"Ugh-!"


    Thaddeus let out a groan of agony, finally copsing to his knees under the unbearable weight. It wasn''t the kind of pain thates from cuts and bruises. No, this was like being slowly ground down with a dull knife, a relentless pressure that made a swift end seem merciful byparison.


    Images, both chaotic and vivid, shed through his mind like a ck-and-white film yed in reverse. He saw so many people retreating, leaving him behind. His father, his mother, his grandfather, Jareth, Mari, his older brother, Elvis.


    He reached out desperately, hoping to catch hold of any of them, just one. But his hands grasped at nothing, as he watched helplessly while his family and friends turned away.


    The final image lingered on Evadne''s beautiful face. "Evadne, don''t go," he cried, rushing forward to embrace her with all the strength he could muster. But in the next moment, she dissolved into golden dust in his arms, scattering into the cold air.


    "No!"


    Finally, a beep echoed in Thaddeus''s ears, a sound like everything resetting to zero. Darkness enveloped him, and he lost consciousness as he crumpled to the ground.


    The world fell silent.


    Avery stood rigidly, staring at the man lying motionless on the ground, overwhelmed by a sense of devastation.


    Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. He turned slowly to see Hans emerging from the underground passage, his face set in cold resolve as he carried Evadne in his arms.


    "The Ashbourne family hasnded on the ind," Hans stated, not sparing Avery a nce, his disdain palpable. "Sir left you to clean up the mess. Mr. Chambers, I assume you have no objections?"


    Avery stood there, pale and hollow, his once sharp suit now a mere facade over a broken shell. Used up and discarded, like trash.


    The statue of the goddess slowly closed.


    "Heh." Avery closed his eyes and let out a bitterugh. "Avery, your whole


    life ha


    been one big mistake. I


    there''s such a thing as


    nover


    reincarnation."


    Before he could finish, the roar of helicopter thundered overhead,


    casting a shadow over the entine


    a deaf


    conservatory. Then,


    crash!


    The seemingly indestructible sshouse shattered and exploded!


    Shards of ss sliced through Avery''s neck, cheek, and arm, but he didn''t flinch, standing firm amidst the chaos.


    "Bastard! Die!" Elvis charged forward, eyes zing red, delivering a flying kick that sent Avery sprawling.


    "I''ll kill you, kill you!" Elvis screamed, stomping on Avery''s back, drawing a gun and aiming it at his head.


    "Elvis! Stop!" Cassius Ashbourne cried, lunging forward to shove his brother aside.


    At that moment, a gunshot rang out-


    Thanks to Cassius''s intervention, the bullet pierced Avery''s shoulder, the left one, missing his head by mere inches.


    "Evadne, I give up," Avery murmured,


    lying helpless on the ground, his


    el.no


    cheek pressed against the cold floor. He nced at Thaddeus,


    unconscious a few steps away, and chuckled bitterly. "I''vepletely lost to him."