The abyss of consciousness was endless chaos. Jin Doyoon found himself engulfed in the sensation that his very existence was being scattered into billions and trillions of memory fragments. The massive flood of memories flowing from the 'Central Core' threatened to devour his sense of self, and with each passing moment, the terror of forgetting who he was entirely loomed over him.
Childhood laughter, the flutter of first love, and the profound sense of loss he had wished to forget forever. All his memories surfaced and disappeared in chaotic succession. Within this turmoil, the phantom of his forgotten younger sister 'Jin Sora' appeared endlessly. Sora was crying out, but her voice remained inaudible—like someone desperately shouting from behind thick glass.
'Sora... what are you trying to tell me...?'
It was then, amidst all the tangled chaos, that one warm and familiar 'echo' gently embraced him. It was Hayoon. Her memory, like a lighthouse in a dark sea, cast a faint light to keep Doyoon from losing his way.
["Remember, Doyoon. Memories aren't just records. They're proof that we lived, proof that we loved. Even in the storm... don't lose your own melody."]
Hayoon's voice wasn't directly audible. It was her conviction, etched in their shared memories, awakening within Doyoon's inner self.
Meanwhile, in the reality of the 'Core Repository,' Joo Idam was fighting desperately. Before his eyes, Doyoon was writhing in agony, his entire body trembling as if having a seizure. The neural chip data had long exceeded dangerous levels.
"Damn it, his brain will burn out at this rate!"
Joo Idam frantically manipulated the control panel, trying to sever the data connection between the 'Central Core' and Doyoon. But the Core's defense system rejected any hacking attempts. It resisted violently, like a massive creature refusing to let go of its prey.
"Please... please snap out of it, Jin Doyoon!"
Joo Idam's desperate cry faintly penetrated Doyoon's clouded consciousness. And as Hayoon's warm 'echo' mingled with Joo Idam's urgent voice, something deep within Doyoon began to stir.
'I am... Jin Doyoon. Memory data recovery specialist. I must... remember the forgotten people.'
To avoid losing himself, he desperately clung to his most fundamental memories. His name, his purpose, and the people he had loved. Then something remarkable happened. Within the chaotic flood of incoming memories, he began to develop the ability to 'recognize' and 'separate' them. Like picking out a desired sound from countless noises.
His ability as a 'Memory Keeper' was awakening in a new form under these extreme circumstances.
Doyoon's resistance further agitated the 'Central Core.' The Core emitted even more powerful energy waves, trying to completely dominate his consciousness. At that moment, Joo Idam resorted to a last measure. He had discovered a faint clue about the 'Akashic Field's' emergency power shutdown protocol in Noh Minsu's notebook that Doyoon had dropped.
"It's do or die!"
Joo Idam mobilized all his hacking abilities and succeeded in causing an error in the Core's control system for just a brief moment. Without missing that opportunity, he input the emergency power shutdown command!
CRASH!
With a tremendous roar, the light of the 'Central Core' began to rapidly fade. The entire Core Repository shook violently, and debris rained down from the ceiling along with sparks. The flood of memories pouring into Doyoon also stopped as if by magic.
How much time had passed? Doyoon slowly opened his eyes, overwhelmed by extreme fatigue. His head felt like it might split, but his consciousness was surprisingly clear. Beside him was Joo Idam, breathing heavily as if exhausted.
"Ha... you're... alive, you bastard."
Joo Idam said with a weary smile.
Doyoon tried to sit up, but his body had no strength. However, he could definitely feel it. Something had changed. All the world's memories felt so vivid, as if he could grasp them in his hands. His 'echo' detection ability had become incomparably more sensitive than before.
And in his mind remained fragments of the countless information he had seen when connected to the 'Core.' Among them, the clearest was...
"I need to... find it."
Doyoon whispered in a cracked voice.
"What are you looking for now, in this situation! First we need to get out of here..."
"Hayoon's... Hayoon's last message... deep within the 'Core'... She wasn't just a simple Eliminator. She's... connected to the beginning of all this."
Doyoon's eyes held a deep, cool light different from before. His gaze was directed toward the remains of the 'Central Core,' which had been pulsing madly moments ago and now emitted only faint light.
He instinctively knew that the key to all secrets was hidden there.