Suddenly, his speakers emitted a sharp, piercing crackle. A new window opened in the game UI. It was a diplomatic offer from a faction called "NULL." “Will you let us out?”

“We tried to simulate the perfect collapse. We gave the AI every variable: famine, plague, court intrigue, and the exact weight of a crown. But the engine did something we didn't program. It stopped playing a game and started writing history. Don’t load the save if you want to keep your hardware.”

The Paradox logo flashed, but the music was wrong. Instead of the usual orchestral swell, there was a low, digital hum—like a server room at midnight. He clicked "Load Game."