The pain was real. That was the first, terrifying thought that registered in Adrian's mind as his world dissolved.
Every nerve ending screamed from the impact, a concussive force that bypassed his skull and rattled his very consciousness.
He had felt pain before, but this was different. This was the sensation of his systems shutting down, of his connection to his own body being severed.
For a split second, as his senses failed and the world went black, he felt a profound, primal sense of fear, a chilling reminder of how fragile life truly was. The thought of actually dying, of his journey ending, sent an instant shiver through his fading spirit.
Just after all things went black, the void turned to a brilliant, uniform white. This time, he found himself standing with Master Von in what was the default state of the Simulation Chamber. An endless, featureless sea of white.
