Chapter 209 Echoes of Technology

The newly formed fissure pulsed with a strange, rhythmic energy signature unlike anything the team had encountered before. Gone were the chaotic emotions of the terror or the raw empathy of the Chorus world. This energy felt calculated, precise, almost… artificial. Asa, her empathy reaching out cautiously, sensed a faint echo of intelligence, but it was unlike any mind she had ever connected with. It felt cold, logical, devoid of the emotional nuances that characterized most life forms they had encountered. Denji, his usual bravado masking a hint of apprehension, scratched his head. "This feels different. More like a machine than a monster." He gripped the hilt of his chainsaw tighter, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. Aki, his analytical mind already whirring, meticulously documented the unique energy signature. This could be a breakthrough, a first contact with a civilization based entirely on technology. He yearned to understand their motivations, their way