A week passed.
By now, Zayden Core wasn't just a legend — he was the heartbeat of a new world. His innovations had spread across kingdoms like wildfire. From floating kitchens to cloud-syncing scrolls, his company — The Core Enterprise™ — was everywhere.
But this week, he wasn't building burgers or beatboxes.
He was about to wire the Earth.
---
Global Launch Arena — Kingdom of Galvinar
A titanic stadium-like structure built by autonomous mech-constructs from the future stood tall under a moonlit sky. Royals, scholars, and soldiers from every continent gathered — all because of one man.
Zayden Core stood atop the center stage in a black suit laced with liquid silver threads, glowing softly. Beside him, a massive floating orb pulsed with energy.
"Ladies. Gents. Generals. Wizards. And that one guy who keeps trying to trade sheep for smartphones…"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"…Today, I launch something not even the stars could dream."
He raised his hand. The orb ascended, split into three, and expanded in midair — like galaxies forming above their heads.
"Behold: THE CORE-NET™. A neural-based communication and intelligence web — powered by quantum pulses and futureproofed AI nodes. Instant thought-to-thought communication. Anywhere. Anytime. Any language. Even across planets. If they existed."
The crowd stood in stunned silence.
Zayden leaned in, whispering into the mic.
"Basically... it's magic. But branded."
The crowd lost it.
---
Elsewhere — In the Shadows of the Whispering Caverns
Seraphina, Lady in Red, stood before a robed figure surrounded by floating, archaic glyphs.
"Your time grows short," the figure rasped.
Seraphina held her ground. "He's not evil. Just... misguided."
The figure moved forward. "Zayden Core is threading time with fire. And you — you love the flame."
"I'm trying to change it," she whispered. "To change him."
The figure extended a hand. A fragment of dark metal floated out — etched with Annunaki runes.
"Then take this. Hide it near his invention. Let it whisper doubt to his machines."
Seraphina's hand trembled.
---
Back in the Arena
The CORE-NET launched. The orbs fired beams of blue light into the skies — three satellites now rotating in synced orbits. Zayden watched as the entire stadium connected to his network.
Thoughts flowed. Minds synced. The world felt... closer.
Zayden turned to M.A.I.A. "How's the signal?"
"Flawless. Humanity just became one mind. You've done it, Zayden Core."
But then, just for a second — a flicker.
Static.
A brief, soft whisper in the CORE-NET's signal:
"Change... is death."
Zayden's eyes narrowed. "Did you hear that?"
M.A.I.A. paused. "No. I received... nothing."
---
Final Scene — Seraphina's Room
She sat alone in a candlelit chamber, holding the metal fragment in her palm.
She stared at it, then out the window where the CORE-NET orbs floated in the sky.
"I'm sorry, Zayden," she whispered.
"But even stars must burn out."
---
End of Chapter 23