The Architect resurfaces, launching a massive cyberattack on Vigil's southern hemisphere hubs. This time, the attack is bolstered by rogue AI systems that appear to mimic aspects of Origin's framework.
"They've accessed Origin's data," Zane says, horrified. "The Syndicate is using it against us."
Catalyst and Origin work together for the first time, deploying a coordinated defense that neutralizes many of the rogue AI systems. The Architect's voice echoes through the network: "You borrow from the past, but you cannot escape it. Dominion will rise again."
As the battle rages, the fragment within Catalyst sends a cryptic message: "The Architect misunderstands. Balance is the answer."
The attack is repelled, but the Syndicate's use of Origin's framework raises urgent questions about how to secure the ancient AI's data. Nyla addresses the Guardians. "The Architect has shown us the stakes. We need to decide—do we trust Origin and the fragment, or do we shut them down before it's too late?"