In the endless world, Rowan found himself in a delicate realm filled with aspects of art and intricacy. The world he saw was not an ordinary one but rather a place that seemed to encompass all that was living and dead in a single parallel line.
At that moment, all abstract occurrences began to sway as Rowan was confronted by a sorcerer dressed in peculiar attire, something beyond comprehension. The more he explored this world, the more Rowan felt overwhelmed with confusion, and eventually…
He woke up from his sleep! Oh, it was all just a dream playing out while he slept. Rowan walked out of his room and saw Professor Miguel arranging blueprints for Rowan's clone. The professor's hands moved swiftly and skillfully as he worked.
Rowan had a desire to ask Professor Miguel about how advanced the technology here was. Approaching the professor with a smile on his face, he asked, "Professor, how advanced is the technology here?" Hearing Rowan's question, Professor Miguel replied, "The technology here is highly advanced, even though magic cannot be used. The technology here surpasses magic itself."
Rowan then asked Professor Miguel in a whisper, "What is this technology? And what can it do?" Professor Miguel looked at Rowan and answered, "We have technology capable of creating pocket realities with metaphysical and pataphysical aspects of those realities." The professor continued, "Our control over these realities can be accessed physically, meaning we can enter them and also manipulate their metaphysical and pataphysical aspects to gain a deeper understanding of true reality."
Here, metaphysics refers to a principle that is highly fundamental to reality. For a deeper example, the metaphysical aspect can connect two types of reality: the physical and the abstract. One of these two realities exists beneath a much higher level of reality.
However, the metaphysical traces produced in a lower-dimensional reality can create effects in a far higher-dimensional reality. Metaphysics here uses a complete system of axiomatic operations and assumptions, and it cannot be precisely investigated using conventional logic and truth. Instead, it requires a truth and logic of a very high order, or even one that lies beyond the logic of reality and rests within Meta-Reality.
Pataphysics, on the other hand, is something that lies beyond Metaphysics, and just one aspect of pataphysics is sufficient to surpass Metaphysics entirely, residing beyond complete description. This reality is known as Pata-Reality.
Rowan's mouth dropped open as he listened, unable to believe that a seemingly ordinary civilization, like the cyber realm we know, could possess technology capable of breaking the very laws of reality. In his amazement, Professor Miguel firmly stated, "Enough, don't disturb my work!" Rowan replied quietly, "Alright." He stepped away from Miguel's workspace and, step by step, approached the door to leave the office. Reaching out, Rowan placed his hand on the door handle, slowly opening the door. Just before Rowan stepped out, Professor Miguel said, "Your clone will be ready in two days. Prepare yourself to see it then…"
Rowan paid little attention to what Professor Miguel had said, ignoring it without further questions. He stepped out with his right foot, filled with determination to uncover mysteries or hidden secrets within the sector and the government there. With each step on the gray ground, as if he were walking on the moon, Rowan moved away from the office, heading towards the mysterious fortress of the ancient sorcerers.
On his way there, Rowan stopped as he was confronted by soldiers who appeared to be a special unit assigned to guard the area. From their uniforms, it was clear they were no ordinary soldiers, prioritizing security above all. Rowan opened his mouth and, summoning his courage, asked, "What do you want?" The soldiers replied firmly, raising their weapons toward him, "We are the special forces. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO DARE STEP OUT OF FROM CITY!?"
Rowan remained silent, staring at them sharply, and said, "I'm not an enemy, I'm not a threat—I only wish to go to the neighboring area." The soldiers warned Rowan once again to disperse and leave, but Rowan, defiant, challenged them to a fight, proposing that if he won, he could proceed to the next area; if he lost, he would leave.
But would Rowan lose?
Rowan launched a punch with incredible speed, but… this soldier was not like any he had encountered before. With a single hand, the soldier easily blocked Rowan's punch, channeling the energy into an advanced device and reflecting it back toward him. Rowan managed to withstand the reflected attack, his gaze meeting the soldier's eyes with a sharp look of shock and intensity. The soldier warned Rowan once more, "Disperse or be destroyed!"
Rowan, still unwilling to surrender, attacked the soldier again, this time with his spear. However, the soldiers countered swiftly, blocking the strike with gloved hands that appeared equipped with unique devices. The sharpness of Rowan's spear was powerless against the gloves, as if an invisible, super-strong barrier was shielding them from harm.
The soldier quickly countered Rowan's attack with a punch surrounded by a glowing blue aura, sending Rowan backward. Yet, the blow only struck Rowan's arm and caused no serious injury.
Suddenly, an assault was launched against all of them by sorcerers cloaked in dark red robes, wielding what seemed like advanced technological devices. With the aid of these sophisticated devices, the sorcerers' magical power flooded the area, temporarily turning it into their domain. The surroundings grew dark, shrouded in black smoke, as the sorcerers confronted the soldiers, challenging them to fight right there.
This was the Thal'Zek sect, a ruthless and despicable group, as Professor Miguel had described. With their devices that could only be termed "unimaginable," they easily overwhelmed the soldiers with a combination of unique magic and advanced technology filled with arcane knowledge. One of the sorcerers recognized Rowan and spoke softly, "Ah, noble one whom I have encountered before, what brings you here?"
Rowan paused for a moment before replying, "I seek to find you, the Thal'Zek sect."