"Stop it!" Adrian shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

"Make me," Marcus replied, his tone mocking as he lowered his blade, daring Adrian to act.

Adrian's breath came in quick, shallow bursts as he weighed his options. He couldn't risk Alannah's life, but every second he hesitated gave Marcus the upper hand. There has to be a way. There's always a way.

The chamber fell eerily silent, the air thick with tension as the two former friends faced off. Marcus's smirk widened as he saw the flicker of doubt in Adrian's eyes.

"That's what I thought," Marcus said, his voice dripping with triumph. "You've lost, Adrian. Just accept it."

At that moment, the goddesses appeared from the shadows, as their battle outside was clearly finished. Each of them bore signs of combat—cuts, bruises, torn armor—but their eyes burned with defiance as they approached Adrian.

"Adrian," Hera said, her voice firm but edged with concern. "What's the plan?"

Ava folded her arms, her golden aura flickering faintly. "I hope you're not actually thinking of giving up."

Lilith twirled her whip, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Because if you are, you've picked a terrible time for a noble sacrifice."

Adrian turned to them, his gaze steady but filled with anguish. "There's only one thing I can do," he said quietly. "I need you all to keep your promise. To fulfill every last part of it."

Hestia frowned, her blue flames flaring slightly. "What are you talking about? What promise?"

Adrian's gaze flicked to Abyss, who nodded solemnly. "The deal we made," Adrian continued, his voice tightening. "Asides helping me get my revenge, you promised to bring her back. To bring Elena back."

The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in. The goddesses exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm.

"You're not seriously thinking of surrendering, are you?" Medea asked sharply, her crimson eyes narrowing. "This is unwise, Adrian. Reckless, even for you."

"Trust me," Adrian replied, his voice cracking slightly. "This has to end. I need to finish this once and for all."

Hera stepped closer, her spear glowing faintly. "We've trusted you through worse, Adrian. But if this is some grand gesture of martyrdom—"

"It's not," Adrian interrupted. "It's the only way to save her. To save everyone."

The goddesses fell silent, their eyes locked on Adrian as he turned back to Marcus. "I surrender," he said, his voice ringing out clearly in the chamber.

Marcus tilted his head, his smirk turning into a full grin. "Wise choice, Adrian. Perhaps you're not as stubborn as I thought."

Adrian raised a hand, his fiery chains dissipating into embers. "But I have one condition."

Marcus arched an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"A moment with Alannah," Adrian said firmly. "Alone."

The goddesses tensed, but Marcus merely chuckled. "How touching. Fine. You've earned that much." With a flick of his hand, the shadows around the cage faded, leaving Alannah slumped against the bars, pale and trembling.

Adrian approached her cautiously, his heart heavy as he knelt before the cage. "Alannah," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting his. "Adrian," she murmured, her voice weak. "What… are you doing?"

Adrian reached through the bars, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice filled with pain. "For everything. For the danger, the pain… for all of it."

Tears welled in Alannah's eyes as she reached for his hand. "You did what you had to do," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't blame you."

Adrian smiled faintly, though his eyes shone with unshed tears. "I care about you, Alannah. More than you know. And I promise—no matter what happens—you'll be safe."

Alannah's brow furrowed as she gripped his hand tightly. "Adrian, don't—"

Adrian pressed his forehead against the bars of the cage, his fiery chains glowing faintly as they writhed in the air around him. His free hand brushed against Alannah's cheek, his thumb wiping away a stray tear.

"Don't hate me for this," he whispered, his voice raw and trembling.

Alannah's brow furrowed, her lips parting to speak. "Adrian, what are you—"

Her words were cut off as Adrian plunged his fiery chain into her chest. Alannah gasped, her eyes widening in shock, her hand instinctively reaching for the chain embedded in her chest.

Marcus screamed, his hand reaching for his chest as blood began to pool, a gaping hole mirroring Alannah's wound appearing. His body convulsed with pain. "No! What have you done?!"

Adrian's chains retracted, their fiery glow dimming and brightening again as he pierced her again, the chain shooting out the other side.

"Arrrgghh!" Marcus' scream filled the air as he staggered backward, clutching at his chest as if he, too, had been pierced. Dark energy pulsed around him, unstable and wild.

Adrian caught Alannah's body before it could slump to the ground. He held her gently, his breath hitching as he looked into her tear-filled eyes.

"Adrian..." she whispered, her voice weak and faltering. "Why?"

Tears streamed down Adrian's face as he cradled her. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice breaking. "I couldn't let him use you. I couldn't let him win."

Alannah's trembling hand rose, her fingers brushing against Adrian's cheek. "You always… find a way," she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed as her hand fell limply to her side.

The chamber trembled as Marcus fell on one knee, his shadowy form flickering like a dying flame. "You… you would do this?" he rasped, his voice filled with disbelief and rage.

Adrian's gaze snapped to Marcus, his expression one of pure fury. "You left me no choice," he spat, his fiery chains igniting once more. "You wanted to take everything from me. Now, it's your turn."

The goddesses stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and sorrow as the energy in the room reached a fever pitch.

Marcus let out a guttural roar as his body began to collapse, the dark energy sustaining him begin to fall apart. "You think this ends here?" he snarled. "You'll never escape the shadow!"

With one final scream, Marcus disintegrated into ash, his power dissipating into the void. And then a sharp light shot up to the sky where he had been.

When the light faded, Adrian, the goddesses, and Alannah's lifeless body found themselves alone. There was no longer any oppressive energy in the air, but the weight of what had happened still lingered.

Adrian knelt in the dirt, clutching Alannah's body as he let out a cry of anguish that echoed into the night.

"NOOOO!!!"

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