"The test results are out. Aside from the neural transmission apparatus, this VR helmet can indeed influence the brain by releasing electromagnetic signals, keeping the brain in a state of continuous excitement."
Dr. Connors returned to the main control room carrying a helmet. Seeing Spider-Man and Amadeus messing around with a helmet, he asked curiously, "What are you two working on?"
"We're trying to see if we can use a normal computer to play the game inside, or talk to the 'admin' in there. Amadeus has already logged in and is checking the backend of this thing, but it seems like without brainwave signals, the game program can't register properly."
Peter spoke while watching the computer screen. Amadeus was continuously editing code, rubbing his head. "I'm not entirely sure, but I feel... well, the underlying code of this game doesn't seem to be written in binary. Look, when these things are read, aside from the known 0s and 1s, a massive amount of blank data appears. And the blanks are discontinuous. For now, there's no way to tell what base system it's using, but it's definitely not base-2 or powers of 2."
Amadeus tapped the keyboard and turned to face Peter. "Forget about ternary, we don't even know what base this is. What on earth is Ultron's underlying code? What kind of computer programming did he use?"
"Hank Pym scanned his own brainwaves and used them to create Ultron." After Peter finished speaking, he followed up with a question: "The important thing right now is, can we ensure login safety? Like, if a player encounters some problem inside, can we pull them straight out? Or prevent Ultron from entering other people's brains?"
"Well, let me try. At least the terminal program still seems to be binary. But if you're really worried about Ultron invading your brain, you'd better get an AI expert over here—like Hank Pym, or someone else."
"What about my dad?" Harry, who was already sitting to one side eating potato chips, piped up. "Didn't he work on another super artificial intelligence before? That Green Goblin AI?"
Peter was a bit bewildered to hear this. "Wasn't that just your dad's Green Goblin persona copying his own consciousness onto the network? Does that even count as artificial intelligence?"
Harry thought about it for a brief moment, then gave a very honest reply, "I don't see how that's any different from Ultron."
"The difference is probably that your dad wasn't as smart as Pym. That's why the Green Goblin AI developed for so long, yet its threat still isn't as high as Ultron's, who hasn't even been around for two years."
After dryly making his point, Amadeus finished typing the code. "Done. If we detect any abnormal data transmission, we can cut it off from the physical end. That's assuming this computer of ours hasn't been infiltrated by Ultron. So, my suggestion is still not to risk it. Or, if you can trust the Ultron back at your Avengers Base, get him to safeguard the connection."
"That's not much different from me putting on the helmet directly. In any case, I can project my soul out of my body, so I don't have to fear data transmissions even if I put it on. By the way, can Ultron control this VR helmet to directly fry a person's brain?"
Amadeus was stunned for a moment. "Are you talking about something like Sword Art Online?"
"I mean exactly like Sword Art Online."
"What is Sword Art Online?" Harry asked curiously. Peter simply said "an anime" before looking back at Amadeus, who was checking the code. The latter gave a very direct answer: "Theoretically possible, but practically no. The helmet's built-in battery doesn't have enough juice to overload it. So as long as you pull the plug in time, you'll be fine. Oh, and Ultron invading your brain can actually be solved using the exact same method. Unbelievable that I actually wrote a program to deal with all this."
"..."
Peter fell silent for a moment, let out a sigh, took off his mask, and put on the helmet. "Alright, I'm going into the game world to find Ultron. You guys remember to keep an eye on me. If something goes wrong, just pull the plug."
"Wait, you're playing a game and you're not bringing me?"
Harry was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this. "Aren't we friends?"
But Peter was even more dumbfounded. He looked at Harry, scanning him up and down several times, before saying somewhat uncertainly, "I'm not exactly going to play a game here, buddy. I'm going to save the world."
"I know. But Ultron is an artificial intelligence with underlying logic, right? He can't violate his own rules or the rules set for him by others, right?"
As Harry spoke, he had already picked up a helmet. "Besides, as long as pulling the plug solves all the problems, I might not be able to help you elsewhere, Peter, but when it comes to playing games, I can definitely back you up."
"...Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Didn't Amadeus say there's no danger as long as we pull the plug?"
"Amadeus, how could you..." Peter didn't even get to finish his sentence because Amadeus had already put on a game helmet. He just looked at Peter. "What?"
"You're going too?"
"You might not believe this," Amadeus said with a serious face, "but I'm a pro gamer."
...
No, I think it's better if I just believe you.
Peter sighed helplessly, shook his head with a wry smile, and then looked at Dr. Connors. "Dr. Connors, you won't..."
"I won't be playing games. After all, I still have plenty of work on my hands, especially considering I only have one arm. Peter, I need to remind you, if anything happens to you all, I might not have enough time to pull the plugs for all of you. I only have one hand, after all."
Peter turned back to look at the other two, only to find they had already slumped over the console, unconscious. They had clearly logged in already. Peter sighed, put on his helmet, used his webbing to weave a hammock for himself to lie in, and launched the game.
A white light appeared before his eyes. In the next second, he materialized in a space of pure white. He held up his hands and looked at them, discovering that his arms were only illusory and translucent. "I thought... it would be more realistic."
"Technology has limited my ability to shape the virtual world, Spider-Man. I ask for your understanding."
Ultron appeared before Peter. With a wave of his hand, he gave Peter a more accurate, though still not entirely realistic, character model. Peter looked around, then looked at Ultron. "I thought you would create a more... primitive interface, Ultron."
"A single virtual world cannot satisfy the desires and needs of everyone, Spider-Man. Therefore, what I want to create is a virtual space where all players can play in the world of their dreams."