“Sigh… The joke aside. Either Causality updated the route or…”Adamu quizzed the air, but no reply came in the form of a female voice. “Or it is automatically done through the Fate aspect.”

“Fate, huh?” Settling his thoughts on it, Adamu considered his approach. “I need time to embed the mental construct within my subconscious and unconscious mind. I also need time to figure out the details of the mental construct on top of the needed time to refine it to acceptable levels.” Nodding at the summery, he went on. “Meaning. To accomplish all that, I first need consistent resources because that will take more than a few days.”

“Mmm… I might have a workaround, but it won't be pleasant for my tastebuds.” Adamu scowled.

In the end, before he committed himself to eating raw rat/cat creatures and possibly drinking their blood, Adamu refused to accept the obvious when pointed out to him. Instead, he left the giant underground entrance to the ancient forest in search of a good place to bunker down without being sucked into any dark holes.

Once he found a decent hidden place between two giant trees and nested himself within a big bush to hide his visage even further. At the same time, he lowered the brightness for the Eternal Light attached to Sun Bearer and waited for Dawn to wash away the Illusion and restore normality.

However, what Adamu had missed was the obvious. And the obvious was that he had not slept for a long time because of the constant immediate needs that drove his actions.

Before even realized that he felt sleepy, Adamu fell asleep.

Truly, not even a whimper escaped from him from the depth of the resting phase he entered.

Therefore, all Adamu ever thought he'd do was close his eyes for one single second only to open them again and continue paying attention to everything his eyes and ears could process. However, the moment he did, dred manifested in his stomach as something squeezed the breath out of him. Worst of all, it came from all sides as if a boa constrictor had found him and bound him to swallow him in one whole piece.

The dread caused Adamu's body to flinch and wiggle even before his mind fully woke up to realize the situation going on. Thankfully, the more he wiggled, the more the bindings on his flesh tightened, and the more the dred sunk deeper, causing his mind to wake faster. As such, when the mind was awake, the golden eyes quickly glanced around to find the source of the dread.

However, what they found were bush branches tightening on his skin because something was forcing them to shrink their size.

Damn it… I fell asleep.

Urgently thinking, many thoughts came, but only a few delivered an answer.

Ultimately, before any of the flashier methods could be employed, Adamu focused on Sun Bearer, still gripped with his right hand. A moment later, the spear shaft activated the Protective Enchantment, and the sensations of dread lessened, but not entirely, as Adamu still had to get out of the bush before the bush shrunk to a fraction of its current size.

Phu… Good thing I chose a non-prickling bush. Adamu sighed with relief in his head. Then, when the relief passed, Adamu tried to smartly wiggle out, first by freeing the hands and legs. Only things did not go according to plan because he had to hold on to Sun Bearer to keep the Protective enchantment going.

Alright, brute force it is.

That determined Adamu focused on the Sun Bearer, and from the Energy Reserve Runic Pattern, he drew on Ina’s Glory, and just like when he Cast/Prayed for the Eternal Light now attached on top of Sun Beare, he drew the energy into the Channel Runic Pattern before pushing it out and right above the spear shaft.

Once there, Adamu began constructing a pattern for the energy to take. Additionally, Adamu was quite generous with the quantity used for the pattern since he would rather spend extra than fail at getting himself out.

“Oh, Light of the World, Hear this Mortal’s Plea and grant him the Power to cut himself Free, Sword of Light.”

With the chanting of the Spell/Miracle completed, the pattern energized and took the form of a glowing golden sword. Then, through Sun Bearer, Adamu commanded the sword to cut, and cut it did indeed because it went through the bush like a knife did through butter.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

The best part of the Spell/Miracle was the fact that it would not hurt him, the caster, because he and the implement through which manifested, exhibited the same vibrational field resonance. As such, the Sword of Light slashed at Adamu’s vine-like binding, only for it to pass through him.

