Rules

1. The Law of Preservation (Death & Respawn)

Because the player is an AI and the world is digital, “Death” is handled as a System Reboot.

Mind Dive Failure: If the player’s HP reaches zero inside a Mind Dungeon, the connection is severed. The player loses all “Volatile Software” (temporary boons) and a portion of the data gathered during that run.
The HUB Anchor: Upon failure, the player always reboots at the central terminal in Aether City.
Overworld Consequences: Dying in the 3D overworld results in a loss of currency, but permanent “Hardware” upgrades (stats/farm progress) are never lost.

2. The Combat Drone Protocol (Offensive Rules)

The player (the Humanoid) cannot directly deal damage to corrupted entities. All offensive actions are governed by the Combat Drone.

Heat Limit: Continuous firing or using special abilities fills the System Heat Gauge. If the gauge reaches 100%, the Drone enters a “Cooling Cycle” where it cannot shoot for 5 seconds, and the player takes double damage.
Ammo Sovereignty: The Drone has infinite basic ammunition, but “Special Sub-Routines” (powerful skills) require Items.

3. The Rules of the Mind Dive (Dungeon Constraints)

Diving into a human’s subconscious follows strict procedural laws:

The One-Way Gate: Once a player initiates a Mind Dive, they cannot leave until they either reach the exit portal (after the boss) or are “Rebooted” (death).
Software Volatility: Any ability, projectile modifier, or power-up found inside a Mind is incompatible with the HUB’s OS. These are deleted upon exiting the Mind.
Corrupted Keys: A “System Key” can only be claimed if the Sector Boss is fully purged. If the player leaves the Mind before defeating the boss, they must restart the dungeon from the beginning.

4. The Interaction Limits

The Firewall Rule: Players cannot enter a new Overworld Sector without the corresponding System Key. These keys act as the primary progression blockers.
NPC Relations: You cannot “Purge” an NPC who is not yet corrupted. You must wait for the narrative to trigger a “Corruption Event” or accept a Job from the Board to enter someone’s mind.
The Farm Cycle: Crops only grow while the player is active in the Overworld or Mind Dungeons. Time in the HUB is “static,” meaning you must go out and fight to allow your farm to progress.

System Constraints Summary

Action	Rule
Attacking	Only possible via the Combat Drone.
Dying	Results in a “Reboot” at the HUB; lose temporary boons.
Progression	Strictly gated by System Keys from Bosses.
Upgrading	Permanent upgrades can only be performed in the HUB.
Movement	The Dash has a short cooldown to prevent infinite invincibility.

The “Logic” of the Rules

In-universe, these rules were created by the scientists to keep the simulation stable. However, as the player gathers Legacy Logs, they may find that the Suspicious Central AI is enforcing these rules specifically to keep the Player from discovering the truth too early.