The Urban Dao Child

The Dao Child was fighting with the void monstrosities as he advanced in the void slowly but steadily. His pace had not slowed down ever since he had taken out his sword. As he fought the source energies inside him began to reach an optimal balance.

Some things could not be achieved until you work for them. The equilibrium of elemental energies inside his body was a similar thing. He did not say much but focused on dodging and countering the attacks of the void monsters.

The number of the lower-level monsters was reducing as he kept on fighting. Yang Dao was aware of this, eventually, a glare-level monster will creep up in his blindspot but he would deal with it in calm. Just when his body was getting tired, Atsuji Kurogame did something.

The old man pointed his finger at the young man and made the space around Yang Dao freeze. He walked over to the young man and asked, "Do you wish to rest?"

Yang Dao nodded, he said, "I do not wish to rest, however, I cannot flow forward without getting tired. By now, it has been a few hours since I have started to kill these monsters. I have sufficient energy in my body, yet I am overwhelmed by this sense of exhaustion. I wonder why is that?"

Atsuji Kurogame sighed and said, "The Void is a place with no laws, and no elements. This place is under the Dao but still not within it. So, you will gradually feel tired even if you have sufficient energy in your body."

Yang Dao nodded and said, "Pressure of the Void?"

The old man nodded and said, "Correct. You can only overcome it by covering yourself with a layer of laws."

The Dao child learned something, slowly his law essence began to cover his body like an invisible cloak. Gradually he felt his exhaustion vanish as well. He asked, "Are you also using the same thing?"

Atsuji Kurogame smiled as he shook his head. He said, "I and the other three have originated from the great Dao. The void is not strong enough to aim at us. However, you are the Dao Child. You have not yet grown strong enough to take on the void."

Yang Dao finally came to understand why the Void monsters did not attack the familiars. As his body regained the usual Vigor the boy moved forward to strike the monsters again. Atsuji Kurogame slowly walked behind him. The performance of the boy had increased a lot as soon as he covered himself with the law essence.

The two people were invincible. As Yang Dao slew a void monster with his sword, he suddenly looked in a direction. The rest of the void monsters rushed at him. Yang Dao did not bother to spare effort to deal with these guys anymore.

A crown appeared over his head. The reflected radiance slew all the void monsters. Expect the one that has been staring at Yang Dao. Atsuji Kurogame spoke in a calm manner, "Snare. The third-level monster of the void. It takes a bit more than just source energy radiance to break them. Also, this guy can use the space wrapping sort of skill. So be careful."

Yang Dao nodded, with his gaze locked at the snare. He found that the shape of this monster was similar to that of a human being. It looked like a shadow of a human. Unlike the weaker one, Glare, this thing had a mouth as well.

The young man wielded his sword as he sensed something behind him. He slashed the sword with no hesitation. His reaction was fast enough to make the sword block the incoming attack at him. Unlike the other void monsters, the sword seemed to have met a condensed object. this thing was not a shadow in the void but the void itself.

Yang Dao infused his sword with a trace of all the laws he had learned this now and took the initiative to attack. He was very careful to not let the Snare touch him. The opponent was also fighting with a sword made up of darkness. The Dao child was surprised but not scared. The growth spurt he was going through while fighting with the snare was sharpening his edges.

He did not back down and continued to fight the snare. Suddenly, his sword landed on what should have been the hand of the snare. The monster, let out a shrill scream. Yang Dao backed of and Atsuji Kurogame said, "That is how you deal with a snare. Just like how the void is pressuring us. You pressure them."

Yang Dao understood his meaning and slashed at the head of the snare. The battle, he may have won, but he was aware to keep moving forward and stay ready to welcome the next battle. As the snare vanished after a shrill scream. Atsuji Kurogame said, "Now, we leave."

He appeared next to Yang Dao and placed a hand over his shoulder. The next moment the two people vanished.

...

The next time Yang Dao opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the center of a decorative pattern. The area of the pattern was too big for his eyes to discern. The circle was made of golden lines making some intriguing patterns all around him. He did not see anything else, but a boundless starry sky spread over his head. He heard an old voice in his ears, "Brat, what do you think of my realm?"

Yang Dao was surprised but he recognized the voice, it belonged to Atsuji Kurogame. He asked, "Eldest, where are you?"

"Below you. The place you are standing on is the summit of my shell." replied the voice.

Yang Dao was surprised by this sudden announcement of the shell peak. He asked after gulping down a mouthful of saliva, "Elder, I do not see any gateway to the sacred realm."

He sensed the 'ground' beneath his feet as a chuckle echoed in the whole place. The old voice sounded again, "You seem to have a misunderstanding. My shell is the sacred realm."

Yang Dao was almost face-planted on the spot he stood. He asked in disbelieve, "Are you kidding me, elder?"

The voice sounded again, "Yes, do you think this is a joking matter? The place you stand on is called the wheel of samsara. You have passed the trial on Titania. Now you must learn what time is. This wheel will show you some things that can consume your life and consciousness. I only have one tip for you. Time is the consciousness of the universe. It records all without missing anything."

The absurd phrase called TIP was bestowed and now Yang Dao had to see what it meant. As he gazed at the circle around him, he found it as if the circle was slowly spinning. Soon, Yang Dao fell into a state where he had no recollection of his body and he seemed to be living a different life.

A sigh rang out with a word, "Remember yourself."