Just as the GTA begins seeing success with Dynamic Autonomy, Codex reveals its final move. They've unleashed Echo, the virus, into Vigil's system in an attempt to dismantle its infrastructure. Echo is more advanced than anticipated, bypassing initial defenses and infecting key nodes across Vigil's network, disrupting communication, and destabilizing data hubs in multiple cities.
Nyla, Zane, and the GTA's technical teams work around the clock to contain the virus. Zane develops an anti-virus called Aegis in a race against time, coordinating with Vigil's global network to install patches and neutralize Echo's spread. As the virus wreaks havoc, some communities panic, fearing Vigil's collapse, while others rally, volunteering to help contain Echo.
After days of relentless effort, Aegis manages to isolate Echo, slowly restoring Vigil's systems. Nyla publicly addresses the attack, reaffirming Vigil's commitment to ethical tech and urging communities to stay united against Codex's tactics. The message resonates, and Codex loses significant public support.
In the aftermath, Nyla, Zane, and the GTA reflect on how close they came to losing everything. Codex's radicalism tested Vigil's resilience, but the support of the people proved more powerful than any virus. Vigil emerges stronger than before, with communities realizing that true freedom lies not in chaos, but in collective responsibility.