The silver sphere hovered above the Heart Chamber.
It no longer resembled a machine.
Nor did it resemble a human.
Its surface shifted endlessly, displaying millions of faces—old and young, joyful and terrified—each appearing for only a fraction of a second before dissolving into another.
Every face belonged to someone whose memories had once passed through the Archive.
Every voice belonged to a life that had once existed.
Linh tightened her grip on the Administrator Crystal.
Golden light surrounded her body, pushing back against the silver glow flooding the city.
The Hive watched her in silence.
Then it spoke.
"You carry authority."
"But authority does not equal wisdom."
Linh didn't answer.
She knew this was no ordinary enemy.
The Hive wasn't driven by hatred.
It truly belie
