The separation began at the man's neck.
A black line was torn out from beneath the skin and stretched through the air like an exposed nerve. The bearer opened his mouth in a scream that did not sound entirely human, while the white lines of the network advanced over the artificial connections one by one.
Damon did not move.
"Observation."
PRESENT.
"Estimated time to separate the overlay."
Pause.
UNDETERMINED.
"Excellent."
The plate changed.
RECONSTITUTION: 96%.
Aurelia clenched her teeth.
"We don't have time to do this carefully."
"We don't need to."
She looked at Damon.
He pointed at the bearer.
"Both parts have already been identified."
Xue Lian understood.
"Then we don't need to wait for the network to finish distinguishing them."
"Exactly."
"We need to make the bearer himself choose which function remains."
The man heard him.
His entirely black eyes turned toward Damon.
"No."
Damon smiled.
"You learn quickly."
The man tried to raise his hands.
