After the pulse ended, the zombies no longer posed any threat. Their bodies lay still, and the air gradually cleared of the stench of decay. Min-jun and So-hyun stood among the ruins, shaking from fatigue, yet feeling the satisfaction of victory.
Survivors approached cautiously, faces a mix of joy and horror at what had occurred. They saw the energy dissipate, leaving only the faint glow of the Stella crystals. Min-jun and So-hyun helped restore some of the equipment, checking the remaining energy and its effects on the ground and air.
So-hyun looked at Min-jun, eyes shining. "We did the impossible."
Min-jun took his hand, fingers intertwining. "Together." And in that single word was the entirety of their struggle, fear, and the light of hope they had preserved.
They knew much remained to be restored, studied, and understood. But they had completed the first step. The echo of the virus was destroyed, and the Stella crystals had proven their power.
And in that quiet air, still tinged with the smell of gunpowder and energy, they felt, for the first time, a taste of true peace — fleeting, but complete.