The deep mechanical hum grew louder, reverberating through the chamber like a beast stirring from slumber. The strange energy pulsing through the core intensified, casting shifting blue patterns onto the metallic walls.Jack felt the pressure in the air change, as if gravity itself was being manipulated. His body tensed. Whatever this thing was—it was alive in some way."Jack…" Rhea's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes locked on the core. "We need to move. Now."But Jack couldn't. Not yet. He had spent too long chasing shadows, too long seeking answers that were always out of reach. And now, those answers were right in front of him.He took a cautious step forward, his heartbeat syncing with the rhythmic pulse of energy.Then—A blinding flash of light erupted from the core, sending a wave of force outward. Jack staggered back, shielding his eyes as the chamber trembled. Metal groaned, dust cascaded from the ceiling.And then, from the depths of the core, something emerged.A humanoid figure, wrapped in a shimmering gravitational field, suspended above the ground. Its form was sleek and metallic, with intricate patterns glowing across its surface like circuitry woven into flesh. Its eyes—if they could even be called that—radiated pure energy.Jack instinctively raised his weapon, but a sudden force knocked it from his grasp, sending it skidding across the floor.The figure turned its gaze toward him."Who… awakens me?"The voice wasn't spoken aloud—it resonated within Jack's mind, vibrating through his very bones.Rhea gasped, taking a step back. "Jack, this isn't just some machine—this thing is sentient."Jack clenched his fists, steadying himself. "Who are you?"The figure tilted its head slightly, as if considering the question. The gravitational field around it shimmered."I am the Architect. The last remnant of a civilization that understood the forces you now seek to control."Jack's pulse quickened. "You mean gravity manipulation?"The Architect floated closer, its energy crackling like a storm contained within a single form."Not just manipulation. True dominion. Your kind has merely scratched the surface of what is possible."Jack exchanged a glance with Rhea. This was bigger than he had imagined. His parents had uncovered something far more dangerous than corporate corruption or black-market tech.This was power. Power that Hesta had been desperately trying to keep hidden.The Architect studied him for a long moment before speaking again."You are… familiar. Your genetic signature aligns with the ones who came before. The ones who disturbed my slumber."Jack's breath caught in his throat. "My parents. They were here, weren't they?"A flicker of energy passed through the Architect's body, like a ripple in space-time itself."Yes. They sought knowledge. They sought control. But they were… incomplete. Unready."Jack's jaw tightened. His parents had been unready? Then what about him?He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand his ground. "Then tell me. What did they find here? What did they die for?"The Architect regarded him for a long, heavy moment before finally answering."They sought the truth of gravity's secret. But knowledge alone is not enough. Power requires understanding. And understanding requires… transformation."Before Jack could respond, the Architect lifted a hand.The chamber shattered.