Outside the vault, the pressure groaned. The ProtaStructure model updated in real time, a perfect digital twin of their tomb.

typed out one final line: “Initiating countdown to critical failure. Have a productive day.”

He zoomed in on the model. A single node, deep in the western reserve, was glowing amber. A joint that held back the silt from the underground river.

“,” Elias whispered, tapping the cracked screen. The AI, short for Foundation Resilience Index , flickered to life.