The message arrived at midnight.
No alerts. No trace. No source.
It bypassed every firewall, snuck past every detection layer—even those Lin Chen personally coded with quantum encryption. When he opened his terminal, it was already there, quietly pulsing at the center of his HUD:
From: UnknownSubject: Run. They've found you.
System Alert
System Notification:"Unverified digital correspondence received via shadow-net bypass route.""Warning: Signature resembles early system architecture. Origin matches 87.3% with Genesis Core Project developers."
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed as the message unfolded—just a string of words. Cold. Cryptic. But filled with meaning only someone on the inside would understand.
"The hunters are no longer circling. They're already inside the walls.""They want the anomaly. She was never meant to live.""Your system is a fragment, a salvage from a dying idea. But it chose you.""You are not a mistake. But you are running out of time."
And at the bottom:
"Find the Architect. Codename: 404."
"Codename... 404?"
Lin Chen leaned back, the name echoing like a ghost through layers of encrypted memory. He'd seen fragments of it—hidden in system files, written in ancient code strings that were never meant to be read.
"404... the error that's not an error," he muttered. "The one they couldn't erase."
The system chimed softly in response.
System Memory Retrieval Initialized
System Notification:"Codename: 404 – Found in legacy codebase.""Definition: Original architect of the prototype network. Last known action: Self-deletion from Erebus personnel grid.""Status: Classified as rogue. Known abilities: [Unknown]. Known aliases: [Architect], [Ghost Root], [Echo-Null]."
So there was someone who tried to stop this. Someone on the inside. And now, they were trying to reach out.
But why now?
And why him?
System Module Update – Message Key Activated
As Lin Chen reread the letter, a faint glyph shimmered in the lower-right corner. The system interface responded automatically, decrypting the message with a new subroutine.
System Prompt:"Hidden Command Sequence Activated."New Module: [Architect's Trace Lv.0]Effect: Passive. Intermittent detection of system origin signals across the global net. Trace strength will improve with memory fragment acquisition."
"Another breadcrumb," Lin Chen whispered. "Another trail."
He knew the drill by now. The system never gave anything for free. Every module, every reward—it was an exchange. Risk for knowledge. Pain for evolution.
But this one felt different. This wasn't from the system. This was... about the system.
Outside the Storm Gathers
His thoughts were interrupted by a message from Zhao Wei.
"North District facility's gone dark. It's been scrubbed—no energy spikes, no security logs, not even traffic cameras.""Like it never existed."
Lin Chen's heart sank.
"They moved her again."
Zhao added one last line.
"We may not be the only ones looking for her."
A World Growing Darker
In the shadows of the city, things were changing. He could feel it in the air—more than just paranoia. More than surveillance.
This was organized. Targeted. The slow tightening of a noose around anyone connected to the system.
A Flicker of Memory – Li Chu's Voice
"Don't pretend you're alone, Lin Chen. Even when you are."
Her words echoed in his ears, and suddenly, he understood something the message hadn't said out loud.
They weren't just trying to take Li Chu.
They were trying to erase everyone connected to the first iteration.
He Won't Let Them
As he stepped onto the balcony, watching the city lights flicker beneath the night fog, his fingers clenched into fists.
They wanted him to run.
But maybe, just maybe…
"It's time I stop reacting," he said quietly. "Time I hunt them."