The gateway blazed with light.
I stood in the core of the network, the vast structure of energy pulsing before me. The Source was coming. I could feel its presence—ancient, powerful, filled with the weight of eons.
"James," the Architects' voices echoed in my mind. "The Source is almost here. We need to prepare."
"Prepare for what?" I asked.
The Architects were silent for a long moment. Then they said: "We don't know. The Source has been gone for so long. We don't know what it's become."
The gateway pulsed. A figure began to emerge—a form of pure light, its energy radiating warmth and power.
"Hello," the Source said. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long."
I moved closer, my steps careful. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The Source's form solidified, taking on a shape I r
