The fall of the northern perimeter was only the beginning. Like shattering glass, the collapse sent vibrations through every district, each ripple amplifying hesitation, doubt, and fractured loyalty. Jonah moved cautiously through the eastern sectors, flanked by Nia and a select few operatives. Every movement, every glance, every decision carried weight. The city itself seemed alive, responding to uncertainty, bending beneath the invisible hand of perception.Nia’s tablet flashed incessantly. “Jonah… the dominoes are falling faster now,” she whispered. “Adjacent sectors—central, southern, and western peripheries—are teetering. Independent factions are clashing, patrols freeze at critical intersections, and minor operatives act unpredictably. The collapse is accelerating.”Jonah’s eyes hardened. “Dominoes falling,” he murmured. “One failure validates doubt, and doubt accelerates the next. Mara and Lila have turned hesitation into a weapon, perception into an invisible strike. We can st

The fractures were no longer invisible—they had begun to speak. Whispers traveled faster than directives. Doubt had fermented into hesitation, and hesitation had now ripened into betrayal. Jonah moved through the central sectors, eyes scanning every interaction, every glance, every subtle exchange. The first signs of open rebellion had begun to surface, and he knew that one misstep could trigger a cascade of loss.Nia’s tablet flashed repeatedly, highlighting suspicious communications and unauthorized movements. “Jonah… Sector Gamma,” she said, her voice tight with urgency. “One of the faction leaders has openly defied orders. Minor operatives are following. This is no longer a hesitation—it’s a full-scale betrayal in the ranks.”Jonah’s jaw clenched. “Betrayal,” he muttered. “Fractured loyalty has grown teeth. Mara and Lila have weaponized perception into action. One misstep, one visible fracture, and the dominoes accelerate faster than intervention.”Below ground, Mara and Lila watc