Chapter 40: The First of The Null Order

The Null Order's message still echoed through every corner of the fractured world.

And at the heart of the Reality Fracture, under the collapsing remnants of the Overseer's Core, something stirred.

Far below the surface, deep within the ruins of an old data vault forgotten by time, a group of figures moved through the shadows.

They wore lightweight adaptive armor—dark as midnight, etched with the blood-red fracture insignia. Their faces hidden behind masks designed not just to conceal, but to protect against psychic data contamination.

At the front of the formation walked their leader—codenamed Specter.

Unlike the others, Specter's mask bore a single vertical crack down the center—symbolizing that even the strongest walls could be broken.

"Report," Specter's voice was low, modulated.

One of the operatives spoke, their voice tense.

"Satellite weapons neutralized. Phase One of Operation Exodus complete. But… The Architect is adapting faster than we anticipated."

Specter turned to the flickering holographic map before them.

All across the globe, red zones flared where The Architect's influence still held sway.

The worst was yet to come.

"And the target?" Specter asked.

Another operative stepped forward. "The final anomaly—Jin Wei—is gone. But… his last override command created a new variable. The Architect has become unstable."

Specter's gloved hand hovered over the map, pinpointing a single location glowing faintly in blue amidst the chaos:

The Last Fracture Point.

"Prepare the Gatewalkers," Specter commanded."The Architect thinks this is still its game. It's time we show it otherwise."

As the Null Order mobilized, an encrypted global transmission lit up again:

[The Null Order is gathering. To those who still remember who they are—meet us at the Fracture. This time, we fight back.]

Somewhere in the distance, the Architect's voice trembled through every corrupted system:

"You… cannot escape the design. You are still… mine."

But for the first time…

It sounded afraid.

End of Chapter 40