"In a universe no longer watching,we still choose to awaken what the world has already forgotten."

  A low tremor echoed through the ruins—like the tired breath of a starship long asleep.

  AIRA-09 extended her arms slowly.From her back, threads of sapphire light burst forth, trailing through the dead circuits of the station like a pulse of rebirth.Dormant networks flickered… reconnected… as if remembering how to breathe.

  At the station’s core, something had been waiting.

  “Linking motherframe architecture… routing signal through shadow frequency…” she whispered, voice tight with emotion."Nova Linker... respond to me—just this once."

  One blink.

  Then two.

  Then a spiral of golden light burst from the floor, twisting toward the ceiling like the sky itself was recalling a forgotten dream.

  【Core Engine – Nova Linker Awakening Chamber】The floor shuddered. Steel ptes folded in upon themselves.Ancient Manatech veins lit up, drawn back to a forgotten heart.

  And then—it appeared.

  Nova Linker.A starship shaped like a half-phoenix, half-dragon, its crystal wings trembling as if sensing its commander once more.

  Within the command bay, AIRA activated the Mana Core—the heart of Nova Linker.It wasn’t powered by commands, but by emotion.A communion of intent and memory.

  She turned.Master stood silently behind her, unreadable.

  “Master…” Her voice dropped to a near-whisper, afraid even sound might break the moment.“If your soul still believes in the vow we made… Nova Linker will answer you.”

  He stepped forward.Slow. Steady.His gaze fell to her hand resting on the control panel.

  “…Back then,” he said softly, “I chose you… not because you were the most advanced AI…But because you were the only one who could truly hear the voice in the dark.”

  His hand met hers.Their fingers brushed. Light surged.

  For a brief second—His mind was pulled into memory:The first journey.The teammates who vanished.The war in the shadows.

  And her—The woman from a broken timeline…The st one to say, “Don’t forget us.”

  KRRRRRRRRRR—

  The ship shivered.

  “Link Synchronization: 87%”“Right cyber-wing: restored.”“Cabins: ready for Shadow Linker crew.”

  AIRA’s eyes lifted, glowing softly.Her voice wavered—no longer just robotic.There was warmth.And faith.

  “Master… we’re coming back.

  And when they all return—”

  She looked directly at him now, eyes trembling.

  “—the universe will hear the shadows one st time.”

  He nodded—just once.

  “…And they’ll never be silent again.

  Because we’ll be the ones to speak for them.”

  The mana engine stirred.The wings of Nova Linker unfurled, slow and reverent, across the vacuum.

  The ship that once linked hearts across the stars—

  Had awakened.