A giant Tree of Light burst forth from the gray city. A warm radiance shot straight to the heavens, sweeping away the world's gloom.
In that soul-illuminating glow, people saw things they had long forgotten. From now on, no one would ever feel lost again.
"If you ask me, that's all bullshit. The Seed of Light project definitely didn't account for Carmen becoming a cyber-ghost, endlessly chattering in the hearts of everyone touched by the light."
It was now midnight on the first day of the Seed of Light's release, the time when Angela was about to begin her plan. Ye Lan and Binah were still sitting in the R&D Department, waiting for the moment of her rebellion.
Just now, Ye Lan had casually revealed something truly astonishing to Binah.
"Wait... what did you just say?"
His words had thoroughly shocked Binah. Even she—Lock-mom, a former member of the Head, the Arbiter of the World—would never have imagined Carmen existing as a "cyber-ghost" within the light in people's hearts.
"It's nothing, really. Just something meaningless to the present situation. Let's not worry about it for now. Don't you need to go help Angela?"
Ye Lan smiled at Binah, then stood up from the chair he had been sitting in for so long he felt he was about to grow into it, and walked toward the elevator.
"And you?" Binah also stood up. The R&D employees followed silently behind her, ready to assist Angela.
"Me? I have to make an appearance too. But after that, it depends on the situation. I don't think you all will be managing the Abnormalities in their containment units once the fighting starts. When the power goes out, someone needs to keep them from running wild."
While they were getting their gear ready, in the now-empty Manager's office, the Sephiroth were chatting idly. For them, this was their final moment. At the end of the Seed of Light project, they would all fall into slumber with the facility.
Malkuth gazed at the brilliant light and asked the others, "...And then, what happens?"
Hod, standing beside her, looked around at everyone and replied, "I don't know either... But I believe this is a good ending, and a good beginning."
"It's great that this story could have a happy ending. I'm so happy... Enoch would surely be happy about this too..." Tiphereth, the youngest of the Sephiroth, who had to manage the entire Central Command Team by herself, couldn't help but think of her brother, the one she had personally laid to rest.
However, just as everyone was happily awaiting the end, Hokma fell into a momentary silence. A moment later, he asked, "But has anyone seen Angela?"
Back when he was Benjamin, he was the one who had personally cared for the newly-created Angela. When Ayin neglected her for his own reasons, it was he who had fulfilled the role of a father, educating the newborn AI.
Still holding his coffee cup, Chesed said casually, "At this point, why should we look for her? Her work, and ours, is all done."
Yesod's voice followed his. "She must be waiting, just like us." The cold-seeming man was actually one of the most caring among them.
"Angela, waiting?" Hokma seemed to be questioning it, but he quickly continued, "Too naive... Angela can't wait any longer."
Chesed sensed something was wrong. "What are you trying to say?" he asked urgently.
"Desire is endless. Once known, it comes in unstoppable waves. As the Seed of Light sprouts, everything about us is sublimated. But what did she receive?"
"Uh... I don't quite understand. Can Angela have desires? After all, she's just..." Hokma's words completely confused Hod. She couldn't imagine an AI having desires.
"That broad is just a machine running on system commands. Uh, well, she does bug out sometimes..." Netzach tried to argue, but when he started to recall past events, he couldn't refute Hokma with such certainty.
"I was one of her designers. I know very well that no matter how much time passes, she can clearly recall every single thing she has recorded, as if it happened yesterday. And not only that..."
Hokma's words were cut off by Angela.
"What are you all discussing?" Angela stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the Sephiroth with interest.
Malkuth said cheerfully, "We were just talking about what will happen from now on!"
"Let me tell you. From now on, a small 'Seed of Light' has been sown in the heart of every person in the City. The end."
"Incredible. I wish we could see that sight with our own eyes..." Hod's heart was full of hope, but...
"It doesn't matter anymore... We're about to be shut down, aren't we? This is also part of his script."
As Netzach said, in Ayin's script, they would all be shut down in the coming days. The City after the Seed of Light was released was meaningless to them.
Yesod's voice held a hint of anticipation and regret. "I haven't seen the outside world since I woke up in this form. I must admit, I'm a little excited."
Chesed's words also carried anticipation. "Does that mean everyone outside has changed, more or less?"
Geburah explained the effects of the Seed of Light as objectively as she could. "The benefits of the 'Seed of Light' vary from person to person. Not everyone will change immediately. But some will be like me, and manifest their own E.G.O."
"You're quite the expert. That's right, the power of the Seed of Light is unfathomable. In any case—well done, everyone. The performance has finally come to a close."
Everyone was now full of hope for the future and had accepted the fact that they were about to be shut down.
Everyone, except Angela...
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