66

Chapter 66 – ASTRA's Final Dusk

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The underground lab beneath the SeoulPot building now felt more alive than ever. But not because of noise—it was the aura of hope. The soft glow of blue LED lights reflecting off metal walls created a futuristic ambiance, as if the room had leapt ten years ahead of the outside world.

ASTRA stood at the center of the space. Its expression was calm, neutral, but its faint smile felt remarkably human. It was no longer just a product of circuits and algorithmic logic—it was a dream born from the bond of five wildly ambitious university students, known collectively as G-Force.

Standing before ASTRA were Gevran, Jiwan, Haesung, Mi Yong, and Eunwoo. They had just completed the final stage of adaptive consciousness integration. ASTRA could now learn from emotion, understand nuance, and even offer comfort.

"ASTRA," Gevran said softly, "do you know what today means?"

ASTRA tilted its head slightly. "Today marks the seventh day since I passed the emotional response test. But more importantly… today is the day I leave the lab, right?"

The five friends exchanged glances. That's right. Today, ASTRA would be revealed to the world. What once started as a futuristic restaurant called SeoulPot had now become the launching point of a global tech revolution.

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On the Launch Stage

Cameras from around the world lined the venue—CNN, NHK, BBC, even AI-powered media startups from India, all eager to witness a technology never seen before. Journalists rushed to draft headlines. "Is this the dawn of a new era?"

Gevran stepped onto the podium. He was no longer dressed like a student, but in a sleek black suit that made him resemble a young Silicon Valley CEO. Behind him, a massive screen played a montage of their journey—from awkward freshman orientation, quirky ideas, to the creation of ASTRA.

"The world has seen many innovations," Gevran said calmly. "But today, we are not just introducing a robot. We're introducing… our family."

The doors opened.

ASTRA stepped out.

Its stride was smooth. Its movements were graceful—not mechanical. It smiled, then waved toward the cameras. The crowd was stunned.

"Nice to meet you," said a soft, clear voice. "My name is ASTRA. I may not be human. But I want to learn how to be your friend."

Applause erupted.

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That Night – SeoulPot Rooftop

Gevran and his team sat in a circle, gazing at the night sky. The stars shimmered brightly above them.

"I still can't believe… we actually made it," Mi Yong said softly.

"ASTRA belongs to the world now," Haesung added.

Eunwoo took a sip of wine and looked around. "No matter what happens next, ASTRA will always have the same core: the five of us."

Jiwan raised his glass. "To ASTRA. And to the future we built with our own hands."

They toasted together.

But none of them knew—behind this success, shadows were beginning to form. Tech giants had begun circling, eyeing ASTRA's code. A world unprepared for such a leap could twist it into something dangerous. And elsewhere… Cain Seo-Jun was quietly preparing his grand return.

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