The further he investigated the (F-) ranked stone, the more he found to readjust and fix. And yet, all this work and time spent netted him very little. The development and growth had come to a screeching halt no matter what he worked on.
It was only after the nth hour he figured a very frustrating fact.
No matter how he readjusted large parts of the power stone, the majority would return to its original state the second he moved onto the next part. It made all the work he had done worthless and a complete waste of time. Or so he thought until he noticed small parts not changing back. They had accepted his code and were in a better state than previously.
{
channel_array {
primary = 0.65
>> 0.67[+0.02]
secondary = 0.62
>> 0.63[+0.01]
tertiary = 0.64
>> 0.65[+0.01]
}}
Further examination brought more clarity to his attempts.
}
power_constants {
alignment =
natural[unchanged]
flow_rate =
standard[minimal_improvement]
core_temp =
stable[no_change]
}}
He could only adjust two aspects of the power stone. The first was the stability matrix. He wasn’t sure what it meant or how it would affect the integration and the activation of the power stones abilities. Then again, when was more stability ever a bad thing. Even more so for an earth type power stone.
The only other thing he could make more efficient was mana consumption. It was part of his great plan in the beginning, so finding he could still do some work on it made the hit a little lighter.
More time passed. Jin-woo was unaware of how long it had been. Fatigue had begun to creep at the edges of his consciousness. Satisfaction kept him going full throttle as he saw the modifications set in. The stone’s power remained modest, but it was his work and struggle that made it better. Even simple enhancements might be the difference between life and death.
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```
error_checks {
stability = 91%
>> 91.4%[marginal]
resonance =
holding[verified]
mana_leak =
-0.2%[improvement minimal]
}
}
{
efficiency.check {
previous = 67%
current = 68.2%
gain = +1.2%[limited by understanding]
// Further modifications may destabilize
core
}}
```
Jin-woo set the earth power stone down. Slight adjustments that gave no hint at what the stone would provide him at the end of it all. He had to hope for something worthwhile. Any upgrade, even tiny, would be welcome.
On the other hand, the Rat Lord’s stone presented an entirely different challenge. It was mutated. He wasn’t sure what they entailed, and he was worried what it could mean. But there was no choice but to start working on it. Graq needed the boost more than him.
He let his SystemArchitect ability hum alive again.
[ACCESSING POWER STONE CORE MATRIX]
[ANALYZING CODE STRUCTURE...]
The code was eerily similar to the earth power stone. There were small parts that changed, but otherwise it was mostly the same. He made notes of every part he found like that. The Rat Lord’s stone was a (F+) ranked strength enhancement power stone.
He now had two distinct types he could maybe one day figure into his coding process to improve what he worked on.
What’s this?
Jin-woo paused his typing. He reached a set of code that made no sense to him. It did not fit anything else he had studied so far. He pressed on it, mentally.
The screen stuttered.
Code began to rapidly change before his eyes.
Jin-woo felt his face heat up and heart hammer in his chest. The original code of the power stone began to change. This was the mutation, Jin-woo figured. And it was not planning to stop. Corruption attacked every line it could get its limbs to. Changes he could not understand.
No! Not again!
This was just like the corrupted code he and Demina had a literal war against. Jin-woo understood that he got lucky escaping the first one. He wasn’t confident they would make it out a second.
“Demina!”
Graq startled from his sleep.
“We need to start now! Before it goes to far!” Jin-woo sat up on his knees.
Silence answered him again. This time it had weight far heavier than he expected. Whatever had mutated and transformed the Rat Lord had left a viral load within the power stone rather than the potential for change he expected.
[ANOMALY DETECTED]
[MUTATION FACTOR: ACTIVE]
[WARNING: STABILITY COMPROMISED]
[IMMEDIATE ACT…]
Graq was now fully awake on the other side of the room. A head tilt was the only reaction he currently had. Jin-woo never noticed him or the system notification. His attention was fully committed to prevent another catastrophe from happening.
“C’mon, Demina!”
She didn’t react to any of his code. The mutation was quick to destroy and change any attempt to contain it. Had it learned from last time? Was Demina being attacked as well? Jin-woo had no clue what was happening, but he refused to stop trying. He was not about to die to code.
No!
It reached the central matrix of the power stone. It now had access to the entire system. His last chance to prevent the previous catastrophe slipped from his hands. He could only watch in horror as it touched the system code and—
The corrupting viral code stopped.
It didn’t attempt to continue to destroy or alter anything else.
What…? That’s it!
```
lord.mutation.core {
mana_distortion = ∫(Ω × F) ? dR where F =
ψ(r,t)?/?m
resonance_state = ERROR[corruption
detected]
stability_matrix = UNSTABLE[experimental
modifications]
efficiency = NULL[core fundamentally
altered]
```
This wasn’t a corrupting code! Well, it was, but not like the one he faced. Jin-woo returned to study the code it had altered. He had activated the mutation instead of the external inputs that would have triggered it in reality. Instead of having to figure out obscure ways to get the mutation to work.
He let out a tired chuckle. Wiped away sweat from his head. And lastly wiped his sweaty palms on a dry patch of his soaked shirt.
No digital cancer. Good.
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[EntireBacklog] Chapters of [AoD]
[EntireBacklog] Chapters of [SterK]
Heroes fail and the Ice Age Apocalypse is nigh. The world turned to a villain in its darkest moments. Said Villain couldn't give a fuck.
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To top it all off, Alex had no players and player guilds to rely on.
Guiyang was murdered by his wife.
Everything was going perfect until the fire kingdom...err...
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[Time Limit : 27 days!]
[Mission: Find a disciple!]
[Failure: Death by Qi Explosion!]
berserk greatsword around. Maybe launch a golden lightning bolt or two. And finally fight the Heavenly Demon!
Being mistaken for an Ancient Predecessor usually resulted in heavenly benefits. Not for James Anderson.
Standing at the precipice of the Isolated Realm. He closed his eyes and jumped.
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