The truth about Aris Thorne’s betrayal and the terrible secret that the Collective Echo was really the Obsidian Hand’s original AI called the Architect hit the team like a shock wave. Everyone felt it. Pain, anger, and fear replaced any sense of calm they had left. The Echo, now known to be an ancient and powerful digital mind, felt even more dangerous than before. Its low hum filled the air like a warning they couldn’t ignore.

“We’ve been compromised,” Amelia said firmly, her voice echoing through the now heavily secured command center. “Aris didn’t manage to send the most sensitive data, but he sent enough. They know what we have....