Conflicting Conquest

5; THE FIRST STEP

That evening...

Dom was sitting on the porch behind his small house, his frustrated looking eyes fixed on a familiar book.

"Hey. Dinner's ready." Pops said as he arrives and finds Dom engrossed in his research. "You still haven't figured it out?"

Dom sighs as he falls on his back and stares at the dark sky above, his mind replaying Anthony's riddle.

"I think he was just bullshitting you." Pops said as he sits beside Dom who punches him with a glare that makes him laugh. "It'll be okay. You'll figure it out." He picks up the book.

Dom sighs. "I hope so." He continues to stare at the sky while Pops flips through the book.

A brief quiet moment later, Pops eventually closes the book and looks at the cover. "Wait. Isn't this that book you keep sneaking out to read?"

"Yeah." Dom said and Pops drops it on his lap with an angry expression on his face as he raises his fist.

"If you stole this thing, I'll knock the fucking stuffing out-"

"Chill!" Dom shouted as he sits up with arms raised in defeat. "The bald guy felt bad because of what happened and gave it to me to cheer me up. I also get some other cool stuffs too. See?" Dom chuckled, showing off a strange toy that makes Pops sigh.

"You do know that bald guy has a name, right?" Dom raises his brows at Pops who holds a serious look before smiling. " Yeah, I don't know it either." Pops chuckled as he takes the toy which makes a strange sound once he accidentally pressed something. "I still can't believe you're okay after everything. I'm pretty sure I'd shit myself if I was in your shoes."

"Ew. Gross."

Pops laughs a little before giving Dom a proud smile. "You're strong, kid. Don't ever forget that." Dom grins at him... before slowly widening his eyes in realization. He suddenly rips the book from Pops laps and rapidly flips through it. "You figured it out?" Pops asked, now curious.

"I think so. Where is-Here!" Dom stops at a page and quickly reads it. Pops looks over and realizes that this page was about the Mage Emperor.

Once Dom was done, Dom drops the book and runs forward. He stops on the bare ground beyond the porch, kneels and holds up his right fist. He furrows his brows as he begins to focus his mana into his fist.

"What are you doing?" Pops asked as Dom continues to charge his mana, intensifying its output.

"Testing it out." Dom said before grunting as he punches the ground... which instantly crumbles, sending out several cracks through the ground with one even extending to the house wall while the entire home shakes for a brief moment.

"Fuck me." Pops mumbled in shock as Dom lifts his hand, revealing the small crater he made and looks at his knuckles which were unharmed compared to the crumbled concrete.

"Physical Enhancement. That's my affinity." Dom chuckled with pride and Pops takes the book to look at.

"You're right. Ethan Maximus was such a powerful mage with impossible achievements that people tend to forget that his only power was his unbeatable physical strength. It's why he was also called the Strongest Soldier. Why didn't I think of it?" Pops grumbled with a slap on his forehead and Dom stares at his fist with a suddenly concerned look.

"Thank God that I never got really angry and punched someone that hard before."

"Anyways, it seems you've already cleared the first step." Pops said and Dom nods with a grin.