Chereads / System Requiem: A World in the Balance / Chapter 13 - The Awakening

Chapter 13 - The Awakening

Lena and Elias quickly made their way out of the power station, the weight of the silence pressing down on them. As they moved through the ruined streets, the signs of devastation were everywhere. Buildings had collapsed, fires still smoldered in the distance, and the atmosphere felt heavy, like the world was holding its breath.They reached a clearing near the outskirts of the city, where a small camp had been set up by a few survivors. People sat around fires, some speaking in low voices, others looking lost in thought. The war against the [System] had taken its toll. People were tired, broken, and unsure of what came next.Lena paused, looking around at the faces of the survivors. These were the people she had fought to protect, to save. But what if the [System] wasn't done with them? What if there was still a part of it out there, hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike again?Elias noticed her hesitation. "Lena… we can't fix everything overnight. But we did what we had to do.""I know," she replied, though her voice carried a deep uncertainty. "But I feel like there's more. Something we missed."Just as she spoke, the [System]'s voice returned, this time much clearer, more commanding.[System]: "Warning: Energy breach detected. Global stability: 89%. Extract remaining sources."Lena's heart skipped a beat. It was back—stronger than before."How?" she whispered, a cold chill running through her.Elias grabbed her arm. "We have to find out what's left. If there's a core we missed…""We need to go to the center," Lena interrupted, her voice tight. "The heart of it. That's where the [System] started. We destroy that, and maybe we'll finally finish this."Elias nodded, his expression resolute. "Then let's move quickly. We don't have much time."