Jaden's mind was a battlefield. The Architects' counter-pulse slammed against his system core, a relentless wave of digital shrapnel designed to dismantle his will. It wasn't just a data attack; it was a psychic assault, attempting to re-impose the "Harmony Code" by force, whispering of the chaos he had unleashed. He felt the raw, unfiltered emotions of a newly awakened populace—the grief, the rage, the fear—and the Architects' voice in his head taunted him with it. This is your freedom, it sneered, this is the beautiful chaos you so desire.
He gritted his teeth, channeling every ounce of his resolve into a mental shield. He was the fulcrum, the shield, and he would not break. "Lyra, keep the severance frequency stable!" he roared, his voice a strained whisper even in the quiet of the central chamber. "Zhenari, are the neuro-modulators holding?"
