The Systemic Lands

Chapter 578: Day 5,052 – Research

“What do you think?” I looked at Jacob Copper who was in a cart-built outpost in the zone next to the damaged one. That was one of the safety procedures, not sleeping in the same zone. I had come out to talk to him about his thoughts on the Sword of Ascalon.

“Without seeing it, it would be hard to say, but it does sound like it has multiple meta-points,” he rubbed his face as he considered the issue. While I had high hopes about taking it out, I was skeptical about a direct battle. I needed a way to defeat the weapon itself, or make sure it didn’t become a threat. While I had some ideas, I decided to ask Jacob while also looking over his research. I didn’t want any mad science to happen.

“The energy density is off the charts, and it made me think of the flesh landscape. How is that research going?” I asked.

“It is most likely a higher-level terrain. The same with those void bubbles. The energy density is immense. That is why anything in contact burns up with the blood and the flesh. High level enchanted equipment hasn’t had much luck and is destroyed quickly,” he explained.

“Are we talking about levels 7 through 9, or above that?” I asked.

“The curve of energy density indicates level 9 is the most likely outcome. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be level 8 or 10. The energy density in terrain types does vary to some extent. Also, it is just a hypothesis at the moment,” he explained. I nodded slowly at that.

“Any way to damage or destroy the terrain, or survive it?” I asked.

“You need a counter level of energy density. The issue is that it is too strong. I don’t think it is the strongest possible based on your description of the shards out in the void. As for damaging, even high-level skills struggle. You might have more luck, but unless you are at the base line of level 7, then I don’t think it would be possible to interact in a truly productive manner with the terrain and easily survive it,” he explained.

“But the lower energy levels aren’t like that,” I muttered while thinking it over.

“Aren’t they? Moving a person with no stats into a high energy level zone has consequences. Also, the jump in terrain difficulty from level 3 to 4. It is just more apparent now, since the gap is much wider based on the exponential difference between levels,” Jacob explained. I took a moment to process that statement and internalize the difference.

The human mind struggled to imagine things of an exponential nature. While we could use math and describe them, having such effects right in front of me was another experience entirely. “Harnessing the energy?” I asked.

“Not easily. It won’t be cost effective. So, no building power lines or battery stations in high level zones to transfer power back. The issue is the interface. I can take a drop of the blood flying about and put it into something, but it isn’t easy,” he let out a sigh.

“And what is the flesh exactly?” I asked.

“No idea,” he said, and I frowned at this. “I don’t have molecular scanners and a database to compare to other creatures. I can say it isn’t human or any other animal meat I compared to in the store, but that is it. Again the problem is based in actually observing the stuff and containing it,” he explained.

“Which brings us back around to the sword. I would like some kind of option. Since I don’t think an annihilation attack will do it,” I explained.

“It depends on the density of the annihilation reaction. If it is like the flesh, then you need at least level 7 attacks. Again, without seeing it and doing a comparative analysis I can’t say for sure. You didn’t see it?”

“No. Unfortunately,” I replied.

“Then I can’t say. If you want to try to jump levels and use equipment, then a null box would be the best option. Or you can figure out its type and try to cause a direct annihilation reaction with its energy make up. The problem is that if it’s like a person, then that won’t be possible,” he said.

“Wouldn’t humans have flesh or life type?” I asked.

“One would think that. But it isn’t so simple. Humans are a composite. It prevents a lot of weaknesses that come from single typing. Even opposing types. It is small but all the types of energy are there in some form I believe. This ties into increasing stat points with energy.” I nodded at him to continue, which he did enthusiastically.

“Energy is thought imbue into the material world as far as I can tell. Stats are a much more refined structure that the various base energy types. You then have various axis and the overall energy chart, which is sphere shaped. I believe that this is the outer expression of something much deeper. Like looking at a square type object in various dimensions. In one dimension you have a line, the energy types. In two dimensions, you have a square, or the axis on the type chart. Then you have a cube, which would be skills, finally stats, which would be a hypercube, or a four-dimensional cube.”

“Stats are really that complex?” I asked.

“For what they do and how easily they do it, then yes. That is also why there is an increasing cost to getting more stat points. It becomes harder and harder to make changes. People are a blank canvas at the start, then the stat points are color on that canvas. Increasing stats is possible, but there is a tremendous risk. Since stats come from energy and energy is thought made manifest, to hold stats one must hold them in their mind.”

“The Almighty System is making changes or is it actively empowering us?” I asked with a touch of concern.

