1897. Path
The conversation with the old rulers didn't last much longer. They did their best to explain the issue using multiple metaphors, and Noah felt enlightened after hearing all of them. He had experienced insights and caught glimpses of answers in his life, but nothing could compare to his current understanding.
For the first time in his life, Noah didn't only know how to get to the ninth rank. He also understood that level of power in ways that his companions ignored. Even Alexander might fail to reach that knowledge of his current state until he spent millennia experiencing his power.
The issue was as complicated as King Elbas had hinted it to be. It wasn't even a matter of energy or understanding, not mainly at least. The problem came from the frailty of the incomplete superior state achieved through shortcuts and forced training methods.