The message stretched across the sky.
---
UNKNOWN AUTHORITY DETECTED
NEW PROTOCOL REQUESTED
Awaiting Command...
---
Silence consumed the battlefield.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Even the Crystal Giant froze as though reality itself was waiting for Nathan's decision.
The hooded stranger's silver eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing?"
Nathan smiled calmly.
"The same thing I did at the end of the last cycle."
"I stopped accepting the choices someone else made for me."
Silver lightning flowed from his body into the Core.
Unlike the blue energy of the Recovery Protocol, it felt warm.
Alive.
It carried countless emotions.
Hope.
Love.
Regret.
Forgiveness.
The hooded stranger suddenly shouted,
"Cancel the request!"
Nothing happened.
Halo floated beside Nathan.
Its crystal shone brighter than ever.
[Request accepted.]
The hooded stranger's face hardened.
"Impossible."
"I designed every Protocol."
Nathan looked at him.
"You designed every one except mine."