“Subconscious changes. But this implies that the Almighty System has unlimited stat points and would only be limited by different constraints. The power of its thought process to empower itself. It could think itself stronger. The big limitation is probably energy. The two stats that increase on a linear basis. Why are they different?” I had noticed that with my meta-point choice.

“Energy is limited. There is only so much to draw on?” I asked.

“Perhaps. Or there are risks at taking in more energy if one is not prepared. I suspect that there is a stat cap. I am working to put togeather a hypothesis and work out the actual cap if I can, but I strongly suspect there is a cap. There was new aspect of the stats revealed at 1,000 stat points. So probably something at a million and a billion as well. With the sets of three and the presumed max level of 10, I would guess the max stat points per stat are a billion,” Jacob explained.

“A billion, and a cap?” I asked.

“Yes. It isn’t a question of diminishing returns going to zero, but an actual limit of the Almighty System. Even with diminishing returns, there will always be some return. But going to zero, would show the limits.”

“Why not ten billion? Since 1,000 stat points equates to level 4, ten billion would equate to level 10?” I asked.

“It could be that. Again, a lot of speculation, but I am confident, when I say there is a stat cap or power cap. It would come down to processing power of the Almighty System. While I have no doubt it is immense, there is a limit, that I am a hundred percent sure of. That type of flesh terrain is one of those limits. Same with the sword. There is only so much something can be empowered, before the complexity of energy density is too much,” Jacob explained.

“And the shards out there?” I asked.

“Something outside the Almighty System for sure. Again I would have to take a closer look, but I strongly suspect it is not of the Almighty System, since it has broken the level structure.”

“And a meta-point?” I challenged him to see how well his hypothesis would hold up under scrutiny.

“It jumps levels but does not jump this much. All guesswork, but the logic is self-consistent and I am looking to disprove myself. Proper science, which is what you insisted on.” I nodded at this.

“That is good to hear. So, you are saying, don’t worry about the sword?” I asked.

“That would be my suggestion. You are looking at the start of the final climb, but you haven’t started it yet or are just at the very beginning. The gap between each level will get larger and larger and be harder to overcome. But it is logarithmic curve. Working to improve yourself would be the most efficient use of your time,” he suggested.

“Did you advise the Divine Empress the same way?” I asked.

“She didn’t want my advice in the slightest. She wanted new tortures and horrors.” I stared intently at him. I didn’t think he was lying. “Not terrible advice, when I suggest getting stronger to destroy something troublesome.” I chuckled at that, and the tension left.

It was safe advice, but it also made sense. It felt a shame there was a point cap. If it could be confirmed there was a point cap, then I might consider something different for my second meta-point. Very unlikely, since the projected cap was in the billions of points per stat, but it was something I would consider.

I was glad I had decided to keep this man around and not kill him. While he was a piece of scum, as bad as any mad scientist, he was incredibly useful for his insights into energy and how everything worked in this place. The fact he was touching on the limits of the Almighty System was both impressive and scary. The limits were immense, but he was putting togeather a unified theory of how everything worked.

While Doctor Katz was a good person, and a great medical doctor, he was not a true scientist like this former Master Fleshcrafter, now Jacob Copper. One needed to have that drive and ambition to root out and work out the secrets. I could tell he enjoyed this conversation as much as me, getting his ideas questioned and seeing if they held up under scrutiny. He was an actual scientist, more concerned with knowledge than anything else. While he wasn’t trustworthy, I could trust he would look after his own self interests and desires as he had been doing.

“What would be the next step in all of this?” I asked.

“Looking at the shards, but that is forbidden at the moment. Other than that, working on energy transfer techniques, and using crystals to try and manipulate the flesh and void bubbles. I haven’t done much work on the void bubbles. Will need an airship and more funds,” he said.

“Anything you can sell?” I asked.

“That would require looking into other aspects of energy. Specifically, symbology based on hand signs. I have looked into it slightly, but it is not a field that I see too much progress from. Its like we have a computer and are trying to work out how it works by typing on the keyboard, at least that is what symbology is. I am trying to work out the hardware directly,” he explained. That was a good metaphor for the different tracks of research.

“No overlap?” I asked.

“Some, but I am doing fundamental research. Paving the way for other researchers to follow after me and look for practical applications. But that does mean, I am not making a lot designs to sell,” he explained.

“Alright, put togeather what you need to study these void bubbles, a proposal.” He then pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. I looked it over. It was a lot of points, but this kind of research was incredibly important.

‘Approve the funding.’

I made a note and signed off on the bottom of the sheet. That should ensure that it got through any review process. It was great to have absolute power to get things done that I felt were important.