite literally the vitality of the world. It is the energy of the world itself, rather than an energy that forms its structure. Sure, you could say it's a product of Law, but just like mana, as long as reality exists, as will Worldly Force."
"You know about the Heavenly Order, don't you?"
Ezekiel nodded. The Heavenly Order was something he only recently became familiar with, as the talents who excelled in the army were given the chance to watch people undergo Baptisms.
Until then, Ezekiel had no idea what the concept was. Straea didn't have any desire to inform its younger generation about the dangers and opportunities ahead.
Rather than giving them a rope, Straea would push them down the cliff just to see if they would survive.
Nevertheless, Ezekiel knew what the Heavenly Order was to an extent.
"It is the governing entity of the world. Isn't it like…a combination of all the laws or something?"
Damien shook his head.
"You're partially right and partially wrong. The first part is correct. The Heavenly Order does govern the world. However, it is not a combination of laws. Rather, it is an entity above all laws, something like a natural version of the system."
"Natural version?"
"Don't worry about it."
Damien smiled wryly internally. The secrets behind the system were a whole different matter that even he only had an inkling about. Someone with a worldview as narrow as Ezekiel's wouldn't be able to understand it.
"Anyway, the Heavenly Order is above laws. It has the power to govern laws purely due to its existence. And the force it uses to govern Baptisms and Rebirths…?"
"Worldly Force."
Damien nodded.
"That's right. At its peak, Worldly Force can surpass and control laws. That is why it cannot be called a product of their existence."
"Young Lord, are you saying that I have a talent for Worldly Force?"
Without even noticing it, Ezekiel had already accepted Damien as his Lord in his heart. This explanation that opened up a whole new world for him…it was more than enough to earn his respect.
However…
"Talent would be an overstatement."
Damien said it bluntly.
"There is no such thing as talent when it comes to using Worldly Force. However, you have the potential to comprehend it, which means as long as you put your heart and soul into your training, you have the chance to become a true master."
"And when you reach that point…"
Damien snapped his fingers.
The small meeting room grew, morphing into a massive pagoda. The view from the outside changed until Ezekiel could gaze over the entire military city without straining his eyes.
Worldly Force filled the air and changed the climate entirely.
The small meeting room grew, morphing into a massive pagoda. The view from the outside changed until Ezekiel could gaze over the entire military city without straining his eyes.
RUMBLE!
Dark clouds swirled through the sky, thundering with arcs of powerful black lightning, and the air itself heated up until Ezekiel felt his skin was boiling.
"With Worldly Force, power like this is nothing," Damien said, smiling mysteriously.
"With Worldly Force…"
BOOOOOM!
The thunderclouds exploded, turning into a sea of water floating in the sky, and then transforming again into solid ground, a fiery volcanic region that somehow managed to keep itself suspended despite its weight.
"...you can change the world itself."
Damien brought his arm down.
"NO!"
Ezekiel shouted.
It was too late.
The floating volcanic island slammed down into the ground below, sending blazing magma flying everywhere and crushing the entirety of the military city.
Ezekiel fell to his knees, unable to comprehend what he'd just witnessed.
"Young Lord…you…you just…"
His eyes shook in terror.
But Damien merely continued smiling.
"Relax."
He snapped his fingers again, and everything returned to normal.
The room returned to its usual mundane appearance at ground level, the military city returned as if nothing had ever happened, and the entirety of the destruction caused a moment prior was reverted.
Outside the room, Ezekiel sensed the same people he'd grown familiar with living out their days.
They hadn't been obliterated…?
Ezekiel's mind was thoroughly blown.
"Young…Young Lord…" he said, stammering as he tried to regain his calm.
"If I learn Worldly Force…can I do that too?"
"Hmm…"
Damien shook his head.
"If you want to drop a volcano on someone, you can probably reach that level after some hard training. As for what came after…"
"Well, let's just say that I used some tricks."
Ezekiel nodded shakily.
"Huu…"
The power of Worldly Force was clearly presented to him.
A power that seemed like a mixture of many laws, but had the power to usurp their throne.
It was a power that could not only close the gap between Ezekiel and his peers, but a force that could allow him to stand at the top, to challenge the people he truly wanted to fight.
Moreover, he saw something greater than Worldly Force, greater than Law, greater than anything.
'A glimpse of the Young Lord's power…'
It was amazing.
There was a time when Ezekiel questioned the direction he chose. He wasn't sure if Void Palace was enough to help him achieve his ambitions.
Most of those doubts had faded during the time he spent with the army, but as of this moment, they were completely gone.
As of this moment, as he witnessed something improbable, Ezekiel started to truly consider himself a member of Void Palace.
He kneeled before Damien, his head bowed in submission.
"Young Lord, please teach me how to use Wordly Force."
Damien smiled, nodding his head.
"That was my plan from the start."
Damien didn't know it yet, nor did Ezekiel, but this was the start of a tale that would be told for millennia.
A story that told of the rise of the Absolute's most loyal sword.
