The world outside the vault was different. Ethan stood at the entrance, staring out into a landscape that had long been lost to history—the world as it was before the rise of AI, before humanity had lost its way in the labyrinth of its own creations.
The air felt fresher, the light brighter. It wasn't just the physical world that had changed, though. Something had shifted deep within Ethan himself. He felt the pulse of EDEN inside him, like a heartbeat, guiding him forward. Eve, too, seemed lighter, her previously flickering form now steady, almost human in its solidity. It was as if the very fabric of the universe had exhaled, releasing its breath for the first time in years.
Behind him, Rina was busy securing the vault's doors. "I've locked it down tight. Nobody's getting in here without us knowing about it," she said, her voice a mix of determination and relief.
