Moon Black attacks first.

  Her blade flashes toward Khalifah’s throat.

  He leans aside.

  Uddin comes from his flank, steel cutting fast and low.

  He slips past it.

  He doesn’t counter.

  He scans past them.

  Find Clary. End this.

  Above the clearing, Lewa steadies her aim.

  She fires.

  The bullet cuts through the air where Khalifah stood a breath ago.

  He moves again.

  Behind him—

  Venus has Elina lifted by the throat.

  Scarface charges.

  Venus throws Elina aside and pivots. Scarface stumbles past.

  “Venus!” Jude storms in, firing.

  Shots crack through the clearing.

  Venus weaves through them, closing distance.

  Migo opens fire from the side. Elina forces herself up and joins him.

  Venus disappears—

  —and appears behind Migo.

  One punch.

  Migo drops.

  The others rush in.

  Venus steps back out of reach.

  Elina raises her gun again—

  Venus appears behind her.

  His fist drives into her spine.

  She collapses.

  His boot folds her over.

  Scarface lunges with his blade.

  Jude charges, gun empty, swinging instead.

  Venus catches Jude’s arm.

  A knee slams into his chest.

  Scarface comes from behind—

  Venus spins.

  A punch sinks into Scarface’s stomach.

  Scarface drops.

  The clearing shakes with steel and gunfire.

  Across the field, a fighter attacks Jullian.

  Sword flashing.

  Jullian weaves. The edge grazes her mask, knocking it free.

  Daisy stabs the fighter from behind.

  Another attacker comes.

  The air crackles.

  Jullian's electric spark slams into the attacker, sending him flying back.

  Back-to-back, breathing hard.

  Khalifah steps into Uddin.

  His fist crashes into her stomach.

  She hits the ground.

  His gaze catches Jullian. "Now we’re talking.”

  He vanishes—

  —and appears in front of Daisy.

  His punch drops her.

  Jullian freezes.

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  Khalifah grabs her throat.

  “I’ve caught you now… Clary Pintosa.”

  Her feet lift from the earth.

  High above the clearing, Lewa steadies her rifle.

  Breath slow.

  Finger tightening—

  Farther back in the trees, another sniper watches her through a scope.

  “Got her.”

  He fires first.

  The bullet pierces Lewa’s forehead.

  Her body jolts.

  Her rifle slips.

  She falls onto her back, staring at the sky.

  The clearing below continues to rage.

  But for her—

  It’s quiet.

  A kitchen table.

  Her parents laughing.

  Hot food in the air.

  Her father carrying her to bed.

  “Daddy… promise you won’t leave me…”

  “We’ll stay forever.”

  The memory fades.

  Tears slide into her hair.

  “I’ll be joining you soon…”

  Darkness.

  She dies.

  Jude charges Venus again.

  Venus grabs a rusted iron bar from the dirt.

  Steps in.

  Drives it into Jude’s stomach.

  The metal sinks deep.

  Jude gasps.

  Elina screams his name.

  He collapses.

  He doesn’t get back up.

  Scarface roars and attacks.

  They clash violently.

  Venus thrusts again—

  Scarface grabs the iron and drags him backward.

  They stumble out of the clearing—

  Boots scrape rock.

  Water roars below.

  Scarface forces Venus toward the edge.

  Venus knees him hard.

  Scarface falters.

  Venus slams him down.

  Grabs a stone.

  Brings it down.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Scarface goes still.

  Venus lifts him and throws him over.

  The body disappears into the roar.

  Venus wipes blood from his nose.

  Turns back toward the clearing.

  Moon Black cuts through another attacker.

  More swarm her.

  She keeps fighting.

  Daisy struggles to stand.

  Khalifah still holds Jullian.

  Moon Black and Uddin charge together

  A sniper round tears through Moon Black’s arm.

  She drops.

  Helma sprints toward the trees.

  “Sniper!”

  Uddin lunges at Khalifah.

  He shifts—

  —and twists Jullian into her path.

  Shhk.

  Uddin’s blade pierces Jullian’s stomach.

  Everything stops.

  “No!” Daisy screams.

  Uddin stares at the sword in her hands.

  Khalifah releases Jullian.

  “Seems you did it for me.”

  Venus returns from the cliff.

  Khalifah turns. “Job’s done. Wait, where is Kingpin?"

  "I saw him walk away from inside New Sage. He's gone. Maybe he lost interest in the fight," Venus replies.

  They walk away.

  No one can stop them.

  Helma reaches the sniper.

  Cuts him down.

  The spotter falls as well.

  Silence returns to the trees.

  Elina crawls toward Jude.

  “Jude…”

  She reaches him and collapses beside his body.

  One trembling hand brushes his cheek.

  Still warm. Impossibly still.

