The hum of the core was still a constant pulse, like a distant heartbeat in Lena's mind. But now, it was more like a reminder of her inner conflict, and it gnawed at her—how much longer could she resist its seductive call? As the war outside raged, the ship was alive with energy, but there was a different kind of tension inside her, a growing unease that had little to do with the physical battle.Lena turned away from the command console, her eyes locking with Elias's. She could see it in his eyes—the same look of worry that had been there since the core's power began to fully awaken within her. He wanted to trust her. He wanted to believe that she could control it. But there was something in his gaze now—something deeper than concern. There was fear."Lena," Elias said softly, his voice low but intense, "You are controlling it, right?"Lena's heart skipped. She didn't want to lie to him. But the truth was, the core was becoming more than just a weapon; it was a living thing that had its own influence over her mind, its own desires. And each time she connected with it, a part of her was lost, a piece of her identity pulled into the storm of its power."I'm... trying," she said quietly, her voice faltering, betraying the uncertainty she felt deep inside. She hadn't fully admitted to anyone just how close she was to losing herself to the core, and now, Elias's words seemed to carry more weight than ever. "I can't explain it, but every time I use the core... it feels like it's reaching out to me. I don't know if I'm controlling it, or if it's controlling me."Elias took a step closer, his expression softening. "You're not alone in this, Lena. You don't have to carry all of it by yourself."Lena felt a flicker of warmth in her chest. His words were exactly what she needed to hear. For a fleeting moment, the weight of the war and the power of the core seemed to lighten. But only for a moment. The reality of the situation was that she had to carry the weight of the galaxy's survival—and that burden was growing heavier by the day."I'm scared," Lena admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not just for Zaltron, not just for the galaxy... but for myself. I don't want to lose myself in this."Elias's hand gently brushed against hers. The touch was a lifeline. "You won't lose yourself. We'll find a way through this together."Lena nodded, though doubt still lingered. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that they could face whatever came next as a team. But the core's power was a force unlike anything she had ever encountered. Could they truly fight this battle together, or would the very thing that could save them become the force that tore them apart?