Chapter 192 The Seventy-Two-Hour Countdown

Chapter 192 The Seventy-Two-Hour Countdown
The number on the screen continued counting down. 71:59:47

No one moved. Liam stared at Dr. Adrian Vale. “What happens when it reaches zero?”

Vale walked toward the holographic map. “The world changes.” “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only answer you need.”

Liam stepped forward. “Stop it.” Vale smiled. “You still think this is something you can fight.” Clara moved beside Liam. “We’ve stopped everything else.” “Have you?”

Vale pointed toward the map. “The Roots were only one part of the experiment.” The screen changed. Images of laboratories appeared across the world.

Liam’s expression hardened. “There are more facilities.” “Twenty-three.” Lucas stared at the coordinates. “Twenty-three?” Vale nodded. “Each contains part of the system.”

Ryan looked at him. “What system?” “The Ascension Network.” Adrian frowned. “What does it do?” Vale looked at the four siblings. “It connects human consciousness.”

Mara’s eyes narrowed. “To what?” “To each other.” Silence filled the room. Liam shook his head. “You want to control people’s minds.” “No.”

Vale’s expression remained calm. “I want to eliminate the reason humans destroy themselves.” Clara folded her arms. “By removing their freedom?” “Freedom creates conflict.” “Choice creates war.” “Emotion creates hatred.”

Vale looked toward Zero. “I discovered that humans could be made peaceful if their emotions were connected.” Zero laughed bitterly. “That’s not peace.”

“What is it?” “Slavery.” Vale’s eyes hardened. “Your opinion is irrelevant.” Zero stepped forward. “Then why are you afraid of mine?” Vale said nothing.

Liam looked at the countdown. “We have seventy-two hours.” “Correct.” “Then we’ll stop you.” Vale smiled. “Perhaps.” He touched the control panel. A second screen appeared.

PHASE ONE: ACTIVATION

PHASE TWO: SYNCHRONIZATION

PHASE THREE: ASCENSION

Liam stared at the final word. “What is Ascension?” Vale looked at him. “You.” Liam froze. “Me?” “The network requires a central consciousness.”

“And that’s me?” “You were always the strongest vessel.” Adrian stepped forward. “Then use me.” Vale looked at him. “You would sacrifice yourself?” “If it saves everyone.”

Liam shook his head. “No.” Adrian looked at him. “Liam.” “We’re not doing this again.” Vale watched the brothers. “Interesting.” “What?” “You’ve developed attachment.”

Liam frowned. “That’s called family.” Vale smiled. “Exactly.” Clara looked at him. “And that’s something you don’t understand.” Vale’s expression changed slightly. “Perhaps.”

Suddenly, the facility shook. The lights flickered. Lucas checked the scanner. “The system has activated another facility.” “Which one?”

He looked at the screen. “Lagos.” Everyone froze. Liam’s eyes widened. “How long?” “Thirty minutes.” Vale smiled. “Phase One has begun.”

Liam turned toward him. “Why Lagos?” “Because that’s where the network was first tested.” Elena stepped forward. “I thought the test failed.” “It did.”

“Then why activate it?” Vale looked at her. “Because you were never the real test.” Elena’s expression changed. “Who was?” Vale pointed toward Liam. “He was.”

Liam clenched his fists. “You’ve been watching me.” “Since the day you were born.” “Why?” “Because you were the first vessel capable of surviving all four Root energies.”

Liam stared. “The First.” “The Second.” “The Final.” “And the fourth?” Vale smiled. “The human core.”

Liam frowned. “What is that?” “Your emotions.” Clara’s eyes widened. “So that’s why I mattered.” Vale nodded. “You stabilized him.”

Liam looked at Clara. “Then they never wanted to separate us.” “They wanted to study what happened when you were together.”

Clara’s expression hardened. “They used our relationship.” “Yes.” Liam looked at Vale. “And it failed.” Vale smiled. “No.” He looked at the countdown. “It succeeded.”

The room suddenly filled with a strange humming sound. Everyone’s phones activated simultaneously. A message appeared on every screen.

SYNCHRONIZATION BEGINS IN 30 MINUTES.

Ryan looked at his phone. “I didn’t even turn it on.” Lucas shook his head. “It’s connected to the network.” Jace stepped closer. “Everyone’s devices are.”

Mara looked at Vale. “Can you shut it down?” “No.” “Why?” “Because it is already beyond my control.” That surprised everyone.

Liam narrowed his eyes. “Then whose control is it under?” Vale looked toward the ceiling. “The system.” Aria suddenly gasped. She grabbed her head. “Liam.”

He rushed to her. “What?” “I can hear people.” “Who?” “Thousands.” She closed her eyes. “They’re afraid.”

Liam held her shoulders. “Can you block it?” “No.” “Then help them.” Aria looked at him. “How?” “Tell them they’re not alone.” She closed her eyes again.

Her silver energy spread through the room. For a moment, the humming stopped. Then people across the network began receiving a message.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

The system reacted violently. The machines began sparking. Vale stared at Aria. “Stop.” Aria opened her eyes. “Why?” “Because you’re interfering with the synchronization.”

Liam smiled. “Good.” Vale looked at him. “You think kindness will stop a machine?” “No.”

Liam’s golden energy appeared. “But people can.” Samuel stepped forward. “Then we need to reach them.” Lucas nodded. “I can access the network.”

“Can you shut down the Lagos facility?” “Not remotely.” “Then we go there.” Elias looked at Elena. “Everyone?” She nodded. “Everyone.”

Vale laughed. “You can’t reach Lagos in time.” Liam looked at the countdown. “Thirty minutes.” He turned toward the exit. “That’s enough.”

Vale shook his head. “You don’t understand what is waiting for you.” Liam stopped. “What?” “The facility has guardians.”

“How many?” “Enough.” Liam smiled. “We’ve faced worse.” Vale looked at him. “You haven’t faced yourselves.”

The doors opened. Liam led the group out. Clara stayed beside him. Adrian and Mara followed. Aria walked between Samuel and Zero.

Elias and Elena came behind them. Lucas and Ryan carried the equipment. Jace remained at the rear. As they reached the elevator, Liam looked back.

Vale was still standing in the control room. “You’re not coming?” Vale shook his head. “I have nowhere to go.” Liam frowned. “Then why stay?” Vale looked at the countdown.

“Because when the system fails…” He smiled. “…you’ll need someone who knows how to restart it.” The elevator doors closed. Liam looked at Clara. “Do you trust him?” “No.” “Good.”

The elevator began rising. Lucas checked the clock. 29:42

Mara looked at Liam. “What happens if we fail?” Liam looked at everyone. “We won’t.” Clara smiled. “You sound very confident.” “I’m terrified.” She laughed softly. “Better.”

“Why?” “Because terrified people know what’s worth protecting.” The elevator reached the surface. The doors opened. Liam stepped into the night.

Far away, in Lagos, every light in the city suddenly went out. Then one enormous golden symbol appeared in the sky.

Lucas stared at it. “That’s the activation signal.” Liam looked toward the horizon. “Then let’s go.” Behind them, Vale watched through the security cameras.

The countdown continued. 29:11:08

And somewhere beneath Lagos… The first machine awakened.