The next morning, Julian stood by the reinforced window of the Tech-Savant compound's observation deck, his arms were finally free from the embrace of his girls. The familiar, cold weight of a new, temporary blade—a masterfully crafted alloy sword from Aya's forge—rested at his hip. Outside, the world was… different.
The sky held a sharper, almost electric clarity. Distant, twisted spires of corrupted flora seemed to have grown visibly overnight, glowing with faint, malevolent bioluminescence. At the same time, patches of vibrant, impossibly colorful new plant life sprouted in other areas, radiating a serene, soothing aura. The silence of the Null was gone, replaced by a low, omnipresent hum of unleashed potential—both beautiful and terrifying.
