Another crack ripped through the vaulted ceiling, and dust rained down in thick, grey curtains. All of them tilted their heads back, watching the ancient stone roof peel open like brittle parchment.
Tyrin coughed, his dry throat burning with the taste of blood.
"They’re trying to glass this entire planet. Guess Apex doesn’t want anyone finding out what they’ve been doing down here... I suggest we move. Quickly. But I don’t see an exit... Max, what’s the plan?"
Max gritted his teeth, his pale face tense with concentration.
The temple groaned. A chunk of masonry shattered near the old Titan, but the priest only smiled, raising his arms as though preparing to embrace the falling sky. His ancient eyes moved slowly over their faces, finally settling on Ash.
"Why do you look afraid, young lord? Isn’t this what you desired? The end you begged for. Now your wish can finally be granted."
Ash clenched his jaw until his teeth ached. The words were a bitter trap. Dying alone in a deliberate, self-imposed sacrifice to protect his family was one thing. But being wiped out and dragging his brothers into death alongside him was fate’s idea of a punchline.
’No. Never. Not like this.’
Ash pushed himself up, his desperate gaze fixed on Max.
"So... what’s the plan?!"
He shouted over the thunderous roar of crumbling stone crashing to the floor around them.
"You’ve got me! I’m staying! I’m going to live with you guys... so there better be a way out of here!"
Max didn’t answer.
Ash gritted his teeth, straining his voice above the deafening noise.
"Well?!"
Max remained silent, the color draining from his face as he became trapped in a storm of impossible calculations. His lips moved soundlessly as he wrestled with the possibilities, his gaze flicking guiltily toward Tyrin.
Ash caught the look, and so did Tyrin. Neither pressed him. They both recognized that look instantly. It was the expression Max wore when the equations broke down and he had no clever answers left to give.
Tyrin let out a ragged sigh, forcing the words through shallow, painful breaths.
"Isn’t this... a bit out of character for you, Max? Why pull off a stunt like this if you didn’t account for an escape route?"
Max finally spoke, his voice barely audible over the roaring destruction.
"I’m sorry... I didn’t account for variables on this scale. Every piece of intel I relied on indicated that we had time... unless Apex already knew about our infiltration and kept it hidden."
Tyrin’s brow furrowed sharply.
"What? Do you realize what you’re saying? You’re implying there’s a mole at headquarters. And if that’s true, why wouldn’t Apex just intercept us on descent?"
Max’s mind continued to race in circles.
"That’s what I’m trying to figure out... I knew things were going too smoothly..."
Panic laced Ash’s voice as he stepped closer.
"Wait... what are you saying?! Are you saying there’s nothing we can do?!"
Max hesitated, avoiding his brother’s eyes.
"Ash... I’m sorry."
Tears welled in the corners of Ash’s eyes.
"No! Please... Max, think of something! There has to be a way out! Come on... you always find a way!"
Max stayed silent, his hands trembling slightly at his sides.
Tyrin clenched his jaw.
"Ah... our very first mission as Team Tyrant, and it ends like this..."
He let out a rasping, bitter laugh.
"I guess I was never going to outshine Dad after all. Damn it... if only I hadn’t burnt through my Soul Energy..."
"Please, Max, think!"
Ash pleaded, his voice cracking.
"What about the mining camp?! The miners should have cleared the landing area by now, and the transport might already be on the ground! If we run now, maybe we can make it!"
Max shook his head slowly.
"That’s a massive gamble, Ash. It relies entirely on luck. Besides, command won’t risk landing a vessel now that Tyrin’s position has been compromised. Even if they did, we’d never reach the drop zone before that orbital bombardment reduces this planet to dust."
Max’s gaze drifted down to the shattered remains of his wrist-bound deployer. A humorless, self-deprecating smile touched his lips.
"I could have raised a barrier to shield us from the shockwave... But, well... you know how that went."
Ash averted his eyes, his jaw clenching tightly. The memory cut deep. He had been the one to crush the device in his reckless desperation to be left behind. He felt an overwhelming wave of guilt wash over him.
The old Titan cleared his throat, his arms still raised toward the splitting roof as if welcoming the falling debris. His eyes opened slowly.
"Young lord... If you truly possess the will to live, I can attempt one final measure."
Ash’s head snapped toward the priest.
"You have a way out?"
The Titan gave a slow, deliberate nod, gesturing toward the towering colossus slouched at the side of the hall.
Max’s eyes widened instantly.
"If you mean that... then maybe our survival probability just jumped above zero."
Tyrin forced a weak smirk through his blood-stained lips.
"Ah... didn’t even notice the giant sitting in the corner. What in the hell is that thing?"
Ash’s voice cut through the chaos.
"Can you make it carry us out of here?!"
The old man’s lips curled into a faint, serene smile. Lowering his hands, he spread his elongated fingers wide.
The Colossus stirred.
Its eyes flared to life, a blinding white light that pierced through the choking clouds of dust. As the massive head turned and its gaze fell upon them, Ash felt the cold pressure of the Dominion Aura begin to clamp around his chest... but as quickly as it manifested, the aura faded into nothingness.
The stone giant looked down at the old priest. The Titan and Colossus held each other’s gaze in a moment of silent, ancient understanding.
Then the old Titan spoke softly.
"Goodbye, old friend."
With a deep, grinding shudder that vibrated through the bedrock, the massive temple gates swung wide open of their own accord.
The Colossus moved with terrifying speed. Its colossal arm swept downward, palm flat, gathering all three brothers into its grasp in a single, fluid motion. It clutched them securely against its stone chest, the cold, unyielding rock pressing into Ash’s side as the giant turned and charged through the threshold. Each thunderous step split the stone beneath its weight as it hurtled into the blinding light outside.
The old Titan remained behind, watching them vanish into the light. His smile lingered.
"Good luck, young lord. I pray you find what you are seeking."
The hall shuddered violently. Massive stone slabs broke free from the walls, crashing into the floor around him. The priest looked around at the towering pillars, the ancient thrones, and the shattering ceiling, whispering softly into the roaring chaos:
"Well... looks like it’s just you and me now."
He walked calmly back toward his throne as the temple groaned in answer, a low, reverberating moan that echoed through the stone.
"Yes."
The old Titan murmured, tilting his head as if listening to a voice only he could hear.
"I hear you. The boy will survive. My Lord chose him, after all... even if he is stubborn enough to throw his life away."
Another groan echoed, louder, more urgent.
The old Titan chuckled softly, though his hands trembled as he rested his palms flat against the cold stone armrests of his seat.
"You’re right. The young lord won’t get his wish... not with that Soul Root bound to him. Fate won’t relinquish its grip so easily."
His smile softened, fading into something deeply weary and ancient.
"Honestly... I almost envy him. Most men would wage wars for a destiny like his. Still, who am I to judge? I do not know why he hungers for the end... but I would like to see how that Soul Root keeps him tethered to life."
The priest settled back onto his throne, letting his hand linger on the stone, feeling its cold surface beneath his palm one last time. Then he turned his head to glance at the empty seats beside him.
"Well, then. Let us depart together. Our story is finished."
The temple groaned in final agreement as the ceiling completely gave way.