In the turbulent warp, that chaotic ocean composed of pure emotions, concepts, and possibilities, a generally humanoid silhouette floated silently.
The body of "Terrabyte" was not made of flesh and blood, but of constantly flowing and reorganizing brilliant information streams; data surged through his ethereal veins like blood. His gaze pierced through the veil, observing the scene outside the warp... more precisely, a scene from another universe.
Before him, a light screen unfolded out of thin air, reflecting a picture filled with the desolation of the apocalypse.
In that universe, Earth's sky was covered by eternal dark clouds, and crimson mushroom clouds had long since burned the glory of civilization to ashes. Most of the population died in this world-ending nuclear war, former cities became ruins of steel, and human civilization was almost completely destroyed.
The reason for saying "almost" is because a very small portion of humanity still survived, like tenacious weeds in scorched earth. On this wasteland ravaged by nuclear radiation, they ushered in a new era belonging to violence and martial arts... Yes, it was 'Fist of the North Star'.
"It's still the same," Terrabyte said, looking at the light screen before him, his information-composed face showing no expression, but his voice carried a hint of irresolvable confusion, "I can only watch, not touch..."
"Although I only need the solid information of these universes, the inability to extend my power there is still concerning."
During this time, while the players were defeating enemies in the Mid-Hive and Lower Hive on Perditia, Terrabyte was naturally not idle—he never believed that universes were isolated. Since he could observe and influence another universe's Earth in the Wahammer universe, why not try to observe more universes?
Terrabyte was half successful. Like a fisherman casting a line in a sea of information, he found many new universes besides Earth. But without exception, he couldn't reach out and touch these universes as he could with Earth; it was even difficult to establish a stable observational relationship, only getting a fleeting glimpse—but this fleeting glimpse was enough for Terrabyte to instantly analyze and understand all information about that universe, from every blade of grass to the movement of stars. And for him, a god whose essence is information, this was the greatest benefit.
"But why?" The information flow forming Terrabyte's body began to accelerate, stirring ripples in the warp, "Why can I only establish a stable and deep connection with 'that' Earth? And all other universes can only be glimpsed before quickly passing by?"
"From an information and data perspective, the universe where Earth is located has no fundamental structural difference from all other universes."
"Is my understanding of information, data, and mathematics still too shallow, preventing me from seeing that hidden connection? Or... should I use philosophy, a more emotional perspective, to look at this issue? For example... because that is where I was born? Is it my homeland?"
"But on Earth, there are more than a dozen ways to perceive the world solely from a philosophical perspective, each of which is logically self-consistent, yet none can be ultimately falsified."
Terrabyte's confusion deepened, and the operation of his information flow even showed a slight disorder, "Abandoning falsifiable science, abandoning irrefutable mathematical truths, and instead using a dozen mutually contradictory philosophical perspectives to view the world... I really cannot do it."
If any warp creature, whether benevolent or malevolent (though there seem to be few benevolent creatures in the warp now), knew what Terrabyte was thinking at this moment, they would surely exclaim from their souls: "Dude, are you really a warp god?"
This rejection of emotion, rejection of faith, and immersion in the physical laws and mathematical principles of the material universe... rather than a warp god born from an ocean of emotions, he seemed more like those cold, ancient, logical Star Gods of the material universe.
"...Forget it, I won't think about it anymore." Terrabyte finally waved his hand, and the light screen before him dissipated, transforming into pure data streams that returned to his main body, "Improving my strength is the top priority. It's not too late to consider these metaphysical problems after I possess the power to contend with the Four Gods and protect myself in this sea of chaos."
Some might wonder, Terrabyte can already observe other universes, and even replicate the power systems of other universes through observation, sending them to players as equipment. Isn't this already a multiversal level of existence? Can he not defeat the Chaos Four Gods, who are confined to the single Wahammer universe?
Not so, not so; combat power cannot be calculated that way. Take the DC Universe as an example: Barbatos, as the dark Bat God of the DC Universe, can interfere with multiple universes simultaneously, undoubtedly a multiversal entity. However, Doctor Manhattan, a single-universe level entity, is clearly much stronger than Barbatos.
Moreover, the solid information Terrabyte obtains from other universes does not truly strengthen his power.
If a person is likened to a water glass, then Terrabyte's act of observing other universes is like expanding himself from a 500ml glass to a 1000ml one. But what determines his true strength is how much water is in the glass. Even if Terrabyte observes a thousand universes, turning himself from a glass into a lake, if there's no water in it, it's useless; he can't defeat anyone.
The Chaos Four Gods have existed in this warp for countless years, dating back to the War in Heaven, while Terrabyte has only just been born. Regardless, one must respect their tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of years of seniority.
Terrabyte refocused his attention on Perditia; the macroscopic view of the planet didn't draw much of his notice. What he "saw" was something more fundamental—the total curve of life signatures. That curve, which had once plummeted like a cliff, had now leveled off.
"Hmm, good, the human population has stabilized, no longer declining."
In other words, the rate of Terrabyte's water level rising had also stabilized.
If one were to ask which deities in the vast Wahammer universe cared most about the survival of humanity, then besides the Emperor seated on the Golden Throne, it would probably be Terrabyte.
The Emperor's care for humanity was like that of a sovereign father for his subjects, mixed with responsibility, expectation, and a desire for control.
Terrabyte's "concern" for humanity, however, was much purer and much colder. He was like the shrewdest farmer, and all of humanity was his vast, boundless farm.
If humanity was in an era of peace and prosperity, with civilization flourishing, technology advancing, and an explosive growth in population, then the number of nodes providing him with basic information would increase geometrically, and his strength would surge accordingly.
If humanity fell into an age of war and chaos, struggling to survive amidst gunfire and conflict, then the information each individual could provide would sharply increase. With more information provided by individual humans, his strength would still surge.
Whether in peace or war, as long as the human race was not completely annihilated, he could continuously draw power.
Terrabyte always wins; he's suffering from success.