Chapter 4406: Ormordnes IV

When the thought arose in his mind, Noah immediately thought of Anaximander.

The brilliant Fold Dweller who had drawn an immense impression during their meeting in the Earliest Folds, whose philosophical discourse had crystallized Noah’s understanding of what it meant to truly walk a Way of Existence.

That singular encounter had accelerated his development greatly.

And when that being had departed, he had offered something precious: a connection.

That if he ever needed anything...all he need to do was say...Anaximander, come!

The heavier question, the one that pressed against Noah’s thoughts, was whether Anaximander had survived the terrifying events that had unfolded since.

The last knowledge Noah had gained about him came from THE Living Paradox’s own words in that recovered memory: the Fold Dweller had been manipulated, put into action against THE Creature himself without understanding his true role until the final moment.

That alone suggested catastrophic conflict.

Anaximander’s survival was far from certain.

And...Noah did not relish the idea of calling others to help him. There was no pride in it, no satisfaction in admitting his own insufficiency. But he was not someone so filled with arrogance that he would refuse to do what was necessary for survival simply to maintain some illusion of self-sufficiency.

So even though he did not know what result might come, what harm existed in trying?

Existencs seemed to hold its breath as Noah briefly closed his eyes.

He gathered the weight of his existence, compressed it into singular point of intent, and called out with everything he was.

Anaximander, come!

HUUM!

The name did not reverberate in the surrounding space. But it echoed through Noah’s own existence with clarity, rippling outward through whatever connections bound beings who had touched each other’s Ways.

With the uniqueness of that being, he should have been able to sense such a call rather easily.

Pending that he was alive, of course.

Noah opened his eyes and waited, expression unchanged, mind already moving to contingencies.

That plan was now in motion, there could be result in the next few seconds, or there could be absolutely nothing. Either way, he needed to think of alternatives.

Running seemed laughable.

An entity with THE distinction now knew his name, possessed memories of Schrodinger that included knowledge of The Infiniverse.

The potential damage that could be inflicted was utterly catastrophic, and attempting to flee would only delay inevitable confrontation while broadcasting weakness.

So what could he do to bypass this ordeal?

The nanoseconds dragged on like hours measured in heartbeats. A single second passed with agonizing slowness, each moment stretching thin under the weight of desperate hope.

There was no reply. No descent of some terrifying aura of power that might match THE Living Paradox’s authority. No spatial distortion suggesting imminent arrival.

There was no... Anaximander.

...!

Noah sighed lightly...the sound barely audible, more exhalation than expression, as all around him the shadowy jaws of his Hunger continued their methodical work.

They snapped and cracked at nearby Civilizational Chains of Paradox with steady rhythm, devouring constraints with appetite that recognized no satisfaction.

His gaze remained fixed on the terrifying corpse that housed THE Living Paradox’s consciousness.

The entity had been observing him this entire time with expression mixing amusement and curiosity, as if Noah were an interesting puzzle that warranted careful examination before solution.

THE Living Paradox tilted its head...the motion serpentine and unnatural, and spoke with voice that carried layers of meaning beneath surface words.

"You truly do seem like an Early Creature through and through. The signature is unmistakable, even if your development is... unconventional."

The crimson-gold eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Unless you were somehow a leftover seed of THE Creature himself? But that should not be possible. Early Creatures are either Living or Dead, and all those Living are thriving in my Civilization, in our Civilizations within THE Loom."

The smile widened, showing too many teeth for the borrowed face.

"So you, you little anomaly, you shouldn’t exist out here at all. Yet here you stand, breaking my Festival’s constraints. Fascinating, really."

...!

Amusement radiated from the entity like heat from forge, and that smile only grew wider as its gaze swept across Noah’s form.

THE Living Paradox looked him up and down as if trying to discern hidden mechanisms, then turned its attention to Khor and finally to Riya.

It laughed, the sound making the surrounding crimson-gold light pulse.

"Oh, I see now," it said.

"You currently are not able to reply or speak with me freely. Not because you lack words, but because you are filled with fear. Fear that you may die, yes, but more than that, fear that those behind you may be collapsed. That Little Inevitability you pulled away from me..."

