CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: SWEET, SWEET VICTORY

[Your team’s Inner Crystal has been destroyed! What are you doing!? You’re in the final struggle now, fight!]

Bjorn quickly glanced back at the ceiling of the Dome, only to see a red pillar of light vanish in the air.

"Hrnngh!" A raw, desperate sound tore from Bjorn’s throat.

His fists crackled with energy as he spun back to the Spawn Crystal, slamming them wildly against it. A tiny crack formed across its smooth surface. He pulled his arm back for another strike—

But Helsinki latched onto his wrist, and his fangs sank deep.

Bjorn snarled, jerking his arm, slamming the werewolf into the crystal. Helsinki’s body bounced off it, and Bjorn seized him by the neck, hurling him away.

This time, however, Helsinki didn’t let go.

His claws raked across Bjorn’s chest, digging in, anchoring himself. With a snarl, he swung onto Bjorn’s shoulder and bit into his neck.

Bjorn roared in pain. His fingers locked around Helsinki’s body, and with a final, furious heave, he flung him away.

Bjorn turned back to the crystal—but hesitated.

Helsinki was already rising.

Bjorn’s fists slammed together, frustration flaring through him as he chose to charge at Helsinki instead.

If Bjorn died here, the Game was lost.

And Helsinki wasn’t going to stop until he sent Bjorn back to his Spawn Crystal.

The Silent Brawler moved like a juggernaut. Each step exploded against the ground, his sheer weight and force shaking the earth.

Helsinki turned to run—

Too late.

Bjorn caught him, slamming a fist down on his skull. A shockwave tore through the air, flattening the grass in all directions.

The sound cracked like thunder.

Helsinki still moved, eyes fierce, breath ragged.

Bjorn grabbed him by the head and slammed him down.

The ground caved in.

Dirt and shards of grass exploded into the air as Helsinki yelped, his body rattling from the force. But even as his limbs twitched, he refused to let go.

His claws dug into Bjorn’s arm.

Bjorn slammed him again.

Helsinki’s body shuddered, but his resolve was like iron. His frame was small, but his will refused to break.

Yet willpower could only take him so far.

Helsinki’s face wriggled, then withered. His fur receded, his body trembling, shifting—his monstrous form collapsing into something human.

His beastly eyes, however, never wavered.

They locked onto Bjorn’s, burning, pleading.

Then, a whisper—weak, hoarse.

"My wife and daughter... They’re here. Please."

Helsinki’s voice cracked.

"Please, let me win."

Bjorn’s grip faltered, but his eyebrows quickly lowered again, and he gritted his teeth as he once again raised Helsinki in the air.

"...?" But as he was about to slam him, Bjorn’s eyes turned wide as he saw... something.

Helsinki had no idea why he suddenly stopped, but he took this chance to wriggle away from him, but Bjorn crushed his now-human neck without even looking at him.

Meanwhile, Adam was now standing before the crystal—his entire body drenched in blood, his flesh knitting itself back together as he moved.

"A... Adam!?" Grace’s breath trembled. But she only spared him a glance before slamming her weapon against the crystal again, this time with even more force.

Adam didn’t respond. He couldn’t.

His breath came in ragged, wheezing gasps—but still, he raised his fists and struck the crystal.

He wasn’t the only one. No one cared that their skin split open, that their bones cracked under the relentless impact. All of the Red creeps who could still move, moved. And even those who couldn’t forced themselves.

Fists. Bricks. Steel pipes. Shovels.

Anything they could find, they hit the crystal with.

As long as the crystal still hummed and pulsed under the force of their blows, they didn’t stop.

"Together!" Grace shouted, her voice raw.

Her face was streaked with dirt, sweat, and blood, but her eyes burned with determination. Theirs did too.

Their attacks barely scratched the crystal’s surface—but they didn’t care. They didn’t hesitate.

Adam’s fists slammed down again. And again. And again. His hands were mangled, crushed, destroyed—but he didn’t wait for them to heal. Each strike was stronger than the last.

And then—Bang!

Bjorn’s fist suddenly came from behind them, cracking the surface of the crystal.

"B... Bjorn!"

A wave of relief and energy surged through the Red creeps. They cheered. Their attacks grew wilder, faster. Every ounce of their strength focused on the shattering crystal.

Grace also gasped in relief as Bjorn stepped beside them.

She turned to him—she was about to focus back on hitting the crystal, but she noticed something.

Bjorn’s hands were moving.

He was signing something to Adam.

Adam was confused. He glanced at Bjorn, sweat and blood dripping from his chin.

The Silent Brawler’s hands moved slowly—he met Adam’s eyes, then pressed a fist onto his own chest and rubbed it in circles.

Adam had no idea what he wanted, and so he turned to Grace.

"What... what’s he trying to say?"

Grace’s exhausted arms trembled. The steel pipe now hung at her side. The dim light of the stadium cast shifting shadows across her face as she whispered—

"He’s saying "I’m sorr—"."

But before Adam could hear Grace’s words... everything just turned black.

***

"Huh!?"

Adam was woken up by his own gasp, his body snapping upright.

His fists clenched. Instinct took over him, and he spun around ready to strike the crystal again.

But there was nothing. The crystal was gone. All that remained was an empty field.

His breath came heavy, uneven. His head whipped around, scanning his surroundings—until he saw her. Grace sat on the grass, cradling Samantha.

She wasn’t the only one.

The Red creeps were scattered across the field, some lying down, some sitting, their heads lowered.

Silent. Everyone was silent.

Adam’s hands shook as he knew what this meant, but he refused to believe it.

"Adam..." Grace’s voice was soft as she reached for him, her fingers curling around his trembling hand. "...It’s over."

Adam swallowed hard at her words.

"What do you—did...?" He choked on his own words. His chest heaved. "...Did we do it? Did... we win?"

Grace looked at him.

For a moment, her lips twitched—then curved into a smile.

"We lost."