Bagani's nightmare came true—they pissed off the one person they shouldn't have. He warned all of them, except the one stupid oaf, he should've because he ran and hid.

It was his mistake. He couldn't have counted Bala actually rushing out of the tavern and qttacking on3 of the foreigners. Perhaps he thought he could've snuck an attack, and in a way, if Bala was able to kill Adam, then that would solve their dilemma—but no, his attack bounced and instead hit Adam's friend.

Bagani was so focused on Adam's behemoth of an aura that he didn't recognize that it was drowning his companions' own auras.

His companions… were strong, too. But that didn't matter at all, because it wasn't his friends they should worry about, it was him. And now he was rushing at them.

Bagani was going to summon a blade of water to slash down Bala, to show that it wasn't the decision of their people—but before a single drop could even materialize from his palm, Adam was already right in front of Bala.

He gritted his teeth, wanting to look away from what was about to happen, but couldn't. He needed to know just exactly what they were dealing with.

But then… nothing happened.

Adam just… stopped. He stared up at Bala for a moment, his head tilting to the side.

"W—"

Before a single word could escape Bala's mouth, Adam suddenly grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up in the air before slamming him to the ground.

"Bala!" Bagani sucked in a breath, his teeth seething as he expected Bala to be turned into a pulp there and then. But once again, contrary to his expectations, Bala didn't hit the ground hard at all.

But before Bagani could sigh in relief, Adam raised his fist. And now, once again, Bagani gritted his teeth. They were dead. They were all dead.

From the reports they've received from the other countries, once their Emperor dies, then a great explosion would raze their land, killing thousands upon thousands of people.

And now, the same thing was about to happen to them.

He closed his eyes, waiting for his death. And then it happened—he felt the ground itself tremble violently, and the deafening thunder cracking the very air itself. He had to cover his eyes, no longer wanting to hear the song of their death.

But even then, he could feel it drumming in his heart. Or perhaps, he was actually hearing their people marching to the gates of the afterlife. He could feel himself sinking into the ground, too; losing his balance as the land swallowed them back—Huh?

Bagani opened his eyes as he felt everything happen. He remembered his grandfather saying that once you die, it was instant—the light just fades.

But he felt everything. And true enough, he was alive.

And Bala was alive, too.

"An?" Bagani gasped, his eyes following the destruction…. well, it was hard not to.

The destruction was everywhere. And the reason he felt he was sinking into the ground was that he was. He was inside a crater now, with the epicenter being Adam and Bala, or rather, Adam's fist.

The entire street was caved in, and the houses nearby had half their walls crumbling.

But then, Bagani blinked again… and the destruction was gone. Or rather, it didn't happen at all.

Nothing happened. Adam was still standing in front of Bala, but he didn't actually hold his neck—Bagani… imagined the entire thing.

Because of his ability to see an aura on people, his brain automatically assumed what would happen.

But of course, Adam wouldn't actually do anything like that, no. But Adam did place his hand on Bala. Not on his neck, though, but on his shoulder. He didn't grip it, he didn't even hold it—he just placed his hand on it, not even putting a single strand of weight.

"This will be my last warning," he whispered, the tone of his voice lighter than his touch. Adam didn't put any weight on his touch, and yet Bala found himself lowering from where he stood all the same.

"I know you can't understand me, but understand this…" he continued. "I will not hesitate to drag you as far away as I can from these people. I won't let them be dragged just because one of them was a fool. And after I've dragged you away, I'll pull out the Crystal from your head, and then I'll put it inside you again by forcing you to eat it. Do you under—"

Adam closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath before finally removing his hand from Bala's shoulder. He stepped back, and it had the complete opposite effect—it caused Bala to drop on his knees before falling back to his butt.

Adam looked down on him before sighing and turning to Bagani.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Bagani," he said. "But as I said, I know when we're not welcome anymore—but that goes both ways. If we see one of you trying to step out of the Leak, my people would see it as an act of war. Don't test them, Beatrice's other friends aren't as… patient as me. Once they know what you've done to her, they will go to this world and ask for justice—I won't stop them, because I want the same thing. If I were you… I'd start evacuating your people because they don't deserve to be dragged into this."

Adam sighed, turning his back on him and Bala. He didn't even glance at them, completely unguarded, as if challenging them to strike again. And like a fool… Bala was actually going to try again.

This time, however, Bagani was close enough to push him down. Bala screamed in frustration, and Bagani just splashed a ball of water on his face to stop him from doing and saying anything they would all pay for.

They've truly made a grave mistake—Adam the Endless had all the reason to kill Bala, and yet he didn't even harm him at all. Adam… Adam didn't fake his desire for peace, after all.

And while Bagani blamed himself for this, Adam was trying his best to stay calm and not react. Because he knew, if he reacted right now, when his vision was darkening and his body trembling in anger, he would be the one to regret his actions the most.

And so, he hastened his pace. His eyes happened to glance at the little boy to whom he had given his phone earlier.

They… probably think you're some kind of monster, A—

Contrary to his belief, the little boy smiled and waved at him. This caused his steps to pause for a moment, once again cementing the idea inside him that one single person shouldn't be the reason for the entirety's demise.

He sighed and softly smiled back at the child.

"It's okay, we're leaving," he said, standing beside Katherine, who also waved at the child.

"I… truly thought you were going to kill that moron," Katherine whispered, wiping the bead of sweat on her face. "But… if he wasn't going to explode and kill everyone here, would you have?"

"I… don't know. I wanted to. I wanted to hurt him." Adam breathed out. "Does… that make me a bad person?"

"But you didn't." Katherine nudged him, wrapping her arm around his once more. This time, tighter, as if afraid he would run off again.

"Yeah. Because he won't be the only one I would hurt. Do you think Beatrice will be fine?"

"You… really should stop being like that, Adam." Katherine sighed, shaking her head at him.

"Like what?"

"Like that. Being too kind."

"I don't consider myself kind." Adam quickly shook his head. "I've done… things."

"You were summoned to the Game, Adam. Everyone who was summoned to the Game had done things." Katherine lowered her gaze. "If I told you the things I had to do to survive… you wouldn't like me at all. Heck, you won't like anyone at all."

"That's true… I don't even like myself."

"Ugh…" Katherine rolled her eyes. "Let's just leave this place, I think I still like our world more."

"I agree. We need to check on Katherine, too. We—"

<Stop!>

And as they were only a few steps away from stepping into the Leak, several figures on horses started galloping their way toward them, with one blocking their path back to their world.

"Now what…" Adam almost groaned in frustration as he looked up at the rider. "...It just doesn't end, does it?"

The man on horseback had a full, thick beard—with an even more impressive crown to match it.

"I'm guessing he's the so-called chief?" Katherine whispered.

"It doesn't matter." Adam just bowed his head at the chief before continuing to walk with Katherine. But before they could take three steps, the chief hastily stepped down from his horse and drew his weapon. Katherine was about to make a move when the chief threw his obviously expensive weapon to the side of the street…

…and fell to his knees.