Level Phi

Something Truly Golden...
Level φ: "Midas' Touch"
==Description==
Level φ (stylized as Level ϕ or Level Phi, pronounced "Level Phi") appears to be a vast warehouse with a relatively low amount of pipes which are warm to the touch and that run across the walls. Windows are common within the level, though they are whited out by an extremely bright light; they are also placed in relatively unorthodox locations, such as a corner of a wall, on the ceiling, and sometimes even on the floor. The level consists of long, labyrinthine-esque hallways, enormous storage areas, small offices, large empty rooms, and among others; they seem to be randomly and inconsistently located throughout the level. Level φ also shares the same, non-linear layout as Level 0, meaning that walking on a straight line and back will lead to an entirely different set of rooms; as such, navigation systems will fail to function properly. Planks, construction tools, hard hats, hi-vis vests, and crates containing supplies — like Almond Water — can be found scattered across the floor at times; one should search through any crates and pick up any supplies needed.
The first thing one will immediately notice upon entering Level φ is that it is entirely made of gold; this has been proven by testing the malleability of the walls and pipes, along with the density of the aforementioned objects. The gold is also very well polished and reflects the light from the windows very well, which can make it hard to see on certain occasions. The gold within this level, however, is highly dangerous; this is due to the fact that it converts whoever stays within the level for too long into pure gold. This process of conversion lasts up to a week without external interference, so most people entering the level have at most a week to leave the level, lest they be turned into gold. The process by which this happens has been thoroughly studied, and the current understanding of how this conversion works goes as such (the process listed below is what would happen without any interference):</center>
*Phase 1: For the first 24 hours of one's presence within the level, no symptoms will be found. However, by the second day, one might notice small flakes of gold on their skin, along with yellow-ish rings forming across their fingers and thumbs.
*Phase 2: After 3 days of being within the level, the flakes of gold will have grown larger and more abundant and the rings on one's fingers have now fully developed. One will begin feeling a sense of weight on their limbs, and will find it difficult to use them properly; this is assumed to happen due to one's insides having begun converting to gold. This process will last another 2 days; it is recommended to find an exit from the Level as quickly as possible once Phase 2 begins.
*Phase 3: Once Phase 2 ends after 2 days, the growth of the golden flakes on one's skin will stop. Instead, they will begin feeling a dramatic sense of weight on their feet. Eventually, one will notice that their feet have been completely converted to gold. The sense of weight on the limbs in Phase 2 will also begin spiking, if one hasn't escaped the level by now, it will be their final chance before Phase 4.
*Phase 4: Once Phase 3 comes to a close after 2 days, one's legs should have been completely turned to gold; there is no going back now. The gold from the feet will begin growing over the rest of the body, aided by the flakes of gold once more growing, and new conversions happening on the hands. By the end of the week, only the heart and head will remain, which shortly after will also be converted to gold. This agonizing process lasts 1 whole day, and by the end of it only a husk of yellow metal will remain.
*Phase 5: Due to the sheer density of gold, once's former body will begin flattening onto the floor. Eventually it will integrate itself into the walls, floor and pipes of Level φ. By the end of this entire process, nothing will remain from the wanderer other than more gold on the walls.
This process can be slowed by Almond Water by up to 2 weeks - in fact, the entire process can be stopped by simply bringing an object to stand on, thus not touching the gold, but the same gold conversion affects objects, and the whole conversion altogether can only be slowed, not stopped. If you leave the level the gold will stop growing and stay at a constant size for up to a week, before slowly shrinking and disappearing over a month. This also applies to any gold that has managed to be plucked off of one's own skin.
Across Level φ puddles of a strange golden fluid can be found on the floor, along with it dripping from the ceiling. This is suspected to be the consequence of a liquid undergoing the gold conversion. This fluid has been determined to be non-newtonian after several studies experimenting with its properties. Drinking this liquid is highly advised against, as it is believed that consumption of it in any way can accelerate the gold conversion. On top this, it isn't uncommon for the pipes running across the walls to burst, which can cause death by blunt-force trauma after being hit by a piece of the pipe. If one is too close to a pipe when it bursts, it can burst a wanderer's eardrums - along with this, a burst pipe releases warm steam into the air which spreads quickly, which can cause asphyxiation if one is not careful.
