CHAPTER 257: CONTROLLING THE VOLCANO

"So, there’s nothing to the north?"

"No, that layer is different."

"Got it. We might be able to do it. Koios, get out of here fast!"

Even as Shiao Yi spoke, the rumbling beneath them grew louder. From the spot where what looked like a stove or furnace had been, a high-pitched screeching sound rose as steam shot upward and boiling water surged almost to the ceiling.

The stairs leading down collapsed with a loud crash, revealing through the hole a red, smoke-covered flow. Intense heat radiated outward and the entire square was instantly wrapped in the stifling burning sensation of fire.

"Dominic! Quickly, go to the surface! You can’t jump here!"

Shiao Yi’s voice spurred him into action.

Dominic ran toward the stairs leading upward.

The stairway and corridors were jammed with people, but he pushed his way through with sheer force, moving as one with Shiao Yi in his arms.

He didn’t know exactly what Shiao Yi planned, but it was clear they had to get outside immediately.

Shiao Yi had said "quickly," and that left no room for hesitation. Any forceful, rough, or even harsh action was acceptable if it meant saving lives.

"Hey, Dominic! Put me down! I can run too!"

"You’d be slower running than I am carrying you. Hang on tight."

"That’s mean! My legs are short anyway, so I can’t help it!"

"I know. Then hold on well! I’m going to speed up."

"No way! I’m not a kid! Let me gooo!"

Amid the cries and shouts of fleeing people, Shiao Yi’s protests rang out loud and clear.

Dominic ignored everything else, he keeps sprinting through the chaos with Shiao Yi held firmly in his arms.

The exit near the Leto household led to a similar cave. The people streamed out like a river and Dominic followed the flow, emerging outside. The dusk had begun to settle, and a piercing cold wrapped around everything.

The villagers whose dressed only in what they had on huddled with the animals that had also been brought outside, they are shivering together for warmth.

Looking out, Dominic could see this scene illuminated by the cave lights along the valley.

Every community had received the evacuation warning.

"Dominic, let’s go. Don’t let me go."

With Shiao Yi’s voice, the entire landscape disappeared from view as they plunged forward into the unknown.

Shiao Yi jumped straight up into the sky above the mountain where the cave was located.

When he activated teleportation, he felt a strange distortion—something was interfering with his psychic power.

For a moment, it felt like his body was overlapping several times, which creating a dizzying time lag.

But once they reached the high sky, that unpleasant sensation vanished.

He realized it had been the black agate stone mineral vein that had been blocking his power.

"Ugh..."

Shiao Yi who is still holding him Dominic let out a groan.

Even for someone as experienced as him, a teleportation jump that unstable must have been hard to endure.

He was probably fighting the urge to throw up from the nausea.

But they didn’t have time to rest or recover.

The freezing wind stabbed through their fur clothes and chilling them to the bone.

Shiao Yi shivered and Dominic tightened his hold while pulling him closer to share his body heat.

His warmth was comforting, soft, and steady.

Dominic wasn’t even wearing a coat.

Even a thick winter shirt wouldn’t be enough in this bitter cold, they couldn’t stay here long.

Shiao Yi turned his eyes around to check their location.

To the north, he saw the mountain range where no one lived.

At the far edge of it, the icy glow of the northern sea glittered faintly.

If they went too far, the effect would weaken.

He decided their next destination would be the northern range just beyond the current mountain.

"I’m sorry, Dominic. One more jump, okay?"

Without waiting for a reply, Shiao Yi activated teleportation again.

He trusted that Dominic would be ready.

They appeared above a frozen forest. Using telekinesis, Shiao Yi slowly guided them down into a hollow valley.

"Dominic, release your magic into the ground here. I’ll create cracks deep below it."

"Here? But the volcano over there is about to erupt!"

Dominic looked at him in confusion, his red eyes searching for an answer.

"That’s exactly why," Shiao Yi said firmly. "That magma is made of pure light-type magical energy. The more power it gathers, the more it’s drawn toward your energy. To stop it from erupting near their village, we have to change the direction of the flow. Matter attracts matter, energy seeks greater energy, and flow always moves toward the lower path. We don’t have time. Dominic, hurry up!"

"I understand. I’ll do as you say. I just have to release the strongest magic I can, right?"

"Exactly! Please!"

Even in this deadly cold, Dominic didn’t complain once.

He simply trusted Shiao Yi completely and that trust made Shiao Yi’s chest tighten with quiet gratitude.

Dominic began gathering magic throughout his body.

The air around him started to sparkle as it ionized.

The massive energy building up made Shiao Yi’s skin prickle and his hair stand on end.

The birds that had been sleeping in the trees suddenly burst into flight while flapping their wings wildly.

The beasts nearby woke up and fled into the woods.

In an instant, the silent valley filled with the sound of wings, animal cries, and rustling chaos.

Shiao Yi carved a deep hollow underground.

From that hollow, he extended a long crack toward the base of the mountain where the people lived.

It was a long distance. Sweat ran down his forehead and his body trembled from the strain of releasing so much telekinetic power.

Boom!

Dominic released his magic straight into the ground.

The earth shook violently and with a roaring sound, a massive crater opened up.

His power was still ridiculous as ever, almost terrifying.

Shiao Yi placed both hands on the ground pushing the crack even deeper.