The D.O.M.E was in the air flying in a rotation in the lower atmosphere. It was a bit tiny, about as big as two cars, but the people inside knew it's actual size. With about eight floors and multiple rooms, it was insanely huge. It was only thanks to the black Eternal Tome that they had found, that the Dome could alter it's size on the outside, giving it more speed when flying. It was size Distortion at it's finest.
Max, Lin, Sachika, Albert and Hershel were at the command room, which is where Hershel could operate the entire Dome. He had wires connected from his body into the control panel, in front of him. He was digitally piloting the aircraft. Max was happy that Sachika was able to figure out what his charger was, as without him, they wouldn't be able to do this.
Sachika: So....Albert...how exactly do we find this Kingdom of Hibiscus.
Albert: I've been there only once, way back when I was young....but I haven't the faintest idea where it was. I just know it exists?
Max: Wait, what? So you want us to just keep looking until we hit the mark? THAT'S your plan??!?
Max was visibly confused and kind of agitated. After all he was nervous on the fate of his brother. His brother was taken away from him by these Floral Knights. And from what they had heard it was a three day journey on horseback from Seaside Edge. It was enough of a clue to mark the diameter on a map, but they didn't have time. The Dome was faster and would reach the place in a day, but if they didn't know where they were headed, it would be dangerous. If the Knights reached the place earlier they would execute Melissa and torture David. Max didn't want that. And that's when Lin stepped in.
He pointed at the digital screening of the Map above the control panel at a specific place.
Lin: That's where the Kingdom is..
Max: You know that???
Lin simply nodded in answer and provided an explanation, while Albert crossed his arms, implying he already was aware that Lin knew how to get there.
Lin: I met Melissa for the first time on the outskirts of her Kingdom. That's the location. I've seen it on a map before.
Max was pretty impressed that Lin knew and remembered an actual location.
Sachika: So that's how you guys met?
Lin: Yeah....don't get your Hopes up though. I still don't know anything about her or her Kingdom. I never asked. All I know is that her Kingdom hates her and that she was a "cruel" person to them. I didn't really care about that...
Max was smiling for some reason. Albert nudged him.
Albert: And you saved her despite that?
Lin: I didn't SAVE her. We just had a deal. That's all it was...
Max, still grinning like an idiot, walked up beside Lin. He put an arm around him, and talked in a different pitch.
Max: Ooooooh.....looks like someone started being friendly. Do you finally consider us friends??? I have noticed that you don't have your armour on and that you did sleep in our presence....are you metaphorically implying that you've let your guard down with us or something?? Hm-hm?
Lin elbowed him in the stomach with force, causing Max to lunge forward in pain coughing.
Lin: I don't have friends...I don't want friends. .....but I did realise that you are not the kind to betray others...
Max still smiled. He got back up.
Sachika: Well with this I guess we can reach there in about a day.. yahoo I guess.
Lin: We still have a problem....the Knights.
The mood suddenly turned gloomy again. The Floral Knithts were powerful enough to stop Lin and Albert. But Max smiled.
Max: Don't worry. The next time I see them I'll put a star on their bodies and destroy them.
Max gave a thumbs up, grinning. But despite the assurance and confidence he portrayed, there was a feeling of uneasiness in Lin. Lin wanted to win on his own. Max sensed that.
Max: But....I'll leave this Rose guy to you. You defeat him. I believe you can win.
Lin was angry again. But not at Max.
Lin: It doesn't matter. I lost against him. I lost against Sarzar. Heck I even lost against your brother, who has no power whatsoever. It's as someone I knew said. I'm extremely weak.
Max didn't know how to respond, but it was actually Albert who butted in.
Albert: That's not true. In terms of talent and sheer strength, you are powerful than him. Than Rose. His Blessing allowing him to control blades is the reason you lost. I've fought many before. But you were the only normal human that withheld by pure power and technique.
Even Lin was visibly shocked that Albert was complimenting him. Max again butted in with a grin.
