On the Subject of Abyss

SPHERICAL!

This module initially presents two rows of eight letters which, when concatenated into a string of length 16, is called the “seed”. There is also a “Ready” button underneath it, which you should not press yet. The goal of this module is to submit an 8-digit code back to the module, based on the seed. Entering an incorrect code will cause a strike, but will not change the seed.

Finding the Code

Follow the below steps to get the 8-digit code:

1. Divide the seed into eight pairs of characters.
2. Assuming that these pairs represent base 52 numbers, convert them from base 52 to base 10 (A = 0, B = 1... Z = 25, a = 26... z = 51).
3. If any of the obtained numbers is less than 4 digits long, prepend them with 0s.
4. Concatenate these numbers into a 32-digit string.
5. Swap every pair of digits, where pairs are formed as described below:
   • If the amount of batteries is odd, pair digits 1 & 2, digits 3 & 4, et cetera.
   • Otherwise, swap digits 2 & 3, 4 & 5, et cetera. Make sure to also pair digits 32 & 1.
6. Divide the obtained string into eight groups of four digits.
7. Perform swaps on these groups as follows. If the third and sixth digits of the serial number are...
   • ...both odd, swap groups 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 and 7 & 8.
   • ...odd and even, swap groups 1 & 3, 2 & 4, 5 & 7 and 6 & 8.
   • ...even and odd, swap groups 1 & 5, 2 & 6, 3 & 7 and 4 & 8.
   • ...both even, swap groups 1 & 8, 2 & 7, 3 & 6 and 4 & 5.
8. Cycle each digit in each group forwards by the amount of ports (e.g. with 1 port, 1234 = 4123).
9. For each character in the first half of the serial number:
   • If it’s less than 5 or before N in the alphabet, remove the right half of the string.
   • Otherwise, remove the left half of the string.
10. Starting again with the full 32-digit string, perform the same process a second time using the second half of the serial number.
11. If the second quadruple that you get is the same as the first, use the next one in reading order (in the string from step 8), wrapping around if necessary.

You should now be left with eight digits. This is your final code. You may now press the “Ready” button.

Continued on the next page...

How to Input the Code

Once you press the “Ready” button, the seed and button will disappear and, in their place, a floating sphere will materialise. It is crucial that you do not hover over the sphere for over one second; this is needed for input.

From now on, hovering over the sphere for over one second will be referred to as “overdriving” it. While the sphere is overdriven, unhighlighting it will be referred to as “easing” it.

To enter a digit, overdrive the sphere without pressing it beforehand. Then, before easing it, press it N times, where N is the digit you wish to enter. You can press the sphere more than 9 times before easing it, but you will still enter a 9 regardless. If the digit is not 0, it does not matter whether or not you press the sphere before it is overdriven; the digit will still be entered regardless.

Some functions require the sphere to be pressed before it is overdriven, then not pressed afterwards before easing it. These functions are:

• Submit your current input - 1 press (this is where the module will strike if the input is incorrect)
• Delete the last digit of your current input - 2 presses
• Clear your current input - 3 presses

The sphere will show the last digit that you have entered.