The underground cathedral felt like it was dying.
Crimson lights flickered violently across the massive black pillars while warning sirens screamed through Sector Seven without pause. Entire sections of the chamber had already collapsed into darkness below, exposing tangled masses of broken cables and unstable network structures sparking wildly beneath the ruined floor.
And in the middle of that destruction—
The Harvester scout stood completely still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Its humanoid form had become even more refined now, black armor-like flesh covering a lean body that almost resembled a human silhouette. Only the glowing white eyes spreading across its chest, neck, and arms revealed how unnatural the creature truly was.
Every eye remained fixed directly on Ayan.
"…Decision point confirmed."
The scout's calm voice echoed through the collapsing cathedral.
Ayan's grip tightened painfully around his sword.
Because the creature wasn't threatening him.
It was observing him.
Like his choice itself mattered somehow.
The underground chamber trembled violently again.
BOOOOOOM.
Far behind the scout, another defense sector collapsed entirely while synchronized individuals desperately tried to stabilize the failing structure. Crimson barriers flickered across the cathedral continuously, only to shatter moments later beneath the spreading black corruption left behind by the Harvester.
Sector Seven was losing.
Fast.
Primary Source's voice echoed through the chamber once more.
"…Synchronization remains the only viable option."
Aelira immediately stepped forward.
"No."
Her voice cut sharply through the cathedral.
The crimson light surrounding her intensified slightly as she stood protectively in front of Ayan, silver hair moving softly in the unstable air while her crimson eyes remained locked on Primary Source.
"You said the same thing before."
The cocoon pulsed unevenly.
"…Circumstances differ."
Aelira's expression darkened.
"…No."
Her voice lowered.
"…You just found another anomaly."
Silence spread briefly across the chamber.
The synchronized individuals nearby avoided looking directly at her now.
Like even they understood the accusation.
Ayan slowly exhaled.
His thoughts felt heavier than ever before.
Because after seeing the visions—
After witnessing the previous anomaly's fate—
The situation had changed completely.
Synchronization wasn't just dangerous.
It consumed people.
The network didn't simply grant power.
It rewrote minds.
Adapted personalities.
Reshaped identity itself.
The previous anomaly realized that too late.
And destroyed the Core rather than disappear completely.
The Harvester scout suddenly moved.
Not attacking.
Walking.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Its black armored feet crossed the shattered cathedral floor without sound while countless white eyes remained fixed on Ayan continuously.
Primary Source reacted instantly.
Crimson energy erupted through the underground chamber again as enormous network cables launched toward the scout from every direction.
This time—
The Harvester didn't dodge.
Its body shifted.
Black flesh opened across its arms as thin white lines spread beneath the armor-like surface.
Then—
The network cables stopped midair.
Every synchronized individual froze instantly.
Ayan's chest tightened.
Because somehow—
The Harvester scout had adapted to the network itself.
The creature tilted its head slightly.
"…Adaptive architecture understood."
The suspended cables suddenly reversed direction.
BOOOOOOOM.
The underground cathedral exploded as the network's own structures tore violently back through synchronized defenders and support pillars.
Several synchronized individuals disappeared beneath the impact instantly.
Primary Source pulsed violently.
For the first time—
Ayan heard anger in its voice.
"…Impossible."
The scout answered calmly.
"…Predictable."
The creature's white eyes shifted briefly toward the cocoon.
"…Your adaptation cycle remains primitive."
Then it looked toward Ayan again.
"…But the anomaly possesses potential."
Cold spread slowly through Ayan's chest.
Potential for what?
The scout stepped closer.
"…Integration capacity exceeds projected human limits."
Aelira immediately moved between them.
Crimson energy surged violently through the cathedral as her power exploded outward once more.
"Stay away from him."
The Harvester scout stopped.
Not because it feared her.
Because it was analyzing her.
"…Irregular synchronized entity."
Its eyes pulsed softly.
"…You diverged from intended convergence."
Aelira's expression hardened instantly.
"…I rejected it."
The scout remained silent briefly.
Then—
"…Yet you remain incomplete."
Those words hit harder than expected.
Because for the first time—
Ayan saw something flicker across Aelira's face.
Pain.
Only for a second.
But real.
The Harvester noticed too.
"…Emotional persistence remains active."
"…Inefficient."
Aelira's voice became colder immediately afterward.
"…And yet I'm still alive."
The scout's white eyes narrowed faintly.
"…For now."
The underground cathedral shook violently again.
CRAAAAAAACK.
One of the enormous black pillars collapsed entirely nearby, sending debris crashing across the chamber while crimson liquid spilled from shattered synchronization tubes.
And suddenly—
The whispers returned.
Not network whispers.
Human voices.
The broken chambers surrounding the cathedral began opening automatically as suspended synchronization subjects spilled onto the ruined floor below.
Some were dead.
Others—
Moved.
Ayan's stomach tightened instantly.
The surviving subjects staggered weakly through the cathedral, crimson lines glowing beneath translucent skin while unstable synchronization warped their bodies unpredictably.
One man's arm twisted into black metallic tendrils before collapsing apart.
A woman crawled desperately across the floor whispering incoherently while network structures spread beneath her face like living veins.
The synchronized defenders immediately rushed toward them.
Not to help.
To contain them.
Aelira's expression darkened sharply.
"…The chamber stability failed."
Primary Source answered calmly.
"…Synchronization subjects are destabilizing."
Ayan stared silently.
Because now—
The true horror of Sector Seven surrounded him completely.
Not monsters.
Not systems.
People.
People trapped between humanity and the network.
The Harvester scout observed the collapsing chamber quietly.
"…Civilization viability decreasing further."
Then unexpectedly—
Its gaze shifted toward the unstable synchronization subjects surrounding the cathedral.
"…Primitive adaptation."
One of the destabilized subjects suddenly lunged toward the scout screaming incoherently.
The Harvester didn't move.
The moment the subject touched it—
The body dissolved instantly.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
The person simply disintegrated into black ash beneath the scout's hand.
The cathedral became silent.
The scout observed the ash drifting across the floor calmly.
"…Unstable structures cannot survive convergence."
Ayan felt anger rise immediately.
"…That was a person."
The scout's white eyes focused toward him.
"…Incorrect."
"…That was failed adaptation."
The answer hit like ice.
Because there was no cruelty in the creature's voice.
No enjoyment.
Just fact.
The Harvesters truly viewed civilizations the same way humans viewed flawed cells.
Things either adapted—
Or disappeared.
Primary Source's voice echoed again.
"…Anomaly."
The cocoon pulsed harder.
"…Time remaining continues decreasing."
Ayan looked toward it sharply.
"…And synchronization is still your answer."
"…Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Because the network genuinely believed sacrificing identity was acceptable if humanity survived.
The underground cathedral trembled again.
Then—
Every projection throughout the chamber activated simultaneously.
The synchronized individuals froze instantly.
Ayan looked upward.
And felt cold settle into his entire body.
Space appeared above the cathedral once more.
But this time—
The Harvesters were closer.
Much closer.
The gigantic biomechanical entities drifted through darkness toward Earth slowly, crimson light spreading beneath their massive structures while dimensional distortions opened around them continuously.
And behind them—
More shapes emerged.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
An entire fleet.
The synchronized woman's voice lowered almost to a whisper.
"…They accelerated again."
Primary Source pulsed violently.
"…Impossible…"
The Harvester scout looked toward the projections quietly.
Then—
For the first time—
It smiled.
Not happily.
Not maliciously.
Simply knowingly.
"…Convergence begins."