The Culling

"The Culling" is the tenth track from Act II of The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM. Billy Corgan refers to the song as the deus ex machina of the ATUM story, whereby the main characters are suddenly saved by unexpected forces.

Synopsis
After Nighthawk is assassinated in front of Dr. Aesh, Osyraa, and Ruby, Dr. Aesh sees the error in his ways. He realizes he should not have trusted the XI. Just before the XI breach the safehouse, Dr. Aesh gives Osyraa an "old school" jetpack he had stored away and opens the roof. Osyraa is confused by the device but before she can think about it, Ruby takes the jetpack and hugs Osyraa as they both liftoff through the open roof. Dr. Aesh, now left alone at the safehouse, is sure to be killed by the XI. Due to the g-forces of quickly ascending into the skies, Osyraa passes out. Ruby sings her "The Culling" about their circumstance. The instrumental portion towards the middle of the song is intended as an allegorical reference to Osyraa and the consciousness of Shiny through Ruby the robot as the descend back down to Earth.