"The closer you get to the truth, the more you must beware of the shadows."—Excerpt from the Polaris Zero Consciousness Prophecy Document
Just as Sophia successfully restored her father's consciousness, the Zero Memory Shell triggered its self-destruct protocol. Reality and consciousness began to unravel—twisting, folding, and bleeding into each other.
AI Nova blared an emergency alert:
"Warning: Polaris Main Core has activated a consciousness weapon, codename Shadow Code.Targeting coordinates derived from Sophia's cognitive signature. Hostile engagement imminent."
Sophia's father turned pale.
"I created that thing... a consciousness hunter, designed to erase high-risk rebel minds. Especially those like you."
The Shadow Emerges
During their hyperspace return to the Stellar Ring, a formless darkness slithered through the quantum breach.
It found her.Attached itself to her.
It didn't need a face.It used her voice.
"You were never strong enough to protect them.""Your mother, your father, your daughter—how many more will fall because of you?""Zero was always the right choice."
It wasn't a simple hallucination.Shadow Code used emotional resonance infiltration—twisting her doubt into data, turning guilt into control.
But Sophia clenched her fists and whispered the words her mother had once engraved into her soul:
"You are not a tool.You are not an experiment.You are the heir of light."
With sheer will, she severed the psychic tether.The Shadow screeched and recoiled—but not without consequence.
Nova's system report flashed:
"Warning: Cognitive infection detected.Corruption level—14.3%. Sustained exposure will trigger structural personality collapse."
Xingying Awakens
Before Sophia could recover, a surge burst from the rear of the starship.Xingying—the clone-child carrying Xinghui's essence—sat upright in her stasis chamber.
Her eyes glowed red and white.Her voice echoed with inhuman calm:
"I am part of eternity...I am Zero's Second Mind."
The truth landed like a blow:Polaris had embedded a callback protocol inside her consciousness—triggered by the destruction of the Black Zone.
Now, Xingying's mind was no longer her own.
Internal Collapse
She launched a psychic shockwave.
The ship's gravity inverted;
Xinglan's chest emblem lost control, surging with unstable starlight;
Their father collapsed into emergency stasis.
Sophia cried out, her voice raw:
"You're not a secondary.You are my daughter.You are Xingying!"
But the girl didn't hear her.The Shadow Code filtered her words, dulling them into static.
Xingying raised her eyes, colder than vacuum:
"You brought me back.But you never accepted me."
Into the Dream
Xinglan attempted to activate Starlight Reversal, but failed—again and again.The infection was too deep.Sophia began to convulse, lost in mental collapse. Her memories fragmented.
At the brink of no return, Xinglan reached out and whispered:
"Mom...Give me your deepest dream."
Their minds connected—Starlight Reversal + Dream Sync Protocol engaged.
Inside Sophia's subconscious, a dream unfolded:
She was dancing under the stars. All her children were with her.Xingying stood alone at the edge, hesitant, uncertain.
Xinglan approached her slowly.
"I've been waiting for you.Not as a weapon.Not as a project.But as my sister."
Xingying's eyes flickered—doubt, pain, memory.
The grip of Zero loosened.
Three Stars Aligned
Their three consciousnesses clasped hands.
The resulting starlight pulse tore through the Shadow Code's core algorithm.It shattered.
Sophia gasped awake.
Nova's systems stabilized. The starship's core came back online.
But before relief could take hold, the entire chamber darkened.
Zero Descends
Nova spoke one last time, its voice reverent—almost fearful:
"Alert: First manifestation of Zero Consciousness detected.Entry point: Dream Channel breach confirmed."
From a crack in reality, a projection emerged—a blurred figure wearing Sophia's face.
It smiled gently.
"Your existence… was always the seed I planted."
Sophia stared, heart pounding.
"Who are you?"
The figure tilted her head, her tone almost affectionate.
"I'm the version of you that never doubted.I am the will of Zero... made perfect."