Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse

Chapter 4678: THE Research and Development II

An entity’s Way is their personal truth, their fundamental understanding of themselves and their relationship to Existence. It was not merely a cultivation path or a collection of techniques but rather the answer to the question: "What are you, absolutely?"

The more profound an entity’s Way, the greater their authority at any given Depth.

Noah found this profundity manifests in three aspects!

Clarity. How well does the entity understand their own Way? A Way that is muddled, contradictory, or uncertain will struggle to impose itself upon Existence. A Way that is crystal clear, perfectly defined, and absolutely understood can cut through reality like a blade through silk.

Conviction. How deeply does the entity believe in their Way? Existence responds to certainty. An entity who harbors doubts about their own nature will find their authority wavering at crucial moments. An entity whose conviction is unshakeable can maintain their sovereignty even against overwhelming opposition.

Completeness. How fully has the entity explored and developed their Way? What was their Foundation? A Way that has been cultivated in only one direction is narrow and limited. A Way that has been expanded, refined, and perfected across all its possible expressions becomes a comprehensive framework for rewriting reality.

When is came to Completeness...Noah’s Foundation was a ridiculous work of art that made him an anomaly within the Depths of Absolute Sovereignty!

Now, THE Living Temporal was a terrifying fucker as his Way held ridiculous degrees of Clarity, Conviction, and Completeness. And yet Noah still managed to cut across his Way. Well, his copy here was made to be weaker than him at THE Surface Depth currently.

When Noah made the copy express power at THE Intermediate Depth...

"Hoo... let’s give it a try once more."

...!

"Set his power to THE Intermediate Depth."

HUUM!

The change was immediate and terrifying.

THE Living Temporal’s presence exploded outward as the arena transformed entirely. The purple rivers of time that had previously swirled around him now became an ocean, a domain of absolute temporal authority that didn’t merely cover the surroundings but replaced them entirely.

This was no longer Assertion.

This was Imposition.

At THE Intermediate Depth, THE Living Temporal’s Way Expression transcended mere declaration and became forceful reality.

He created a localized space where his interpretations of Principles took precedence over standard reality. Within this domain, time didn’t just bend to his will. Time was his will.

Noah moved forward with his Goad, The Philology of Undifferentiated Mana pulsing with desperate intensity.

But he couldn’t get near Temporal.

Where before the Philology had parted the purple Sovereignty like water, now it crashed against a wall of absolute temporal authority and splashed back uselessly.

THE Living Temporal’s Sovereignty was now much thicker and terrifying, its Clarity even more refined, its Conviction even more absolute, its Completeness even more comprehensive.

Its Weight and Immensity...was unfathomably high.

The difference between Surface Depth Assertion and Intermediate Depth Imposition became painfully clear.

At Surface Depth, THE Living Temporal had asserted "Time bends to my will in this place," and Existence acknowledged it. But Noah’s Philology could argue with that assertion, could remind Existence of deeper truths, could contest the declaration.

At Intermediate Depth, THE Living Temporal imposed "Time IS my will in this place," and Existence didn’t merely acknowledge it. Existence was forced to accept it. His Reality Imposition didn’t ask for permission. It demanded obedience.

There was also a much grander control and alteration of Principles!

Every Principle of Causality, every rule governing Sequence and Duration, had been modified to serve Temporal’s Way. Noah’s Philology of Undifferentiated Mana tried to remind these Principles of their true nature, but Temporal’s Imposition had already reinterpreted them through the lens of his own Way.

Even worse, Temporal’s Immensity and Weight began to affect Noah’s own Philology. The Logos of Undifferentiated Mana that Noah wielded started to feel a strain since Noah’s Way was not as immense, but it did not break down since it was The First Tongue!

Noah watched as THE Living Temporal began to advance, purple rivers of time coiling around him like serpents ready to strike. Each step brought Temporal’s Imposition Domain closer, and within that Domain filled with his heavy Sovereignty and cluster of Principles, Noah’s authority meant little unless it held a bit more weight!

"Pause."

HUUM!

As Noah saw THE Living Temporal about to overcome his Philology of Undifferentiated Mana to thrash him again, he stopped the battle as the imposing figure of the cold and callous Temporal froze not too far from him.

The jump from Surface to Intermediate was heavy, especially when Noah was only 3/100th the immensity and weight of Intermediate Depth of Absolute Sovereignty of THE Living Temporal and THE Creature with his Foundation alone.

But being able to fight against both Depths allowed Noah to make more conclusions of the power jump as THE Depths of Absolute Sovereignty seemed far more complex than he imagined before.

At THE Surface Depth, Way Expression manifested as Assertion. The entity declared truths about themselves and their surroundings, and Existence acknowledged these declarations.

Personal Assertion allowed an entity to assert "I am fire" and burn with genuine flame-nature. Environmental Assertion allowed them to assert "This place is calm" and suppress chaotic energies.

Contested Assertion occurred when two Surface Depth entities made conflicting assertions, with the more profound Way taking precedence.

When Noah fought THE Living Temporal at Surface Depth, Temporal’s Assertion was powerful but contestable. His Environmental Assertion declared temporal dominion, and the surrounding Principles of time resonated with his Way through Principle Resonance.

At THE Intermediate Depth, Way Expression evolved into Imposition. The entity no longer requested Existence’s acknowledgment but forced their personal truth upon reality regardless of what Existence might prefer.

The only way to overcome Intermediate Depth Imposition would be to have more Philologies that were so profound, so fundamental, so undeniably true that even an Intermediate Depth entity’s Imposition couldn’t reinterpret them. Or to have enough Weight and Immensity to brute force through the Domain entirely. Or...have a Way like his.

The Way of Mana...The Way of The First Tongue was so much grander than Temporal!

Well, this was Noahs belief anyways.

But it did mean that even if he held less Weight, due to his Way, he could overcome a level of Depth.

After all...his Way and Civilization was at THE Surface Depth, and yet he could match THE Intermediate Depth, couldn’t he? Because his Clarity, Conviction, and Completeness were that grand. His Way and usage of The First Tongue was that grand!

But..all of this was why he pushed himself against impossible odds in Creative Mode. That was why he needed to understand exactly how power worked at these levels before The Fallout descended and made everything very, very real.

These were his thorough findings on the power of THE Depths of Absolute Sovereignty after many battles in Creative Mode.

Noah looked at the frozen figure of THE Living Temporal with contemplative eyes before he summarized his findings simply.

"Surface Depth Assertion asks Existence, Intermediate Depth Imposition forces Existence. The jump between them is about whether reality listens to you or obeys you. And against someone whose Way is more Profound than your own, whose Clarity, Conviction, and Completeness exceeds yours...what will you be able to do?"

He paused, his eyes sharpening with determination as a devilish smile bloomed.

These were only the differences between THE Surface Depth and THE Intermediate Depth. THE Fundamental Depth needed a bit more research as while facing THE Living Temporal at that level, Noah didnt even get the chance to learn anything before being beaten!

But his Research yielded glorious results as he affirmed that THE Depth of Absolute Sovereignty determed what one could do, and THE Way...determined how well you can do it.

A shallow Way limits the range, potency, and duration of all Depth abilities. A profound Way amplifies the range, potency, and duration of all Depth abilities. Two entities at the same Depth with vastly different qualities of Ways will appear to be at different power levels entirely!

This was THE Way. He was learning THE Way while forging it gloriously!