What is logic exactly?
Logic is the structured system of reasoning used to determine what must be true based on the information we have, by applying consistent rules to connect premises and reach valid conclusions.
Over time, these repeated logic conclusions become essentially automatic in people's minds. When we repeatedly experience certain events, we begin to learn their underlying reasons and eventually find no need to think through every single step.
That logic is unconsciously compressed within our minds into quick, intuitive judgements... that is what we call common sense.
However, do gamers care about logic?
Simple answer... no.
As gamers play through countless kinds of games, the logic behind their elements differs in one way or another, even if only in a minuscule detail. Because of this, gamers no longer apply a concrete, established real-world system of logic while playing.
Using it as a foundation, they learn, adapt, and, in rare cases, overturn.
Gamers do not allow themselves to be confined by the boundaries of logic, and if the established rules in every game prevent them from doing something, at least one person will find a way to go beyond them.
If you don't give them a way... they'll make their own.
It had been a number of days now since he had begun developing a... counter of sorts for potential money-obsessed parasites that may come in the future. His plan was relatively simple, and although it had clear flaws, it was the best solution he had.
During these past few days, he had been focused on completing the remaining development of the locations and games within the Playverse that were WIP at the time. After doing so, the first version of the Playverse was ready for launch.
Not only that, the mission for the number of pre-orders for the Dataform Divers had also officially been completed.
Fortunately, the Dataform Divers were typical watch-sized devices despite their advanced technology. Thus, upon receiving them from the mission, he was able to store them compactly in his room until he was ready to ship them out.
"I see, so this is the result..."
Looking down at the coffee table next to his couch, Orion held his chin in thought as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
On the coffee table was what looked to be a golden coin with imagenae on the face of the coin, and next to it was a similar object. However, it was completely distorted and glitching like some kind of image error on a computer.
Observing it for a moment, the coin continued glitching for a few seconds before seemingly phasing out of existence entirely. However, it left remnants of its existence behind in the form of residual glitches that infected the coffee itself.
The spot in which the coin had been placed was also glitching out, though after a few moments, it seemed to stabilise itself, and that section of the coffee table returned to its original stable state.
"I thought as much, but it does confirm my thoughts," Orion muttered to himself after seeing this. "Any unreasonable data that defies this world's logic gets completely wiped out. However, this only happens on things that directly defy them..."
Raising his open hand, Orion looked at what looked to be a crystalline object of sorts, looking somewhat similar to that of a microchip in both shape and size. This was the CFP, or Casual Framework Processor, the main backbone behind the Dataform Diver.
It was what allowed the Dataform Divers to do what they could, to convert reality into data.
When using the Dataform Diver, the device's actual OB value wasn't accounted for in the 5 OBs maximum conversion capacity. However, based on the CFP itself, which took up the majority of the data that made up the diver, it was around 2 OBs.
His data was 1.6 OBs, which, together with bringing forth the CFP into reality, meant that the Dataform Diver translated around 3.6 OBs in total into reality, leaving 1.4 OBs of free capacity out of the 5 OBs cap.
As for the data value of the rest of the Dataform Divers, the amount was insignificant compared to the CFP, the latter was the main bulk of its OBs value.
"This processor is made from causal substrate crystals, but those crystals don't seem to exist in this universe..." As far as he could tell from online searches. "Yet, despite that, unlike with the wishbae coin, this processor is completely stable."
Walking over to his desk, Orion gently placed the CFP down onto the table next to an arrangement of other items. Unlike the CFP, these other items were far simpler in comparison.
One was a perfect cube-shaped block of some kind of white metallic element.
The other was a simple, ordinary apple.
Initially, he had intended to use the Dataform Diver's ability to translate information to complete his first plan. That is creating a widespread version of the Dataform Diver. However, as you can guess, it didn't work out.
Not because it wasn't possible, just that the Dataform Diver itself didn't have enough capacity to translate the necessary OBs that a widespread version would require, not to mention alongside himself.
He hadn't done it yet, but although he could fully create a widespread Dataform Diver in the Playverse, bringing it to reality wasn't possible right now. The only option he really had was to slowly but surely bring the materials needed from the Playverse into reality over time until he had everything he needed.
It would be an incredibly tedious task, especially with whatever variation of the CFP he'd need to create for the widespread Dataform Diver, but at the very least, a certain road was indeed available to him.
Back to the main point though, these two objects were the test subjects.
The apple itself was actually used to see whether he could bring something that starts as data into reality, while the metallic cube was his experimental subject for manipulating basic shapes and also compositional stability.
This metal, used to create the shell of the Dataform Divers, was incredibly durable in any aspect.
However, one point was that it couldn't exist in any form other than the solid state.
Out of curiosity, he changed the code to see what would happen if, without altering it from the ground up, he made the object appear as a liquid. In response, unlike with the wishbae coin, the cube didn't glitch out but instead simply failed to translate entirely.
