"I… leveled up? Again…? How?"

Adam's eyes widened. Status points? But he was already at max level for a Creep—level 10. Did… they reset his level? But the voice clearly said he'd become a Hero. So, why—

[7 Status points granted!]

And without thinking, as soon as Adam heard those words… like a brute, he automatically slammed all points into Strength at once. He was used to doing that, after all.

"Grah!" Adam's scream shattered the desert silence as his body rebuilt itself yet again. Each of his muscle fibers hardened, bones thickened, tendons stretched and strengthened. The transformation was violent, uncontrolled.

"F…!!!" He slammed his fists against the bedrock in agony. The stone cracked. A small earthquake rippled outward from the impact, sending tremors through the sand.

Adam lay on his back, staring at the giant clock above that was now counting down. He remained like that for a few seconds, not knowing what to do at all.

[Now returning you to your original position. Congratulations on winning and becoming one of your planet's champions, Adam! Hurray!]

And with those words, Adam's body began to glow with an inner light.

"W-wait…!" Adam looked around, quickly rushing toward the Shion as soon as he saw it.

In the blade's reflection, he saw his face. The halo was gone.

He did, indeed, became a Hero. But before he could read the title bestowed upon him by the Universe, his vision shifted—

The desert vanished. The bedrock disappeared.

And once again, he was standing on a beach, watching the sun set over calm waters. The sound of waves replaced the Administrator's voice. Salt air filled his lungs instead of sand and blood.

"Adam!"

Someone slammed into him from behind, nearly knocking him over. The person's arms wrapped around his waist in a crushing hug as she lifted him.

Clementine.

"I knew it! I fucking knew you'd make it!" Clementine's voice was muffled against his back. "No doubt because of my fucking training."

Adam stood motionless, still processing the transition from hell to... this. The peaceful beach felt surreal after everything he'd endured.

When Clementine realized Adam wasn't talking at all, she gently put him down and pulled away. She coughed, clearing her throat as soon as she saw the dejected look on Adam's face.

"Hey." Her voice softened. "You look like shit. Come on, I'll get a feast ready. You need to bathe and eat before you collapse."

She started to walk away, then paused, glancing at something behind him before continuing on her way.

As for Adam, he continued staring at the setting sun, its orange light reflecting off the water. The waves whispered against the shore, a sound so different from all the screaming.

And then, with a sigh, he sat down—no, he dropped down.

And for a moment, he left the Game behind him. His eyes remained locked at the horizon.

But then, a small gasp escaped him as he quickly patted his chest, and when he felt the pouch was still there, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Grace. Samantha…" he whispered, pulling out the pouch and placing it on his palm. "I… I don't think it's right to drag the two of you from here on out. The two of you… don't deserve to be a part of this violence. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry you had to be a part of that again."

Adam's fingers trembled. And then, finally… he opened the small pouch.

"Wait…" A gentle breeze caught some of the ashes immediately, carrying them toward the water. He watched the gray particles dance in the orange light, each one carrying a heavy weight he'd been carrying.

"No, no..." He clutched the pouch against his chest. "I'm not ready. I wanted... I wanted to find a beach back in the country. Somewhere quiet, where we could..."

His voice turned quiet.

"We promised, didn't we? That we'd play together on the beach." Adam's eyes fixed on the horizon. "This is beautiful enough, right? I think… it's more beautiful than any beach we have back in the country."

And then, Adam saw figures pass by in front of him.

Him… with Samantha on his back, her small arms wrapped around his neck, laughing as he ran through the shallow water. Grace chasing after them, her face bright with joy instead of fear.

No halos on their heads. Just like…

…a normal family.

And then, they rested right beside him. The three of them sitting together on the warm sand, Samantha curled up in his lap, her breathing soft and peaceful. Grace's head resting on his shoulder, her hand in his. All of them watching the sun peacefully.

And that… that was when Adam truly knew.

"I'll keep my promise," Adam whispered. "But… Grace. This is where your road ends. You don't have to follow me anymore. You don't have to see what I become."

He lifted the pouch, tilting it slightly. A few grains of ash fell onto the sand below, mixing with the beach. But as the pouch lightened, he tightened his grip on it.

"I…"

He doesn't want to let go. But the wind picked up, as if calling for the ashes to join them.

And then, along with the wind, was a whisper. A breath.

"Thank you, Adam… until we meet again."

It was Grace's voice. It wasn't sad, nor was it painful. It was… peaceful.

"Grace…" Adam's fingers slowly relaxed. The pouch tilted further, releasing the last of the ashes into the evening breeze. They swirled upward, catching the dying light before disappearing into the vast sky.

When he looked beside him, the sand was empty. No Grace leaning against his shoulder. No Samantha sleeping in his lap. They were gone, along with the ashes.

It was just Adam, alone on the beach, watching the sun sink below the horizon.

"Goodbye, Grace." His voice whispered along with the waves, but soon, they too faded away.

And Adam just sat there, and just as he promised—he closed his eyes and smiled.

He stayed like that for a moment, perhaps a minute. And soon, the sound of footsteps slowly approached him from behind, and someone sat beside him without speaking.

He glanced over, and it was Sylvie also staring into the horizon.

She said nothing, so Adam did the same. They watched the sun sink lower, painting the sky in shades of blue and purple.

And then, gently, Sylvie reached for his hand. Her fingers were warm as she began wiping away the dried blood from his knuckles with a cloth.

"Fighting's over… for now," she whispered, taking the Shion from his other hand and setting it aside in the sand. Her cloth moved to his wrist, then his forearm, cleaning away the evidence of battle.

But of course, it would never really go away.

When she reached his face, Adam's lips began to tremble.

The tears came silently at first, then with quiet sobs that shook his shoulders. Sylvie's touch was gentle as she wiped the blood from his cheeks, her own eyes glistening.

"It's okay," she whispered, pulling him against her shoulder. "Welcome back, Sir Adam."

From the rocks behind them, Clementine watched with an expression Adam had never seen on her face—sadness, longing, something almost like grief.

"Ahem." And as if to ruin her moment, Alfred materialized beside her like a shadow.

"The one who waters the plant rarely gets to enjoy its fruit."

"What… what are you even saying?!" Clementine snapped. She turned and stomped away across the sand, leaving Adam and Sylvie alone with the rising moon.

As for Alfred, he remained there watching the two silhouettes.

"But I am afraid, Mesdames. It might be neither of you he belongs to," he whispered.

"For the one who planted it is still alive and well."

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