The world was no longer a physical space; it was a sea of pure information, a digital ocean of light and data. Nox and Serian floated in the heart of the Hive Mind's consciousness, their physical forms now just temporary constructs in a world of pure thought.
'Welcome to my mind,' the Hive Mind's voice echoed, calm and absolute. 'Here, I am god.'
Massive, intricate constructs of pure data, fractal-like beings of light and logic, began to form around them. They were the Hive Mind's anti-virus programs, its digital antibodies, and they were designed to erase any foreign data that entered its system.
Serian raised her hand, and a sword of pure, golden sunlight formed in her grip. Her angelic wings beat slowly, keeping her afloat in the data-sea. "This is a world of the mind, Nox. Your physical power is meaningless here."
"Who says I'm using physical power?" Nox replied. A sleek, black interface, visible only to him, was humming in the corner of his vision. Liona was at home here.
