The Fall of Giants

The room was a wreck of marble and blood, air heavy with the scent of scorched stone and iron. Jaimy's body lay crumpled amid the ruins, amber light flickering faintly across cracked tiles. His monstrous form twitched—fur receding, claws retracting with a sickening crack.

The werelion was gone.

In his place was a man—broken and bleeding, eyes wide with a dazed mix of fury and disbelief.

Remond's breaths came harsh and ragged, aura dissipating into a dull glow. Muscles ached, exhaustion creeping in with every heartbeat. But it was over.

Jaimy's fingers twitched, a bitter chuckle rasping from split lips. "Beaten… by a kid," he choked, golden eyes dull and unfocused. "This… wasn't supposed to happen."

"Yeah, well, guess your foresight has its limits," Remond muttered, chest heaving with each breath. "You're done."

---

Before Jaimy could snarl back, the door burst open—flooding the chamber with harsh white light.

Boots thundered in, black-clad agents with weapons drawn, badges gleaming under the fluorescents. The emblem of the IADR stood stark against their armor, and behind them, police officers poured in—shields raised, rifles at the ready.

The lead agent's eyes narrowed at the sight of Jaimy—bloodied, defeated, shackles of amber aura still flickering faintly.

"Jaimy Hoffmen," the agent barked, voice sharp with authority. "You're under arrest for conspiracy, corruption, and crimes against humanity. Don't make this worse."

Jaimy's snarl faltered, eyes darting over the barrels aimed his way. His limbs trembled—power drained, body battered. The fight had bled him dry.

With a ragged breath, his hands fell limp. "I… surrender," Jaimy growled, the words laced with raw bitterness. "I surrender."

Cuffs clamped over his wrists, aura dimming to nothing.

---

Meanwhile, in the labyrinthine corridors above, chaos roared with every step. Catherine moved swiftly, heels clicking in a frantic rhythm, eyes sharp and murderous. Fury twisted her features, but beneath it—fear bled cold and suffocating.

Second Dawn was in ruins, Jaimy captured, and the IADR had swarmed in like a flood. There was no salvaging this—not now.

"Damn it," she snarled, nails digging into her palms. "Damn it all—"

Her pace quickened, sharp eyes darting for exits. The tide had turned, and if there was one thing Catherine valued above all, it was survival.

But her escape was short-lived.

A roar tore through the hall—engine growling, wheels screeching. Catherine barely had a moment to react before a dirt bike burst through the side corridor, tires skidding with a screech of rubber on marble.

Bronson grinned wide behind the handlebars, eyes glinting with reckless glee.

"Hey, witch!" he barked—right before he swung a booted foot out, catching Catherine across the face with a sickening crack.

Her head snapped back—vision shattering to black as she crumpled to the tiles, limp.

Bronson revved the engine with a smug chuckle, kicking out the stand as he dismounted.

"And that's how you end a game," he snickered, dusting off his gloves.

---

Remond emerged from the corridor, Yuki leaning heavily on Hayato's shoulder, eyes narrowed and wary. The aftermath hung heavy in the air—sirens wailing in the distance, IADR agents barking orders.

His eyes widened at the sight—Catherine sprawled unconscious, Bronson standing smug and proud beside the dirt bike.

"Bronson?" Remond blinked, exhaustion clear in his voice. "Was that—did you just…?"

Bronson's grin split wide, eyes glinting.

"Damn right I did," he laughed, thumb jerking to the downed woman.

"Man, that was fucking awesome timing," Remond breathed, incredulous.

Bronson barked a laugh, slinging an arm over his shoulder.

"I know, dude!" he snickered. "I've been waiting all day for that shot!"

---

The Trial

Courtrooms always felt cold. This one was no different—marble and wood, the judge's gavel gleaming under sterile light. Cameras flashed, reporters murmured, whispers bleeding into a dull roar.

Jaimy and Catherine sat shackled at the front, orange prison cloths stark against the polished floor. Their eyes remained dark and unfocused—defiance stripped raw and bleeding.

"The court finds the defendants guilty," the judge's voice rang out—final and unyielding. "For conspiracy, treason, and crimes against humanity, the sentence is death."

Jaimy's jaw clenched, fingers white around the metal cuffs. Catherine's eyes narrowed, cold and murderous—but neither spoke.

---

Remond watched from the back, jaw tight. The verdict should've felt like victory—like justice. But all he felt was cold.

And then her eyes met his.

Catherine's smirk was a sliver of ice, eyes dark and mocking even as guards pulled her to her feet. "Well, well," she sneered, voice a velvet hiss. "Come to gloat, darling?"

---

The prison cell was colder—iron bars and shadows. Catherine lounged on the bench, chains glinting where they bound her wrists. But her eyes were sharp, sinister—void of remorse.

Remond's hands trembled, fists white at his sides.

"Why, Mom?" his voice cracked, raw with a thousand shattered questions. "Why all of this—why betray us?!"

Her laugh was sharp, cruel.

"Oh, sweet boy," she cooed, eyes glinting. "You really thought this was betrayal? I was loyal to them long before you were even born."

Her smile widened—twisted and dark. "Innes and your father—they were never supposed to live. I planned it all."

The words hit like a knife to the chest. Breath faltered, eyes wide and broken.

"Y-You… you did what?"

"They were liabilities," she hissed, eyes narrowing. "Just like you."

---

Four Months Later

The cemetery was quiet—wind whispering soft through the trees. Rain drizzled in a cold mist, dampening the earth where three gravestones stood—Rebecca, Elliot and Noah.

Remond's fingers trembled, flowers clutched tight, eyes hollow and dark.

Bronson and Alina stood beside him—somber and silent. Bronson's hand settled firm on his shoulder, steady and warm. "They'd be proud, man," he murmured, voice soft.

Remond's laugh was raw, broken. "Not sure about that."

Silence stretched, heavy and bitter. Until Bronson chuckled, elbow nudging light.

"By the way, wedding's next month," he grinned, eyes glinting. "You better not chicken out."

Alina snorted, cheeks flushed. "Don't listen to him," she chided, eyes warm. "But you better be there."

Remond's smile softened, aching and true. "Wouldn't miss it," he rasped.

---

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse—two figures beneath the trees. Yuki and Hayato—her fingers twined with his, eyes soft and shy.

Bronson's grin was smug.

"So those two are a thing, right?" he chuckled.

Remond's laugh was soft, pain easing with each heartbeat. "Guess yeah," he murmured, eyes glinting.