Bima’s lungs burned, the stench of ozone and corrupted brine clawing at his throat. The enforcers, their forms blurred by the iridescent chaos erupting from the vat, were relentless. Their synthesized commands, distorted and amplified by the cavern’s acoustics, merged into a deafening roar.“Containment protocol active! Harvesting initiated!”“No!” Bima’s voice was a desperate rasp, fueled by a primal fury. He lunged, not towards an escape, but towards the vat itself, his hand outstretched, intent on smashing the corrupted catalyst, on preventing Core Prime from weaponizing their desperate act of defiance.But the vat was a roiling tempest of light and corrupted energy. It pushed back, a physical force that slammed into Bima, sending him staggering. He felt Riska’s hand grab his arm, her grip vice-like.“Bima! We can’t! It’s too unstable!” her voice was a panicked whisper, barely audible above the infernal din.Kevin, his face a mask of terror, pointed a trembling finger. “Look! The w
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