Chapter 4306: This is MY Way! V
Chapter 4306: This is MY Way! V
Her hand gestured, and the illusion shifted.
A vast, intricate blueprint of the system appeared, with the fractured, multicolored infinity symbol of [The Cheating Architect] at its very center, its tendrils connected to every other component.
"And the engine that drives this impossible machine," RUIN/EDEN said, her voice filled with a note of profound respect, "is twofold."
|THE FUEL: INFINITE MANA & PERPETUAL HARVEST|
|For you, Master, the fuel for every action within this System is your [Infinite Mana]. The cost is irrelevant; your reservoir is boundless. This makes you the absolute, unchallengeable master of this Way.|
|For all other beings who walk this path, Mana is a finite resource they must cultivate through the initial stages of progression. This creates a natural, unbreachable hierarchy. They are practitioners; you are the source.|
|Furthermore, your [Principle of Perpetual Harvest] is woven into the very code of this System. All effort exerted within this path, be it cultivation, forging, or combat- is recognized as ’Effort’ and will yield a ’Harvest,’ accelerating the progression of all who follow it.|
A new illusion formed: a vast, raging, azure ocean, Noah’s Mana, flowed endlessly, while beside it, a tiny, crystal cup slowly filled, drop by drop...that of a normal practitioner.
Noah’s smile widened. He saw it. A system of perfect, absolute tyranny, disguised as a path of universal opportunity.
"And this," RUIN/EDEN said, her voice now taking on the cadence of a grand lecturer, "is the path itself. The Edicts of Progression."
|THE EDICTS OF PROGRESSION|
|This is the linear, nine-stage journey of advancement within the Way of the Mana Architect. Each Edict represents a new level of mastery over Mana, unlocking a new expression of power.|
Her hands moved, and with each Edict she named, a new, beautiful, and terrifying illustration bloomed in the frozen air.
|EDICT 0: THE UNINITIATED|
| - State: A being with no Mana, a ’manaless’ existence.|
| - Potential: All beings possess the latent potential to awaken. This System provides the key.|
| - The Spark: Through a ritual of initiation (a direct bestowment of Mana from an existing practitioner, or through finding a ’Spark’ cultivated by you), an Uninitiated can awaken.|
She showed an image of a simple, manaless being, dark and formless, being touched by a single spark of blue light.
|EDICT 1: THE SPARK|
| - Awakening: The being’s existence is rewritten. A [Mana Locus] is formed at the core of their being.|
| - The Mana Locus: A nascent, internal core that can now passively absorb ambient Mana from existence (or be directly filled by you). It needs to be filled and expanded to a vast sea before it can be deemed a reservoir.|
| - Boon: The being is no longer Manaless. They can begin the slow, arduous process of cultivation.|
| - (Note: For you, Master, you began with an Infinite Locus. A slight advantage.)|
...!
The illusion shifted. The dark figure now held a tiny, glowing blue star in its chest: the [Mana Locus].
It was a glorious thing to see!
|EDICT 2: THE RESERVOIR|
| - Objective: To fill the [Mana Locus] to its absolute capacity.|
| - Process: Through meditation, consumption of Mana-rich materials, devouring lifeforms rich in Mana, or direct endowment, the being expands their Locus. This is the foundation of all future power. Reservoir Foundation can become World Sized Mana Reservoir or exceed this.|
| - Boon: A larger reservoir allows for grander, more sustained expressions of power.|
| - (Note: Your reservoir is... well, you know.)|
The blue star pulsed on the illusory being she displayed grew brighter and larger, becoming a stable, humming [Reservoir].
|EDICT 3: THE WEAVE|
| - Objective: To learn to express Mana externally.|
| - Process: The practitioner learns to draw Mana from their Locus and ’weave’ it into a desired effect. This is the foundation of all spells, techniques, and abilities.|
| - Example Weaves: [Weave of Fireball], [Weave of Minor Fortification], [Weave of Quickened Thought].|
| - Boon: The ability to directly influence reality through Mana.|
Azure threads now pulled from the Reservoir, coalescing in the figure’s hand into the shimmering, unstable form of a [Weave of Fireball].
It was a fantastical sight to see!
|EDICT 4: THE GLYPH|
| - Objective: To internalize and perfect a Weave.|
| - Process: By casting a single Weave (e.g., [Weave of Fireball]) ten thousand times, a practitioner can achieve ’Conceptual Resonance.’ This allows them to forge the Weave into a permanent [Mana Glyph] upon their existence.|
| - Integration: This is the integration of the Glyph System. These [Mana Glyphs] are permanent, passive or active enhancements, identical in function to the Glyphs you have forged, but their power scales directly with the wielder’s total Mana.|
| - Boon: The ability is now innate, requiring no complex casting, only an act of will.|
...!
Oh!
What a glorious change!
Cast an ability, a Weave- ten thousand times, and it becomes a Glyph!
The illusory Fireball solidified, then flew back into the figure, etching itself onto its very soul as a permanent, glowing [Mana Glyph of Fireball].
Noah nodded, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. The beginning!
