Jay landed hard.
The fractured ground cracked beneath his feet, not from force—but rejection.
The Null-Zone didn't want him.
Too real.
Too awake.
Alicia materialized behind him in a staggered burst of light, coughing slightly as her body adjusted to the corrupted space.
Rei was already there—on one knee, blood tracing from his mouth, his breath shallow. But his eyes were focused.
On him.
No—on Null-Jay.
The mirror that bled.
Standing at the center of the arena-like platform was a boy that looked exactly like Jay… if Jay had given in to every dark impulse. Hair slightly longer, expression utterly blank, system screens floating behind him like ghostly wings.
He didn't breathe. He didn't blink.
He was... function.
"Welcome," Null-Jay spoke, his voice layered with static. "Admin. Virus. Remnant."
Three titles. Three targets.
Jay.
Rei.
Alicia.
"This domain belongs to the Original System. All fragments must be reabsorbed."
Jay narrowed his eyes.
