atmosphere of Nusantara city, which was once devastated, was now adorned with cheers of hope.
The oppressed people had finally regained their rights as human beings.
In the middle of the main city square, Kregt stood tall with his arms crossed over his chest, overseeing the logistics distribution with his signature sharp gaze. No one dared to cause a riot under his watch.
Beside him, Gens' fingers danced nimbly over a virtual keyboard and blue holograms, restoring the security system and re-recording the city's needs so that the animals who oppressed the lives of others for their own selfish interests would never appear again.
For the time being, the two pillars took control, ensuring that the remaining chaos caused by the "tie-wearing rats" was wiped completely clean.
"(Just doing this won't change much, Steve. You have to find a new leader right now so the seat isn't left empty and taken over by the mafia,)" said Unknown unexpectedly.
Steve came back to his senses, recalling Unknown's story from when he was young and had founded a company. "Alright," Steve said confidently.
On a makeshift podium built from steel debris, Steve stood looking at the thousands of citizens. Their gazes were full of hope, resting their future upon the hero.
"Steve! Steve! Steve!!!"
"Nusantara needs a new leader," Steve's voice echoed firmly through the loudspeakers hacked by Gens. "A leader born from your own choice, not from behind a desk of vandalism."
The citizens' cheers erupted. And when Gens' transparent voting system an anti-manipulation network connected directly to every citizen's device broadcasted the final results on the giant screen, one name dominated absolutely: Umbra, the Shadow Summoner, leader of the Invisibilia Potens clan.
AH reporters flooded the election area, asking the citizens of Nusantara a few questions. "Excuse me, Sir, Ma'am! Quick question. I've noticed that so many people are voting for Umbra. Why choose him? Isn't he a mysterious figure who is rarely seen in public?"
An old man smiled faintly while patting the reporter's shoulder. "That's exactly the point, kid. Those old politicians who are on TV every day only sweet-talk us, and in the end, they just squeeze the sweat out of us.
"Umbra? He does move in the shadows. But when we were starving and attacked by monsters, who secretly secured the evacuation routes from behind? He cares through actions, not just empty talk."
A mother chimed in with great enthusiasm, "Absolutely right! He didn't even tell the people here that he joined the tournament to make Nusantara better with the 1 billion Haipur prize, even though he lost in the end!" she cheered.
Amidst the clamor of the citizens, the one chosen through fair diplomacy climbed the stairs step by step.
Umbra.
The figure stepped forward from the shadows, his aura calm yet full of authority.
He accepted the mandate without many words, but the look in his eyes promised one thing: the awakening of Nusantara. With Gens' new, unhackable bureaucratic system, Umbra officially took control.
"Thank you everyone for trusting me!" he said with emotion, bowing his body to show his respect.
"Excuse me, Mr. Kregt... From the TGH guild. In your own opinion, as the person who cleaned up this mess, is Umbra the right choice for Nusantara?" asked an AH reporter.
Kregt shot a sharp glance from the corner of his eye, then snorted softly. "Hmph. As long as he doesn't mess up the logistics distribution system that I painstakingly built, and has the guts to slash anyone who dares to be corrupt again... I don't care what his name is. But, from what I saw in the tournament yesterday, and my instincts tell me he's no coward. That's enough."
After finishing the interview with Kregt, the reporter glanced at the person who actually made all of this happen: Steve.
"Wait, Hero Steve! Are you leaving right now? Aren't you going to celebrate with the citizens first? Do you personally agree with Umbra leading Nusantara?"
Steve stopped walking, turning toward the citizen with a faint smile. "The sincere citizens who have suffered are the ones who chose him, which means it is the absolute voice of Nusantara. My job here was only to clean up the trash blocking the path of humanity."
"But... where are you going?"
Steve: (Staring at the sky beyond the city limits, his eyes turning serious and sharp) "Nusantara already has a new protector. But out there, the threat isn't over yet. I don't have much time; I need space to become much stronger." (Patting the reporter's shoulder gently and leaning close to the camera) "Take good care of this city. If any more tie-wearing rats dare to show up... you know who to call."
Steve then walked away, leaving the crowd behind.
The mission in Nusantara was over. Justice had been upheld. But for Steve, that sense of relief only lasted for a moment. Time continued to tick mercilessly.
One day. That was the time limit he had before the shadows of Shiro and Unknown would soon go to war. He clenched his fists tightly, feeling that his power level was still far from enough to withstand Unknown's true strength.
There was no time to relax. It was time for a monster massacre. It was time for endless grinding.