One meter.

The difference between success and failure was decided the moment the Dao descended.

I fought for millimeters, then centimeters, then finally…

A single meter circle around me.

Each passing second I confirm my Dao, furthering my Law.

One meter turns into ten, then a hundred, then a thousand.

I understand now that a thousand meters is the limit.

A thousand meter sphere around, above, below, all is mine.

This is….

Absolute Domain.

Within this space, my will is Law.

Within this space, I set the rules.

I pause, before my words echo out across the barren world.

“None that desire harm, shall pass.”

The words spoken have a profound effect.

Every one of the things that passes the thousand meter mark vaporizes.

There are no ashes, the Flame is simply too much. Each creature is reduced to refined Chaos and fed to me.

It is a silent unending banquet of complete eeriness.

I can no longer tell time, because the sun doesn’t move in the sky, it simply sits there.

I think it might not even be a real sun.

The reason behind that thought is I still feel no energy emitting from it, like normal sunlight contains.

If I cannot find intelligent life, that is fine.

There is fuel.

There is fire.

Given enough time, this place will melt.

I hope that sentient creatures exist, because, if not, nothing else will either.

***T***

A woman so beautiful that a human mind could never encompass her form stares down at the kneeling servant from her throne.

“A what?” the Queen says stunned.

“A new creature from Outside has arrived, my Queen.” the kneeling servant says, sweating. Others have been drained to death for lesser offenses, and what he is claiming is practically a lie.

“There is nothing in the Wasteland. Every Lord and Lady know this to be true. Why would you state such an obvious lie?” the Queen asks. She is puzzled because before her, is one of her most loyal servants. He’s practically family, and family although treacherous, is not stupid.

“My beloved Queen, I swear this is the truth.”

Both servant and Queen stare at each other before shock flashes across her face.

No oath can be made without penalty falling on one who betrays it.

To swear such an oath before her is equivalent to committing instantaneous suicide if it were false.

“A creature is on the Wasteland, the home of the Outcasts…” the Queen stares off as a smile grows on her face, “Marvelous…let us visit them!”

Servant and Queen both rise as their forms shift blurring at once before the throne room is empty once more.