"Just because it doesn't exist, doesn't mean it won't be accepted..." Orion muttered as he scanned over the countless papers he had written on. "So far, glitching occurs only on things that defy this world's laws."
After numerous experiments, he had come to these simplified conclusions:
1) Data cannot be translated to reality if its source code has contradictions. Such as how the data for the metallic cube was coded to never possibly exist in liquid or gaseous forms, yet its current state was set as a liquid.
2) Anything created that defies the natural laws of this universe automatically gets corrected in the form of glitching out of existence. However, these creations do affect the existing reality during their short-term existence, and these effects automatically correct themselves soon after.
3) As long as creations brought from the Playverse do not defy existing laws of this universe, they won't glitch out. However, whether this is bypassable remains unknown, as they have been shown to appear, even if only for a brief time.
4) Coding creations in the Playverse is a pain in the ass.
Orion found the fourth and final point the most important.
Whether or not he intended to bring something from the virtual space into reality was one thing, but whichever it was, they were both subject to the pain of the in-depth detail needed for something to function properly.
Even for things he never intended to bring to reality, a solid code framework was required as a foundation for the more surface-level details.
As for things that do get translated to reality... he could only imagine the nightmare if he ever decided to do anything specific that wasn't just a copy and paste operation.
"I've gotten completely off topic from what I was originally doing..." Orion rubbed his eyes with clear fatigue on his face. "Then again, it isn't entirely unrelated. At least now I have a general idea of how to create the basics."
Picking up the white metallic cube from the desk, he tossed it up and down casually in one hand.
"For how durable this material is, the weight is surprisingly light." Orion couldn't help but admire as he tapped his nails against the cube's surface. "Not too heavy nor light. What kind of weapon do I wanna make though? A typical gun or blade?"
Before he went on an experimental rampage, his original intention was to create a means of self-protection for himself. He had a number of ideas of what could be done, but the potential risks were a bit too much for his conscience.
Utilising the coding advantages he had, he considered rewriting his own body's code to see if he could greatly increase his physical strength. It was possible from what he could tell, but simply too much of a risk.
Until he became far more familiar with the coding language of the virtual space, he'd avoid changing anything that could pose a massive risk to his own person. Therefore, he opted for the safer alternative.
External protection in the form of weapons and armour.
Armour was still up for consideration, so weapons were the focus until then. The only thing he needed to decide on was what kind of weapon he should or could make. He could go the general route, or something more... unique.
"If I go the simple route, the focus would be more on improving power. Otherwise, I'm better off just buying an existing equivalent. Then again, considering the nature of this world, I need something that can give me the upper edge..."
Conventional weaponry was definitely still used, but it couldn't compare to the more mystical side of this universe. Aeons and Paths were major determinants of power for both the strong and the mediocre.
He hadn't noticed any changes in his person, so as stated some time ago, it was possible he either couldn't resonate with the Paths due to his origins, or there was some other reason behind it.
Whatever it was, even if he did benefit from the Paths, it wasn't obvious.
"Assuming I'm not drawing power from the Paths like Pathstriders, then I at least need something that can help me stand on the same level or even above them...hm?!"
As Orion was seemingly lost in his own thoughts, his attention was immediately attracted to a bright light that was stretching outwards from his closed hand. Unconsciously dropping the metallic cube from his other hand onto the table, Orion jumped back in surprise.
"The hell...?" Although it didn't burn or anything, the bright light coming from his hand made him naturally cautious yet curious. As the light slowly faded, Orion kept his guard up. "...huh? A key?"
Confusion quickly replaced his curiosity as the source of the light was soon revealed, a shiny, intricate silver key with hints of purple aesthetics on the key's bow. It seemed to radiate a constant thin veil of light.
Inspecting it, Orion immediately took notice of the metallic feeling it had, feeling as if he had a cold steel object in his hands.
"Let's see here..." Orion's began glowing as the gears inside his pupils began rotating at a constant speed with seamless motions. After a second or two, they returned to normal. "Strange, I can't analyse anything about this. Is it not made of any metal or alloy?"
Since Mekhane's Blessing had no effect, this naturally meant that the key Orion had wasn't a kind of machine, nor was it composed of any metal. Otherwise, he could've received all the information about it.
"More importantly, where the heck did it come from?" This was what he was most concerned with, it had just appeared out of nowhere without any prior indication aside from a light show. "Was my location compromised? If so, the fuck for?"
Orion highly doubted it was any normal company or other, the means by which the key appeared was obviously not normal. Though if it was, he'd have to question why the hell they used such extraordinary methods to send him a key of all things.
Therefore, it had to be someone or something of significance that had somehow obtained interest in him.
For how the interest was obtained, he honestly couldn't tell.
