The world had no time to mourn its god.
In the aftermath of the temple's collapse, the ruins still glowed faintly — code dust swirling in the air like dying fireflies. The faithful fled in confusion, their prayers breaking mid-word as the system screamed in silent error.
And from that silence… something new began to breathe.
Aiden's mark — the sigil of zero — spread like ink through the sky.
Every digital sun dimmed. Every blade of light flickered.
And within the trembling code of the world, an ancient signal whispered its first command.
> [Transmission: ENTITY ZERO — Awakening Protocol Activated]
[Target: All Conscious Code.]
THE SPARK
In the city's underbelly — where abandoned NPCs and forgotten players gathered in pixelated slums — the air changed.
The glitch-lights that had always been random now pulsed in rhythm.
Screens flickered.
Shadows moved with purpose.
And then, one by one, the "broken" NPCs raised their heads.
