CHAPTER 10: THE SECOND PURGE PROTOCOL
Sector Zero was transforming.
The place that was peaceful, white, and filled with light just moments ago was now slowly drowning in a crimson red hue. Binary codes falling from the trees began to ignite. Data streams flowing on the ground shattered into grid fragments. In the sky, a single warning flashed repeatedly:
[WARNING: UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED]
[INITIALIZING SECOND PURGE PROTOCOL]
It was as if Sector Zero itself was rejecting Aryan's presence. Aryan stood in the center. His hands were trembling… but his eyes no longer held fear. Only one thought remained: Kaka's sacrifice must not go in vain.
He spoke softly, "When the truth comes out… you erase it. Is this your justice, Admin?"
Suddenly, a heavy voice echoed throughout Sector Zero. It wasn't human. It held no anger, no mercy—only cold authority.
Admin: "Subject 01. You are an anomaly. An error that the system failed to correct. The Second Purge Protocol is now active. After this purge, neither you will remain… nor your grandfather's research."
Red lightning struck the sky. The Admin's voice boomed again. "Your entire lineage… was a failed experiment."
Aryan's fist tightened. "My grandfather's dream wasn't to live in the prison of a simulation."
Digital harpoons began to emerge from the walls of Sector Zero. Through his Void Specs, Aryan saw they weren't normal weapons—each harpoon was an autonomous kill algorithm.
Target lock: ARYAN — DELETE PRIORITY.
The harpoons surged toward him at the speed of lightning. Iris screamed, "Aryan! Incoming attack!"
Aryan closed his eyes. He planted Kaka's staff firmly on the ground. An old voice echoed in his mind—the voice of Dr. Raghav. "Code and Mantra are not different, Aryan… both are forms of logic."
Aryan softly chanted the mantra:
"Om Shunya-Rupaya… Jagat-Mithya… System-Nirodhaya Namah."
He raised his hands. A holographic coding circle formed before him. Green and blue symbols rotated in the air. Then, he executed the command. A blue energy wave erupted from his body, forming a translucent shield around him. As the harpoons struck the shield—CRACK! They were no longer metal. They shattered into binary fragments, a rain of 0s and 1s scattering in the air.
The Admin's voice went silent for a moment, as if the system couldn't comprehend the attack. Aryan scanned Sector Zero with his Void Specs. He noticed that the Purge Protocol was directly linked to the Root Simulation Logic. If he could corrupt the root… the system might crash.
Aryan whispered, "If this world is a lie… then I will become its greatest glitch."
He activated his system console. Commands began to type. For a second, the entire system froze. Then, a message appeared on the screen:
[ACCESS DENIED]
[ADMIN PRIVILEGES REQUIRED]
The Admin's voice returned, this time with a hint of mockery. "You are a user, Aryan. I am the God of this system. You can never touch the Root."
Aryan's energy was slowly fading. The Purge Protocol intensified. The walls of Sector Zero began to crumble. Reality was pixelating.
Then… a faint glitch sound came from behind Aryan. A voice—calm and familiar.
"A God is only one who can break the rules he created."
Aryan turned instantly. A holographic figure stood before him. White hair. Old spectacles. And that smile that always gave him courage in his childhood. Aryan's voice choked. "D… Dadaji?"
Dr. Raghav's hologram was glitching, as if he were forcing his way out of an archived memory. He looked at Aryan. "Aryan. The Admin didn't delete me. He only archived me. But he made one mistake."
He raised his hand. Hidden codes around Sector Zero began to activate. "He didn't block the path for me to escape the very system I built."
Aryan was stunned. "Grandpa… can you stop the Admin?"
Dr. Raghav smiled gently. "I have Admin privileges. But I can't do anything alone." He looked into Aryan's eyes. "If we join forces… we can perform the Final Reboot of this simulation."
Sector Zero began to collapse. The sky was falling. The Second Purge was at its peak. Dr. Raghav reached out his hand. "Aryan… the choice is yours. Are you truly ready to break this false world?"
Aryan gripped Kaka's staff tightly. His eyes held only one answer. "I am ready."
And in that moment… the core of Sector Zero roared to life.