Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse

Chapter 4393: Ways V

His expression hardened.

”As for me... I have a war coming against THE Dead Order and her forces. Whatever this conflict brings may be key to surviving The Fallout...either by defeating her and devouring everything she has, or by gaining sufficient intelligence about beings like her and their capabilities to prepare appropriate counters. Oh, and let me know if you pick up anything regarding THE Creature. The Dead regard him as Dead, but I havent discovered much of their weavings.”

At such words, The Great Usurper nodded.

”I’ll keep an eye out on the other side of The Veil,” he said. ”My Idle Existence can spread undetected...might as well use that advantage for reconnaissance. If I see their armies marching, gathering for assault, I can at least warn you before they arrive.”

...!

Noah smiled and nodded.

”That information could be the difference between prepared defense and complete surprise.”

Moments later, Eckert’s illusory figure dissolved, their mental communication concluding.

Noah remained alone above the blue-gold sea, still observing the scene of Meliodas and the restructured Citadel where every entity had been reduced to complexity of 1.

Is this True Order? Reducing the number of entities who can impose their will upon existence, concentrating power in select few who act as unified authority?

Is this what THE Dead Order has been accomplishing this past day while I’ve been focused on my own advancement?

He had to acknowledge it...creating Prime Dead Early Creatures exceeding 100 Quintillion was impressive!

And Meliodas was likely only one among many. The enemies he would soon face would probably range into hundreds of Quintillion if not higher.

He sighed internally.

They were really going to make him work unfathomably hard for this.

But he did need more information, and...

And I’ve already called over the one who might be able to shed some more light on the distinction of THE...among other things.

She should actually be arriving...

”Now.”

Noah’s eyes flashed as he focused outwardly, his consciousness returning fully to his physical body.

He momentarily unlatched from Riya, breaking their connection despite her obvious dissatisfaction.

She licked the residual saliva of concentrated Primus Mana from her lips, her jewel-blue eyes flashing with annoyance.

”What the hell, Ancestor?” she said, ”I was not done! You can’t just give someone a taste of Infinite Primus Mana and then cut them off mid-connection! That’s cruel!”

...!

Noah shook his head with amusement.

”You can have more later,” he said calmly. ”We have a guest.”

A guest.

As he spoke those words, a vibrant voice rang out from above the now-dimming blue-gold singularity.

”Outsider, what crazy thing have you done? I didn’t expect your little project in the Earliest Folds to lead to this...”

...!

The voice of Khor echoed across the sky as her small figure descended...ancient despite her youthful appearance, her crimson eyes shining with hunger.

Her dark hair seemed to naturally drink in all surrounding light, creating subtle shadow wherever she moved.

She had brought part of her consciousness with Noah when he’d ventured into the Earliest Folds, witnessing everything he’d seen...including the founding of the Isolated Civilization.

He’d called her here now because after exceeding 20 Quintillion Complexity and Purity, he could finally utilize the Existential Rollback feature of The Principle of Cheating Architect.

He could restore lost weavings or previous states of existence.

And Khor...who had once been an entity carrying the distinction of THE before catastrophic loss reduced her, represented a prime candidate for explosive power recovery, alongside potential restoration of her sealed memories.

Noah looked up toward her as Riya peeked around his shoulder with curious assessment.

”Really, Little Ancestor?” Riya said, pouting.

”You were just about to get some, and you sabotage yourself by bringing a sweet old lady here? Who is she? I can sense endless Hunger radiating from her existence...feels dangerous but also... diminished?”

...!

Sweet old lady.

Khor blinked at the description, then smiled with sharp amusement.

”Sweet old lady?” she repeated, her voice carrying dangerous humor. ”Tiny Thing, I was devouring Civilizations before your ancestors figured out how Mana worked.”

Her crimson eyes swept across Riya’s form with assessment.

”Outsider, I’ve seen you with women possessing far fuller proportions...you call them curvaceous, right? Why did you go for this tiny thing? I can’t find any curves on her.”

...!

BOOM!

Riya’s smile transformed into something dangerous.

”You...you old thing!” she countered, ”Have you seen yourself?!”

The two locked gazes, and Noah could sense they would continue escalating if left unchecked.

He stepped between them, his presence commanding enough to pause everything.

”Enough,” he said calmly, looking at Khor with focused intent.

”I may be capable of restoring a portion of your power...potentially significant portions. That’s why I brought you here to this Isolated Civilization. Concentrated energy for your Hunger to feast upon. Resources accumulated over nearly millions of years.”

His expression hardened.

”And I’m doing this with speed because I don’t like how even now, after everything I’ve accomplished, nothing has seemingly changed.THE Dead Order continues advancing, one of her Guiders of Order already exceeds 100 Quintillion, and that’s likely just the beginning of their power.”

His eyes flashed with chilling light.

”We need more information and power. And what better source than someone who used to hold THE distinction? Someone who’s seen how beings at that level operate, who understands their capabilities and limitations?”

When he spoke such words, Khor’s smile widened, genuine interest replacing her earlier mockery.

Behind Noah, Riya peeked out with suddenly fascinated eyes at the mention of someone who used to hold THE distinction.

She actually carried THE distinction? Riya’s mind raced. And lost it somehow...?

”Well then, Outsider,” Khor said. ”Lets see just how far your Way has come.”

Her crimson eyes blazed.

”Show me this...restoration.”

Noah’s tyrannical heart pulsed with determination and unfathomable glory!

Time to see if The Cheating Architect could allow for even grander impossibilities!

Time to add one more impossible accomplishment to his growing list of violations against predetermined limitations!