  “Jude… don’t do this to me… wake up… wake up!” Her voice cracks.

  She presses her forehead to his chest.

  The faint rise-and-fall she once knew now gone forever.

  “I’ll always love you,” she whispers.

  “Never had the courage to tell you.”

  Her tears soak into the fabric.

  Daisy staggers upright, legs trembling.

  Each step toward Jullian is heavy, ragged.

  Breath shallow, uneven.

  In a sudden rush of shadow, she reaches Jullian’s side.

  Hands shake as they hover over her.

  Sobs rip from her throat.

  Moon Black grips her wounded arm, eyes wide.

  “What… Daisy just did shadow movements…”

  Her voice trembles, disbelief sharp.

  Uddin staggers, muttering, voice hollow.

  “I… I killed Jullian… I killed her…”

  Her words repeat, a broken chant, bitter on her tongue.

  She reaches the town streets.

  Bodies litter the ground, fallen like leaves in the wind.

  The council hall looms ahead.

  She pushes the door open—rusted hinges groan.

  Blood streaks the walls, drying ribbons across the table.

  Her grandmother lies still.

  Uddin’s eyes dim.

  Light seems to drain from her face.

  “The world… humans… cruel,” she whispers, flat, distant.

  She turns, walking away without direction.

  Steps dragging as though the earth itself resists.

  Johnny’s boots hit the earth softly.

  A rush of wind streaks past.

  Three figures bolt like lightning across his path.

  He freezes.

  “Who—who are they?”

  Prinky mutters under her breath, “Something really bad… really really bad just happened…”

  Paloma’s voice cuts sharp.

  “Good. We’re closing in.”

  The three streak past Helma.

  She blinks.

  “Wow… who are they…”

  She bolts after them, heart hammering.

  Paloma skids to a halt at the carnage.

  Dead fighters lie scattered, silent witnesses.

  Daisy trembles over Jullian.

  Moon Black stands frozen, eyes wide.

  Paloma’s gaze sweeps the scene.

  Naco gently sets Prinky down.

  “Where’s Clary?” she demands.

  Prinky shakes her head, a small sly smile.

  “No… I’m not telling you.”

  Paloma’s fist cracks against her cheek.

  “Tell me! Where is Clary?”

  Naco steps in, calm but firm.

  “My lady… hold. Prinky won’t speak. There’s a reason.”

  Paloma kneels, offering sweets.

  Prinky refuses, shaking her head.

  Naco’s warning is quiet, cutting.

  “Prinky, if you don’t tell us… no sweets for a year.”

  Prinky’s eyes widen.

  “A year?”

  “Yes.”

  She sighs.

  “Fine… follow me.”

  She leads them toward Daisy.

  Moon Black raises her sword, arm bleeding.

  “Who… are you?”

  “No need to worry,” Paloma says, steady.

  “We’re not your enemy.”

  Prinky points at the body.

  “That’s Clary…”

  Paloma freezes.

  “Oh no.”

  Her legs lock.

  Helma exhales sharply.

  “Holy hell… Jullian… she’s—”

  Johnny appears beside Daisy, silhouette cutting through the chaos.

  His hand rests lightly on her shoulder, trembling.

  She looks up, stunned.

  “It’s… you… the man from that day…”

  Johnny drops to his knees.

  His gaze pins Jullian’s still body.

  A sharp breath catches in his throat.

  Voice low and broken.

  “That’s my niece. My only blood left. Gone.”

  His whisper cracks.

  “I should have been here sooner… yet I took too many detours.”

  Daisy stares, tears spilling.

  “You’re her uncle? I… I never knew… she felt like family to me.”

  Jessie and Justice arrive.

  Justice moves to Moon Black.

  “What happened?”

  Moon Black lets a single tear fall.

  “Jullian… died.”

  Justice stalks toward the body, palm brushing her cheek.

  “I’m… sorry. Late…”

  His voice raw.

  He slams a fist into the dirt.

  “Damn it… damn it! I was weak!”

  Tears streak his face.

  Jessie rests a firm hand on his shoulder.

  Paloma turns to Prinky, fury in her eyes.

  “Who did this?”

  Prinky’s lips curl.

  “Silas… this is just the beginning.”

  Johnny stands, head bowed.

  “Silas, huh…” he murmurs, quiet and lethal.

  Paloma extends a hand.

  “I finally meet you, Johnny—”

  He surges forward, eyes ablaze with fury.

  “Silas must die… even if it’s the last thing I do on this earth.”

  Paloma glances at Naco.

  “Carry Prinky. We go.”

  She sprints after Johnny.

  “Wait—Johnny! Wait!”

  Migo rises, limping toward Elina.

  “Come on… let’s go.”

  She shoves his hand away.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  Her eyes burn.

  “Venus… he must pay.”

  She ignores everyone and walks into the distance.