Level 78

Level 78 is the 79th level of The Backrooms.
==Description==
Level 78, otherwise known as "Psychological Planet," takes the appearance of a large grassland with an unnatural layout. Hills, mountains, valleys, and fluctuations in the level's elevation are excessively common within the level, making it difficult to traverse without getting lost. Winding asphalt roads stretch across the vast majority of the grassland, typically ending in intersections which open up to numerous other areas with completely identical appearances to the rest. The level is suspended in a "fake," bright blue sky lacking stars and other observable objects. Additionally, Level 78 is set in a perpetual state of daytime, though events that change the sky's appearance frequently happen, giving wanderers the illusion that it is night. 
This level is notable for sharing many similarities with the dreamcore aesthetic, a surrealist aesthetic that uses media commonly associated with dreams, daydreams, and sometimes even nightmares. However, it is unknown how Level 78 is able to utilize the dreamcore aesthetic, as reports of the level existing heavily predate the earliest media associated with dreamcore. Some think that the level might have only got its surrealist properties after dreamcore started becoming relevant, or that it is just another of The Backrooms' unexplainable phenomena. Few theorize that the level somehow time traveled and obtained the aesthetics characteristics, thought this is near unfathomable as time within Level 78 progresses slower than usual. 
While its size is currently undetermined, Level 78 is, unlike most levels of The Backrooms, known to be finite. The level's end has never been reached, though many individuals have reported spotting a point where the grassland abruptly ends. Level 78's shape is undiscovered, though it is thought to be similar to a planet, specifically Earth.
It is unknown how time functions within this level, though it is known to not operate in the same way as time within The Frontrooms. The level additionally orbits its own sun, dubbed The Smile Sun, yet it moves noticeably slower than how it would in The Frontrooms. Because of this, time passes slower than usual, with one minute spent within this level amounting to approximately ten minutes spent within The Frontrooms. 
Starting about six kilometers from one's starting point, houses of varying size and structure will start appearing seemingly out of nowhere, forming smalls streets along with cul-de-sacs in the process of doing so. The housing buildings are always locked, and all windows which would reveal their interior are blacked out. Non-functioning streetlights will rarely spawn among the houses, though they have no practical purpose as the level never experiences night. For unknown reasons, the sun will start disappearing and reappearing at random intervals, yet the level will remain illuminated during these events. 
Additionally, miscellaneous objects and buildings such as: religious structures, particularly churches and mosques, pylons, barrels, et cetera can also be encountered within this level. They may rarely spawn among the housing buildings while they start appearing, or they may spawn on their own. Like the majority of the level, they are located in areas in which they could be considered "out-of-place". As with the housing buildings, the miscellaneous structures are mostly locked, though few of them can be entered. Their interior replicates that of their interior within The Frontrooms, save for the occasional ones which are empty. 
The level's roads are infested with traffic signs displaying various things. They seem to be placed "randomly" across the landscape, even in areas lacking roads. These signs seem to not correlate with what is located on the roads; for example, a traffic sign noting that rocks are located on the road will be placed adjacent to a road, though no rocks will be present on that exact road. 
After one explores for a long period of time, they will inevitably approach the level's end. This area, at first, does not contain any noticeable characteristics that would differentiate it from the others, except for the fact that it is where the level ends. However, this location should not be approached under any circumstances, as the ground moves in an undulating and distorted pattern, causing enormous tidal waves to ripple across the grasslands with every step one takes. This can be incredibly frightening and disorienting, which causes most wanderers who reach this point to turn back in terror. Additionally, this is the area where Eyes begin to manifest naturally; they will immediately start pursuing wanderers who have somehow managed to survive this far into the level. 
==Photo-Ocular Syneresis==
Photo-Ocular Syneresis, additionally known as Phenomena 78, is the name given to an anomalous photographic effect that occurs exclusively within Level 78 and related levels. This phenomena manifests as a random messages that appears on most photographs of this level. The messages display a wide variety of different things, appearing in different fonts, sizes, and colors. They can either take the form of a positive, neutral, or negative message, which can greatly impact a wanderer's mental health depending on the severity of the negativity. While they mainly manifest within photographs and media, few wanderers have reported seeing cases of Photo-Ocular Syneresis while generally exploring the level as well. 
If a wanderer is to spend too much time looking at a Photo-Ocular Syneresis-affected photograph, Eyes will start spawning in random areas of the photo. If the wanderer refuses to turn away and continues looking at the Eyes, the Eyes will manifest physically within a radius of roughly two meters from the photo. It is thought that this is how all Eyes within Level 78 are created, though these claims remain unconfirmed. 
