Chapter 4542: Existence Simply Is! I

In THE Northern Unfurling Node of Existence of THE Creature, Noah and Lumivara began their exploration of the Outer Periphery.

The landscape stretched before them with deceptive serenity. Lush grasslands swayed despite the absence of wind, and flowers bloomed in colors that should not exist naturally. Floating landmasses drifted overhead with slow grace, each one pulsing with concentrated authority.

But beneath this tranquil appearance lay something else entirely.

The atmospheric authority was oppressive in a way that went beyond simple pressure. It felt intentional, as if the domain itself was aware of their presence and tolerated them only provisionally.

Noah’s analytical eyes swept across the environment. He noticed the nine scattered trees more carefully now, having finished dealing with Stellara and gained breathing room to truly observe.

Each tree radiated distinct frequencies of power that his enhanced perception could differentiate. One hummed with electrical potential. Another emanated waves of freezing cold. A third pulsed with rhythmic earth vibrations.

The trees were evenly spaced, and their bark was not normal wood but something crystallized, pulsing with faint light that matched the dominant authority each tree represented.

Most striking were the roots. They extended down into the ground and seemed to penetrate impossibly deep, as if reaching toward something far below the surface layer of this domain.

Lumivara walked beside him in her humanoid form, her fox ears twitching with nervous energy as she took in the environment.

"Master, I only dared to take some fruits before fleeing previously," she said with voice carrying lingering fear from that memory. "The moment I plucked it, the entire domain seemed to focus on me. The pressure became unbearable even in this outer area."

Noah nodded with understanding but continued moving toward the nearest tree.

The tree stood perhaps a hundred meters tall with branches that spread wide like grasping fingers. Heavy with crystalline fruits, each branch bent slightly under their weight.

As Noah approached, he could see the fruits more clearly. They were extraordinary in their construction.

Each fruit was roughly the size of a human head, with a translucent surface that revealed swirling storm patterns contained within. Purple lightning crackled through miniature clouds, creating an eternal tempest frozen in crystal.

These were not natural growths. They were something else entirely.

Noah reached forward, his hand extending toward the nearest fruit.

The moment his fingers made contact with the crystalline surface, the domain reacted with violent immediacy.

The atmospheric pressure spiked dramatically, increasing by orders of magnitude in a single instant. The white light suffusing everything brightened until it became almost blinding.

But instead of crushing Noah as it clearly intended, something unexpected occurred.

His THE Organ of Civilization, that impossible structure rotating within his mind, began ravenously devouring the increased THE authority flooding the atmosphere. It drank in the concentrated power like a starving creature finally finding sustenance!

He plucked the fruit from its branch with deliberate motion, and as it separated from the tree, he activated another capability.

"Lens of Civilization," he said quietly, focusing his enhanced perception on the crystallized fruit in his hand.

New prompts materialized with shocking detail.

|Crystallized Fruit of Storms|

|Classification: Concentrated Sovereign Authority (THE-level)|

|Source Entity: The Storm Bringer|

|Source Entity Status: THE Surface Depth of Absolute Sovereignty|

|Source Entity Current Location: Imprisoned within the Inner Domains of THE Northern Unfurling Node of Existence of THE Creature|

|Authority Concentration: 87.3% purity and continuing refinement|

|Function: Crystallized essence of Storm Sovereignty continuously refined through imprisonment.|

|Warning: Consumption will grant understanding of Storm-based THE concepts.|

Noah’s eyes widened fractionally as he absorbed this information.

A THE entity was actually imprisoned in the inner domains of this place. Not just imprisoned but having their authority continuously extracted and refined into these fruits!

His mind worked rapidly through the implications.

If there were different crystallizations of Sovereignties scattered across just this outer area alone, representing different fundamental concepts, did that not logically mean that multiple entities at THE level of power were currently imprisoned deeper within this domain?

The thought was genuinely terrifying when he considered the scale.

He had already learned from the initial prompts that this place’s primary function was the concentration and preservation of THE Civilizational Authority. That authority at THE level became trapped within this domain and concentrated in increasingly high density the further inward one traveled.

But for it to truly be an active prison that THE Creature was utilizing to hold terrifically powerful entities captive, what was the ultimate goal of such an endeavor?

Noah raised his hand upward as it began to burn with visible waves of blue-gold Mana and obsidian-crimson Hunger intertwined.

"O Creature," he said with voice carrying across the domain, though he knew THE Creature was not present to hear. "Just what were you doing in the Infinite Unfurling? If you were seeking to fully lay your claim onto existence itself, did you use these THE Unfurling Nodes of Existence to trap entities of THE Civilizational Scale for the sake of putting their different Sovereignties under your dominion?"

The question hung in the air without answer.

It was a working theory that he held based on available evidence, but it felt very likely to be the truth as well. The methodology was too systematic, too deliberate to be anything less than a grand design.

But regardless of what the actual truth was, since he found himself here with access to these resources, he would obtain as much benefit as he possibly could alongside gathering critical information before departing.

Noah plucked and brought many Crystallized Fruits of Storms to his mouth and consumed it immediately without hesitation.

The moment the crystallized bundles authority entered his existence, a violent reaction erupted throughout his body.

The Sovereignty of Storms flooded through him like a tidal wave of condensed power. Purple lightning crackled across his skin as winds that could tear apart mountains manifested and then dissipated. The essence of tempests, of atmospheric fury refined to its absolute pinnacle, crashed against his Way of Mana and Hunger.

And his dual Sovereignty systematically broke down and integrated the Storm concepts with ruthless efficiency.

Mana was the foundation of all phenomena, the energy that powered atmospheric interactions. Hunger consumed the storm’s fury and made it fuel for growth. Together, they dismantled the Crystallized Fruit’s concentrated authority and claimed its understanding.

New prompts bloomed before his vision with detailed information.

|CRYSTALLIZED FRUIT OF STORMS CONSUMED|

|Grand Principle Fragments Acquired:|

|- Atmospheric Dominion|

|- Lightning Genesis|

|- Wind Supremacy|

|- Pressure Manipulation|

|- Storm Convergence|

|- Thunder Authority|

|Understanding of Storm-based Sovereignties has been cataloged.|

|Your Way of Mana has been confirmed to supersede storm-based concepts.|

|THE Organ of Civilization is integrating Storm Authority framework.|

|Progress: 1.8%|

|Note: Fundamental understanding of THE-level Storm concepts achieved.|

Noah felt the knowledge settle into his existence with tangible weight. He comprehended how THE Storm Bringer had walked this path and what insights they had gained before their imprisonment.

And most importantly, his THE Organ of Civilization had grown measurably stronger from the integration.

Behind him, Lumivara watched with eyes wide with awe and growing understanding of just how terrifying the Master she had chosen to serve truly was as he threw some fruits over to to her.

"Come on. Remember that I need to fatten you up."

...!

Lumivara blinked rapidly while Noah moved ahead cautiously.

Eight more trees remained in the Outer Periphery!

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