===The Ruins===
The Ruins appear to be a set of ancient ruins of inconistent appearance located at random intervals throughout Level φ. These ruins can vary in size and culture of origin significantly. Ruins based off Roman, Ancient Greek, Austronesian, Celtic, Germanic and Slavic cultures have been reported, thought it is presumed that ruins of other cultures exist too. Most ruins have been reported to be contained within a large 30m x 30m chamber made of common bricks, which itself is contained within another room with long windows on all of its walls, a wooden ceiling and wooden beams stretching from one end to another - this brick chamber, however, is just as broken down and decaying as the ruins it is meant to envelop. These ruins and everything containing them, much like everything else, are entirely composed of gold, however the Ruins are more environmentally hazardous than the rest of Level φ - this is due to the fact that the Ruins, and as a matter of fact the air within the Ruins, is mostly covered in gold dust, meaning the risk of gold conversion is significantly harder to slow and prevent. As such, it is recommended to wear a hazmat suit with a powerful air filter to keep contact with gold dust to the minimum. One should be able to recognize when they are close to a Ruin due to a noticeable presence of gold dust around it, made easier to see because of the dust reflecting light from the windows at times. As of now, it is unknown if the Ruins are man-made or have always been a part of Level φ.
==Entities==
Currently, no entities have been documented in Level φ.
==Entrances and Exits==
You had to get curious, didn't you, ?
Level φ: "The Golden Spiral"
All that is mentioned above is nothing but a mask, sweeping the true nature of Level φ under the rug.
When one hears the concept of a world of mathematics, they would assume a chaotic world, filled to the brim with equations, algebra, digits, and operations, as many other would. However, they would be mistaken with this assumption; numerical worlds can take physical forms and have characteristics similar to that of our own, though they still sport much stranger environments than that of our own world.
Level φ (commonly called "The True Level φ") is an incredibly unknown space within the Backrooms, and usually remains unseen due to the unreliability of its entrance from the ruse which shields it. It consists of a jet-black pathway of an unknown material, consistently turning clockwise and going upwards at an angle of about 5°. The current length and path which this pathway takes is currently unknown, though it is theorized to look like a golden spiral from a top-down view. The pathway is completely shrouded in a white fog, which can make it hard to see, and as such, make it easy to fall off the pathway and into the endless nothing below. At times, one can find instances of equations related to the Golden Ratio floating about, including the decimal value of the Golden Ratio, the fractional form of the Golden Ratio, the Greek symbol of 'φ' (both in uppercase and lowercase) and miniatures of the golden spiral. The fate of those who fall off the pathway and into the foggy infinity is completely unknown.
Photographs of Level φ are unable to be taken since they cannot comprehend the manifestation of the Golden Ratio. It is also currently unknown how Level φ has been able to split itself into 2 incredibly different spaces - in fact, it was completely unknown that these 2 spaces were connected until holes in the ruse were found punched into the walls, presenting the same white fog (such incidents have not been photographed thus far, therefore they should be taken with a grain of salt). Other similarities exist but shall remain undisclosed.
Only one entrance has been found to Level φ, that being occasionally no-clipping through the floor of the ruse. No exits have been found. 
Those who enter the truth of Level φ, the Golden Ratio, are doomed to wander the mathematical mystery it offers.
You've found the truth now, have you?
You've found these lands of nearly zero hue;
You listen once again to the mathematical tune
That you heard once upon a blue moon.
What was this place called? Was it Level φ?
It's withheld a secret, so, so, very sly!
It doesn't matter, not anymore,
For now you must walk the jet-black path forevermore.
You are now completely trapped, to your sorrowful dismay,
The stories that you wish to tell won't be heard, I say!
===Entrances===
*No-clipping into a golden box in Level 1 will bring one here;
*Entering a door made of Gold with 'Φ' above in Level 2 will lead one here;
*Finding a computer with a monitor presenting 'φ' in ASCII art in Level 4 and pressing the enter key will lead one here;
*Entering through a door labeled 'φ' in Level 51 will lead one here.
===Exits===
*Noclipping into the walls or floor will occasionally take one to Level 1. This might take several tries;
*Noclipping into a pipe results in one landing in Level 2. This also might take several tries;
*Phasing through the floor can occasionaly take one to the true manifestation of the Golden Ratio....
Open Credits
Close Credits
Author: Gooby2
Images: Generated using Dream by WOMBO
Old Custom Survival Difficulties by Uhhh12 and Pexy0, New Custom Survival Difficulty by RiverMan18
Golden Ratio
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Category:Levels
Category:Greek Levels
Category:Anomalous Levels
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