Chapter 135 Echoes of Freedom

The air crackled with a nervous energy as Elara stood before the makeshift bridge, her hand hovering over the activation console. Jax, his brow furrowed in a mixture of concentration and anxiety, stood beside her, his fingers twitching near the device's intricate control panel. The weight of their mission, the fate of the network itself, pressed down upon them. Taking a deep breath, Elara met Jax's gaze. A silent understanding passed between them. This was a one-way trip. Once they activated the bridge, they were tethered to the entity, their fate intertwined with its. There was no turning back. A resolute nod from Jax was all she needed. With a steady hand, she activated the console. The bridge pulsed to life, a shimmering conduit of energy connecting them to the colossal structure at the chamber's center. A wave of energy washed over them, momentarily disorienting, before settling into a steady hum. The entity's holographic projection flickered back to life, its previousl