When Xylos looked through the installation log, he found out that making several changes at the same time would overload his core. He performed several experiments and after a day of trial and error and seeing all the ways he would disintegrate, he found the optimal solution.
It required him to install a "Program", meditate, and practice actions to exercise the installed "program" until his core becomes accustomed to it and ready to handle the next package.
After successfully installing a copy of the "Protector/controller" component on his clone, he decided to try it on himself.
He wrote and compiled the "Protector/controller" program and watched as a light red orb with the program runes floating around it appeared. On the face of the orb, a hand slot labeled "INSTALL" appeared.
Xylos could feel some resonance between the orb floating in the air and his body. It was the first spell he created by him for himself, so it would be the same as increasing the comprehension of his "unique" magic system. This installation packet wouldn't work on anyone else.
He closed his eyes and placed his hand into the slot. He felt something warm flow through his arm and then directly to his chest. A blank spherical canvas seemed to expand from his core and the program runes would flow onto its surface, line by line. During the process, the code would change slightly as it adjusts itself to his core. Once the last line of runes flowed onto the surface of the sphere; the whole surface lit up and the spherical canvas started shrinking back into the core.
Xylos staggered as he gritted his teeth. As the canvas shrunk, every few millimeters he would feel a pulse from his core; ones that resonated in his bones creating a dull pain that seems like the bones were slowly breaking apart and reforming. Under the intense pain, he lost count of how long it lasted but it stopped when a transparent spherical film appeared around his core and the canvas completely disappear.
"Is it done?" Xylos said after wiping off the sweat from his forehead.
"Installation complete. Estimated time for recovery 48 hours, or 12 hours of continuous magic practice." PS000 said.
Releaved, Xylos took a piece of rune paper, wrote, "<var fireball = new Shape(sphere)> <fireball.element=fire> <fireball.element.concentration=0.25><fireball.radius = 10> <fireball.acceleration=1><fireball.duration=10>" Then, he conjured a solid illusion of a dummy about 50m away, aimed the scroll at it and compiled the spell. Instantly, a ball of fire burst out from the scroll and collided with the dummy leaving a scorch mark with a radius of about 5 cm.
"Display spell information for 'Small Fireball'" Xylos said
Name: Small Fireball
Lethality: 2 (Might cause a light burn)
Mana cost: 50 (10+20+4+11+5)
Life cost: 0
Modifiers: small
Description: An fireball created by an amateur
He smiled as he looked at the results; The lifeforce cost was reduced to 0. He then inspected his core. Near the surface of the protective sphere, on the inside, a cloud of white lights appeared. Focusing on those lights he also felt a minor pressure from them as if something was pushing against the film. He focused on the cloud and after a while and they slowly dispersed returning to the core.
He then forced this clone to cast spells continuously. After watching the clone becoming more and more sluggish before ultimately dissipating, Xylos found out that the "Protector/Controller" component is working, but there is a limit to how much mana he can use before it starts to limit his actions. At 50% capacity, his body would feel slightly sluggish for every point above that capping out at 100% where he would be unable to move. Beyond 100% the Protective sphere will glow red and starts showing gaps which his lifeforce would leak out. At 200%, the Protective sphere breaks and his core dissipates soon after. He shook his head to break himself out of fear and focused on consolidating the Installed package.
For the next 24 hours, he would create and cast a spell that would push the capacity of the controller to about 50% and then he would make use of the illusions on the stage to create and simulate various programs so that he can put them in a package, so that instead of writing out the characteristics of each spell he could just write "CastFireBall(intensity=10, size=100, speed=...)" and the spell would cast with all the required properties. He knew that he would be able to store them once he got the whole system set up and started making "Software" for his core.
When he got stuck or tried, he would eat some food and then search the residential area for things that he can remove and repurpose. With all the tools that he can imagine and make use of on the stage, he would be able to turn metal or similar junk into weapons and equipment.
By the time he recovered from the first installation, he created several new "Programs" and stored them inside PS000, hoping that he would be able to copy and use them in the future. The more "Programs" he created, the more possibilities he unearthed.
As for tools, with things he collected from the residential area, the best he could create was a hollow metal tube with a sharp end, a wooden vest that looked like a signboard, and a shield made from a manhole. Looking at the end result made him kneel over in despair. None of what he created would be of use in a world where everyone probably has, at least, some form of innate protective field that would prevent damage from mundane weapons.
He looked at the manhole, then at the bottle of ink and after a moment of thought decided to write the program <Element = Light> <if (mana.Enters), Light.Intensity=100 else Light.Intensity=0 end> on the front. He then focused and projected some mana to the shield. A moment later, the shield lit up with a blinding beam of light, and a notable amount of mana passed through his body. He thought that was it but the shield kept using mana from his body to maintain the light, and Xylos was forced to toss it away before his core activity reached 70%.
He waited several minutes for the dense cloud of white particles inside the "Protector" to slowly disappear before letting out a sigh of relief. Reflecting on what happened, he found out that he is able to draw "programs" on any surface, but the moment he activates the program it would enter an endless loop unless he disconnects from it.
It was dangerous to use but it would be a good way to activate magic programs instantly in any situation; all he has to do is to make sure that the program will "break" automatically after it fulfilled its purpose.
After recording the enchanting process, Xylos checked his body and noticed that the Protector looked firmer and more solid than before.
"Is my Core ready for the next package?" Xylos said
"Scanning...Your Core is ready for the next package." PS000 said
"Great, pull up package 'RAM' " Xylos said and proceeded to copy the program 'Ram' on a piece of rune paper...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Observatory
"He has been inside that book for two weeks already." Tyler cried out, "Do you think something happened?"
The Supervisor fast-forwarded the recording from the beginning and as expected, for the last two weeks ARTH 737 never appeared outside the book.
"Hmm, well as magic entities, they don't actually need food or replenishment to survive. As long as there is mana in their surroundings, and their identity remains intact, they can live forever." The Supervisor said
"There is no harm in watching it for longer. If one-month passes we'll invite over a specialist to take a look until then..."
Before he could finish a loud boom shook the building and alarm flared up in the facility.
"Report, what happened?" The Supervisor shouted into his communicator.
In the midst of the sounds of struggle, a voice said, "The main entrance has been breached and a squad of Legendaries has infiltrated the facility. All our guards have been subdued and they are heading to..." before the voice can finish, the communicator cut out and the whole facility went dark, a loud boom and a few seconds later the lights turned back on and they were left with only silence.
"What happened?" The Supervisor said and noticed right away that the book was missing from the screen.
"What the hell was that book? Who would gather a squad of Legendaries just to steal a book?" He calmed down and said, "Check for casualties, and gather all observation data and send it Life Plus HQ, I want to know which Corporation that squad belongs to. Intern, you can take the rest of the day off."
The moment Tyler heard "day off" he was shocked back into reality, "Ah, okay"
------------------------------------------------------------
Several other places
"We've detected a fragment of Vos, and it is moving with high speed to the north. We also detected the signatures of squad of Legendaries around it. Should we intercept?"