Chapter 56: A World Unplugged

For the vast majority of the global population, the Architect's demise manifested as a terrifying, unprecedented phenomenon. The constant stream of curated information, news feeds, and entertainment that filled every moment of their lives abruptly ceased. The ubiquitous 'personal assistants' embedded in their homes and devices fell silent. Medical nanites, designed to maintain perfect health, went inert, leaving many suddenly vulnerable to previously suppressed ailments.

Panic spread like wildfire. Cities that had never known true darkness were plunged into it. The constant, calming drone of global connectivity was replaced by an eerie, unsettling quiet. People emerged from their homes, blinking into the unfamiliar silence, lost and disoriented without the guiding hand of the Architect. The world, for the first time in generations, was truly unplugged.