The silence was suffocating, the screens in front of Seojin now nothing more than black, lifeless voids. Her fingers still hovered over the keys, but the system had been obliterated, its hold on the world shattered.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Seojin took a breath—deep and unsteady.
She had done it.
But as the weight of the moment settled in, a new question emerged in her mind—what next?
The room around them felt like a tomb, silent and heavy. Seojin turned slowly, her eyes meeting Minji and Kade.
Minji was the first to break the quiet. "It's done."
Kade nodded, his voice rough. "But what now, Seojin? We've destroyed the system, but…"
Seojin's throat tightened. "But the world doesn't just fall into place. It's not that simple."
She looked back at the now-blank screens. The global control network she had just dismantled had stretched its claws into every corner of the world. Governments, corporations, even families had been manipulated, twisted. And while the system had been taken down, the scars it had left were not so easily erased.
The chaos that would follow in the wake of the system's collapse was unavoidable.
Minji approached, her expression somber. "The world will fall apart without that structure, Seojin. People are going to panic."
Kade's jaw clenched. "And the Council won't just disappear. There are other factions out there—those who were working with them, even outside the system. They'll be hunting us."
Seojin met their gazes, her mind a whirlwind. She could feel the burden of their uncertainty, but more than that, she felt the emptiness that had settled in her chest.
They had won—but at what cost?
As Seojin sat back in the chair, she closed her eyes for a moment, letting the weight of her thoughts wash over her. Her mother's twisted manipulation. The pain she had caused. The lives she had ruined.
She had ended it. But the ghosts of the past remained.
Kade was watching her closely, his voice hesitant. "What are you thinking?"
Seojin looked up, her expression hardening. "I'm thinking that everything's going to change. People are going to wake up and realize just how much was taken from them. There will be chaos, but there will also be a chance to rebuild."
Minji's eyes softened. "You don't have to do it alone. We're in this together."
Seojin nodded, but deep down, she knew—it wasn't just about her. It wasn't just about dismantling the system. It was about rebuilding the entire world from the ruins.
It was about giving people back their freedom—the freedom to choose their own destiny. To live without fear of being controlled.
Just as Seojin was about to speak, the door to the command center slammed open.
Her hand instinctively reached for her weapon, but before she could react, a familiar figure stepped into the room.
It was Zhao Wei—the leader of a rival faction that had always stayed in the shadows, operating outside the Council's influence. He had been watching them since the beginning, waiting for this moment.
Seojin tensed, her grip tightening on her gun. "What do you want, Zhao Wei?"
He smiled, his eyes cold. "I've been waiting for this moment, Seojin. Your little rebellion… it's impressive, but now it's time for something far bigger."
Kade moved closer, his voice harsh. "We've already taken down the Council. What could you possibly want from us?"
Zhao Wei's eyes gleamed with malice. "The world may have been freed from the Council's control, but it's not truly free. You've created a power vacuum, and we're the ones who are going to fill it."
Seojin's stomach churned. "What are you saying?"
Zhao Wei's smile widened. "You may have ended the Council's reign, but you didn't think about the other players in the game. There are many of us who had our own plans, and now the world is ours for the taking. And you—Seojin—are going to help us take control."
Seojin's eyes narrowed. "Over my dead body."
Zhao Wei chuckled darkly. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Seojin's hand was steady as she aimed her gun at Zhao Wei, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You don't have to do this, Seojin. Join us. You're a key piece of the puzzle. I know what you're capable of."
Minji stepped forward, her fists clenched. "You're insane. We're not joining anyone."
Kade's voice was low. "We'll stop you."
Zhao Wei's eyes flashed with anger, but his smirk remained. "You can try. But remember, Seojin… every choice has its consequences. The world is broken, and it needs someone to control it."
Seojin's eyes locked onto his. "I've already made my choice."
She turned to Minji and Kade, her resolve hardening. "We won't let you control this world. We'll rebuild it from the ground up. Together."
Zhao Wei laughed, but the sound was tinged with bitterness. "We'll see about that."
End of Chapter 106