An "Authority" wasn't just a way to deepen one's control over laws of nature—it also provided a method to continuously obtain source power, which could be converted into divine power.
In other words, it was a limitless energy tap.
That made it essential for Souta.
Right now, he had three choices in front of him:
Souta didn't rush his decision.
Before choosing, he needed to understand one thing: how exactly does an authority help him obtain source power?
In the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, Mystra is the goddess of magic and holds dominion over the Weave, the fundamental fabric through which arcane magic flows in the Forgotten Realms setting. As the God responsible for maintaining and regulating the Weave, Mystra gains divine power from its use by spellcasters.
But "Time" as a domain? That couldn't be so convenient.
Could it really be that he'd only gain source power when someone else tampered with time?
If that were the case, he might as well keep collecting faith the old-fashioned way.
How many people even manipulate time?
After thinking it over, he decided to ask the system.
Souta: "System, if I develop a time authority, how do I obtain source power?"
[If you think of time as a great river, then the energy that pushes that river to flow is source power.]
[To extract source power through the time authority, the host must interfere with the flow.]
Souta: "Interfere with time to extract it?"
He had a guess, but wanted to confirm.
Souta: "Specifically, how?"
[If the host pauses time, that part of the river stops flowing—its pushing force is idle, and can be absorbed.]
[Slowing time means less source power is needed—so the leftover energy can be claimed.]
[Reversing time lets you extract the source power already spent.]
Souta was speechless.
Why did this explanation sound so... weird?
Souta: "What about accelerating time?"
[That's helping time flow—so the world pays you for doing its job. You get that energy.]
Souta: "So basically, any manipulation of time lets me harvest source power?"
[Yes. However, casual interference yields only a little.]
[The host can also develop time-based divine techniques. When believers use them to interfere with time, you'll receive source power.]
Souta: "Oh? So others can generate it for me too..."
Now that was a surprise.
It combined the benefits of both old and new gods in the D&D system.
Souta: "One more thing—interfering with time costs divine power, right? So the net gain is positive?"
That answer put Souta at ease.
If he had to spend 1 unit to get 1 unit back, it would've been pointless.
But this was clearly profitable—even during battle, he could replenish himself.
Souta: "If time is so efficient... then I'll choose 'matter' first."
Kurumi was on the fast track to becoming a powerhouse with her evolving Zafkiel, so he didn't need time powers for combat—he could coast with her support.
As for collecting source power...
If time was that effective, matter should be just as good.
And with matter control, he could help friends enhance their bodies—like altering Kurumi's Sephiral Crystal or modifying Nezuko's bone marrow to boost blood generation.
More importantly, when fully developed, "matter authority" could offer even greater direct combat power.
Kurumi could freeze time. Souta would handle the offense.
Souta: "I'll save time authority for next. Once I can generate divine power through matter, and boost it further with points, I'll unlock time right after."
He turned back to the system.
Souta: "If I evolve my matter creation into a authority, is its source power efficiency on par with time?"
[Once the host possesses the matter authority, creating mass or energy substitutes the work of source power, allowing continuous gain. Interfering with the four fundamental forces of the universe also grants source power.]
Souta: "Wait, what!? The four fundamental forces? What do they have to do with matter?"
Creating energy or mass made sense—they were interconvertible.
So technically, matter authority covered both mass and energy.
But how did fundamental forces like gravity and electromagnetism fit in?
[Because your created matter exists the way you perceive it—thanks to those forces. Why doesn't your steamroller fall apart?]
[Matter authority encompasses the application of the four forces. However, the host must develop this on their own.]
Souta: "So I can gain source power by manipulating fundamental forces too..."
That sealed the deal.
He immediately exchanged 1,000 points for 10 minutes of support function time.
The moment it activated, his mind cleared like never before.
His cognitive functions shot through the roof—he calculated long, complex equations instantly without even trying.
He could visualize energy flow. He felt the conversion of food into energy within his own body.
Information poured into his brain like a flood.
His head throbbed as if it were about to explode.
"This is 'comprehension'? More like torture..."
Still, he didn't complain. He had just ten minutes—every second counted.
He focused, searching through the data stream for everything related to "matter."
Sensing his intention, the system assisted—and he was plunged into the sea of fundamental laws.
Time flew. Minutes felt like seconds.
When Souta came back to his senses, fifty minutes had passed.
He had capped himself at 5,000 points, since he still needed to save for Miku's invitation.
Souta: "This feature is insane."
A golden glint shimmered in his eyes.
His divine aura had taken on a new, heavier quality—as though it were becoming tangible.
He glanced at his coffee table—and instantly knew its material makeup.
By focusing a little more, he could vaguely perceive the microscopic structure within it.
Souta: "Let's test the creation cost now."
He moved from his apartment into the sky in a flash.
After masking himself from satellites with divine force, he raised one hand—and a steamroller appeared, floating effortlessly above him.
Souta: "Consumption dropped by nearly 90%."
He looked at a nearby cloud, gestured gently—and it floated toward him, shifting into shapes at his command.
Clouds were made of water vapor condensed into droplets or crystals—visible, floating matter.
Yes—Souta could now manipulate external matter.
Souta: "If I fully evolve this authority, I might not need any divine power for basic manipulation. Just thought alone."
He felt himself becoming more godlike by the second.
He could summon storms with ease.
Control nature with a glance.