Chapter 12: Shadows in the Network

Late one night, Isaac's monitor flickered again. This time, no ominous message appeared, but the flicker sent a jolt of dread through him. He immediately launched his security protocols, checking the logs, analyzing the code. But there was nothing—no trace of entry.

Still, something felt wrong. Isaac's heart raced as he scanned through the code of his algorithm. His eyes widened when he saw it—an unfamiliar line buried deep within his own creation.

The hacker hadn't just been watching. They'd infiltrated the algorithm itself, subtly altering it, making it…different. Isaac felt a surge of anger. This wasn't just an attack on his work—it was an attack on him. His creation had been tainted.

He couldn't tell how much had been changed or what the hacker's intentions were, but one thing was certain: he was at war. And his own weapon had been compromised.