The weight of the Architects' decree lingered in the air like an unspoken vow. Finn clenched his fists, his heart pounding against his ribs. The idea that his blood—the very essence of his being—was tied to an ancient cosmic force was too much to process. Yet, deep in his soul, he felt it. A *pull*. A resonance that hummed beneath his skin, as if the universe had been waiting for this moment.
Elena's grip on his hand tightened. "Finn, you don't have to do this alone."
Before he could respond, the ship shuddered violently. Alarm klaxons blared. Liam's eyes darted over the readings. "The rift is destabilizing! Whatever we just unlocked, it's *reacting*—and fast."
The viewport rippled as the nebula twisted into an abyss of prismatic darkness. From its depths, figures began to emerge—beings of pure cosmic energy, their forms shifting between radiance and shadow. Their voices layered upon one another, reverberating through the ship.