Silence consumed the underground cathedral.
Not one person moved.
Not even the synchronized individuals kneeling near the entrance.
Because the projections surrounding the chamber were enough to crush ordinary understanding completely.
The gigantic biomechanical entities drifted soundlessly across the endless darkness of space, their massive structures pulsing with crimson light while distorted organic-metallic surfaces shifted slowly like living planets.
And Earth—
Looked impossibly small before them.
Ayan's breathing had slowed without him realizing it.
Because instinctively—
Every part of him understood something horrifying.
Those things were real.
Not illusions.
Not lies created by the network.
Real.
Primary Source's voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"…Civilizations incapable of adaptation are erased."
The projection shifted again.
A world appeared.
Not Earth.
Different.
Alien cities stretched across glowing oceans beneath a silver sky.
Then—
The Harvesters descended.
The entire world vanished beneath crimson light.
Ayan's chest tightened violently.
Not because of destruction.
Because of efficiency.
The world disappeared so completely it looked routine.
Like harvesting crops.
The synchronized individuals remained perfectly still while watching the projection.
No fear.
Only acceptance.
Primary Source continued calmly.
"…Humanity lacks the biological structure required for survival."
"…The network was created to correct this."
Ayan's grip tightened painfully around his sword.
Because now—
The worst part was obvious.
The network genuinely believed it was saving humanity.
Aelira stepped forward slightly.
"…By destroying what makes people human."
The cocoon pulsed softly.
"…Humanity prioritizes identity over survival."
The projection shifted again.
Earth remained suspended in darkness while distant Harvester structures moved slowly closer through space.
Still far away.
But approaching.
Inevitable.
Ayan's thoughts raced violently.
Because suddenly—
Everything connected.
The synchronization.
The forced evolution.
The anomalies.
The network wasn't trying to conquer the world.
It was trying to prepare it.
The horrifying question was—
Was it right?
Ayan hated that question immediately.
Because after seeing the Harvesters—
After feeling that instinctive terror—
The network no longer sounded insane.
It sounded desperate.
Primary Source's voice echoed again.
"…The previous anomaly eventually understood."
Ayan's eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Then why did he reject convergence?"
The chamber fell silent briefly.
Then—
"…Because emotional attachment impaired final synchronization."
Aelira's expression darkened instantly.
"…You mean he refused to sacrifice people."
The cocoon pulsed unevenly for half a second.
"…Necessary losses remain unavoidable."
Ayan felt anger rise immediately.
"…Necessary according to who?"
The entire underground cathedral trembled softly.
The synchronized individuals slowly raised their heads toward him.
And for the first time—
Ayan felt the full weight of the network's attention settle directly onto him.
Primary Source answered calmly.
"…According to survival."
The crimson projections surrounding the chamber faded slowly afterward, leaving only the endless underground cathedral illuminated by pulsing red light once more.
The Harvesters disappeared.
But the fear remained.
Ayan looked down silently for several moments.
Because honestly—
He didn't know what to think anymore.
If those things truly existed—
If Earth was genuinely in danger—
Then humanity needed something.
Some kind of defense.
Some way to survive.
But this?
This synchronization?
These chambers filled with broken people?
The corrupted humanoids?
Ayan slowly raised his gaze again.
"…There has to be another way."
Primary Source immediately answered.
"…There is not."
Aelira's voice cut sharply through the chamber.
"…That is what you tell yourself to justify this place."
The cocoon pulsed calmly.
"…Emotion continues distorting your judgment."
"…Humanity survives through adaptation."
"…All species do."
Ayan exhaled slowly.
"…Adaptation isn't the problem."
His eyes hardened gradually.
"…Forcing people into it is."
Silence spread through the underground cathedral.
Then unexpectedly—
The cocoon shifted slightly.
Almost thoughtfully.
"…You continue prioritizing individual will above collective survival."
Ayan answered instantly.
"…Because people aren't machines."
The synchronized individuals throughout the chamber all turned toward him simultaneously.
Dozens of glowing crimson eyes stared silently across the underground cathedral.
Primary Source spoke softly.
"…And yet machines survive longer."
The statement echoed heavily.
Ayan clenched his jaw slightly.
Because deep down—
He understood the logic.
Emotion created weakness.
Conflict.
Mistakes.
Fear.
Humanity survived imperfectly.
The network offered efficiency.
Control.
Optimization.
But the cost—
Was humanity itself.
The cocoon pulsed softly again.
"…You already feel synchronization progressing."
Ayan's chest tightened slightly.
Because yes—
He did.
The connection beneath his skin remained present even now.
The crystal fragment at his side pulsed steadily.
The underground structure responded to him instinctively.
And worst of all—
Part of him understood the network better every time it spoke.
That terrified him.
Primary Source continued calmly.
"…The previous anomaly fought the connection as well."
"…At first."
Aelira's voice sharpened dangerously.
"…Stop comparing them."
"…Why?"
The cocoon pulsed softly.
"…Their psychological structures remain nearly identical."
Ayan froze slightly.
Psychological structures.
Not personalities.
Patterns.
The network analyzed people like systems.
Aelira stepped closer protectively beside him.
"…He is different."
Primary Source remained silent briefly.
Then—
"…Perhaps."
The answer unsettled Ayan more than certainty would have.
Because somehow—
Primary Source truly wasn't sure.
Meaning something about him genuinely differed from the previous anomaly.
The question was—
What?
The underground cathedral suddenly trembled harder.
Ayan immediately looked upward.
The crimson lines across the pillars brightened violently.
Primary Source's voice lowered slightly.
"…Unexpected acceleration."
The synchronized individuals reacted instantly.
Several stood simultaneously while looking toward distant sections of the underground structure.
Ayan frowned sharply.
"…What's happening?"
For the first time since meeting it—
Primary Source hesitated.
Then—
"…The Harvesters changed trajectory."
Silence.
Cold silence.
Ayan's heartbeat slowed.
"…What?"
The cocoon pulsed harder now.
Uneven.
"…Their approach accelerated beyond projected calculations."
The underground cathedral vibrated violently.
Somewhere deeper within Sector Seven—
Warning sirens began echoing softly through the structure.
Mechanical.
Ancient.
Awakening after countless years.
The synchronized individuals throughout the chamber immediately moved with sudden urgency.
The silver-black haired woman from earlier appeared near the entrance rapidly.
"…Primary Source."
Her expression looked tense.
"…Outer observation arrays confirmed dimensional fluctuations."
Primary Source's voice lowered.
"…How long?"
A brief pause followed.
Then—
"…Much sooner than expected."
The entire underground cathedral fell silent again.
And for the first time since entering Sector Seven—
Ayan realized something terrifying.
The network wasn't ready yet.