The Elder stood motionless, eyes fixed on the blackened patch of scorched earth where Adam had once been. Not even ash remained—just an eerie silence hanging over the scene. His thoughts raced.
"That technique… Such overwhelming power… Only one person came to mind — but he dared not say it aloud. He couldn't be sure. Not yet. And if it wasn't them… then who?"
Behind him, Michael took a shaky breath, his hands trembling as he stared at the spot where Adam vanished.
"And… what was that just now?" he asked quietly, the weight of the moment pressing into every word.
Torren, in a feeble attempt to break the tension, turned to Blitz with a smirk.
"Well, Blitz. This time, you really did go too far."
Blitz snapped back, flustered.
"Me?! That wasn't me! I swear on my life—I couldn't wipe him out even if I wanted to, not with my current power!"
The silence that followed was heavy.
None of them truly knew what had just happened.
And the one who might—the Elder—kept his suspicions locked tightly behind furrowed brows.
Unseen by the others, Billy stood hidden not far from the scene, his gaze locked on the spot where Adam had vanished. His face twisted into a scowl.
"So he talked…" he muttered under his breath, clearly displeased.
Adam had revealed what was never meant to be spoken aloud. That alone was unacceptable.
Billy clenched his fists and turned away, already making plans in his head.
He would report this.
Those who overheard would need to be eliminated.
All… except his son, Zigrane.
Meanwhile, just as things seemed to be settling, a quiet voice caught Michael and Torren off guard.
"Mind helping me up?" Ralph asked, his voice strained but laced with dry humor. "Lying here is starting to get uncomfortable."
The two turned in surprise. Ralph was still badly burned, his body aching with every movement, but the fire in his eyes had returned. Bruised, exhausted—but alive.
And somehow, still cracking jokes.
Time passed slowly.
There was no more fighting. No more shouting. Only the faint rustling of the wind in the trees and the heavy breathing of the wounded scattered across the scorched forest floor.
Michael, Torren, Ralph, Blitz, and the Elder remained alert—but weary. The worst, it seemed, had passed.
And so, they waited.
One by one, the others began to stir.
Faint groans and coughing echoed through the clearing as those who had fallen—Felix, Elaira, Katsuu, Renald, Zigrein, and the rest—slowly regained consciousness. Some sat up in confusion, others winced in pain, struggling to understand what had happened.
It took nearly two full hours.
No one rushed them.
There were no words that needed to be spoken right away.
Just quiet relief that, somehow, they had survived.