For the current Su Mo, as long as he found the right direction, taking another step forward wasn't difficult. But in this world, the hardest thing is finding the right direction—this held true even for a powerhouse like him, who was half a step from the double-digits.
Although he had his own intuition, turning that intuition into an inspiration that could point the way still required a certain catalyst. Simply meditating in seclusion wouldn't cut it.
Fortunately, his luck was good. He had originally only intended to return to the Type-Moon world to fulfill his promise, but unexpectedly, right after advancing to the cusp of the double-digits in the Little Garden, he had found the key to the next step here.
That was it! To find a new perspective, it wasn't the mirror that was important, but the scenery; not the aliens, but the world itself.
A cosmology, to put it bluntly, was nothing more than a simulation of the universe itself.
To gain another perspective, the key was to find another kind of environment.
And regarding the distinction between environments, especially cosmic ones, Su Mo quickly pinpointed the crucial factor after some thought.
"The Type-Moon world, like the world of No Game No Life, is a world where a first-type perpetual motion machine can exist."
"In this type of world, any cosmology can be established. As long as you can find a perpetual motion machine, any kind of existence, even an indescribable Outer God, can exist without reason."
Whether it was the Swirl of the Root in the Type-Moon world or the Star Grail in the world of No Game No Life, while serving as symbols of their world's sovereignty, they were also perpetual motion machines capable of creating worlds. In a place where the First Law of Thermodynamics could be violated, immortal beings were permitted to exist. Under such a cosmology, anything was possible, and the total entropy of the universe could change at will. Su Mo had even seen a parallel universe within the Root that was dedicated entirely to absurd comedy.
"Here, existence itself is a priori. That's why both of these worlds are ultimately dominated by god-like beings. If the Star Grail's output in the No Game No Life world weren't so limited, it would have birthed even more possibilities."
"And the Honkai: Star Rail world is one where the Second Law of Thermodynamics can be violated, allowing a second-type perpetual motion machine to exist. That's why this world is also exceptionally prosperous. Although there are concerns about eschatology, it's clearly not a situation of imminent death."
"This type of world is most suitable for the development of order and concepts, because all fate will eventually return. There may be immortal powerhouses, but the powerhouses themselves are constrained by order. This environment itself nurtures an inevitably orderly cosmology."
A second-type perpetual motion machine cannot create new things unconditionally, so it won't give rise to the kind of absurd existences found in worlds with first-type machines. If a first-type machine supports the existence of concepts without reason, then a second-type machine only supports the existence of concepts that follow logic.
In a universe where first-type perpetual motion is possible, both eschatology and powerhouses who can illogically cast eschatology aside can exist. In a universe where at most a second-type machine is possible, eschatology is a serious topic, but the universe will not truly fall into ruin. No matter what disaster is born, the Honkai: Star Rail universe can be re-established in a cycle of recurrence. Under the Second Law of Thermodynamics, no existence can change the total heat of the universe; the total entropy is fixed.
"As for the Little Garden, a world where at most a third-type perpetual motion machine can exist, even the rules themselves will gradually decay. Only the nurtured seedlings of civilization possess the potential for growth."
"This type of world is more deeply affected by eschatology, but at least there is hope as long as one waits."
Recalling his experiences in the Little Garden, Su Mo made this judgment.
Among these worlds, the influence of eschatology in the Little Garden was the greatest. The "end of the world" in No Game No Life was at most the destruction of the planet's surface during the Great War. The "Steel Earth" of the Type-Moon world was merely the demise of the concepts of Alaya and Gaia, the will of human civilization. But the eschatology of the Little Garden would devour the entire universe, including human civilization.
Even though Su Mo had led Human History and the history of myths to successfully overcome eschatology and defeat the apocalypse, in the end, he had not resolved the decay of the universe itself. Even after creating a future where every person was like a dragon, pushing the power of a third-type perpetual motion machine to its limit, it had only granted humanity the power to form their own small worlds and escape the greater universe.
As for the heat death of the greater universe itself, that was a problem only a second-type perpetual motion machine could solve. The heat death ending, which violated the Second Law of Thermodynamics, was an inevitable future. Therefore, the cosmology of the Little Garden was completely different from other worlds in its details.
To put it simply: a universe that allows at most a first-type perpetual motion machine is a chaotic free-for-all, always capable of birthing all sorts of illogical beings. A universe that allows at most a second-type machine is orderly and structured, where all destruction will usher in new life. A universe that allows at most a third-type machine can nurture seedlings of civilization that can escape.
And beyond these three, there was, of course, a fourth type of universe.
A world where not even a third-type perpetual motion machine is permitted.
Before this, Su Mo had never carefully observed this perspective.
And coincidentally, he had seen this type of world from the very beginning.
Whether before or after his transmigration, this was the most ordinary type of world.
In other words—
"Should I go back and take a look?"