harleyscars Chapter 10: Project Dome
Chapter 10: Project Dome
"Big brother, what exactly is this 'domain' you mentioned before? I want to learn, can you teach me?"
On the fighter jet returning to Hongning base city, Thor could no longer suppress the restlessness in his heart.
What impacted him most during this trip to Kirishima was not the tenacious Demon Cloud Vine, nor Hong's almost eerie familiarity with Kirishima, but the overwhelming power of domination that Hong displayed when he finally unleashed his domain.
In that domain, he felt that his proud lightning power was suppressed, as if even the rules of heaven and earth were tilting in favor of Hong.
Hong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm.
Looking at Thor's face, which was filled with curiosity and resentment, he didn't keep him in suspense and said directly:
"Domains are neither techniques nor secret arts; they cannot be taught."
"Huh? You can't teach me?"
Thor was stunned and almost jumped up from his seat.
"You told me before that my physical abilities were strong, but my mental focus wasn't refined enough. Didn't that mean I had a chance? Why can't you lecture me now?"
He scratched his head, looking puzzled.
Hong smiled as he looked at his anxious expression.
"I didn't say you couldn't learn it. I meant that this can't be taught step by step. Everyone's domain is unique. It is a manifestation of their own will, spirit, and energy interfering with the real world after a perfect combination."
He paused, then explained:
"You control lightning by drawing upon the lightning elements of heaven and earth through your genetic energy. This is merely borrowing. A domain, on the other hand, is the forceful creation of your own rules within a space. Within these rules, you are a god, and your will is the law."
"To create...our own rules?"
Thor murmured the words over and over, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes for the first time, and the electricity around him subsided considerably.
Hong patiently explained:
"That's right. For example, the core of my domain is the cutting and penetration techniques in the Light Manual. In my domain, I can imbue the resistance of the wind, the density of the air, and even space itself with the properties of cutting. That's why you feel a stinging sensation on your skin and your genetic energy is sluggish, because you are being rejected and broken down by my rules."
"You mean, I can also create a domain... entirely filled with lightning?"
Thor didn't quite understand, but he grasped the key point.
Hong gave an affirmative answer.
"You can understand it this way. Your path should be to elevate the power of lightning you control from borrowing to mastering it, and finally condense it into a lightning law that belongs only to you. When your will can make all the energy in a space submit to your lightning, your domain will naturally be formed."
After saying that, he took two items out of the inner pocket of his combat suit and handed them to Thor.
It was the same wooden crystal, crystal clear, with rice-grain-like white suspended matter inside.
The other item was a peculiar crystal, about the size of a fist, deep purple in color, with tiny electric snakes crackling across its surface.
"This is……"
The moment Thor saw the purple crystal, he felt his lightning powers surge, as if he had encountered some great tonic.
"This Wood Crystal can greatly enhance your physical fitness and spiritual level."
Hong tossed the wooden crystal to Thor, then pointed to the purple crystal.
"This is something I found in the ruins of another ancient civilization years ago. I call it the Heart of Thunder Source. It doesn't contain much energy itself, but it is inscribed with the rudiments of pure lightning laws. If you cultivate with it, you will be able to more easily comprehend the essence of lightning. This will be beneficial for you to condense your own lightning domain."
Thor hurriedly took the two items, completely bewildered.
He could sense that either of these items would be enough to make planetary-level powerhouses around the world fight tooth and nail for them. Especially the Thunder Source Heart, which was practically priceless to him.
But Hong gave it to him so easily.
Thor opened his mouth, looking into Hong's calm eyes. The arrogance that had always secretly competed with Hong vanished completely at that moment. For the first time, he felt a surge of emotion from the bottom of his heart.
He took a deep breath, didn't say much thanks, solemnly put away the two treasures, and then nodded vigorously to Hong.
"Big brother, from now on, if you point east, I, Thor, will never go west. I'll brave mountains of knives and seas of fire, just say the word."
Hong smiled at his serious expression, reached out and patted him on the shoulder, his tone becoming more casual:
"Alright, we're brothers, let's not get so mushy. If we want to protect this planet, I can't do it alone. Your strength is crucial."
