Commander Lyra Voss stood at the edge of the city wall, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun was rising in shades of gold and pink. It was beautiful. Peaceful.
But Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The world looked normal. The birds were singing. The wind was gentle. The people were going about their daily lives. But deep in her bones, she felt a tremor. A disturbance. The network was humming with an unfamiliar energy.
"The First," she whispered. "It's here."
Commander Marcus stood beside her, his face pale and drawn. He was older now, his hair streaked with gray, his eyes tired but sharp. "How do you know?"
"Because the network is screaming. The nanites are terrified. Something ancient is waking up."
"Something older than the Creator?"
"Yes. Something
