The desert station's main room had become a tomb of desperation.
Axel stood at the window, watching the sun rise over the endless sands. The orange glow painted the horizon, a stark contrast to the darkness that had consumed their lives. Eighty-four chapters. Eighty-four battles. And still, Elias Vance was out there, waiting to activate the Ascension Protocol.
"We need to stop him," Axel said, his voice flat. "Before he can upload humanity's consciousness into that digital prison."
"How do we stop something we don't fully understand?" Vance asked, his voice hollow. "My father built this thing. He's been planning it for decades."
"We find someone who knows how to disable it." Axel turned to Marcus. "Your underground network. Do they have anyone who understands the Ascension Protocol?"