"Protecting the planet?"
Thor was stunned for a moment.
"Brother, what do you mean?"
The fighter jet landed smoothly in the underground hangar of Hongning Air Base City.
Hong led Thor directly to the secret conference room located on the top floor of the global headquarters.
Hong stood in front of the giant holographic projection without turning around and asked a question that left Thor completely baffled.
Have you ever wondered what lies in the sky above us?
"The sky? Isn't that just the universe, stars, and the moon? We've launched satellites before."
Thor answered instinctively.
No, that's not what I meant.
Hong shook his head, then stretched out his finger and gently tapped it in the air.
A vast and boundless star map unfolded instantly in the center of the conference room. Countless points of light twinkled within it, forming enormous galaxies.
Hong's voice became low and serious.
"My question is, in this endless universe, are we humans the only intelligent life form?"
"How could that be? The universe is so vast, there must be aliens. But what does that have to do with us? They're probably far away."
Thor curled his lip and said dismissively.
"Far?"
Hong turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"What if I told you that the Light Manual I obtained came from an alien force called Meteorite Star? What if I told you that even a force like Meteorite Star, which once gave birth to immortal beings, was destroyed in a more brutal cosmic struggle? What if I further told you that the planet we stand on is merely a barbaric land in the universe, with its coordinates exposed and undefended, not even worthy of being called a beginner's village?"
Hong's three questions were like heavy hammer blows, striking Thor's heart hard.
Thor's face turned deathly pale in an instant. His status on Earth seemed so laughable and so insignificant in the face of the grand and cruel cosmic picture that Hong had painted.
"Big brother... what... is what you're saying true?"
His voice was somewhat hoarse, and for the first time he felt a fear that came from the depths of his soul.
"Absolutely true."
Hong's expression was extremely solemn.
"Planetary-level beings, in the vast universe, wouldn't even be qualified to step out of their own homes. Even the most ordinary interstellar adventurer might possess the power to easily destroy our entire Earth civilization."
A deathly silence fell over the conference room, broken only by Thor's heavy breathing.
After a long while, Thor finally processed this revolutionary information. He raised his head, clenched his fists, and the fear in his eyes was gradually replaced by a fervent fighting spirit.
"So what should we do? We can't just sit here and wait to die, can we? Brother, tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Hong looked at his rekindled fighting spirit and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes.
He stretched out his finger and drew it through the air again.
The vast star map vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely complex three-dimensional structure covering the entire Earth. Countless energy lines and nodes crisscrossed Earth's synchronous orbit, eventually converging into menacing cannon muzzles aimed at the dark depths of space.
Hong's voice was cold and resolute.
"This is a plan I've been developing for a long time."
"We humans are the strong, the spears that pierce the enemy. But spears alone are not enough; we must also forge a strong shield to protect our home. I name this plan—Light of the Dome."
"The Light of the Dome?"
Thor stared at the blueprint before him, a blueprint brimming with sci-fi and violent aesthetics, and felt a chill run down his spine.
"Yes. We must leverage the entire global resources and integrate all the ancient civilization relics and technologies we currently possess to establish a global network of super-giant electromagnetic railguns in geosynchronous orbit. Its sole objective is to threaten beings at or above the star level when necessary."
Hong slowly raised his hand, his index finger striking the core of the blueprint with great force, as the image of the cosmic behemoth that would soon bring annihilation to Earth from the original story surfaced in his mind.
"I will focus most of my energy on cultivating the strongest human beings and dealing with the threat of the Beast King within the Earth. The Dome of Light project requires the integration of global industry, technology and resources. It is a massive project and requires a decisive, prestigious and powerful figure to take overall charge."
He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on the utterly shocked Thor, and said, word by word:
"I'm entrusting this task to you. I need you to ensure that this light shines over our skies as quickly as possible. Can you do it?"
Looking into Hong's eyes, filled with such profound trust and expectation, Thor felt his blood boil. All his previous confusion and fear transformed into boundless motivation.
He suddenly straightened his chest, gave Hong a standard military salute, and roared.
"Alright. Big brother, leave this to me. If I mess it up, I'll twist my head off and let you kick it around like a ball."