Moments later, Adamu crawled away from the bush.

Once more free, Adamu gazed at the ancient giant forest around him and how slowly everything shrunk compared to how it had been yesterday. Which told of other implications, but right this very moment, Adamu couldn't care less.

Then, just as the normal forest returned, three cracks echoed in Adamu’s ears before a final shattering ensued causing Adamu to wince slightly but otherwise remain harmfree.

Finally free of all harm, Adamu sighed with relief and looked around.

Then, he dismissed the Sword of Light since it was an expensive Spell/Miracle to upkeep, unlike the Eternal Light conjured inside the ra/cat den.

Specifically, Adamu wanted to find the tunnel opening.

Obviously, he wouldn't find it, since it was hidden inside the earth, all while being protected by True Darkness through some Dimensional influence in the background if it could isolate the True Light usually occurring during Adamu’s Daily Prayers.

Either way, Adamu did find the relative location since he had paid attention to this possibility.

For a few moments, he even considered digging but ultimately left it alone. He had other things to worry about. Namely. Why Causailitie’s Compulsion had no flared considering the ample amount of daylight already streaming into the regular forest.

A hunch told him, and Adamu prodded the Compulsion cast on him.

“Huh, still pointing down.”

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Part experimenting and part seeking, Adamu climbed one big tree to understand his current position better and possibly his next destination, namely a river or stream to quench the thirst inside him.

Once he was up as high as he could, Adamu set his sight east, then west, then north, and lastly south. But no prominent signs reached his eyes, which made him click his tongue unhappily.

Still, Adamu took some time to note the general surroundings before climbing down and grabbing Sun Bearer with his right hand.

Waiting a few seconds for the acclimatization to occur between them, Adamu walked to a decently elevated platform some distance away. As such, there was plenty of daylight to enjoy or as in Adamus's case, utilize for his own benefit.

Once there, Adamu found a decent little hole and plugged Sun Bearer inside before finding a few stones to keep him upright. That done, Adamu focused on Sun Bearer before refocusing on the Hard Light Construct attached to its top. Once that occurred, Adamu flipped a certain switch, yet not an actual switch, inside it, and the Hard Light Construct switched from radiating luminance to swallowing it.

Instantly, the surroundings around Sun Bearer darkened somewhat.

“Good, it works.” Nodding, Adamu focused once again on the construct and increased the size of the absorption field, thereby sending the surroundings into an even darker environment.

“Good thing I went for the Eternal Light version. Now let us see if I can cheat even more.”

Focusing once more, Adamu drew on Ina’s Glory from the stuff and attached it to the Channeling Runic Pattern at the top of Sun Bearer. Then, that energy was channeled into the Hard Light Construct before its flow got inverted to not feed the construct but to feed from it.

Very slowly, of course.

Adamu had no desire for the energy construct to destabilize, thus causing him to have to make another. Still, unlike what Adamu imagined, it was as if the two were made for each other, with no hindrances to the inversion of the flow to recharge Sun Bearer.

“Must be because they were made from the same source.” Adamu noted before slowly adjusting the ratio of the reversed flow further because there was a limit to how much the Hard Light Construct could absorb of the True Light cast by the Sun. Additionally, a conversion process existed that had to be considered since the construct only absorbed True Light and not the other four Profound Laws found within Ina’s Glory.

“Will adjust it later again, but for now, this is fine.”

Done with Sun Bearer, Adamu found a nice little rock to place his soft bottom on and faced the incoming Dawn to Pray with gratitude to the Source of True Light in the blue sky.

Once accomplished, Adamu slowly went over everything that had ensued so far to him. Then he stood up, found a decent branch on the ground, and began writing on the soft earth.

The first line stated; Food, Water, Shelter.

The second line stated; Essence Awakening, Meditation, Mental Construst, Methadology.

The third line stated; Sun Bearer, Craft Spearhead.

The fourth line stated; Illusion, Den, Treasure?.

