The relay station trembled as the hum deepened beneath their boots. Dust drifted from the ceiling, glowing in the harsh light of flickering bulbs. Riku's heartbeat matched the rhythm pulsing through the floor—slow, methodical, unnatural.
Takeda stared at the terminal, pale as ash. Lines of text rolled across the screen faster than his eyes could follow: "Signal replication… node transfer… synchronization 12%."
Suzune's voice cut through the static-filled air. "How far can it spread?"
Takeda's hands shook over the keyboard. "If it's transmitting through old satellite uplinks, anywhere in range. The entire network's reawakening."
Ichika slammed her rifle against the table. "Then kill the signal!"
"I told you, I can't!" he snapped, frustration bleeding through. "The system's not obeying local commands—it's following directives from Shinonome!"
Riku stepped beside him, calm but firm. "Then we cut Shinonome off."
