Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse

Chapter 4551: Pre-THE! II

In The Infinite Unfurling, within THE Northern Unfurling Node of Existence of THE Creature, Noah sat with his eyes closed as he sensed his existence continuing to elevate upwards along with some additional profound changes occurring.

One of these changes involved knowledge that actually related to a connection he maintained across impossible distances. His connection with The Infiniverse and the paired consciousness of RUIN/EDEN was something as unfathomable as his Early Atlas of the Folds and how that artifact had ever allowed him to traverse to the Earliest Folds in the first place.

Through this connection that defied temporal logic, he was able to keep track of exactly what was happening in his current era despite being separated by eons.

He knew that circumstances were gradually becoming more troubling with his absence. He might have felt compelled to rush back immediately if not for the remarkable connection that he shared with his Civilization’s core consciousness.

That connection, paired with the fundamental ridiculousness of his THE Organ of Civilization, actually allowed The Infiniverse to pull a Rudimentary Unit of Everything from him across time itself. To extract it from where he currently existed in the past and transfer it forward for her to utilize in the current era when threats manifested.

Of course, this was impossible without substantial cost. To transfer a single Rudimentary Unit forward through time, an entire Rudimentary Unit had to be spent as fuel to make such temporal transfer possible.

So it was extremely resource intensive, even though it allowed such a terrifying capability to unfold when needed.

But at this moment, he knew precisely the dire straits his Civilization faced. He understood what enemies and opportunistic vultures were circling his people while he remained absent.

Ruination had already sent him the latest critical information through their connection. He knew exactly what Schrodinger had just uttered to his forces.

His life in exchange for the lives of all others across Observable Existence?

This was the cruel game that THE Living Paradox wanted to impose? Noah utterly detested how these beings at THE level continued again and again to play with the theme of sacrifice. To reduce complex situations to binary choices presented as inevitability.

And he now held a level of disappointment regarding Schrodinger specifically. Did the vessel truly believe the words of THE Living Paradox about saving countless lives? Or was his cooperation simply existence without the option of choice right now?

Either way, there existed a genuine level of danger for his Civilization. Especially if and when more enemies appeared beyond just Schrodinger’s forces, the situation could escalate beyond manageable parameters.

Even though he was capable of sending Rudimentary Units of Everything to The Infiniverse across time, the resource cost might quickly become unbearable. Or the power transferred might simply not be enough against overwhelming opposition.

But all of this precarious balance was about to change dramatically right now. THE Organ of Civilization was currently stuck at exactly 9.99% development, with this unique wonder that was something brand new to Observable Existence about to reach another critical milestone.

A milestone that would transform the Organ entirely and allow him to breathe considerably easier regarding his Civilization’s defensive capabilities.

As his eyes remained closed while focusing intensely on his internal transformation, he could sense the gaze of THE Living Origin continuing to remain fixed on him with analytical assessment.

He took the words of this being seriously when she had stated with absolute conviction that he could not encounter THE Creature right now under any circumstances.

And he could already perceive her authority surging and wrapping protectively around both him and Lumivara. The transformation of his Organ of Civilization was taking slightly longer than he had anticipated for such a profound change.

She seemed ready to have them all evacuate this place immediately once his advancement completed.

His body continued to passively draw in the surrounding THE Civilizational Authority with ravenous efficiency. He did not know precisely how many entities THE Creature had managed to successfully lock away in this place as imprisoned power sources, but the number had to be genuinely terrifying.

It was disappointing to leave such a resource-rich environment, but when circumstances presented such a high level of existential danger, no amount of potential loot was worth risking the collapse of his existence itself.

As for when it came to THE Creature themselves as an entity...

Noah liked to play the game of probabilities with himself extensively. He would calculate all the potential outcomes that could occur in his future based on available information.

THE Creature was one such entity that he had contemplated many times. He had asked himself repeatedly: if he ever met such an existence face to face, given that he had already encountered legends like Khor, Tor, Anaximander, and now THE Living Origin, how would a direct meeting with THE Creature actually unfold?

In the past, he had assessed this probability as roughly half and half. Things could either proceed really well and lead to mutual benefit, or they could go utterly catastrophic with apocalyptic consequences.

Because his Way was The Way of Mana, and he was actively seeking to claim its foundation and immensity across all of existence. And THE Creature held The Way of Existence itself as their fundamental Sovereignty.

If the two of them ever looked directly at each other with full awareness, the potential outcome of becoming allies or enemies was separated by a very faint line that could be crossed with minimal provocation.

But the sheer conceptual idea of having THE Creature as an active enemy would be something that would cause most beings to feel a sense of insurmountable pressure they could not possibly overcome.

Noah did not feel this overwhelming sense of pressure when contemplating such a scenario. Either he genuinely did not fear the idea of having THE Creature as an enemy, or perhaps some part of him did not believe this entity would ultimately become his adversary. Maybe. Maybe!

But the probabilities of ever having to face such a terrifically powerful entity as an enemy in the future seemed to be shifting dramatically after THE Living Origin had spoken her warning with such absolute conviction.

He breathed out calmly as while processing all of these considerations...

BOOM!

His existence released a profound aura that expanded outward with overwhelming force. The immensity that his power reached was something far grander than anything he had wielded before.

It touched upon the level of authority that entities like Stellara had possessed.

The aura...of Pre-THE Existence.

It was the precise moment that his THE Organ of Civilization reached the critical 10% development threshold.

It was also the exact moment that THE Living Origin sensed this eruption of newfound power. A brilliant white-gold light erupted from her body with decisive action, covering both Noah and Lumivara completely alongside her own form.

And the three of them disappeared from the domain with sudden finality.

WAP!

All signs of their presence in this location faded away completely as if they had never existed there at all. Everything returned to its original equilibrium state with systematic precision.

The ambient THE Civilizational Authority that Noah had been consuming refilled automatically from deeper reserves. The pressure normalized. The atmospheric balance was restored to perfect equilibrium.

The only sign left behind was a purposeful one: a lingering aura of THE Living Origin’s white-gold Sovereignty that remained visible to any who might observe.

As if she was deliberately letting it be known that she was the one who had been present here.

And only her.

Not the temporal anomaly that should not exist in this era. Not the mount who had consumed forbidden fruits.

Just THE Living Origin herself, visiting a domain that she had every right to access.

Oh!