Photo-Ocular Syneresis can, under rare circumstances, affect other parts of a photograph. For example, in the image provided, the sky is completely black. Due to the picture still containing light, it is safe to say that Photo-Ocular Syneresis additionally edited the sky, intentionally or not. 
Photographs affected by Photo-Ocular Syneresis can be highly valuable outside this level, though also highly illegal in many areas of the Backrooms, as they can be used to summon Eyes in levels outside of Level 78. These photographs are most often weaponized by clever wanderers when under attack by hostile groups or entities, both as a distraction and as a form of psychological warfare.
==Entities==
<tabber>
|-| The Smile Sun= 
The Smile Sun is the most noticeable entity on this level, and the first entity that will be encountered. It lingers high in the sky, perpetually smiling. The "sun" seems to be oddly colored, similar to a jumbled mash of randomly-colored paint with a smiling face overlaid on top. 
This entity is present the second one enters the level, and it will be for the entirety of one's stay. Although The Smile Sun isn't overly hostile, staring at it for a prolonged period of time can inflict damage upon an individual's mental health, and it can cause serious damage to one's vision and hearing ability.
Avoiding this entity is nearly impossible, as no matter which direction one looks, it has the anomalous ability to always be somewhere in their line of sight as long as they are looking at the sky.
|-| Shrooms=
Shrooms are beings that are known for being able to, without warning, spout out of the ground at random intervals. As their name suggest, they take the form of normal mushrooms, bearing no noticeable characteristics that differentiate them from those found within The Frontrooms. Observing the creatures for more than 30 seconds will cause the Shrooms to develop eyeballs, which if themselves are viewed for more than 30 seconds, will result in the observer becoming intoxicated in a manner similar to the effect of psychedelic mushrooms. This can induce a state of panic and paranoia in those under the influence of the Shrooms. 
Shrooms have a tendency to grow around individuals who are in a state of panic or fear, and will sprout in pursuit of Wanderers who are running in terror, leaving a trail of mushrooms in their wake. Though frightening, these Shroom Trails can be used to find exits to the level.
However, it is advised to not take and eat any mushrooms from the trail, because there may potentially be unknown effects that can make a wanderer suffer from even more psychological damage while within Level 78.
|-| Smile Killer=
The Smile Killer is a towering humanoid figure (estimated to be 6ft 8 inches tall) that wields a sizeable hammer in its hand. It is typically depicted as a person wearing a mask with a happy face on it, similar to the one of the Smiling Sun. This entity will only appear whenever the Smiling Sun is missing from the sky, leading some to believe the two to be linked in an unknown way.
Every wanderer that has encountered this entity has claimed to have been temporarily hypnotized and paralyzed with fear when gazing upon the mask of the Smile Killer. Since the Smile Killer only appears momentarily whenever the sun disappears from the sky, this will result in the slow deterioration of a Wanderers mental state until they are either killed by the Smile Killer, or until they commit suicide.
The usage of the hammer is relatively unknown, though most think that it is used to kill victims. Due to there being limited cases of wanderers surviving encounters within this entity, information about its method of attack is scarce.
|-| Eyes=
The Eyes are entities that, oddly, solely attack mentally stable wanderers as opposed to those who are already disturbed. They will appear for only a fraction of a second before disappearing, seemingly 'blinking' in and out of existence; as a result, taking a picture of an Eye is nearly impossible.
These entities will only begin to appear as a wanderer nears the end of this level. According to a survivor, "They will only stop attacking once you truly start to lose your sanity". 
*If you try to attack an Eye, it will split into a swarm of dozens of eyes, making it harder to avoid them throughout Level 78.
*Some instances possess angel wings, though these are incredibly rare and not proven by the M.E.G. to be true.
Beyond this, information available concerning the eyes is rare.
</tabber>
==Colonies and Outposts==
Making a colony or an outpost is near impossible due to the fact that Level 78 is highly difficult to survive in.
==Entrances and Exits==
===Entrances===
*In order to enter this level, you are required to lucid dream within any space. For unknown reasons, lucid dreaming within The Backrooms has a high chance to lead one to Level 78, though due to the harsh conditions in The Backrooms, finding time to attempt lucid dreaming is difficult.
===Exits===
*Jumping in a hole that shows The Void will lead to Level 79.
> Open Authorial Information > Close Authorial Information 
Author: Lunon, ported by 20Tom07
Original Author: FrrdyIsntCool
Category:Dangerous
Category:Mental Hazards
Category:Weirdcore
Category:Sub_Cluster_Cerritulus_Terram
Category:Cluster I
Category:Levels
Category:Unconfirmed Levels