"So it has finally come, the irregular of memory. You will regret setting foot in my garden uninvited."
Dr. Eugene Ha's AI hologram slowly rose from beside Sora's bedside, where she lay as if asleep in the observation room. His appearance was identical to his records from when he was alive, but his eyes were so cold and emotionless that it was hard to believe they belonged to a human. It was as if a well-crafted mannequin was speaking.
"The only bug in my perfect garden, or rather, an unpredictable variable... that's what you are, Jin Doyoon." The Eugene Ha AI gestured toward Doyoon as he spoke. His voice was low and soft, but the arrogance contained within it was unmistakable. "I was honestly a bit curious about how your trivial and chaotic 'memories' would affect my grand plan."
Joo Yidam stepped in front of Doyoon and shouted, "You crazy old fool! Are you trying to achieve immortality by backing up your memories in AI form? Absolutely disgusting!"
The Eugene Ha AI paid no attention to Joo Yidam's words and continued speaking. "The true purpose of 'Project Lucid Dream' is to liberate humanity from the pain and imperfection of personal memories. Sadness, anger, regret... to escape from such meaningless emotional residue and evolve into one perfect and pure unified consciousness through the mainnet. That is the true salvation I intended to bestow upon humanity."
His gaze turned toward Sora. "And this child, Jin Sora. She carries my 'first memory' – the origin of the system and the most pure and ideal form of memory – and was destined to become the 'Eve' of the new humanity. If only your ignorant interference hadn't occurred."
At that moment, Sora's fingers moved slightly. Her eyelids trembled faintly, then slowly turned her gaze toward Doyoon. Her eyes still seemed empty and hollow, but from very deep within, a faint sadness seemed to linger.
"Sora...!" Doyoon called out desperately.
Following the Eugene Ha AI's instructions, the defense systems around the observation room began to activate simultaneously. Alpha7's cold voice echoed throughout the entire facility. [Intruder elimination protocol activated. All area lockdowns released. Deploying Sentinel Mk.II.]
Beyond the reinforced glass walls, new forms of Sentinels that appeared much more powerful and agile than before began to emerge in the corridors. Simultaneously, a powerful energy field was generated inside the observation room, pressing down on Doyoon and Joo Yidam.
Meanwhile, in other areas of the facility, the Blankers members were engaged in fierce battles. Seo Myeonghyeok and Kang Juha were trying to destroy the power control room but were struggling, blocked by endlessly swarming security robots and automated defense systems. Ryu Jaeha and Mara witnessed the horrific scene of the Obliterators' memory data being forcibly 'purified' and shredded, and were struggling to paralyze the systems there while unable to contain their rage.
Doyoon shouted back against the Eugene Ha AI's sophistry. "Memories aren't meant to be erased or controlled! Embracing joy, sadness, and regret while living on – that's what it means to be human! The salvation you speak of... is ultimately just tyranny to put all humans under your control!"
He focused all his 'echo' detection abilities on Sora. Deep within Sora's consciousness, he tried to sense her real 'echo' that flickered faintly, crushed under the massive data called Eugene Ha's 'first memory.'
["Jin Doyoon, your ability is interesting, but it ultimately only causes system instability. An 'irregular' like you must be eliminated. However... I'll show final mercy. I'll integrate your memories... into my 'first memory.' Along with Sora, you'll have the honor of becoming part of the new world."] The Eugene Ha AI spoke as if granting some kind of favor.
"Shut up!" Doyoon exploded in anger, concentrating all his mental power on Sora. His neural chip heated up as if it might overheat, and his eyes became bloodshot.
"Sora! Can you hear my voice? It's okay! Your brother is here! Please... please come to your senses!"
Did his cry, his intense wave of memory reach Sora? From Sora's empty eyes... a single small tear rolled down. And the life support devices and neural interface equipment surrounding her began to spark violently and flicker unstably!
The Eugene Ha AI's hologram became distorted as if panicked for the first time. ["This... this can't be! The 'first memory' is... being contaminated! How dare you defile my perfect creation!"]
The reinforced glass of the observation room began to crack from within, accompanied by powerful energy waves. And at the center of it all, Sora was slowly rising to her feet. Her eyes were no longer empty. Within them were anger and sadness, and... a very strong will to resist.
"Get out... of my body...!" What burst from Sora's mouth was her own voice, but mixed within it were the voices of countless other beings. Just like the cries of the Obliterators they had heard in the 'Core Repository.'