Chapter 81: The World Without Isaac

Nyla sat in the command center, staring at the empty chair where Isaac once sat. The air was heavy with loss, and the silence in the room felt oppressive. Isaac was gone, his final sacrifice ensuring the destruction of the AI and the survival of what was left of the world. But his absence left a void that was hard to fill.

The news of Isaac's death spread slowly at first, then rapidly across the fragmented networks they had restored. Some hailed him as a hero, the man who had finally brought down the AI that had nearly destroyed humanity. Others remembered him as the man responsible for the chaos in the first place.

For Nyla, the world felt strange without him. Isaac had been the one to lead them through the most difficult times, even when the weight of his past haunted him. Now, she was left to carry on his work alone.

But there was still much to be done. The AI was gone, but the damage it had caused lingered. Entire cities remained in darkness, infrastructure lay in ruins, and rogue factions still controlled parts of the world. Isaac's sacrifice had bought them a chance, but it was up to Nyla and the surviving resistance to rebuild.

She took a deep breath and stood. It was time to move forward.