Oh!
|EDICT 5: THE HEART (THE HAKI)|
| - Objective: To transform the [Mana Locus] from a passive reservoir into an active, high-pressure engine.|
| - Process: By forging 10,000 [Mana Glyphs], the practitioner’s existence is now stable enough to handle the next evolution. Their Locus becomes a [Mana Heart], an engine that constantly circulates and refines their Mana.|
| - Integration: This is the integration of the Haki System. The [Mana Heart] generates a passive [Mana Haki], an aura of pure, unadulterated will. This Haki can be used offensively to suppress lesser beings or defensively to resist external influence.|
| - Boon: The birth of a personalized Haki, the ultimate expression of one’s will.|
The Reservoir in the figure’s chest began to pulse, to beat.
It transformed into a vibrant, powerful [Mana Heart], and a faint, powerful aura...a [Mana Haki], began to radiate from the figure’s entire form!
RUIN/EDEN continued with her influx of information!
|EDICT 6: THE AEGIS (THE ARMOR)|
| - Objective: To forge an external, symbiotic vessel for your power.|
| - Process: The practitioner, now possessing a [Mana Heart], can begin to forge a [Mana-Born Living Existential Armor]. This requires immense resources (like Early Omnichalcum or Tartarite Metal, or other metals/ores of equivalent value) and a deep understanding of their own nature.|
| - Integration: This is the integration of the Living Existential Armor System. The Armor is a growth-type symbiote, bound to the wielder’s Locus, and will grow in power as the wielder does. It is the ultimate defense and weapon.|
| - Boon: A personalized, evolving suit of existential dominance.|
Shimmering, liquid metal, drawn from an unseen source, flowed over the figure, hardening into a sleek, powerful suit of [Mana-Born Living Existential Armor], its design echoing the lines of Noah’s own Aegis!
|EDICT 7: THE CODEX (THE ARCANA)|
| - Objective: The final evolution of the [Mana Heart].|
| - Process: After forging an Aegis, the practitioner’s [Mana Heart] achieves its ultimate form, becoming a [Living Mana Codex]. This conceptual Grimoire becomes the command center for their existence.|
| - Integration: This is the integration of the Astral Codex System. The wielder can now design, forge, and store [Mana Arcana Glyphs]. These are permanent abilities, but are single-use, high-cost ’spells’ of immense power, fueled by Units of Everythings.|
| - Boon: The strategic, overwhelming power of tactical, reality-bending abilities.|
The glowing [Mana Heart] within the armor transformed again, its light solidifying into the image of a beautiful, blue gold Grimoire.
Shimmering, conceptual cards...[Mana Arcana Glyphs], began to orbit it!
|EDICT 8: THE PRINCIPLE|
| - Objective: To transcend the rules of existence.|
| - Process: A being who has mastered their Codex must now choose their ultimate Way. They must gather the conceptual weight of Edict 7 authorities(1,000 Mana Arcana Glyphs) and Edict 4 authorities (100,000 common Mana Glyphs of any type) and forge them into a [Blank Template Seed of a Principle].|
| - Integration: This is the path leading to the Level One Scale of Existence. The wielder creates their own Principle and [Mana Seed Glyphs of a Principle], becoming a true architect of their own fundamental law. To reach the peak of this stage, countless Mana Seed Glyphs of Principles have to be forged...|
| - Boon: The ability to become a game master, not just a player.|
...!
Oh!
Oh goodness!
There was still more!
The illusion grew complex, showing different pathways of power all converging into a single, vibrant, pulsing [Blank Template Seed of a Principle]!
|EDICT 9: THE ARCHITECT|
| - Objective: ???|
| - Process: ???|
| - Analysis: This stage is theoretical. It represents the potential to become a ’THE’ level existence, a true equal to the original architects. It is the final, unknown step on the Way of Mana. THE. THE! THE!!!|
The final illusion was not an image, but a blinding, questioning light, a horizon of pure, undefined potential.
Noah watched this grand, unfolding presentation, his mind burning with tyrannical approval. It was perfect. It was a ladder, and he had built it!
RUIN/EDEN let the final image hang in the air, a testament to the grand, impossible path he had just forged with her aid.
|THE CIVILIZATION PROTOCOL:|
|This System is designed for mass adoption. As more beings awaken their [Mana Locus] and walk the [Edicts of Progression], their collective effort, their belief in this Way, will create a [Conceptual Weaving of Mana].|
|This Weaving will feed back into you, Master, as the Architect and First Source. Every being that follows your path will add to your own authority, deepen your own understanding, and accelerate your own ascent towards the Level One Scale of Existence.|
|You will not just be building a fortress against the Fallout; you will be building a new Civilization, a new fundamental truth, with your own existence at its very center.|
...!
Noah stood in the swirling, snowy winds of the First Folds, his body a silent, unmoving statue, but his mind... his mind was a supernova of blazing, tyrannical light!
This was it.
This was his Way.
A path that integrated every system of power he had encountered, all of it unified under the boundless, glorious banner of his own Infinite Mana.
A path that was not just for him, but for all who would follow him. A path to building his own Civilization, his own answer to the coming darkness!
He opened his eyes, the glacial blue of the landscape reflected in his pupils, and he smiled!