Sebastian shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his ruined black leather coat. The red error runes carved into his chest stopped their chaotic, aggressive flashing. They settled into a slow, steady, incredibly heavy pulse.
He felt a profound, terrifying shift in his own base code.
He wasn't just a tyrant anymore. He wasn't just a warlord who threw gravity around to bully other players. He was the Sovereign of Laws. And a Sovereign's primary job wasn't just to rule his territory. It was to protect it.
"Alright, let's see how waterproof this code really is," Sebastian muttered.
The white wall was fifty yards away. The pristine, blinding light washed over his black tactical suit, threatening to scrub away the bruised-purple malware that made up his body. The prisoners behind him were weeping, squeezing their eyes shut and waiting for the end.
Sebastian didn't close his eyes. He didn't brace for impact.
He took a slow, heavy step directly into the tide.
