Looking at the rapidly shrinking Dome, both Lin and Max were helpless and astounded. It was already half the size it was before, and Max had no idea how.
Max: What do WE do now???!
Lin: Why are you asking me?? Do you wanna fight the Dome???
Max picked up the Transponder, wanting to warn the people inside to run out, because he feared they would be crushed.
Max: Hershel get everyone out fast!! The Dome is shrinking, and you will be crushed!!!
There was a pause from the other side, which was a norm sometimes from Hershel. But finally they got a reply, but the voice belonged to someone else: Albert.
Albert: I'm sorry to say this, Max! But we are all, all right. It's shaking yes, but nothing is shrinking here.
Max and Lin stood for two seconds unable to comprehend it.
Max: Then...everyone else inside are shrinking along with it...??
Max feared they all will be stuck in their lilliputian size forever. But Max had to confirm something too. So he started running towards the shrinking Dome.
Lin: MAX?? What are you up to.?
Lin was nervous looking at the ever reckless Max running straight to his probable doom. Lin tried moving to him, but stopped halfway as Max jumped to the tinier entrance and shrunk. Max was sucked into the Dome.
Lin: Max....??
Lin waited for an answer, and since he didn't get one, he started walking towards the Dome. But suddenly, Max jumped out of the Dome and regained his size.
Max: Woah....
Lin: What the hell is happening...and-
As he was talking Lin realised that the Dome had stopped shrinking and was now about one/third of its' original size.
Lin: What the hell...??!
Max: Hmm.....I see...
Lin: Explain now.
Max looked at Lin and sighed. Max then put both his arms in his pocket and explained.
Max: Everything outside stays the same, while the inside shrinks. But when you jump into it, you also shrink to it's size and return to your original size when you exit the Dome....I believe.
Lin was astounded. Chuck and Melissa were listening in through the Transponder as they were beside Hershel and Albert in the main control room. Hershel had done in some good amount of repairs and there were computer screens switched on. There was also a front camera footage of them standing outside on the screen.
Chuck realised something. He turned to Hershel.
Chuck: Hershel!! Can you give me something to talk to Max??
Hershel took three seconds to process it and gave him another Transponder. Chuck took it in his hand and started running to the floor with the Library. While running he talked to Max.
Chuck: Max! It's me Chuck!! I think I know what happened here...
Max: Yeah...I think I do too...
Max nodded at Lin and jumped back in, shrinking himself. Lin breathed in and jumped into the entrance and slowly everything that was tiny around him started growing. Or rather, he was shrinking. He landed at the entrance and looked around to see a normal sized Dome. This was trippy for Lin.
Lin: Seriously...?
Chuck ran to his room and found the Eternal Tome emitting a Black Aura all around it. The smokey black liquid like essence flew into the Dome as if submerging itself.
Chuck: I knew it!!
Within half a minute, Max joined him, along with the rest, minus Hershel.
Max: So...it WAS that Tome!!
Chuck: Yeah...
They both looked at the book on the shelf. Max wanted to see if anything would change if he removed it from the shelf. He slowly moved it away, making Chuck scared. But nothing happened, and the black aura, still existing.
Max: Hmmm....great I guess...
Max slowly opened the Tome and looked at the page from which he cast the spell. Below it were instructions and guidelines of the spell he used. It was in some ancient language, but he could still understand it.
Max: The spell itself is gibberish so it has no meaning, but has power. Although the instructions below it are in a language that I can understand.
Melissa: What does it say...??
Max read it out for them, translating it into English in his head.
Max: "With this spell, the user can shrink the insides into a domain, but still stay the same size. Will be very helpful to store food and other important materials. Note: Only a Person with a Spatial Blessing can activate it!"
Chuck: What? Who here has a Spatial Blessing..??
Max: I don't know!! I don't think I have a Blessing!!
Melissa: My Blessing is a Blessing of the Strings!!
Melissa defended herself as they both looked at her. They didn't know who the person was, but it worked.
Max: Well...maybe it was just me.
Albert: Yeah...you might've gotten a Blessing when you became a God.
Max: Does that happen a lot?
Albert: I don't know. My master didn't have one. The only Blessing he possessed was wielding a Blessed Artifact- The Excalibur. But he did state that his previous incarnations might've had Blessings.
