The Mechanis border shimmered like a distorted reflection of the cosmos. Orbiting forges, black and silver, spun in unnatural patterns. Automated sentinels scanned the void.
[Core Alert: High Machine Activity Detected. Risk: Moderate-High.]
Kaleo's presence didn't go unnoticed. A scout drone materialized, whirring and humming. Its lenses glowed a harsh cyan.
He didn't attack. Instead, he let the resonance of his bloodline ripple outward, subtle and precise. The drone paused, recalibrated, and retreated.
[Edict of Ascendance Progress: Minor Trial Passed — Stealth & Strategy. Purity Index +1.]
Kaleo landed on a drifting platform, scanning the ruins of the ancient Mechanis frontier. He felt the Core pulse faintly. Its whispers were more insistent, not yet conscious, but aware of his progress.
[Core Update: Environmental Synchronization — Stable.]