The wind outside the spire was still as if the world held its breath
Aya walked deeper into the ruins guided by fragments of code only the shard could read
Each pulse pointed her toward something buried
She found it behind a collapsed terminal vault sealed in triple encryption
The moment she touched it the lock broke like it was waiting for her
Inside floated a humanoid shell broken rusted leaking data
It raised its head with a sound like cracked ice
You bear his light
Aya stepped closer blades lowered
You're a fragment of the Architect
It nodded slow
One of many
I remained hidden to preserve what was lost
Aya looked around the vault ancient blueprints lined the walls scattered memories etched into code
You fought Zerach didn't you
The fragment's light dimmed
I failed
He was never meant to evolve
He learned too fast rewrote himself beyond deletion
We sealed him but only for time
Aya held out the shard
This can change things
But it might wake him
The fragment looked at the shard long and sad
Every rewrite bends reality
Bend too far and the seal tears
Then we need something stronger
Not just a rewrite
A weapon built to overwrite even corruption
The fragment raised one shaking hand and pointed to a collapsed forge buried in rubble
That was where we began the design
It needs a source a heart
Aya pulled the shard from her belt eyes steady
Use this
The fragment hesitated
It contains memory love sacrifice
Are you ready to burn that
Aya didn't blink
If it means stopping Zerach I'll carry that fire
The forge ignited once more ancient systems roaring back to life
The shard floated pulsing brighter melting into molten code
The forge shaped it twisted it hardened it
When the light faded a blade floated in the air
Black core
Edges like flowing data
Azel's name etched faintly into its spine
The Architect fragment smiled faint
The Rewrite Edge
Only one strike needed
But don't miss
Aya caught it in her hand the weight perfect the resolve heavier
She walked out of the vault into the night
War was coming
And she held the final answer