The moment Melissa's palm pressed against the blazing sphere of light, her body stiffened as though chained in place.
A rush of energy surged through her, pulling not only at her flesh but at the deepest roots of her soul. The world around her vanished.
She was no longer in the crystal chamber. Instead, she stood in an infinite white void, the core of the system itself.
Countless streams of glowing code drifted past her like rivers of light, whispering in a language older than gods themselves.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed within her mind:
[Candidate Melissa Armstrong. Evaluation in progress. All actions, memories, and motivations will be judged.]
Her breath hitched. A wave of images washed over her—her childhood, her failures, every moment of doubt she had ever carried. She saw herself struggling to keep up with training, constantly overshadowed by others.
She saw her clinging desperately to Kyle, more servant than warrior.