Its gaze flicked to Khor. "Could it be that you know the reason why she returned from collapse? Or that you even had something to do with it?"

HUUM!

The entity paused, seeming to savor Noah’s carefully controlled expression.

"Hmm. Since you cannot answer freely in the midst of your fear, let me ease your burden and tell you plainly: I have no intention whatsoever of collapsing any of you."

BOOM!

The declaration landed with weight that made the surrounding space tremble, and Noah gazed at this being with cold, calculating eyes.

He found himself questioning the statement immediately, searching for deception or hidden conditions.

But before he could think too deeply, THE Living Paradox continued with a discourse that carried terrible certainty.

"You must understand something fundamental about existence. Even the smallest insects have their uses. In any ecosystem, everything plays a part...from the mightiest predator to the most insignificant creature consuming decay. You are slightly more important than little insects or animals, of course, because you have embarked upon and are following Ways of Existence. That elevates you somewhat."

The entity drifted closer, voice taking on lecturing quality.

"So no, I will not kill you. Why would I? Beings like you are the most pristine nutrients for THE Loom. You cultivate power, refine your Ways, build your Civilizations...all without realizing you are preparing a feast for those who understand the true nature of existence. Why would such perfectly good nutrients be destroyed before THE Loom is activated?"

THE Living Paradox’s smile became serene, almost benevolent.

"When your Ways and Civilizations are devoured by it, when everything you have built becomes fuel for the continuation of established order, I will make gains countless times greater than what your immediate destruction would provide. So do not worry. Do not fear. We can talk freely here, right now, as civilized beings discussing matters of mutual interest."

The crimson-gold eyes blazed brighter.

"You have my word, little things, that I will not collapse you. It is simply not in my interest. But..." The smile took on sharper edge.

"If you are not agreeable to conversation, if you insist on remaining difficult or attempting further actions, I may have to employ a little bit of force to encourage cooperation. Now that would not be something pleasant at all...not for you, certainly, and honestly not even for me. I prefer discourse to coercion when possible."

...!

The words rang with unfathomably clear threat despite their reasonable tone, settling into Noah’s mind and the minds of all those present with absolute clarity.

Noah’s eyes burned with that sense of enhanced perception The Lens of Civilization provided, analyzing every nuance of THE Living Paradox’s declaration.

He could breathe slightly easier now...not from relief, but from having obtained critical information that suggested a path forward through this impossible situation.

It was horrendous to be told they would not be collapsed at this moment because they were akin to nutrients meant for later consumption.

The comparison to livestock being fattened before slaughter carried implications that made his tyrannical nature bristle with refusal.

But things of the future could always be altered.

The present mattered most, and if immediate collapse was not on the table, then he had breathing room to maneuver.

The question became simpler, though no less challenging: how to avoid being tortured by THE Living Paradox while maintaining enough agency to eventually escape this entire situation?

Existence seemed to shift around them, or perhaps it was merely Noah’s perception adjusting, finding new angles through which to observe the terrible entity before him.

THE Living Paradox waited with patient amusement, clearly expecting response now that assurances had been given.

Noah’s mind worked with crystalline clarity.

He had called for Anaximander and received no answer...that avenue was closed, at least for now.

His own power was insufficient to match an entity with THE distinction. Running would accomplish nothing.

Which left conversation.

Negotiation with a being who viewed him as future sustenance, who had orchestrated catastrophes that collapsed entire Civilizations, who spoke of genocide and enslavement with detachment.

The absurdity would have been laughable if the stakes weren’t absolute.

Around him, his Hunger continued its work on the chains, methodical and patient. Riya stood behind him, silent now but alert.

Khor’s ancient eyes carried understanding mixed with resignation..mshe knew, perhaps better than anyone, what it meant to face THE Living Paradox’s attention.

And the entity itself waited, that terrible smile fixed in place, interested to see what the small child playing with fire would say now that fear had been acknowledged and addressed.

Noah gathered his thoughts, preparing words that would need to be chosen with utmost care, and the weight of the moment pressed down like atmosphere of distant, unknown thing...heavy, alien, barely breathable.

But he would breathe nonetheless.

Because there was fuck all to be done when facing an entity of such a terrifying stature.

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