Days passed. Oath's routine remained the same. Following Maxwell's suggestion, Oath began training himself to harness the energy from the spiral triangle symbol.
Fortunately, they were near a desert area with snow-capped hills. Warning signs were everywhere, some with skull icons and bold messages that read: "Climate change is real and dangerous!"
Oath stood before the vast desert, facing a large rock mountain with an equally massive hole.
"That's your fiftieth time. Aren't you tired?"
Oath was panting, but he replied, "The only thing that tires me is getting blasted backward every time I fire off this much energy."
"How strange. It seems like you can fire that energy anytime you want."
"It's like a weapon of mass destruction. I won't use it unless I absolutely have to."
"Fair enough. Then it's better you train something else."
"Isn't this enough? I need to find a way to fly up there and kill those savage gods."
"No. Trust me, Oath. You'll need more than that."
"Like what?"
Maxwell paused for a moment.
"Learn to code."
"You're joking."
"I'm not. Up there, everything is run by systems. Do you really think humans are in control? The government on your ship is outdated. Up there, everything is governed by programmed systems. You won't survive if you don't have this skill."
Oath wanted to ask how Maxwell knew all of this. But instead, the question he asked was:
"What's the worst they could do?"
"Hit you with magnetic waves, affect your brain, and drive you insane. That circle is prepared for anything, Oath. Even if aliens were to arrive."
Oath sighed.
"All right. What do I need to do?"
"Follow me," Maxwell said, showing the way.
After lunch, Oath sat on the sofa in Maxwell's now-repaired house. He spent hours reading both digital and physical books.
"I'm getting sleepy. Can I stop? This feels useless."
"No, Oath. You have to learn."
"I need to move. Can't we just practice instead?"
Maxwell paused. "Fine, let's try."
Fifteen minutes later, a pile of metal parts, circuits, and glowing blue chips lay before Oath.
"Assemble this into something useful."
"That's it? Easy."
As soon as Oath touched the metal, something unexpected happened.
"The matrixes are back."
He jerked backward, holding his eyes.
"Oath! Oath! Focus!"
"What is this really?"
This time he only groaned for ten seconds.
Oath blinked his eyes.
"Oath! Are you okay?"
He looked around.
"So that's how it is…" Oath suddenly stood up and opened one of Maxwell's old books again. There was a sketch of a robot inside.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. It felt like a sudden inspiration."
Oath placed his hand over the scattered components.
"What are you going to do?"
"Build a robot."
The metal and components began to move on their own, vibrating with energy. Molecules discharged from Oath's palm, glowing with that strange symbol.
Oath closed his eyes and focused.
The pieces before him began to fuse, connecting seamlessly. They moved on their own, without being physically touched.
"By Nikola Tesla," Maxwell exclaimed in awe.
Oath shaped the parts into something recognizable.
"Is it finished?"
Oath opened his eyes. "Yes," he lifted the newly built robot.
"I'll call it Raven."
A robot shaped like an iron crow had been formed—but it hadn't activated yet.
"So what now? You're not just making a decoration, right?"
"No. But… I'm not sure. How do I turn it on?"
The Orb of Old Manifesto is activated.
Logos Skill has activated: Akasha Breathing.
With a touch, the bird's eyes lit up.
"What just happened?"
"I don't know," Oath said, staring at the metallic bird.
Oddly, the bird tilted its head too.
"What level is this thing?"
"I honestly don't know. I just made it on instinct."
"All right, let's try doing something with this bird."
Oath stepped outside the house. Looking up, he realized how late it was. Night had fallen.
"Fly…?" Oath tossed the bird into the air, hoping it would soar.
But the bird floundered and crashed to the ground.
"This bird's useless," Maxwell remarked.
"Hey! We don't even know how to use it yet!" Oath snapped back.
Strangely, the bird looked irritated too.
"Oath, I think the bird is connected to you."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems your emotions affect the bird's behavior. Just now you were unsure when you told it to fly. Try now—command it with confidence."
"Will that really work?"
"Try it."
"Okay," Oath stepped forward and lifted the bird again.
"Fly!" he said firmly, tossing it into the night sky.
The bird soared high and fast.
"Whoa! Incredible!"
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting that."
Raven flew through the starry sky, pierced the night clouds, and returned.
Oath extended his hand so it could perch. But the bird chose to land on Oath's head instead and scratched his scalp with its talons.
"What's on your mind?"
"My head's itchy. Maybe that's why it perched there."
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