[System Notice: Congratulations to all Awakened. The Second Floor of the Tower of Trial has been officially cleared.]
[System Notice: As a reward for your unprecedented sacrifice and bravery, all Awakened across the world shall receive a three-month rest period. No new Tower activity shall occur during this time.]
[System Notice: The global restriction placed upon all abilities has been lifted. All Awakened may now access 100% of their potential.]
[System Notice: Awakened who participated in the clearance of the Second Floor will receive unique rewards based on contribution, performance, and survival.]
[System Notice: Top Contributor: ???]
[Reward: ??? Grade Divine Core Received.]
[Reward: Personalized Divine Artifact Being Forged.]
[Reward: ???-Tier Authority Being Processed.]
…
The world held its breath. For a moment, just one sliver of time—there was peace.
Tokyo, Japan – Tower Medical Quarantine Unit 7
Kaito lay unconscious for nearly a week after the Second Floor's final battle. Aya, bruised and bandaged, sat at his bedside, quietly feeding him mana through her palm.
The system hadn't named him in the global leaderboard.
It never did.
Even after he saved them all.
But she knew. She knew what he had done.
"You idiot…" she whispered, gripping his hand. "You keep doing this. Keep dying just a little bit more for the world."
She wasn't crying.
Not yet.
Outside, Japan celebrated. Not just for their survival, but for being one of the few countries that had contributed to the impossible victory—without India.
But inside Aya's heart, and in the hearts of many who'd fought, victory tasted like ash.
Global News Highlights:
France declares 7-day mourning after losing 19 top Awakened.
USA and Germany call for immediate investigation into the Tower System's ethics.
India's Awakened placed in World Peacekeeping Command as honorary protectors.
Veer Jatav and Aishani Rathore become household names in every corner of Earth.
Meanwhile, in India…
No Tower.
No danger.
Just silence.
But also…
Just watching.
From their small compound in Ujjain, Dev Rajan stood under the open sky, eyes on the horizon. The scars on his arms hadn't faded, and neither had the roar in his soul.
"It's not over," he muttered.
Meera joined him, slipping her hand into his.
"It never is."
A feast had begun behind them. Villagers danced under electric lights. School kids had painted "Tower Conquerors" on a wall in chalk. The System's temporary pause was being treated like a festival.
But even in celebration… tension lingered like humidity before a storm.
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT – PRIVATE (All Awakened Who Cleared the Second Floor):
[Reward: Second Floor Clearance Confirmed.]
[All participants have received: Core Rank Upgrade, Bloodline Awakening Chance, and Eligibility for Divine Skill Paths.]
[Global restriction limiting your true abilities has been fully lifted.]
[Warning: You are now visible to higher-dimensional forces.]
[Good luck.]
Kaito's Room – 12 Days Later
Eyes fluttered open. Dull white light. Sterile ceiling tiles.
And a voice.
"You took your sweet time, Sleeping Beauty."
Kaito groaned. "Ugh… either I died and went to hell, or you're just in an unusually good mood."
Aya smirked, flicking his forehead gently. "Don't worry. I already killed you once in my dreams for scaring me. No refunds."
Kaito sat up, clutching his ribs.
His power—all of it—was back.
And it felt like a sun quietly ticking beneath his skin.
"So... it's over?"
Aya's smile faded.
"No. We just bought the world some time."
Closing Scene
In the sky above the Tower, a new formation glowed. A cryptic countdown.
72 Days.
The world had been given three months.
The clock had already started ticking.
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