I think he understands.
Not emotionally.
Not truly.
But intellectually.
He lost.
Not because he was overpowered.
Because humanity survived him.
The reactor countdown alarms suddenly change pitch.
Gabriel looks up sharply from the console.
“Oh no.”
Russ immediately turns.
“What now?”
Gabriel looks genuinely panicked for the first time all night.
“The core shields are collapsing!”
The glowing containment barriers around the reactor begin flickering violently.
If they fail—
everything detonates instantly.
Wu hears it too.
And smiles again.
Last desperate victory.
“If Ascension dies…”
Blood runs down his face now.
“…the truth dies with it.”
Gabriel suddenly reaches into his jacket and lifts the portable drives.
“No,” he says coldly.
“It doesn’t.”
Wu’s smile falters.
Just slightly.
Gabriel steps closer.
“I downloaded everything.”
