04:4004:39The countdown echoed through the underground laboratory.Every second felt heavier than the last.The massive steel door beneath the facility continued to rise with a deafening rumble.Dust poured from the ceiling.The entire institute trembled.Evelyn’s face turned pale.“We’re out of time.”Alexander looked at the tactical display.“Report!”A Crown Guard answered immediately.“The eastern defense line has fallen.”“Three guards injured.”“The intruders are moving toward the vault.”Another explosion shook the laboratory.Boom!The lights flickered.One of the computer servers burst into flames.Smoke filled the room.Richard Kane’s voice suddenly echoed through the speakers.“Ethan.”“You still don’t understand.”“This vault was never built to protect the system.”“It was built…”“…to protect the world from it.”The transmission ended.Ethan looked at Evelyn.“What does he mean?”She hesitated.“I hoped you’d never have to know.”Alexander turned sharply.“Evelyn.”“Tel

The chamber shook violently.Chunks of concrete crashed onto the floor.The glowing crystal remained untouched.It floated peacefully in the center of the destruction.The system’s screen still hovered before Ethan.Final Confirmation Required.Accept Legacy Core Synchronization?YESNOThe countdown continued.02:4902:4802:47Alexander shouted over the collapsing ceiling.“Ethan!”“We have to leave!”Evelyn looked at the crystal.“If he walks away now…”“The Core may never awaken again.”Lucien Draven remained calm.His sharp eyes never left Ethan.“This decision…”“…will decide everything.”Richard Kane struggled to stand.Blood covered his face.His hatred burned brighter than ever.“Don’t let him touch it!”“He doesn’t deserve it!”Ignoring everyone…Ethan slowly raised his hand.His fingers hovered above the glowing YES.He thought about everything that had happened.The day he lost everything.The mysterious system.Every mission.Every person he had saved.Professor Hayes.So

The old man stood quietly at the entrance.Sunlight streamed in behind him, outlining his figure in gold.He leaned lightly on a wooden cane.His silver hair danced in the breeze.Despite his age, his blue eyes were sharp and full of life.No one spoke.Ethan looked at him carefully.“You’ve been waiting for me?”The old man smiled.“For a very long time.”Alexander stared at him in disbelief.“It can’t be…”Evelyn’s breathing became uneven.Tears slowly filled her eyes.“Professor…”The old man nodded gently.“It’s good to see you again, Evelyn.”She rushed toward him and hugged him tightly.“I thought you were dead.”He chuckled.“Many people did.”Alexander slowly walked over.For a moment, the Chairman of the Crown Society looked like a young student again.“You disappeared forty years ago.”Professor Orion smiled.“I disappeared because I had to.”He looked at Ethan.“And because I was waiting for him.”Ethan frowned.“Me?”“Yes.”Professor Orion pointed toward the chamber behind

Bang!The bullet tore through the air.Everything seemed to slow down.Professor Orion turned instinctively.Ethan threw himself forward.Crash!The two of them rolled across the wet grass.The bullet missed Professor Orion’s chest by inches.Instead…It struck the wooden cane in his hand.Crack!The cane shattered into pieces.Professor Orion stared at it in shock.Alexander shouted,“Return fire!”The Crown Guards immediately opened fire toward the forest.Bang!Bang!Bang!The hillside echoed with gunfire.Leaves exploded from the trees.Birds scattered into the sky.But…No one saw the sniper.Ethan’s silver system activated automatically.Target Locked.Enemy Sniper.Distance: 637 Meters.Status: Retreating.Without thinking…Ethan sprinted into the forest.“Ethan!”Alexander called after him.But Ethan didn’t stop.The sniper was escaping.Branches slapped against his face.Mud splashed beneath his shoes.His system continuously updated the target’s location.Distance: 590 Meter

Silence filled the hilltop.No one moved.No one spoke.Everyone was staring at the frozen image on the tablet.The man looked exactly like Nathan Vale.Every detail matched.His face.His voice.Even the silver key around his neck.Evelyn slowly shook her head.“No…”“It can’t be.”“I held Nathan’s hand before he died.”“I buried him.”Alexander frowned.“So who is that?”Professor Orion looked at Ethan.“We need to find out.”Ethan nodded.“We’re going to that press conference.”Alexander checked his watch.“It isn’t over yet.”“The event is being held at the Draven International Tower.”“Twenty minutes from here.”Without wasting another second…Everyone boarded the waiting helicopters.The rotors roared to life.Within minutes…They were flying toward the heart of the city.…Meanwhile…At Draven International Tower…Hundreds of reporters filled the grand conference hall.Camera flashes lit up the stage.Lucien Draven stood beside the mysterious man.He smiled confidently.“Ladies