The fifth line stated; Causality, Time, Fate.

Food? Not a problem if I am right about the rat/cat being edible after being bathed with True Light.

Water? Worst case, I drink blood. Meanwhile, I should consider finishing that little Idol carving of Ina, though with Sun Bearer as the main component, since I don't want another epileptic shock, whatever caused it in the first place.

Shelter? Mmm… Worst case, I can consider spending time inside the Den, considering the time intensity required for its exploration.

Essence Awakening will have to wait until we've refined the methodology and embedded its final form into a mental construct through meditation. I've already figured out all the components, I think.

Therefore, it is all about the synchronicity between everything, though I loathe to use my Spirit as a simple container. That is like using a high-end Magical Staff as an ordinary club.

Should I consider implementing Magical Principles into the methodology then?

Anyway, where was I?... Ah… Sun Bearer and his spearhead?

Though I've started to use Sun Bearer more like a Stuff, the initial Runic Patterns on him were for a spear, So I should not stray from that. However, to make the spearhead fancy, strong, and especially complementing for Sun Bearer, I need a larger obsidian shard.

Sigh, since I can't search for one, I need to make my existing one grow.

Then, I need to refine the impurities.

Then, engrave it before finally combining it with Sun Bearer.

Yes, that is a good plan.

Now, I just need a safe casting zone, which should be possible with Sun Bearer, though a very small one.

Dont want to tempt anything to myself.

That leaves me with Illusion, den, and the possible treasure at the bottom. Pondering about them, Adamu centered his thoughts on the one thing guiding him to those depths. Ugh… Considering that Causality needs me for something in the future, I should be under her protection for the time being.

Therefore, whatever the treasure in the depths is, if it exists in the first place, it won't be out of the realm of possibility to gain.

Not when considering my future self having already done it. However, since he is me, and he's done it, he should not have done it blindly. Therefore, he should not have dived down without Awakening first, as that is what I plan on doing.

Alright, the logic is sound from my end.

Done contemplating his plans, Adamu began his search around the little elevated platform of earth.

The goal? A large stone on which to laser carve an Idol of Ina. As luck would have it, there was indeed one such stone, though it was covered by lots of earth, causing Adamu to spend hours clearing everything away.

However, by the time Noon arrived, it was largely done.

With the Noon Prayer behind him, Adamu examined the stone further, chose the best angle, and lightly painted the measurements before rushing for Sun Bearer. Then, Adamu dislodged the Hard Light Construct from Sun Bearer and left the construct there to continue gathering its reserves.

After that, Admau once again rushed to return to the stone.

In front of it, Adamu confirmed the increased Energy Reserve before nodding and concentrating on resonating his Spirit with Ina’s Glory stored within. Then Ina’s Glory was pulled to the Channeling Runic Pattern, and through it, out of it into the air to construct another pattern of exceptional complexity, that caused Adamu to sweat as his Spirit strained from the effort of maintaining the pattern before it being energized for self-sustainment.

That done, Adamu Casted/Prayed for the Spell/Miracle he needed.

“Oh, Light of the World, Hear this Mortal’s Plea and Grant him the Power to carve the stone before him into an Image worthy of your Grace, Ray of Light.”

Almost instantly, Adamu’s surroundings darkened from the amount of Light the Hard Light Construct swallowed to manifest into existence. Then, a Ray of Light descended from the sky through the foliage of the surrounding trees and landed directly on the construct, thus allowing it to form instantly.

When it did, the construct finally showed its true form, a lens.

Specifically speaking, a convex lens. A lens that gathers all Light reaching the lens from one side while concentrating said incoming Light into one single Ray of Light.

Once formed, Adamu, through Sun Bearer and Ina’s Glory, connected mentally to the lens and shared an image of what he needed and how to accomplish it

What followed was simple.

Bzzzt

Zzzzzttt

Brrrrzt

Buuuzt