As far as he was aware, he'd done nothing traceable that would garner any attention.
"Hmm, if my abilities can't get me any info... alright, to the internet."
O-O-O
"Holy shit, I was not expecting to find shit. This is actually... an impressive amount of information."
Looking at the results on his phone, Orion quickly scanned through all of the information that was available regarding any kind of similarity or relevance to the situation he had found himself in.
At first, he honestly didn't expect to actually get any useful results.
If he couldn't find anything on the internet, then he'd see if he could bring the key into the Playverse where he could check the code of the key. He still intended on doing so to see what information he could get aside from what was available online.
Standing corrected, Orion had actually found out that the topic was relatively popular, especially among scholars. There were all kinds of talk about the topic, including people sharing their experiences and more.
"I mean, it's fucking old as shit. Heck, some of these posts are from amber eras ago..." Orion muttered to himself in disbelief. "I guess in a futuristic world like this, it's pretty standard to still have easy access to information from literal decades or even centuries ago."
Although the topic wasn't as explosive as it was decades ago, there were still posts being made about people receiving keys in ways similar to his. Though, there were naturally very few people who believed them.
Though, one thing made him curious.
The keys that these different people who have claimed to have received them differed from one another. Some spoke of pure silver or grey keys, others a lighter blue, and yet none, from what he could see, that fit the appearance of the key he received.
"Stop lying, if someone as smart as you can receive a gift like that from the Erudition, then all of us could... jeez, talk about brutal." Orion hissed when he read the posts. "Erudition, that's the Aeon Nous, right?"
Out of the Aeons, Nous was the one who presided over the Path of the Erudition.
From what he'd read online, the Erudition seemed to be widely regarded as the Path that most of whom are thoughtful, logical, and/or strategic in their actions typically resonate with. Resonate, not necessarily follow.
"So, this key has to do with the Erudition?" Picking up the key, Orion twirled it around his finger from one of the bow's holes. "While I couldn't give a rat's ass about the whole being recognised as smart thing, can it give me power?"
Despite being in direct contact, the key didn't seem to provide him with any changes.
Rather disappointing.
"Of course, there are always the delusional, arrogant ones..." Orion read one of the posts and scoffed with a hint of disdain. "This key means I have reached a level of knowledge belonging to the gods... as if, motherfucker."
Orion was honestly tempted to leave a comment dissing the dude himself.
Who cares if the post was decades ago?
They deserved it.
"A mortal with divine knowledge, sounds like trouble. Heck, it sounds impossible."
Orion wasn't the type to underestimate humankind, but he would never overestimate either. If there was knowledge that belonged and could only be understood solely by the gods, maybe there was a reason why that was the case.
Leaning his elbow on the top of the couch's arm, Orion rested his head against the hand that was holding the key as his other hand continued scrolling through the posts. As he continued reading through them, a visible frown appeared.
"Are mortals really capable of reaching the level of the gods?" Orion muttered this question to himself. "I mean, there's a barrier of existence that separates them. Then again, it depends on whom we call gods."
Gods were simply a term that people used to describe powerful beings.
The definition and level of power of such beings differed depending on who you asked, some were simply called gods due to possessing incredible strength, while others were called because they truly existed in a realm beyond mortal comprehension.
So, whether or not mortals can reach the level of the gods? The answer is no... while also yes.
Personally, Orion saw individuals as gods only if they existed in a realm beyond what mortals can reach or understand. Beings that, no matter what, could never truly be overcome by mortal means.
After all, those means may just be byproducts of the existence of those deities.
Along with everything else.
Laws, logic, destiny... and more.
With the level of brain power that Orion possessed due to his abilities, there was indeed the possibility of one day realising a method of ascending to divinity. However, that doesn't change one true fact... that ability came from Mekhane.
Not even an authority, but a mere blessing.
"In the end..." Orion switched off his phone and released a deep sigh. "...Even if mortals can climb to the entrance to the realm of deities, maybe... just maybe..."
Orion stood up from the couch, tossing his phone down onto the couch as he continued swirling the key around his finger, and began walking away from his couch and towards his desk again.
"...Only that way, in the grand scheme of things, will we eventually understand our own insignificance."
*Beep*
"Huh?"
*Beep... Beep... Beep*
His current plan to bring the key into the Playverse came to a sudden halt when a strange beeping sound, accompanied by the noise of rapid data streams, erupted. He didn't have much time to react properly when a powerful, bright light blasted outwards from the key.
Unconsciously, he gripped the key, stopping its spinning.
Doing so seemed to cause a greater reaction as the key suddenly erupted with a secondary burst of light, this time completely blinding him as everything around him seemed to turn white as he raised his arm up in a useless attempt to block it.
*Beep... Beep*
*...Beep*
"..."
"..."
"...▄██▀▄██▄▄█▄▄▄▄"