Fate's Reversal: The Divines Return

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"I'm ready to enter again..." professed Kaiden as he walked before Zarzaxin. Acting accordingly, Zarzaxin raised his hands as a multicolored but predominantly pale large sphere came into existence around Kaiden.

'I need to interpret the Laws as emotions, but the question is...can I even invoke emotion without stimulus? No, I have to. I have no idea what could be at stake here.'

Exhaling, Kaiden used the pressure generated by the concentrated Sphere to begin trying to stimulate emotions. As with any endeavor, the first attempt was rough. However, as he continued down this path, the initial subtle movements became more pronounced until finally there was a small ripple throughout the sphere.

"As I thought, his comprehension is indeed monstrous…" muttered a shocked Zarzaxin looking at the changing sphere before him.

'What emotions do I attribute to these 8 Elements? I can't begin to understand the 9th one until I complete the basic ones. Let's begin with the easiest one. The one that I have grasped before. I know what I need to think about.'

Gritting his teeth, Kaiden's expression contorted into one drenched in fury. He thought back to the sneering expression of that insufferably arrogant person on the throne treating him as a minuscule existence.

'Under the influence of my Will, my emotions rage like fire. My mind burns with an undying wrath and because of this, I call upon you Fire Energy. I call out to you...present your Laws before me and receive my sustenance as a result.'

'It seems that my earlier thoughts weren't without purpose; instead, it seems they complement each other. With that being said, emotions are my link, however, the use of my Soul is the indispensable major factor.'

Expanding his Soul to the absolute limits, which in the Natural Law Sphere was surprisingly small; infinitesimal at best. The pressure of the Laws restricted his Soul to his body. However, that wasn't stopping him. Instead, this was what Zarzaxin hoped Kaiden would do.

"Correct, refine, and temper your Soul using the worldly pressure presented by this Sphere. This will serve to benefit your more than anything else in this world possibly could. Begin stepping down the forbidden path as well but unlike me, you need to succeed in stepping onto it," praised Zarzaxin as he nodded his head in approval.

The circumference of his soul was limited to 5 inches from his body at most. However, compared to the 50-meter circumference of this sphere it was simply trivial. Expanding it to that limit and contracting it to edges of skin, Kaiden's Soul started experiencing a burning sensation.

His body was stiffening as this pain was different from the ones he felt with Kairo and the others which resulted in bodily, Kaiden's Soul Temple was vibrating. This vibration was causing his head to drone. It grew in intensity as Kaiden's senses began to dull.

However, as they dulled the appearance of the Fire Law was becoming ever so slightly apparent. The notion of his body became a foreign concept as he lost all feeling in it. But that wasn't the end of it. As if separating, Kaiden's Soul began to feel free.

Opening his eyes, he realized he was staring at his own body. However, when he saw Zarzaxin's eyes he trembled. They were staring directly at him and not his body, smiling. At the same time, an ethereal form began leaving Zarzaxin's body as well hovering before him. 

"This is our soul form. I don't know if you have come in contact with one yet. But this is the part of us which comprehends the Laws the easiest. However, the duration of your stay in this form is determined by your attainments in the practices of Soul. I reckon you have at maximum of 4 minutes in this state currently. 

"I see that you're focusing on the Fire Law first. Ah, that is indeed a highly offensive one, go on; take a look at what needs to be seen," uttered Zarzaxin's soul form as it crossed its arms examining Kaiden.

"Mn! I will," nodded Kaiden as he momentarily reveled in this new feeling. It was a thrilling experience to learn new things.

"Oh, I must remind you, right now you aren't a physical existence so unlike before you don't need to expand your Soul. That is what you are. Now that you are in this state, treat it as if you're doing physical activity and grab the Laws. However, keep in mind, the sturdiness of the Law will result in a backlash, each try reduces the stability of your soul form. So this will definitely not be completed within one try, understood?"

"I understand," answered Kaiden as his eyes scoured the Natural Law Sphere. The previous tendrils now looked like chains of runes. They kept their original color pattern, but only the red Fire Law was shining brightly. Additionally, now that Kaiden was here in his soul form, he saw something extremely intriguing.  .

'These runes...deeper down the chain, the color deepens. I think that is the next level of the Laws. Wait, why does each rune of different shades have multiple shapes? What does it symbolize? It wouldn't hurt to see.'

Reaching his hand out, Kaiden tapped against his finger against the first of the pale red Fire Law runes. As he did so, his eyebrow rose. It felt as if his finger was burning unabatedly. Additionally, he realized the finger which touched the rune was thinning.

Pushing this to the back of his mind, Kaiden touched the other 3 runes of the same pale red color which made him ponder; in time, the perplexed look on his face vanished. 

'I understand now, the variations of the runes aren't different, it's quite the opposite. They depend on each other. This is the essence of the first level broken into pieces. As a whole, they would form the complete concept of the first level.'

Opening his eyes, Kaiden turned toward Zarzaxin, "Zarzaxin, is there a difference between a law and a concept?"

"Oh? You have already unearthed that information? I guessed you have touched a few runes. Well, let me first explain what those runes consist of. You must first understand that those runes at the base of the world as we know it. It isn't correct to call them runes as truthfully they have no shape. Based on set circumstances, the formation of the laws could be endless,

"They are comprised of intricate world structuring code, the same information which gives birth to Energy. They may flow, they may stagnate, they may coil, they may shatter; the options are endless but the outcome is one thing—Laws. Now, let's get into Laws and Concepts.

"I don't dare say I understand everything, but I understand enough. A Law is unchanging, it is the established directions of this World. They came to be known as Law as it became the orthodox mindset that we must follow them. Namely, the Elemental Laws, Time Law, Space Law, etc. You may comprehend them but in this world, they aren't likely to change on their own.

 "However, as we are beings of comprehension the broad view of Laws was broken down. This staggered state is known to be levels or in this case—Concepts. Hence, you can view Laws as the broad subject, while Concepts would be individual views. Based on your comprehension, your application of a Law which is a Concept could be entirely different from another person. But at the base of it all, it will still be a Law.

"So you're saying a Law is just a broad idea composed of multiple Concepts? So in the end, in order to understand Laws, we must learn Concepts?"

"Yes precisely, and once taken to the extreme you will reach the point where you understand what the law itself is. That is known as the Source Law which is the combination of every learned Concept and understanding the subtle connection. But that is beyond you and even I was unable to learn the Source Laws. But, besides that, continue. While here you need to grasp at least one Law, creating your Concept while here. 

"It is only right I point you down the right way of perceiving Laws like this," said Zarzaxin with a proud expression.

'This came at the perfect time. Just as I was denied access to the Forgotten Anomaly Realm, this practice falls in my ŀȧp.'

Turning his gaze back on the shining pale red chain of obscure runes, Kaiden reached out tugging them. With each pull, the opacity of his soul decreased. His strength was withering, however, the determined expression didn't fade in the slightest.

'Break! Break! BREAK!'

As he pulled forcefully, the chains became taut as the connections trembled from the abrupt change in state. Yanking like a madman, right before he faded completely, the chain broke. Falling back to his physical body, Kaiden dragged the pale red rune chain segment with him.

'Mm, seems my prior worries were indeed unwarranted. His unyielding tenacity is stronger than I thought, He succeeded on his try due to him successively increasing the force. Most would wince and retreat from the pain it caused,' inwardly mused Zarzaxin.

"You have the Law, now understand your Concept and you will be finished here. There is nothing else I need to teach you."

Regaining control of his bated breaths, Kaiden lifted his gaze to Zarzaxin as he nodded. This first out of body soul experience left him slightly disgruntled. It was taking a moment to readjust.