The figure of Alexander appeared on the Early Veiled Shore, stepping through folds of space that recognized him as welcome within this domain.
Noah turned toward his arrival and nodded in acknowledgment before waving his hand toward the skies above. Reality responded to his gesture, and the image of THE Creature holding the lifeless Eyes of Horus materialized against the backdrop of the Early Veiled Shore. That massive titan wreathed in flames now blazed above the golden sands, his trophy displayed for Alexander to witness just as it was being displayed across all of Observable Existence.
Noah turned to Alexander as he spoke.
"Even Second Scale Primordial Architects like Horus are not untouchable. You likely had him among those you would seek vengeance against in the future, but he is now taken care of."
His eyes studied Alexander’s reaction carefully.
"How do you feel about the one who tortured you?"
...!
Noah observed Alexander as Alexander looked back at him.
The man appeared different from when Noah had last examined him closely. He seemed taller than before, his frame more robust as though his foundations had expanded to fill space they previously could not occupy. A green robe adorned his figure, the material flowing with quality that suggested authority woven into its threads. But the most striking change rotated upon his chest.
A vibrant Enneagram shone there, nine points connected by lines that blazed with multicolored gems embedded at each intersection. The symbol rotated like a wheel against his sternum, its movement steady and purposeful. His expression held grandeur that had not been present before his torture, as though suffering had refined something within him rather than diminishing it.
He looked at the image of the lifeless Horus as his eyes blazed brighter, and he simply clenched his fists before he unclenched and breathed out.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
WAA!
Alexander’s voice emerged with conviction that matched his transformed appearance.
"I was actually about to come and ask you something. I do not want to wait too long."
He paused, gathering words that clearly cost him something to speak.
"I followed the paths that only Second Scale Existences know. I have reforged my existence so that just as he was able to hurt me through what only he could see, I should be able to hurt him just the same."
His jaw tightened.
"But I know that alone will not be enough. So I have... to ask for help."
He met Noah’s eyes directly.
"Please. Help me. Help me...collapse Beowulf."
...!
BOOM!
A man asking for help from another man was a rare occurrence in existence.
Whenever any man found himself hurting, he rarely turned to another for assistance. He would exhaust every option available through his own power, attempt every solution his own mind could conceive, push himself to the absolute boundaries of what his foundations could sustain before even considering the possibility of reaching out. That was how so many men became destroyed and collapsed into obscurity. They never asked for help. Sometimes it was not even a matter of pride.
Sometimes it was simply that they did not know how.
The words felt foreign in their mouths. The vulnerability seemed like weakness rather than wisdom. The admission that they could not accomplish something alone felt like failure rather than an honest assessment. They had been taught, through countless experiences and observations, that strength meant self-sufficiency.
That real men handled their problems without burdening others. That asking for help was the first step toward being seen as lesser.
These were lies that killed more men than any enemy ever could.
There were many reasons not to ask for help. Noah understood this intimately. But Alexander had come forward regardless of those reasons, had spoken the words despite their difficulty, had requested assistance even knowing how it might appear.
Noah would give that help freely.
Nor would he ever make Alexander feel bad or lesser for asking.
One should always feel permitted to ask for help. Whether you possessed family or someone you considered a friend, you should never be afraid to reach out.
In existence, you were never alone.
The isolation that convinced men they had to face everything by themselves was another lie, perhaps the cruelest one of all.
Noah rose and placed his hand on Alexander’s shoulder.
"Come on. Let us go find Beowulf."
His grip tightened with reassurance.
"He is on a whole different Scale compared to us, but hey..."
"While there will not be the power of friendship suddenly rising up to save the day, I have a very, very sharp spear."
HUUM!


"Oh, before that..."
"Set the targets for Hadean Existential Singularities to be Beowulf and THE Living Paradox."
|Siphoning Efficiency: Medium due to Scale differential. Hadean Existential Singularities will be extracted at a normal rate.|
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