On Earth, the immediate crisis had subsided as the attackers withdrew from their targets, but chaos continued to unfold in the aftermath of unprecedented destruction. The death of an Ascender and the near-total destruction of Zone D had sent shockwaves through awakener society.
The Awakener's Association and multiple powerful families had suffered immense losses. Early estimates placed the financial damage well into the trillions of dollars, while the human cost was even more staggering—hundreds of thousands of lives lost in a single day.
In what remained of Zone D, Tom Glassy stood atop one of the few skyscrapers that was barely intact, surveying the ruins of what had once been a thriving metropolitan district. Smoke rose from countless fires throughout the city, while emergency crews worked tiredly to rescue survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
"George, I never imagined you'd be gone so soon," Tom murmured quietly, his eyes reflecting the destruction of the city.
