(Couple of thoughts about layer 3) I would read the story of XVI with a high degree of confidence as a story of the dynamics of pure reason and will. Of course, in this matter the writers chose voluntarism as the winner. Just as Clive represents the pure will, thirsty for life, overcoming barriers and stubborn with unreasonable resistance, so Ultima represents the pure and cold mind, thinking only of a New Age of Reasoning. Unifying, purifying and erasing all differences (which is particularly well emphasized in Ultima's final image - Ultimalius: a collective of beings united in one body so that all differences are erased, and these beings themselves individually are indistinguishable from one another also), and in its natural desire to elevate and seclude itself in an ivory tower above everything, in its own striving for totality and ideal (the world of Ultima is his ultimate, his FINAL FANTASY) the mind becomes tyrannical in the cold light of its own lonely reflections. This aspect of the mind/pure reason has been discussed in world culture, but I'm not gonna stop on that.

I will also briefly note that in the course of the story, Clive's dynamic is a bottom-up dynamic - the dynamic of will ascending to reason and becoming self-aware. The Mythos/Logos distinction is tied to this ascent from a state of blind religious piety and belief in myths / fairy tales to something conscious. Although this dynamic is poorly realized in Clive, it is, so to speak, outlined in his story. Ultima's dynamic for the realization of his plan, in turn, is top-down. This is the descent of pure reason to the attainment of will. It is for this reason that Ultimalius - the full form of Ultina - in the final battle begins to express visible emotions during the fight with Clive. He's really starting to get angry, mind you.

(4/?)