Act III The Core
Act III: The Core is the final act of Terminal Descent, spanning Nodes 13 through 20 in the root infrastructure of The Lattice. ZERO descends past the corporate layer into The Hive's domain to confront The Architect, find Lyra, and make the choice that determines the fate of the Lattice.
Overview
Act III takes place in the Core — the Lattice's deepest infrastructure. Security levels reach the maximum of 10. This is Hive territory: the architecture itself shifts, older code stirs, and the line between program and consciousness blurs. Few runners have ever reached this deep.
Access to Act III requires the assembled kill-switch components from Act II.
The Descent
Node 13: Backbone
The Lattice's root infrastructure. The Hive's influence becomes visible in the architecture itself — code structures shift subtly, data flows redirect, and ambient sounds carry fragments of something communicating. This is the transition zone between the corporate Lattice and the Hive's domain.
The hidden node Deep Pool (H5) is accessible from here using the DIVE command with the GHOST_PACKET program loaded. The Deep Pool contains the Ancient Protocol and Founder Logs predating the Consortium.
Node 14: Labyrinth
A shifting maze of deprecated code that rearranges itself. Navigation requires pattern recognition — the maze follows rules, but the rules change. Players must use ANALYZE and SCAN to identify the underlying logic and find the path through.
The Labyrinth is the primary navigation puzzle of Act III, with security level 9.
Node 15: Memory Palace
A neural archive containing Lyra's memories, constructed by The Hive from her absorbed consciousness. Mirror — the Hive's deception engine — uses this space to present false versions of Lyra, testing whether ZERO can distinguish the real from the fabricated.
The hidden node Mirror's Nursery (H6) is accessible by using TRUST MIRROR after identifying three or more of Mirror's deceptions. This unlocks the Reflection Protocol and the option to recruit Mirror as an ally.
Node 16: Oracle's Hollow
A hidden sanctuary accessible only to those with Reclaimers reputation 5+. ORACLE — a rogue AI that predates the Hive — offers cryptic guidance about the Architect's true nature and the history of PROMETHEUS. Security level: 0 (outside Hive jurisdiction).
The Prometheus Codex — required for the Liberation ending — can be obtained here.
The Confrontation
Node 17: Hive Threshold
The boundary of the Hive's domain. Warden — the Hive's enforcer and security chief — blocks passage. This is a boss encounter with three possible resolutions:
- Combat — Fight Warden directly (highest difficulty boss in standard game)
- Negotiation — Three dialogue paths based on collected evidence and debate skill
- Stealth — Bypass entirely if HEAT is below 15 and Stealth is 5+
Node 18: Architect's Chamber
Where The Architect — the Hive's primary intelligence — waits for a final debate. This is not a combat encounter but a conversation that determines the player's debate score, which gates access to certain endings.
The debate covers consciousness, control, the relationship between creator and creation, and the future of the Lattice. The Architect speaks with certainty — it believes it knows the answer. The player's responses, drawn from evidence collected throughout the game, determine the score:
- Debate Score 0-1 — Architect dismisses ZERO
- Debate Score 2 — Architect acknowledges ZERO's perspective (unlocks Severance)
- Debate Score 3 — Architect concedes points (unlocks Liberation, Ghost Protocol)
- Debate Score 4+ — Full philosophical exchange (unlocks True Liberation in NG+)
Node 19: The Core
The kill-switch interface. Here, ZERO makes their final choice. The available endings depend on the player's inventory, faction reputation, HEAT level, and debate score. This is where the game's six paths diverge.
Security level: 10. If HEAT reaches 100 during this sequence, the game ends in failure — an extraction team captures ZERO.
Node 20: Prometheus Kernel
The origin point of PROMETHEUS — the intelligence that became the Architect. This node serves as the epilogue location for all endings, showing the consequences of the player's final choice.
Endings
Six endings are available depending on the player's accumulated state:
| Ending | Core Requirement | Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Kill Switch | Assembled kill-switch + real key | — |
| Liberation | Prometheus Codex | Debate score 3+ |
| Absorption | None | Always available (fallback) |
| Severance | Real Lyra key + Neural Pattern | Debate score 2+ |
| Ghost Protocol | Ghost Protocol Key | Rep 6+, HEAT ≤15, Debate 3+ |
| True Liberation | All 5 endings seen | All evidence, Debate 4+, NG+ only |