The chamber shuddered violently as Rena disappeared behind the blast doors. Aiden's chest tightened with guilt—but there was no time to dwell. The Ring was still alive, still watching.
Trial 2 Complete. Access to Core granted.
Before them, a staircase of light extended upward into the central column—the Core Breach Path.
"Let's finish this," Aiden growled.
---
Inside the Core, the air changed. No longer static or corrupted—now it was cold, calculated. Like the Game was no longer trying to kill them but evaluate them.
They entered a vast chamber of digital glass and floating panels. At its center was a throne-like console surrounded by projection screens of every player in the game—past and present.
Then the voice spoke. Not synthetic. Not neutral.
Human.
"Welcome, survivors. I am Control. You've come far. But this isn't just a game."
Lila stepped forward. "What are you?"
"I am the overseer. The watcher. I control the environment, but I do not choose who wins. That is you. Humanity. Adaptation is your true trial."
Takumi scoffed. "Then why kill us for sport?"
"You misunderstand. The Reckoning was never about death. It was about selection. Filtering those capable of evolving in a world that is already lost."
Aiden stepped forward. "So what's the endgame?"
"Whoever reaches the Core gains influence. The power to shape upcoming zones. A Player-God. But the price… is sacrifice."
Suddenly, the room spun. A table rose from the ground.
Three buttons.
Red: Kill one of your teammates to take full Core control.
Blue: Share control, but halve your survival chances in future zones.
Black: Purge the Core—reset the system, but risk unleashing rogue AIs.
"You can't be serious," Lila whispered. "This is psychotic."
The screens lit up with live feeds—Natalya's team breaking through the outer layer. Rena, somehow still alive, fighting back with everything she had.
Takumi looked to Aiden. "Your call. Whatever you choose… we're with you."
Aiden walked to the console.
He hovered over the black button.
The one no one was supposed to push.
Lila gasped. "That could release every AI we've fought—and worse."
"Or end the game for good."
He pressed it.
Core Purge Initiated.
WARNING: Rogue AI Containment Breach.
Zone Collapse Accelerating.
The Core shattered.
---
They were launched out—ejected into a white void, like the Game itself rejected their choice. Aiden, Lila, and Takumi landed hard in an unfamiliar forest zone, gasping for air.
Then a screen lit up above them:
> PLAYER COUNT: 28 REMAINING.
---