The world had changed, but Jack wasn't sure if he was ready to face the aftermath. They stood in the wreckage of Hesta's facility, the dust still hanging thick in the air, the only sounds being the distant rumblings of collapsing structures. The battle was over, but the war, in some sense, had just begun. The future was uncertain, and Jack knew that the true cost of their victory wouldn't be felt for some time.As the ruins of the complex burned in the distance, Jack and Rhea made their way to the nearby forest, seeking refuge for the moment. They had no clear destination in mind, only the understanding that there was much more to do. Hesta might have fallen, but their influence had spread far and wide. The world was still teetering on the edge, and Jack knew that his role in shaping its future was far from over."We did it," Rhea said softly, breaking the silence between them as they walked side by side through the thick underbrush. "We stopped them."Jack nodded, but his mind was still heavy with the weight of what they had uncovered. Hesta had been just one part of a much larger puzzle. They had destroyed their main weapon, but the ripple effects would be felt across the globe. It wasn't just about the power Hesta had gained. It was about the fact that others would rise to take their place."I know," Jack replied, his voice distant. "But I can't shake the feeling that we're just at the beginning."Rhea looked over at him, her expression unreadable. "You don't think we've won?""Not completely," Jack said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We've stopped them, yes. But there are others out there, people who see the potential of what Hesta was trying to do. It won't be long before someone else tries to take their place. And worse—there are still things out there that we don't understand. The power we tapped into... it's not gone. It's still with me."Rhea fell silent, and Jack could tell she was deep in thought. They had both felt it—the strange pull of the energy that had coursed through them during their battles. It was still there, a constant hum in the background of their minds. It was as if a part of the old reality had been torn away, and now there was no going back."Do you ever wonder if we were meant to be part of something bigger than ourselves?" Jack asked suddenly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.Rhea gave him a sidelong glance, her lips tightening. "Maybe," she said quietly. "But we're still alive, Jack. We've made it this far. We've stopped them, and we'll stop anyone else who tries."Jack smiled faintly, but the unease in his chest didn't fade. The future was a blank slate, but there was no peace in that uncertainty. They had freed the world from one threat, but there were other forces at play, ones far more ancient and far more dangerous than Hesta. He couldn't help but feel that they had only scratched the surface.Suddenly, Jack stopped walking, his eyes narrowing as something caught his attention in the distance. A flicker of movement—too fast, too deliberate to be a random animal."Someone's coming," he said quietly, reaching for the weapon at his side.Rhea immediately shifted into a defensive stance, her eyes scanning the tree line. "Stay alert," she murmured, her voice low but intense. "We don't know who it is."The rustling grew louder, then stopped altogether. The silence was deafening, and Jack felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Then, out of the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman, tall and slender, her features hidden beneath a hood. She moved with the same sense of purpose that Jack had seen in so many of their enemies, but there was something different about her. Something... familiar.Jack tensed, ready for a confrontation, but the woman raised a hand in a gesture of peace. "I mean you no harm," she said in a calm, soothing voice.Jack and Rhea exchanged wary glances, both of them uncertain. Jack's instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but something about the woman's presence intrigued him."Who are you?" Jack asked, his voice firm, though his grip on his weapon remained steady.The woman lowered her hood, revealing a face that Jack recognized immediately. His breath caught in his throat.She was older, but there was no mistaking her—Dr. Olivia Winters. His mother's former colleague, the scientist who had worked with his parents before their untimely deaths. But she had disappeared after the tragedy. Jack had always suspected that there was more to the story than he had been told, and now here she was, standing in front of him."Dr. Winters?" Jack asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and caution.Olivia Winters nodded, her expression unreadable. "I know you have many questions, Jack. But we don't have much time.""Why now?" Jack demanded, his mind racing. "Why didn't you help us before? Where were you when my parents were murdered?"Olivia's eyes softened, a sadness flickering in her gaze. "I couldn't help them, Jack. I tried. But the forces they were up against... were beyond even my understanding. They had crossed paths with something far more dangerous than Hesta. And now, I'm here to make sure that it never happens again."Jack took a step forward, his curiosity piqued but his suspicion growing. "And what is it that you're offering?"Olivia smiled faintly, a trace of something almost like regret in her eyes. "A chance for redemption. A way to truly end this cycle before it starts again. But you're going to have to trust me, Jack."Jack hesitated, unsure of what to believe. But deep down, he knew this wasn't the end. It couldn't be. The world had changed, yes, but it was still on the edge. And maybe, just maybe, Olivia Winters held the key to whatever lay beyond."Trust is a dangerous thing," Jack muttered, his gaze never leaving her.Olivia met his eyes, her expression resolute. "Then we have no choice but to take that risk. The real battle is just beginning."