Leo turned to run back, but a massive, shadowy figure emerged from the glitching forest. It was a corrupted guardian, its body made of tangled code and broken textures. It let out a roar that sounded like a dial-up modem screaming in agony.
Before Leo could reach for the power plug, the monitor erupted in a blinding flash of emerald light. A sudden, violent pull surged from the screen, dragging him forward. The smell of ozone and wet earth filled his senses as his apartment dissolved into a digital vortex. Leo turned to run back, but a massive,
His hands slammed against the smooth, glass-like surface of the core. Before Leo could reach for the power plug,
The spire erupted in a wave of pure light. The corruption halted. The guardian dissolved into harmless pixels, and the static receded. His hands slammed against the smooth, glass-like surface