The blue light from the second core was no longer just pulsing.
It was trembling.
Throbbing.
Then it burst outward like something trying to break free of its own limits.
The air in the underground chamber changed drastically.
Heavier.
Hotter.
Yet also… cold at the same time.
Daniel stepped back two steps unconsciously.
"What is that…?" his voice was barely audible.
Leonard Graves did not answer.
His eyes narrowed, fully focused on the now-transforming core.
"It's not a machine," he murmured softly.
"Nor is it a reactor."
Richard Blackwood stood forward.
His body was tense.
Every instinct of his screamed one thing—
danger.
Ethan stayed where he was.
But this time.
It was not because he did not know where to move.
But because he was connected to it.
Waves from the core struck his mind.
Harsher than before.
Wilder.
More… uncontrolled.
He held his breath.
Trying to understand.
But what he felt was not an orderly pattern.
Not a network like the first node.
This was… chaotic.
Like a mind that had just woken from a long slumber.
"He… is not stable…" Ethan whispered.
Daniel turned immediately.
"You can feel it?"
Ethan nodded slowly.
"This is different."
He stared at the core.
"The first one… was docile."
He paused for a moment.
"This one… is hungry."
Silence fell like a heavy weight.
Leonard let out a long breath.
"Hungry is not a word I want to hear for something like this."
Arman Virelli was not here.
But the words he left behind felt alive again.
This was not just energy.
Richard took a half-step forward.
"If that's true…"
He stared at the core.
"…we must stop it now."
Ethan spoke immediately,
"Don't."
The tone of his voice had changed.
Deeper.
Firmer.
Richard turned sharply.
"Why?"
Ethan replied softly,
"Because it will fight back."
Daniel furrowed his brow.
"Fight back… how?"
It did not take long for an answer.
Because in the next moment.
The core pulsed harder.
And the air around it… trembled.
As if the space itself was warped.
Leonard stepped back immediately.
"Alright, that's our answer."
Daniel almost lost his balance.
"What's happening?!"
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment.
He could feel it now.
More clearly.
Waves that moved not just through the air—
but straight into his mind.
A push.
A pressure.
An… intention.
He opened his eyes.
His gaze had changed.
"He knows we're here."
Richard raised his weapon immediately.
"Everyone, be ready."
Leonard followed suit.
"Finally, we have an enemy we can't just shoot."
Daniel swallowed hard.
"Don't joke around now…"
The light from the core began to form something.
Not a solid shape.
But a shadow.
Waves of energy gathering together.
Taking on a faint structure.
Like a silhouette without a body.
Ethan took a step forward.
"I need to get closer."
Daniel stopped him immediately.
"No!"
Ethan turned to him.
"I'm the only one who can communicate with it."
Leonard spoke quickly,
"Or the only one who could die first."
Richard stared at Ethan.
His eyes sharp.
Assessing.
Calculating.
A few seconds passed.
Then.
he said,
"Do it."
Daniel was shocked.
"Are you serious?!"
Richard did not look away.
"If he's right… this is the only way."
Ethan did not waste time.
He stepped closer.
One step.
Two steps.
Each step made the pressure in the air increase.
But he did not stop.
The energy silhouette became clearer.
Moving.
Changing.
As if trying to understand form.
As if trying to… become something.
Ethan stopped just a few meters from the core.
He slowly raised his hand.
"Calm down…"
He said softly.
Not to a human.
But to something not yet fully born.
The waves trembled.
As if responding.
Daniel held his breath.
Leonard did not move.
Richard remained ready.
Ethan closed his eyes.
Trying to align himself.
Like he had done before.
But this time
it was not easy.
The waves crashed into him.
Rough.
Unstable.
He almost lost his balance.
But he held on.
"I… can feel it…" he murmured.
Daniel whispered,
"What does it want?"
Ethan did not answer right away.
Because what he felt was not a simple desire.
But a primitive drive.
Instinct.
Need.
He opened his eyes.
His gaze was sharp.
"Energy."
Leonard sighed.
"Of course."
But Ethan continued,
"More than that…"
He paused for a moment.
"…consciousness."
Silence.
The silhouette moved closer.
As if drawn to him.
Yet also… assessing him.
Ethan did not retreat.
Instead, he stepped even closer.
Daniel almost shouted.
But held himself back.
Richard said softly,
"Don't lose control."
Ethan did not answer.
He reached out his hand further.
And for the first time—
the waves touched him.
Not physically.
But enough to make his body tense.
The blue light blazed brighter.
Ethan's eyes widened.
Flashes appeared again.
Not memories.
Not images.
But something more raw.
More fundamental.
A consciousness that had just formed.
Confused.
Empty.
Yet… growing.
Ethan drew a sharp breath.
"I can… hold it back…"
His voice trembled slightly.
But he still stood firm.
Daniel spoke quickly,
"Don't force it!"
Leonard added,
"We can find another way!"
But Ethan shook his head.
"There's no time…"
He stared at the core.
"If this develops further…"
he paused.
"…we won't be able to stop it."
Richard said softly,
"Then do it."
Ethan took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes.
Letting himself sink deeper into the waves.
Merging.
Aligning.
And for a few seconds
everything went quiet.
Until finally
the light dimmed.
The silhouette shrank.
Its waves weakened.
Daniel let out a relieved breath.
"It worked…"
Leonard nodded slowly.
"For now."
Ethan opened his eyes.
His body swayed slightly.
But he still stood.
"He… is calm…"
He said softly.
But before anyone could feel truly relieved.
a sound rang out.
Not from the core.
Not from the chamber.
But from… above.
Footsteps.
Many of them.
Fast.
Richard turned immediately.
"It's impossible…"
Leonard smiled faintly.
"Looks like we're not alone anymore."
Daniel stared toward the stairs.
"How did they find this place?!"
Ethan turned slowly.
His eyes were sharp again.
"Because this isn't the only one."
Silence.
Then the sounds grew closer.
And one thing became clear.
whatever they were facing in here…
was not the only threat they would face today.