The battle that ensued was not just one of physical conflict but a spiritual struggle. As Hector stared down at them with pride, boasting how he controlled everyone, Alicia felt a deep sense of despair. But with Vinz beside her, she knew they would never surrender.
"Hector!" Vinz shouted. "If you think you're so safe, why don't you face us directly without any help?"
"At this moment, you still don't understand," Hector replied with derision, "Your sacrifices mean nothing. The true order will rise again, with or without you."
Yet in the end, the battle came to a head with Hector's fall, though Maximus resurfaced, betraying their team once more. In his deep attack, Hector managed to whisper something that shook them more than the battle itself: "This isn't your end. One network falls, and another rises. We're only part of a much larger game. If you think you've won this, it was all for nothing."
As Maximus fled, he left behind a message, his whispers cutting deep into their souls. "You can't end this, because this system—like life itself—keeps evolving. If you think this is victory, then you've already lost."