The Glorious Evolution

From their reactions, it was clear that a False Dominion was Ash’Kral’s own creation... Levi was the first to question him about it.

”Ash... are you making shit up?”

Levi knitted his brows, swiftly joining their table in the Spiritual Leywell... even the Omnithar Genie attended, projecting a spiritual Astral from within the Lantern.

”Hold your horses...” Ash’Kral waved his hands carelessly. ”It’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it.”

”I beg to differ... if it has Dominion in the name, then it is, very much, a big deal.”

Levi had no plans to let Ash’Kral downplay this matter... especially when the bastard had been sitting on such information all this time.

Seeing everyone’s interest, Ash’Kral knew that they would hound him for the truth for as long as he lived.

”Whatever, don’t blame me for getting your hopes up.”

Ash’Kral shrugged and drew a circle in the air with one claw... then he went on to explain that Real Dominions were projections.

The owner picked the Laws through his evolutionary path, the Tree granted the Authority, and the Rift of Binding Laws obeyed them.

”And?”

Levi already knew as much.

”A False Dominion isn’t built from Laws... it’s built from Aspects.” Ash’Kral drew a second circle, much smaller, inside the first. ”Aspects are mere branches of Primal Laws with extremely limited Authority... hence, they can’t be used as a projection of a ’Law.’ The Rift of Binding Laws doesn’t accept such calls.”

The Titan and the Omnithar Genie understood him immediately, while Levi still needed some time to process it... Still, he connected the dots and figured it out eventually.

”So... a False Dominion born from Aspects cannot actively bring anyone inside the Rift of Binding Laws... but it’s fair game if someone else brings me in?”

Levi’s heart skipped a beat.

”Precisely... it needs someone else’s,” Ash’Kral smirked. ”You cannot cast it first... but the moment an enemy seals you inside his own Dominion, he has handed you access to cast it.”

”...It’s a parasite.” The Titan soon frowned. ”As much as the concept seems quite intriguing, what’s the point? A man-made Dominion crafted from Aspects can never beat a Dominion born from Laws.”

Levi’s emerging smile froze instantly... he wanted dearly for the False Dominion to be the solution to his current pacing problem, but his mind had completely glossed over the most important part of Dominion Battles.

The Authority of Laws.

The Dominion with the greater Authority or better counter provided more advantages to its owner... just like the Dominion Battle between Lord Idriss and Grave’Maw.

Lord Idriss’s Dominion of the Crimson Forge was born from his immense effort to create a Dominion capable of countering Grave’Maw’s Petrification Laws.

”I told you not to get your hopes up,” Ash’Kral added lazily. ”Aspects sit beneath Laws and always will... that’s just how the Universe works.”

”Then what’s the point?” Levi sighed. ”Get me killed in style?”

Only now did he understand why Ash’Kral had kept such a technique from him... it was utterly useless, or so he thought.

”Boy, you seem to be mistaken about something...” Ash’Kral chuckled. ”The purpose of a False Dominion was never to help you win, even if it gave you a slight chance... It’s to make everyone rethink their decision to challenge you to a Dominion Battle or delay it for as long as possible.”

Levi, the Titan, and the Omnithar Genie faced each other speechlessly... Uncaring about their reactions, Ash’Kral continued with a faint snicker.

”Never forget... you’re a Half-Radian, Half-Oblivar. Who in their right mind would challenge you to a Dominion Battle from the start, knowing that the Laws of Sun and Void possess some of the most dreaded Authority there is?”

”It’s a death sentence... don’t you think?”

Levi held his chin silently... deep down, he wanted to smack Ash’Kral for getting his hopes up over an actual Dominion creation technique, but it was his own fault for dreaming up fantasies.

Still, Ash’Kral’s False Dominion bluffing technique wasn’t utterly useless.

Sure, the risk was still there, as the Rifters could get desperate enough to use their Dominions... but at least no one would dare challenge him straight away or think of him as an easy target.

This was all Levi needed, since his powers, techniques, and such gave him a high chance of defeating any Solarbound ranker outside their Dominions... in addition to protecting himself from getting linked spiritually and physically, since the challenge required direct or spiritual touch to officiate.

”Well, sometimes, the illusion of strength is enough of a deterrent.” The Titan leaned back in his chair, sharing a piece of advice. ”If you’re going for this, then you must establish the illusion before setting foot in the Ring.”

Levi nodded in agreement... if he was going to bluff, then he’d better make sure that his bluff would make anyone choose to push their bodies to the limit rather than challenge him to a Dominion Battle.

”Let’s learn the technique first.”

Levi smirked, already having many ideas to turn his False Dominion into a reality.

***

Two Days Later...

Inside a mesmerizing, peaceful garden with silver grass and flowering trees whose petals drifted against gravity, Levi stepped off the walkway.

He adjusted his mask, a rectangular piece of paper with three black ink stars scrawled across it, the third trailing off halfway through as if he had gotten bored near the end.

Though... it kinda worked, as no one could see Levi’s face regardless of their strength or Authority.

”...Is that you? Celestial? Did you draw such a mask yourself?”

The Dealer chuckled at Levi’s appearance while sitting at a table under one of the trees, shuffling a deck without looking at his hands.

Madam Future was next to him, sitting with her arms resting on her knees, unmoving, akin to a robot.

”Yes... Problem?” Levi said casually as he joined them.

”No... It’s magnificent.” The Dealer nodded in approval.

”Madam Future... I hope I am not being a nuisance with this request.”

Levi ignored the jokester and turned to Madam Future, his voice respectful and polite.

Madam Future shared a small smile and poured him a cup of tea.

”You’re a savior... another minute with him, and I would have sought a future where I was dead.”

She said it in such a mundane tone that it was difficult to tell whether she was joking or not.

The Dealer merely chuckled, unbothered. ”I know she likes me.”

”Not in a million years.”

Madam Future refused to even entertain it as a joke.

Seeing the two bickering like this, Levi swiftly brought up the main subject at hand before something happened and he somehow got blamed for bringing them together.

He summoned the Wheel of Fortune and Madness... then allowed them to inspect it.

The Dealer and Madam Future appeared quite intrigued by the rewards... especially the SS-Recovery Totem. They knew that if Levi landed on it, he would earn a couple of millions, if not more, depending on how he sold it.

These kinds of totems were filthy rich in lifeforce, and with the recovery effect included, many wealthy entities wouldn’t hesitate to buy one to increase their longevity.

However, the six trap sections reeled in some of their excitement.

”Well... six traps aren’t a laughing matter, but I would do the same.” The Dealer approved. ”It’s madness not to take such a risk.”

Madam Future nodded in agreement... in their eyes, only those daring enough to take risks would be blessed with higher Evolutions.

After all, no one made it to the Glorious Evolution by playing it safe.

”Let me do a reading real quick.”

The Dealer shuffled the Tarot deck a couple of times, using different techniques. Then, he fired five cards onto the table, one beneath the other in a straight line.

Then, he flipped the first card...