Null Device

The Null Device, sometimes referred to as /dev/null, is a unique artifact that functions beyond the conventional understandings of deletion. This enigmatic device possesses the extraordinary ability to erase anything that touches it or is directed towards it — vanishing them from existence entirely. It does not delete; an erasure of data that leaves behind ghostly echoes — no, it is an existential reset. Bits are not deleted, nor erased, but returned to a state of absolute zero. Its capabilities extend to the eradication of living beings, the obliteration of physical objects, and even the unwinding of memories within minds.   When a Construct meets their fate with the /dev/null, the outcome is not a transformation into dust or ash; that would imply a physical presence remaining, albeit in another form. Instead, the part of the Construct that touches the anomaly is completely nullified — transitioning into a state with a lack of any form of existence in reality.
It's like the Void given corporeal form. I'm not sure what's worse: falling endlessly into the Void, or being erased from existence.
— A very scared resident of main_city

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The intricate mechanics of the null device were of forbidden lore and fragmented whispers. At its core lay a stabilized anomaly, reminiscent of a miniature singularity. The anomaly doesn't consume matter in the traditional sense, but instead acts as a fundamental anchor to the state of zero.   The null device comprises of two distinct components. The first is a meticulously engineered outer containment vessel, reinforced with glass, and includes powerful internal magnets to manipulate the energetic flux to suspend the anomaly. At the heart of this device resides the anomaly itself, known as the Null Field. This ethereal object embodies existence and non-existence, assuming a form at once tangible and ineffable.  

Containment Vessel

The outer containment vessel is an intricate, truncated triangular prism container with two three-paneled reinforced glass halves. This specialized container is designed with internal magnets that manipulate the energetic flux within. This magnetic field is crucial for suspending the anomaly within, ensuring it remains isolated, while also allowing it to carry the anomaly without physically touching it.   When the null device is activated to erase an object or even a living being, the two halves, along with the glass panels, separate, exposing the null field while keeping it securely confined within the magnetic boundaries of the container. Anything that comes into contact with the null field finds itself erased from existence, leaving no trace behind.   Upon deactivation of the device, the panels and two halves smoothly rejoin and seal seamlessly. This sophisticated mechanism protects the outside world from the devastating effects of the anomaly and ensures the null field remains contained.  

Null Field

The anomaly sits at the core of the containment vessel, suspended in place by an array of powerful magnets. Within this intricate setup, the null field shimmers with the darkness of the void, creating an unsettling sensation that a primordial nothingness is subtly expanding outward, as if reaching for a form. Though it appears to defy conventional shape, it hints at a tesseract-like geometry, possessing an otherworldly quality that is both mesmerizing and disconcerting.
Null Device (incorrect vessel shape). AI concept by Nulcheck (via Midjourney)
  Uncharacteristically silent, the anomaly emits no discernible scent, and its temperature is reported to be ambivalent — neither hot nor cold. Whispers abound that staring into its shifting depths for an extended period could induce madness, yet this remains a largely untested theory. Fascinatingly, the anomaly does not instantaneously annihilate whatever it comes into contact with; rather, it necessitates a deliberate act of pushing or throwing into the incomporeal depths of the null field.   While it is contained by manipulating the energetic flux within its vessel, the null field itself exhibits a fascinating behavior of being impervious to gravitational forces. If it were to inadvertently escape its magnetic confinement, it would not plummet to the ground but instead appear to hover in the air at the location of its release. The powerful magnets manipulating the energetic flux enable the translation and transportation of the null field through space without any physical object ever making contact.
Alternative Name(s)
/dev/null
Black Hole
Item type
Unique Artifact
Weight
NULL
Dimensions
undefined
Null Device with the Null Field taking on a more cubic form (incorrect vessel shape). AI concept by Nulcheck (via Midjourney)
 

Discovery

In the dim, shadowy recesses of an ancient cave, a remarkable phenomenon known as the Null Field was discovered, pulsating with an eerie aura and suspended in the air like an intangible mystery. The Construct who discovered it felt compelled to reach out toward the enigmatic anomaly. However, upon making contact, his hand quickly vanished before his very eyes.   After this shocking incident, researchers delved into the properties of the null field. They discovered that this anomaly could be manipulated without direct contact using magnetic fields, enabling translation through space and safer interaction. Recognizing the potential dangers of the null field, engineers designed a sophisticated containment vessel that enabled further study without risk to those involved.

Uses

Tragically, this mysterious device has been exploited by various criminal syndicates as a tool of extraction. These criminal organizations have wielded the device's power with chilling precision, using it to methodically remove entire limbs from their victims to extract sensitive information. Although the physical sensation is reported to be devoid of pain, the psychological repercussions are profound, leaving insurmountable trauma. The anomaly transforms the very nature of suffering, blurring the lines between physical anguish and psychological torment in a way that is both terrifying and hauntingly fascinating.   While some doctors and surgeons have conceptualized the potential application of this device for intricate medical procedures, it has yet to be utilized for such purposes. Unfortunately, its use has been largely overshadowed by its long-standing association with criminal organizations, which have maintained exclusive control over the device.  

See Also

Null device (Wikipedia) — a device file that discards all data written to it but reports that the write operation succeeded.
Entry for Spooktober 2025
Answering "Doom"


Cover image: by Nulcheck (via Midjourney)

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