Martin was serious. His words slammed Mithias like a hammer; things would never be the same. With the most solemn expression, and silence, Mithias ceased adding his lifeforce to the matrix. Perhaps in some esoteric way, Martin was going to live on, as a bundle of thoughts. Even if Mithias couldn't understand, he had to accept that Martin was his own being, and was free to make his own choices. His heart like lead in his chest, Mithias walked out of the van. Gunfire echoed off the walls of buildings not far from him, but it was as if he didn't even hear it. The calling to abandon the world was stronger than ever.