Virtual Zone

The Virtual Zone is a pocket dimension adjacent to Mobius Prime. Home to Aurora, Athair, and formerly the Ancient Walkers, it is part of a process of ascension preceded by the Next Evolution and followed by the Chaos Force. Knuckles the Echidna learned this during the temporary time he spent in the afterlife, and was briefly convinced by Aurora to become one with the Chaos Force itself before he returned. (StH: #121, #122, #123, #124, #125)

The Virtual Zone is closely tied to the pocket zones Mobius Prime, as a rift caused by the Sword of Acorns reverberated into the Virtual Zone and killed the Ancient Walkers. With their death, the Virtual Zone is now the home base of the Neo Walkers, consisting of Aurora, Athair, and Merlin Prower, though the latter has not yet taken up residence there. (StH: #162)