Faction 2.5's territory was no longer considered to exist.
But everyone knew it was still there.
It was still breathing.
It was still moving.
And that posed a major problem:
If one territory could get out of control…
what was to stop another from doing the same?
Not a fire that spread.
Not a war.
Just curiosity.
From the west, Faction 3.1's territory sent a message:
not an order, not a warning.
But a single, short sentence:
"Do you feel freer now?"
Territory 2.5 didn't answer.
For two full days,
all communication channels were blank.
But on the third day,
a reply came.
"We don't know what 'free' means.
But we know this isn't a cage."*
The answer spread.
Not through the system,
but by word of mouth.
From whispers to forums.
And in other territories,
a voice began to grow.
Not a cry. No rebellion.
But little questions that are no longer afraid to come out.
In Faction 1.6,
a moderator stopped reading the script.
He stared at the empty forum,
and said:
