Ryan continues his work on expanding his influence over the power within him. His ultimate goal is to control this newfound ability even without the aid of chaos, but he knows that’s a long shot. Right now, he is still incredibly weak in terms of power, and the unfortunate truth is that no one can help him with this. He is alone in this endeavor. There are no guides, no books, no mentors to teach him how to harness the energy within himself. This power is unique to him—born from circumstances no one else has ever experienced.
He spends hours focusing on the strange energy that allows him to travel through the multiverse, trying to understand its nature. How does it work? How does it interact with the fabric of reality? The ability itself is tied to chaos, but is it truly the only way? Can he refine it, control it more precisely? Right now, every time he uses it, it feels like he's barely grasping at something elusive, something intangible. It takes immense concentration, and even then, the success rate is inconsistent. He knows that with practice, it might become second nature, but at this stage, it is still beyond his complete understanding.
As Ryan experiments, another thought crosses his mind: What about the universes that are not yet affected by Infinitum Chaos? He has been so focused on universes already under attack that he has not considered those that remain untouched—at least, for now. Could there be universes still thriving? Perhaps even ones with civilizations that have never encountered chaos before? If so, why has chaos not reached them yet? Or is it simply a matter of time?
To find out, Ryan carefully studies the infinite web of universes before him. He looks for branches that are still bright, those that shine with untainted light. These are the universes where Infinitum Chaos has yet to strike—or at least, it seems that way. As he observes, he realizes something unsettling. The universes still full of light appear to be completely unaffected, but that does not mean they are safe. The nature of time is different for each universe. Chaos does not spread in a linear fashion. What if some universes are simply waiting for their turn? What if chaos has already reached them, but their timeline has not yet caught up?
This thought troubles him. If chaos truly operates outside the boundaries of time, then it might already be present in every universe—just waiting to manifest.
Ryan shifts his focus back to his own universe, examining it closely. He notices something surprising. Despite everything, there are still civilizations present, and some of them have advanced to a higher level. He can see civilizations that fall within the range of Type 2 or even early Type 3. They seem peaceful, their influence spreading across their galaxies, but they are nowhere near the level of the Type 4 civilization that the Frontier crew was thrown into.
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This realization is both reassuring and alarming. It’s good to see that not every universe is immediately consumed the moment they reach a higher civilization level. Some still thrive. But at the same time, it makes him wonder—what determines when a universe will be attacked? Does Infinitum Chaos target universes randomly, or is there a pattern?
Ryan considers the implications. If chaos was an entirely random phenomenon, it would have affected all universes equally. But that’s not what he sees. Instead, it appears as if universes are targeted selectively. Could it be that chaos only attacks once a civilization surpasses a certain threshold? Perhaps once a civilization reaches Type 3 or beyond, they draw its attention.
He needs more data.
Ryan begins searching through the endless multiverse, trying to locate a universe that has a civilization at or beyond Type 3. If his theory is correct, then such a universe should either already be under attack or be on the verge of experiencing its first chaos event. But the search proves to be far more difficult than he anticipated.
Finding a specific universe within an infinite multiverse is nearly impossible. It’s like searching for a single grain of sand in an endless desert. The sheer number of universes makes it a daunting task, and the more he searches, the more he realizes just how insignificant his perspective is in the grand scheme of things. He is but one individual in a boundless reality, trying to make sense of forces beyond his comprehension.
After an exhausting amount of searching, he is still unable to find a single universe with an advanced civilization beyond Type 3 that remains untouched by chaos. This could mean one of two things: either these civilizations do exist, but he is unable to locate them, or they simply don’t exist at all—because chaos has already eradicated them.
The latter thought is unsettling. What if no civilization is ever allowed to reach Type 4 naturally? What if Infinitum Chaos is the enforcer of a multiversal law, ensuring that no civilization ever surpasses a certain level of advancement? If that is the case, then the Type 4 civilization that the Frontier crew encountered is an anomly somehow but still aught with chaos finally.
Ryan takes a step back, thinking deeply about everything he has learned so far. There is so much he still doesn’t know, and that is what makes this entire situation so dangerous. He has theories, but no solid proof. He has power, but no mastery over it. He has questions, but no answers.
One thing is clear—if he wants to survive, he must become stronger. The Monarch government is already beyond any hope for him, and the Type 4 civilization is completely beyond his capabilities. If he were to face even type 1 Civilzation now, he would be nothing more than an insect in their eyes. He cannot afford to be reckless.
His only option is to continue observing, learning, and growing. The answers are out there, hidden among the infinite universes.
For now, though, his search for a higher civilization remains fruitless. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot find a single universe where a civilization has progressed beyond Type 3 without being wiped out by chaos.
And that, more than anything, tells him that his theory might just be correct.
Infinitum Chaos isn’t random.
It’s a universal enforcer, ensuring that no civilization ever rises too high.