As he worked, he thought about what was happening.
When he had finished his refinents in his past, Glossikos had taken his signature into THE Mouseion of Fated Artifacts for the item that would be destined for him. But she had never retrieved it because monts later, he had collapsed THE Weavers, who were actually the disciples of THE Primordial Paradox.
It was only after that confrontation that he had returned.
And he had another body of his currently in THE Mouseion at this very mont, about to look for his destined item.
But it would not be anything put there by destiny or fate.
It was his choice to do what he was currently doing right now that led to it.
There would be no treasured item or ancient artifact for him to claim apart from what he put there himself, eons ago.
The fated item was fated because he had chosen to place it there.
The destiny was fulfilled because he had created the destiny.
"..."
What a glorious Weaving of Existence this was!
A closed temporal loop where the treasure he was destined to find was the treasure he himself had hidden. Where the fate that guided him was the fate he had established. Where the worthiness that allowed him access was worthiness he had defined through his own actions.
As he was thinking all of this, the figure of THE Primordial Paradox sank even more into the bubbling pool they were in. His obsidian form was nearly subrged now, only his head and crown remaining above the waters of Lethe.
He let out a sigh of contentnt.
"Existence is always grand and full of wonders."
His voice was soft now, contemplative.
"I will effectively be collapsed soon. That much is certain. Erwin’s thodology is too thorough, too well-designed. Even knowing what he is doing, I cannot fully prevent it."
He paused, letting the waters work against his existence.
"But before I am collapsed, I shall continue my battle and my study of the weapon that Erwin used."
His obsidian eyes found Noah’s.
"You ca here seeking answers regarding that weapon. Regarding the thing that would eventually beco...what did you call it? THE Entity?"
He smiled, and there was sothing sad in it.
"But I can only tell you that I am the answer. When I collapse, I will know more. The very act of being consud by his thodology will teach things that cannot be learned any other way."
His smile deepened.
"What I already know now, I shall share with you when you retrieve that little part of ."
...!
THE Primordial Paradox was planning to learn from his own death and to use his collapse as a research opportunity.
To study the weapon that was killing him from the inside, and then encode that knowledge into the fragnt that Noah would retrieve eons later.
It was the most paradoxical response to defeat that Noah could imagine.
And it was perfectly fitting for the being who held the Claim to Paradox itself!
Noah continued wrapping the object in his hands with his Imnsity.
Very quickly, the Antinomia Prismatica beca enveloped inside a blue-gold treasure chest surrounded by waves of The First Tongue. The dodecahedron’s terrifying aura was contained within layers of linguistic authority!
The chest looked ancient despite having just been created.
It looked like sothing that had always existed!
Noah put aside the treasure chest containing the Antinomia Prismatica as he also enjoyed the Pool of Lethe for a second ti.
The waters worked against his foundations with familiar weight.
He and THE Primordial Paradox lounged in The Thermae of Cyclic Refinent as steam curled around their forms.
In the silence, Noah asked what he was curious about from the words THE Primordial Paradox had spoken before.
"You talked a lot about how the Scales of Existence are designed with hardship."
His voice was contemplative and seeking understanding.
"How one has to have adversity if they ever wish to reach the second Scale of Existence."
He turned slightly in the churning waters to face the lounging Absolute.
"What more do you know about all of this? About the Vakochev Scales of Existence?"
THE Primordial Paradox did not even open his eyes at the question.
He replied calmly.
"If you were to literally be standing before the gateway to THE Second Scale of Existence..."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"If the Way that you follow, if the Civilization that you have built, has not weathered through waves of Imnsity and hardship. If your foundation is sothing that you passed through haphazardly, without true adversity..."
His voice grew heavier.
"A doorway that seems right in front of you will be uncrossable."
BOOM!
The words landed with weight that made Noah’s foundations tremble.
"I know this because when you get close, you sense it. You understand it."
When you get close.
The words were terrifying and grand to hear.
THE Primordial Paradox had sensed what was required and understood why hardship was not rely recomnded but fundantally necessary!
THE Primordial Paradox continued, his eyes still closed as the waters of Lethe worked against his infected existence.
"As for the Vakochev Scales of Existence... well, they are-"
"It’s ready."
HUUM!
The voice of Glossikos interrupted the words of THE Primordial Paradox.
The dryad had returned from the Mouseion, her wooden form appearing at the edge of the pool with the nervous energy of soone who desperately wished she hadn’t had to interrupt but had no choice. The preparations were complete!
THE Primordial Paradox opened his eyes and blinked toward her.
Noah also turned to her sharply for interrupting the conversation.
This future Absolute entity felt like she was being stared at by two predators as her wooden features paled. The weight of two beings whose Imnsity far exceeded anything she had encountered pressed against her existence simply through their attention
She looked like she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear!
But THE Primordial Paradox simply nodded toward Noah.
"Go do what you must."
His voice was calm, showing no irritation at the interruption.
"This is where I stop."
...!
His words ended there.
But Noah heard the deep voice of THE Primordial Paradox in his mind.
Words sent only for him to perceive!
’Do what you must. At this mont, you have My Everything.’
BOOM!
My Everything.
THE Primordial Paradox had given Noah the totality of his uninfected self!
The closed temporal loop ensured that no one else could claim what was ant for him. THE Entity could search across eons. THE Living Paradox could consu every contingency he discovered. It wouldn’t matter!
With such heavy words resonating in his mind, Noah rose from the Pool of Lethe.
Waters cascaded from his transford form, his wings spreading as he stepped onto the edge of the pool. The crown of burning books above his head blazed with renewed intensity.
And a blue-gold treasure chest rose beside him.
It followed after him like a loyal companion, hovering at his side as he turned toward where Glossikos waited!
User Comments
0 comments from readers