Lena's head throbbed as she slowly regained consciousness. She could feel the ground beneath her, still shaking slightly as if the world was recovering from the force of the explosion. The air was thick with dust, and a strange quiet hung over the ruins of the tower.She opened her eyes and found herself looking up at the sky—clearer than it had been in years. It was as if the oppressive energy from the [System] had lifted, and for the first time in a long time, she could breathe without that constant feeling of dread.Elias was beside her, helping her sit up. His face was bruised, but there was a glint of hope in his eyes. "Did we do it?" he asked, voice strained but full of cautious optimism.Lena scanned the surroundings, her breath catching in her throat. The once-militarized city was now eerily silent. The Ascendants had vanished, their energy signatures gone. The [System] was no longer broadcasting its chilling commands.[System]: "Warning: Termination in progress. Global reconfiguration failed."Lena smiled weakly. "I think so, Elias. I think we did it. We stopped it."But even as she said the words, a part of her remained unsettled. The silence was too complete. The world felt... empty.Elias helped her to her feet. "We've won, Lena. But there's still so much to rebuild."Lena nodded. "We'll rebuild, but we'll have to do it carefully. The [System] may be gone, but the damage it caused... the people it changed... they're still out there."The thought of the Ascendants, now free from their alien shackles, gnawed at her. What would they do now? Would they try to reclaim control, or could they be trusted to rebuild a new society? Only time would tell.