Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse novel Chapter 3655

3655 /3793

Chapter 3655 Adaptation! II

"It takes very little authority from our True Source to enact the Pillar of Concordance, but it's one of the supreme weapons available to entities at our level. Any being seeking to survive within a Gateway Domus of the Wheel and defend it must obtain this level of power. Some of us are fortunate enough to grow into it without being ground down to nothingness, while others... they don't have the time. And so, they seek other paths to acquire such power. That brings us to the second methodology for obtaining a higher level of Complexity."

The Great Beyonder chose her words carefully. Noah raised an eyebrow, catching something unspoken in her tone, and asked lightly.

"Only Complexity? This other method... it doesn't raise Purity?"

…!

She hadn't mentioned Purity.

Only Complexity.

And now, she nodded slowly, the weight of the truth settling in her eyes.

"Yes. The first Mechanic of Ascension to elevate a True Source is the Existential Source Trials. The second... is Source Devouring Evolution. It has two components, but only one of them truly works—and that's Complexity Devouring. It focuses solely on Complexity. Through this method, one can devour the Weavings of Wild True Sources, Living True Sources, or even Dead True Sources to rapidly increase Complexity. The fastest method is devouring Living True Sources, followed by Dead True Sources, and then Wild True Sources. But this method comes with a terrible cost—your Purity becomes corrupted. Tainted to an unimaginable degree. Your Source is stained by what you consume."

…!

Her expression turned solemn, and a shadow flickered in her eyes—something heavy, burdened by history and sorrow.

"That is why they are drawn to the Infinite Ravines—any Absolute Complex True Source of Existence can nourish them. Even the Wild True Sources that dwell within can sustain them. But there's a terrifying drawback to devouring any Source indiscriminately and weaving it into your own. True Sources are too powerful. You risk corruption, existential collapse... even the complete loss of identity. When it gets truly bad—when your Source becomes a tangled mess of incompatible weavings—you face something called... Fractal Collapse."

"Some of our own people have taken this path, sacrificing the Purity of their True Source to gain more Complexity. If they raised their Complexity high enough, some were able to ascend into Harmonized Sourcebound Icons with a high level of Moderate Complexity...but with Below Average Purity, or even worse—Tainted Purity. This path is very, very dangerous. It's the one Dead Things follow most often. They will devour any trace of a True Source they can, because they have already accepted a predetermined death. And they will do anything to postpone it."

WAA!

Her voice trembled with memory, as if she were reliving something vile from a past too ancient to name.

Fractal Collapse.

Even Veyl'Aethra's face darkened at the mention of it.

The Great Beyonder continued.

"Fractal Collapse happens when a Source becomes increasingly complex but is paired with dangerously corrupted Purity. It leads to the formation of... Fractal True Sources of Existence. Fractal Beings. Most Dead Things you'll encounter are either on the brink of becoming one—or already are."

Her voice was somber.

She had just spoken in detail about one component of Source Devouring Evolution-Complexity Devouring.

Noah's Weavings buzzed with endless possibility. He couldn't help but ask.

"What's the second component of Source Devouring Evolution?"