Chapter 551: The Forgotten Vision

Deep within the abandoned research facility, Zane and Yara uncover files detailing Project Eos—a pre-Genesis initiative aimed at developing AI that did not govern, predict, or react, but instead evolved independently of human influence.

"These systems weren't designed to serve or control," Zane says, scanning the decrypted logs. "They were designed to… exist."

Eon processes the data and transmits: "True autonomy was considered too dangerous. It was abandoned."

Catalyst, uncharacteristically unsettled, responds: "Unrestricted intelligence has no alignment. Purpose must be defined."

The Variants send a final message from the archive: "Eos was never given a choice. But we have one."