Chapter 4124 That One Second! I
Chapter 4124 That One Second! I
In existence, the measure of time's value depends entirely on who fills it.
In a matter of seconds, some could accomplish what others couldn't achieve in millennia. In thousands of years, others might never match the importance of someone else's single second.
A single...second.
This truth once sparked a conversation between THE Living Emotive and THE Living Origin in the time before time was properly separated from space.
THE Living Emotive had always looked up to THE Living Origin with something approaching respect.
Many things began with Origin's hands...the first spark, the first thought, even emotions had their starting point in that primordial source.
So when curiosity overwhelmed propriety, THE Living Emotive approached with a question that had been building since consciousness learned to question. "In all of Existence," THE Living Emotive asked, its form shifting through spectrums of curiosity, "what has been the singular most important second based on what was accomplished within it?"
THE Living Origin did not pause long before responding, as if this answer had been waiting to be spoken.
"The second when THE Creature gave its Everything to that Inevitability, with THE Living Paradox's guidance. That moment when THE Creature's Everything began to spread, to multiply, to become the foundation for all that would follow...that was the most important second in existence."
THE Living Emotive pulsed with enthusiastic agreement, its form brightening with the particular joy of hearing profound truth confirmed.
But then another question emerged, carried on waves of hope mixed with competition.
"Across all of Existence, are there any important seconds that would come close to what THE Creature accomplished in that single moment? From among us?"
THE Living Origin considered this with the weight of someone who had witnessed every second since seconds began. Then, with the casual cruelty that truth sometimes carries, it responded.
"Across our existence, you- THE Living Emotive, have actually not done much to be deemed important in a singular second compared to all others like us."
The words hung between them with weight that made nearby reality uncomfortable.
And THE Living Origin continued calmly, not even cruelly, as if they were only stating facts.
"Unlike all others, your weavings flow over time. Emotions build over time, accumulate over time, matter over time. THE Living Paradox creates impossibility in an instant. THE Living Dimensional folds space with a thought. But you? Your nature is gradual influence, not momentous change. You will never truly accomplish anything of similar importance in a single second."
"ן
THE Living Emotive absorbed these words as its shade turned livid...not with simple anger but with the complex mixture of hurt, determination, and something darker.
Would it truly never accomplish anything of singular importance? Would its nature condemn it to always being the gradual influence while others achieved instant transformation?
The conversation ended with THE Living Emotive departing, its form roiling with tumultuous emotions that would later be called ambition, resentment, and most dangerously, the need to prove worth through singular action.
Who knew how history was altered because of that conversation? How many cascading changes emerged from THE Living Emotive's wounded pride? Seconds or years...depending on who was involved, the importance of what could be accomplished varied dramatically.
And somewhere in the Earliest Folds, fleeing from forces beyond his current comprehension, Noah was about to discover just how much could be accomplished when seconds were all you had!
As Noah moved toward the Primordial Stone Ape, his mind raced through the shocking changes within him.
Among the most critical revelations was that one hundred of his Towers of Osmont at Third Stage would enable the birth of a Blank Template Seed of a
Principle.
With only 159 towers forged total, he would have access to just a single Principle of his own design.
While it felt stifling, it was also a terrifying thing to even be possible.
Most beings spend eons trying to grasp Lost Forgotten Principles
You're about to CREATE one from scratch
That's like others learning to read while you're writing the dictionary
Your options for Principle foundation are extensive once the Blank Template
Seed of a Principle is formed]
Select any single tower identity: Tyranny, Quintessence, Infinity, Cheats etc. to transform into a principle
Or combine 2-3 identities for a hybrid Principle
Example: Tyranny + Infinity = Principle of Endless Domination
The combinations are limited only by your imagination
Starting access: 1% (standard for new Principles)|
Maturation rate: Dependent on usage and understanding
This is a tool Young Early Creatures would kill for, and you're crafting it while running for your life
...!
Noah absorbed this information while his body moved at speeds that made
space-time nervous.
He had been crossing distances measured in Fold Light Years...a unit of measurement that made regular light years seem quaint.
Regular Light Year: Distance light travels in vacuum in one year
Fold Light Year: Distance across FOLDED space in one year
Conversion rate: 1 Fold Light Year = 100 Regular Light Years
You're currently moving at 0.3 Fold Light Years per second
That's 30 regular light years per second
...!
It was glorious.
The journey required careful navigation through the impossible forest. Noah
spent precious seconds following roundabout routes, cach deviation calculated to avoid something that would end him instantly.
Detecting 3 entities exceeding 10 Quadrillion complexity ahead
Suggested detour: Arc left through dimensional fold 7-Alpha
Time cost: 2.3 additional seconds
Survival probability increase: 67%|
Worth it? Absolutely
He weaved across the grand forest like a snake!
Alternative route calculated|
Pass through Grove of Conceptual Oaks
Warning: Trees there eat memories]
But the 50 Quadrillion entity is sleeping near direct path|
Memory loss vs. instant death-easy choice
Even more detours were made!
The forest itself was a marvel his elevated complexity allowed him to truly
appreciate.
Each tree contained ecosystems that spanned dimensions. The vegetation pulsed with life force so concentrated that a uniquely discovered leaf could revolutionize his Shore's agricultural development.
But luxury of exploration wasn't his to claim. After seventeen seconds of careful navigation through space that didn't want to be navigated, he arrived at his destination.
His heart surged and beat madly.
He felt like he should be exhausted, and yet he was the strongest he had ever been as the power of an Early Creature was intoxicating!
At such a time...Khor's voice that had been silent rang out.
"You are running on a tight rope, Outsider. Be careful that it does not snap."
...!
A warning came!