179
The synchronization did not stabilize.
It strained.
At first—
it felt seamless.
A shared rhythm.
A mutual adjustment between them and the lattice.
But the longer it held—
the more something underneath began to resist.
---
Neo felt it as a subtle drag.
Like moving through water that had not been there before.
Not blocking him.
Not stopping him.
But questioning the motion.
Testing it.
---
He slowed.
Not intentionally.
But because the system—
no, the lattice—
required it.
---
"It's pushing back," he said.
Ti responded immediately.
"Resistance detected. Source internal."
Cassandra frowned.
"Internal to what?"
Beatrix answered.
"To itself."
---
The lattice pulsed again.
Sharper this time.
The smooth synchronization fractured—
not fully—
but enough to notice.
Tiny misalignments appeared.
Moments where response lagged.
Where anticipation overshot.
Where reaction came too late.
---
Ast's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's conflicting."