Max: See!!! Even Albert agrees you are cool. Your losses don't make you a loser. It's your wins that make you a winner.
Everybody, including the robot was confused with what he said. Max realised that what he said didn't make sense.
Everyone: What?
Max: Trust me. That sounded profound in my head, for some reason.
Max scratched his beas trying to think of something else.
Max: You know....what I'm saying is...there will always be a way to win. You did say that Rose can't control blades that had a Blessing right? How about we make Lin's blades have a Blessing? First of all...how do we gain a Blessing??!
It was a valid question that Max hadn't really thought about in a while. After all, it has just been about a week since he woke up in this crazy world. Sachika also was visibly confused.
Sachika: You guys keep talking about Blessings...what is that?
Max: Seriously? You've been awake for about two years and you don't know what Blessings are? You knew about Ameliorates and other stuff too!!
Sachika: Yeah. But this is a foreign concept to me. What exactly are these Blessings? Since you are a God, do you like Bless them or something?
Max: Yeah...that makes sense that you don't know what Blessings are. You might've never come across them in Seaside Edge. Think of it as a ....power system. Get it?
Sachika immediately nodded smiling, getting it. A fellow otaku was a great addition to the team, was what Max thought immediately.
Max: Anyway, Melissa has a Blessing too. You must've seen her use some string powers. Albert's blade has a Blessing too. And I might. I don't know ...I'm not really sure. But it's like people and objects like Albert's Excalibur can both have Blessings. I just don't know how.
Sachika: Wait! That's the Excalibur? Like THE EXCALIBUR? From King Arthur's stories?
Max: Yupp!!
Max and Sachika were collectively losing their minds over this, but the others didn't. Max and Sachika turned to them, hoping they knew the answer to their question.
Albert: I'm sorry. We don't know how Blessings work. This blade always had a Blessing. And I haven't really met a lot of people that have had Blessings.
Lin: Yeah. Blessings are a part of nature. You dont go around thinking why plants are green, right? It's impossible to know. Exactly!
Max and Sachika nodded.
Max: But plants are green due to Chlorophyll. We do know that!
Lin: What? Cloro what? What is that?
Max was visibly angry.
Max: How is it possible that the new worlders look extremely developed and under developed at the same time!!!?!?
Sachika: You guys seriously just thought plants are green because they are and never researched? No scientists in this era or something??
The old worlders both noticed how dumbfounded Albert and Lin and realized that both Lin and Albert were not aware of the word "scientist".
Sachika: O...my god.
Hershel: I'd have to agree with Master Max. Master Lonkie seems very confused.
Sachika: Lonkie? I thought his name was Lin.
Max: It is. Hershel does that intentionally as revenge and calls him different names. He has a grudge.
Sachika: I didn't know robots could have grudges.
Max: Apparently this one does.
Lin: My heads aching with every passing minute in this conversation.
Lin was rightful to think that.
Max: Okay...all we need to do is train. Let's train like our life depends on it, cause it does.
Lin: Rose gave me a year to get strong. I need to do it in a day.
Albert: I need to learn to never be caught off guard. I wasn't concentrating on my last fight and paid the price. Never again.
Max: And I need to increase my stamina and get used to my overwhelming power and stop myself from collapsing. Frankly, I'm tired of losing consciousness after every fight.
All of them had their own goals...but it was all...to save someone.
Sachika: Also...does this place have different metals and a workshop?
Max: I guess...why?
Sachika: I'm gonna go...build some weapons.
Sachika grinned, sending a shiver down his spine. Max was terrified of his brother's wife. Sachika Uedo Steefan was not to be messed with. Sachika headed to the workshop room and Hershel showed her where it was. Her eyes sparkled as she want so many materials that she needed, including gun powder for some reason.
Max, Lin and Albert decided to go to the training room to duke it out and increase each others' strength. Just as they were about to step into the room, they heard a small faint voice, struggling to speak.
???: M-...Max?? Hello??
Max immediately turned above and saw Chuck standing in the top floor. He was finally awake.