Morning arrived silently, yet the pressure they had felt since the previous night did not fade; instead, it sharpened into a single, focused purpose.
Sophia had been sitting at her station since dawn.
Her body was no longer forced to stand, but her eyes remained sharp, fixed on the screen displaying the final structure of the network, now on the verge of collapse.
She looked calmer, not because the burden had lessened, but because the decision had been made.
Beside her, Adrian Blackwood stood with his usual unshakable composure, yet there was one difference this time he was not only leading the operation, he was also guarding the line that could no longer be crossed.
"Latest status," Adrian said briefly.
Daniel immediately brought up the newest data on the display. "Seven nodes have fallen. Two remain as the final layer before the center," he said.
