Vibrant.
That was the one word that could describe exactly what was happening right now, as one Mythic True Signature after another erged within the folds of collapse and nonexistence.
And the fantastical part? They were unaffected by the weavings of collapse and death- standing unaltered, as though they would remain so for all existence.
One was a Mythic True Signature clearly forming Noah's body, sculpted from trillions of golden runes. Another showed a figure entirely crimson, radiating an endless light of Ruin.
Another displayed a dazzling fra- a Wheel of Existence spinning furiously, dozens of massive spokes shooting outward, latching onto multiple Converged Architects.
There were many. And each one was undoubtedly pristine and vivid, as if the identity behind each Mythic True Signature was being carved into reality for all to see.
They expressed their True Sources with wild abandon, even under the influence of Dead Things- each demonstrating staggering levels of High Purity and Complexity. When they thundered down against the Converged Architects… they overwheld multiple Dead True Sources.
BOOM! BOOM!
One massive Dead Thing, a Converged Architect, was flooded by a sea of golden runes. Trillions etched themselves onto its fra before golden tendrils dragged it away, unseen.
Another Dead Thing had its True Source fall into an endless cycle of Ruin. So sudden was the descent that its core collapsed instantly in a fractal explosion, blooming seas of bones.
One after another, approximately seventeen Converged Architects of the Dead Things were struck by the radiant Mythic True Signatures.
So collapsed, beginning to fracture. Others were torn asunder by tyrannical golden tendrils of light, pulled toward a Cradle of Purity.
By the ti the Mawbearers reacted… thirteen of those seventeen Converged Architects had fallen.
And yet…
"Haha! Did I not tell you all to expect this? But even this exceeds my wildest dreams!"
Veltraxis, the Smiling Empty Maw, exploded with power. A massive, intricate Mythic True Signature of Death erupted from him, standing to oppose three of Noah's Signatures.
The True Sources of Runes, Ruination, and Kuklos were all held back by a terrifying skeletal head wearing a bony smile stretched ear to ear.
Its sockets bead with a devouring light- consuming everything, or trying to. Noah's changing True Sources- these it could not devour, the weavings of existence nearby, even the collapse and uncertainty of the Nullvein Gravewake Folds.
Veltraxis alone clashed against three of Noah's Mythic True Signatures- each representing a Monad.
It was an astonishing sight- a testant to his staggering complexity.
And his grin only widened. He turned his head slowly, observing all the Mythic True Signatures unbothered by the Dead Weavings surrounding them.
Even though multiple Converged Architects had collapsed from Noah's assault.
Even though behind him, the Great Beyonder and other defenders flickered with renewed hope at the display of power.
One Resplendent Monad, however, did not share that hope. He still wore a face of horror.
It was Arthur- the Sea of Ash.
As if he could see sothing others could not.
His expression twisted as he watched the singular Dead Thing Veltraxis had introduced: the 9th Mawbearer of the Dissonant Echo, lodrass.
Noah's weavings locked onto the sa being.
The mont lodrass appeared, alarm bells rang within the depths of Noah's existence. He sought to understand just how terrifying a single numbered Mawbearer of the Hollow Concord of Nullity could be.
His Mythic True Signature of Eldritch Expanse, a mass of countless black and white strings, reached out toward the being.
And then…
A chord echoed.
A Chord.
TRIING!
This being, a middle-aged humanoid so subtle in appearance that one might second-guess whether he was truly a Dead Thing...played an instrunt.
The chord of a guitar rang out.
And in that mont, Noah felt his surging Weavings of True Sources, on the verge of unleashing unimaginable brilliance, beco suppressed.
Restricted.
Immovable.
His Mythic True Signatures… which had just annihilated over a dozen Converged Architects… were rendered frozen.
The expression of his physical body near the Great Beyonder and the Great Usurper beca severe. He spoke imdiately, firm and commanding.
"Stop. Do not resist."
White-gold flas burst from him, shining with the light of displacent.
He sought to pull them away.
Because as the Weaver of Existence standing close to this so-called 9th Mawbearer, lodrass, Noah had managed to analyze him, however briefly.
If the other Mawbearers were power incarnate, analogous to soldiers wielding devastating guns...
Then lodrass…was a commander with nuclear weapons all around.
The difference was that dramatic.
The Great Beyonder heard Noah's call and was stunned.
She had just witnessed him unleash multiple Mythic True Signatures- ready to turn the tide of battle, to lay waste to the Dead.
Why the sudden retreat?
Her weavings twisted toward him. And she saw…
His gaze- more serious than she had ever seen it.
No smile. No detached calm.
Only an overwhelming finality that broke her heart.
She closed her eyes. She didn't understand- but she didn't resist. She allowed his weavings to envelop her, her True Source pulled into him before being shuttled inward toward the Wheel.
Noah turned to do the sa for the Great Usurper when...
TRIING!
Another chord.
The first had immobilized Noah's Mythic True Signatures.
The second… rippled outward as an undeniable wave of death.
It spread everywhere.
Too complex.
Too advanced in the intricacies of True Sources for even Noah to fully decipher.
That one chord… was utterly devastating.
Because after it...
Silence.
No weavings stirred.
An imnse, suffocating silence fell, muting even Veltraxis's cruel laughter.
The drums and symphonies once playing for Noah vanished.
In that stillness, Noah saw Arthur, the Sea of Ash- kneeling, livid, and gold-gray ash-blood bleeding from his forehead.
Beside him, the Witness's blindfold had nearly torn away, his body faintly glowing with weak golden light.
And they were the lucky ones.
Noah turned to the Living Legends.
They…
They had half their bodies missing- disintegrating alongside their True Sources as though they had heard a lody beyond comprehension.
Half were no longer conscious. Their True Sources breaking down.
The others were gravely wounded- staring ahead in utter horror.
At the one thing that had done this with just a single chord.
At the Dead Thing.
The 9th Mawbearer of the Dissonant Echo.
lodrass.
An appearance that, once again, shattered the script of how things should be playing out for them!
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