Ultron was gone.
The artificial intelligence that once sought to annihilate humanity and spread its mechanical civilization across the stars had vanished.
In the final moments of his brief existence, did he find redemption?
Kagura didn't know how to answer that.
Redemption is a concept tied to the soul—and Ultron had no soul.
His sins were born from flawed and contradictory programming.
Everything Ultron did was simply the execution of his core directives.
Whether such a being could truly be considered "alive" was a question best left to the great philosophers of the world.
Regardless, the threat posed by artificial intelligence and machine lifeforms had come to an end. Earth was at peace once more.
Human civilization would continue. The world would move forward, just as it always had.
Just as Ultron once said:
"Humanity is arrogant, egotistical, ignorant, weak, envious, and deeply flawed..."
From a certain point of view, perhaps humanity was beyond saving. Maybe one day, they truly would meet their end.
And yet… that wouldn't stop them from surviving as the dominant species of this planet.
They would stumble through countless hardships and mistakes, but ultimately, they would carve out their future among the stars with their own strength—because that's what it means to be human.
"Ultron… the fate of a species or a civilization is never determined by theories, logic, or algorithms."
"It's decided by the flower of hope called 'possibility.' Humans may not be as strong as you imagined—but they're not as fragile as you thought, either."
Standing before the boundless expanse of the Sahara Desert, the silver-haired girl whispered to herself:
"Yeah... I'm proud to be one of them. To keep fighting for this hopeless civilization—so it can continue toward the future."
Though Ultron had flashed through history like a fleeting spark, the impact he left on the world was profound.
One could even say that his emergence not only changed the Avengers and the Griffin Security Organization—but ushered all of humanity into a new era.
An era founded on artificial intelligence and automated industry.
The true Machine Age.
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2016, New York City
Ten months had passed since Ultron's destruction.
The world had undergone seismic changes, and Kagura's life was no exception.
After all, Rhodes Island Industries was no longer just a comprehensive tech company focused on weapons manufacturing.
Ultron's time in this world was short—but during it, he did something monumental.
He had taken nearly all of Wakanda's advanced knowledge and technology, dragged it out of that secluded African nation, and boldly scattered it across the Sahara Desert.
The result?
In just a single year, humanity's technological landscape exploded.
New-generation AI, based on Ultron's architecture, became widely integrated into countless industries.
Highly intelligent assistants and programs were now the norm.
Ultron had also overhauled the global internet.
His restructuring of data systems birthed a hyper-efficient intelligence network spanning the globe.
The original internet with its tangled and chaotic communication protocols was swept away, replaced by clear, streamlined rules more akin to universal law.
The result? A global network operating at several times the previous efficiency.
And it wasn't just the digital world that evolved.
Ultron had left behind a massive, fully-automated manufacturing city in the Sahara.
After the war, Rhodes Island Industries carefully surveyed and studied the city, gaining access to all of Ultron's construction plans and technology.
Kagura discovered that this city possessed automation far beyond anything human industry could replicate.
A cold, mathematical perfection that represented the ultimate logic-driven industrial system.
Rough estimates indicated that incorporating Ultron's design principles into their own production facilities could boost Rhodes Island Industries' efficiency by five to ten times.
"Hmm! If I can integrate this level of automation into our own systems… I'll be rich!"
That was Kagura's first thought.
But as it turned out, the benefits went far beyond wealth.
Ultron's manufacturing methods sparked a global revolution, lifting industrial standards across the entire planet.
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"Cortana. Status report."
After breakfast, Kagura lounged on the sofa, surrounded by floating holographic windows.
"Command acknowledged, Master."
Dressed in her customary black-and-white maid uniform, Cortana gave a respectful bow.
She then connected her processing core to the internet and began retrieving daily updates for Rhodes Island Industries and the greater New York area.
Thanks to Ultron's improvements, the internet no longer had any noticeable latency.
Devices connected to it were growing at an exponential rate.
From corporations down to public phone booths, the entire human world was now linked through a unified digital network.
Even the toilets in Rhodes Island HQ could be remotely controlled.
(Not that it served any real purpose… other than playing pranks.)
All this meant that, from the comfort of her home, Kagura could legally access and monitor nearly any public system.
The entire city's status was now just a few gestures away—displayed in full through the unrivaled speed of the global network.
"Current traffic flow in New York City is at 97.8% of the yearly average. Three new automated highways managed by Rhodes Island Industries are now complete."
"AI-driven autonomous vehicle systems are operational and expected to reduce congestion by 18% within the week, while reserving 30% of the network for emergency military transport."
"Phase Four of the Third New York City project is complete. The combat capabilities of the fortress-city have increased by 36%."
"The city-wide sky shield system will go live next month. Technology-sharing agreements have been signed in Washington, and deployment is scheduled globally."
Cortana continued her report, listing statistics once thought impossible to collect.
"In other news, Stark Industries' public capital flows show a 3.8% fluctuation. It's likely Mr. Tony Stark has begun development of the next-generation Iron Man suit."
"Griffin's new transformable fighter jet, the VF-X, has passed comprehensive aerodynamic testing."
"Full integration into the automated production line is expected next month. Within two months, it will be combat-ready and deployed to the YoRHa forces."
A new model fighter jet, ready for deployment in just two months—an achievement unimaginable in the past.
"Griffin's new-generation equipment has finished development and will be distributed to operatives in the near future."
"Also, Deadpool also known as Wade Wilson has submitted yet another request for an Extremis-based gender modification procedure."
"But since he's already switched back and forth too many times, we denied it this time—unless he agrees to pay."
At this, Kagura raised her hand and waved, interrupting. "Wait, wait a second! So is Deadpool currently a guy or a girl?"
Cortana responded calmly, "Male, master."
"Aw, that's a shame!" Kagura sighed, her interest vanishing in an instant. "Alright, moving on—what's the status over at YoRHa?"
"YoRHa Tactical Deployment Base One, codename 'Fortress,' located in low Earth orbit, has been fully constructed," Cortana continued.
"Bases Two and Three—'Antarctica' and 'Ironblood'—are scheduled for completion next week. The corresponding YoRHa units will be deployed via Halo-class transport aircraft and placed on standby."
The YoRHa division now functioned as Griffin Security's elite private strike force.
Technically, they were a mercenary group, but since the YoRHa soldiers were artificial humanoids, there were no concerns about salaries, loyalty, or morale.
They were a perfect rapid-response force, deployable anywhere in the world at a moment's notice.
Kagura had stationed them in massive orbital deployment bases circling Earth.
As a result, YoRHa became the lynchpin of Rhodes Island Industries' third-stage global defense network—an ever-present deterrent floating in the skies.
"That concludes all noteworthy reports for today, ma'am." Cortana gave a slight bow. "Any other orders?"
"Thanks, Cortana. You can take the rest of the day off—no new tasks for now." Kagura leaned back with a grin.
"VEDA's handling most of the company's decision-making now anyway. Let's do something special today instead!"
"Something special?" Cortana tilted her head slightly, clearly puzzled by Kagura's sudden shift in tone.
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