Windows stuck in "Preparing Automatic Repair" after an unplanned power-down while disabling WSL

I'm running Windows 10, updated to it's latest version as of writing this on an Acer Predator Helios 300. Boot times for the laptop have been getting longer, and the system has been slower and laggy in general. One online forum suggested disabling WSL if not in use. I installed WSL2 long back never used it, so disabling it was worth trying. I disabled it in Windows Optional Features. This required a reboot after applying the change in Optional Features. As it was rebooting (during the shutdown process), the laptop battery ran out (0% charge). As a result, the laptop powered down in the middle

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