Max: Hmmmm....
Max pondered on it a bit, and everybody stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Max: Well....whatever!! As long as it works for us!!
Max laughed like an evil maniac, Chuck was dismissive of it.
Chuck: I think you need to think about this a lot more!!
Max ignored it. And before anybody could say anything, a certain robotic voice interrupted them, via the speakers.
Hershel: Alright folks!! It's ready! Prepare for flight!!
Max picked his Transponder and talked to the android, who was piloting it.
Max: Really??? We can go now???
Hershel: Positive, Mr. Max. We can leave for once, at your command!!! And the shrinking actually helped us a whole lit, as we will have less air turbulence going forward.
Max turned to Chuck, grinning, as if it were his plan all along.
Max: See....??
Chuck: Okay okay!! Fineeee!!
All five of them walked out of the library, this being the first time Albert and Lin had seen the bookshelves. They were pretty amazed by it, but all of them just left the room. Max led them to the balcony door, and opened it.
As he stepped outside, the other four followed him. The balcony was technically outside of the shrinking area and returned them all to normal size. It was a weird situation and almost impossible to comprehend, but the gang adjusted themselves for it. Max then switched on the Transponder.
Max: Anytime you are ready, Hershel!!
Hershel: Aye, aye, Cap'n!!
Max: Hey you are good at impressions too!!
Hershel: Why, thank you, Mr. Max!!
Max smiled and looked at his Troupe behind him.
Max: Set sail to the nearest Dome!! Paradox Troupe!! Roll out!!
Albert: How can we set sail when this ain't a boat??
Lin: I don't think he cares.
Which was right. Max just stood there happily smiling, as the entire Dome started shaking. It wasn't trembling enough for them to fall overboard, but enough to feel the vibrations under their feet.
There were opened panels outside the Dome, and it started emitting blue flames, as the Doke itself started flying slightly. Very slowly and patiently, it git away from the ground and reached a higher altitude. The wind grew strong as their hair started blowing and clothes started fluttering in the air.
Max stared right ahead. He was smiling as it felt like the beginning of a new adventure.
Max: Let's go!! Paradox Troupe!!
Max lifted both his arms and screamed on top of his voice. Lin just sighed, realizing that it would be useless to correct him on the notion that he wasn't part of the Troupe.
As if that being a command, the Dome started flying ahead instead of up, in full speed. Eventually it sped up insanely and was going at an amazing pace. The wind was strong, but Max didn't care. The others however wanted to go back in, as the air was thicker outside. The first one to quit was Chuck. Lin followed him, unable to care for adventure, and the next was Melissa. The last one was Albert, who before going in, turned to the overjoyed, anticipating Max.
Albert: Are you not coming...??
Max suddenly stiffened. He sensed someone strong. The Dome was nearing the Tower ahead, but they were still far away. Hershel was steering clear of the lightning from the dark clouds above the Tower. There was a dark city below the Tower, without a single hint of life.
The Tower itself was faraway, but Max could still see it with his blue eyes, and sense a strong presence from it.
As they passed the Tower, the door in the Tower opened and a big burly man came out of it. He was bald, but had a huge thick black beard and mustache. He had face paint, red in color. He wore little to no armour on his upper body, revealing an extremely muscular top, with tons of red war tattoos. He only wore forearm guards and carried a huge axe. Even his eyes looked threatening.
Max noticed him and his face went into rage. He just didn't like these "Gods" who preyed on the weak. At the same time, the big man, noticed the Dome flying away from him, realizing that a powerful presence is on board it. He could also sense the animosity coming from the Dome, but was unable to see anyone in it.
He immediately turned to his left to look at the forest and saw the golden eye, high in the sky. And he realised quickly, that a God was born. His eyebrows twitched and he frowned. He picked his axe from beside him, turning to the Dome, and saw it as a little pale black dot in the sky. He threw the axe in full force, aiming to destroy the baby on it.
The axe vanished in full force, and nothing happened for the next few seconds. After ten seconds of nothingness, he saw a pale shadow in the sky. The axe returned with full force and the big man dodged it barely, as it stuck on the wall.
The man was shocked and turned to the axe. There was a dent in the middle of the axe and looking at it be realised, that it was a footprint. Someone had kicked the axe back to him, with a higher force than him. It was someone strong.