The Montana bunker had become a fortress of anticipation and dread.
Michael stood at the entrance, the purity shield clutched in his hands. The crystalline device pulsed with a soft, pure light, its warmth seeping into his fingers. It was beautiful. Powerful. But Michael couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough. The Awakening was coming, and he could feel it—a growing pressure at the edges of reality, a whisper in the dark that grew louder with each passing hour.
Clarice appeared beside him, her face pale, her eyes troubled. She'd been analyzing the data from the Deep Vault for days, trying to find any information about the Awakening's timeline. "I've found something," she said, her voice tight with exhaustion. "Something you need to know."
Michael turned to her. "What is it?"
