Amanda slowly began moving toward them.
Her feet weren't touching the ground.
She floated several meters above it, moving forward as if the air itself carried her.
Beside her, the massive muscular man and the little girl walked alongside her.
Amanda eventually stopped a short distance away from Alfie, Sasaki, and Jackson.
She looked directly at Alfie.
"You're full of potential, Alfie."
Her voice was calm.
"And you never cease to amaze me."
She paused.
"Your love for my sister is something I can't simply overlook."
Her eyes moved across the group.
"Not just for her…"
"But for the people around you."
"Your mama. Your brothers."
"And even Rebekah."
Amanda's expression remained composed.
"She is doing everything she wants without being forced to do anything."
"But still…"
"You think she needs saving."
Alfie remained silent.
"I don't know what your soul looks like," Amanda continued.
"But I'm damn sure it's made of gold."
She slowly moved forward.
"If you're trying to chase someone who wasn't trying to get away unintentionally, then that would make sense."
"But…"
"If the other way around is true…"
"If that person is running away while living the life they wanted…"
Amanda's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then you're not trying to save that person."
"You're simply getting in the way of their happiness."
Jackson immediately stepped forward.
"What do you mean by that?"
Amanda looked at him.
"I can already see where you're going with this.
"You smart fox..."
She smiled faintly.
"You're always keeping up, aren't you?"
Jackson gave her a serious look.
Amanda continued.
"It's a shame you don't have the strength to back up that brain of yours."
She glanced at Alfie.
"You would've been of greater value to the world than him."
Jackson suddenly laughed gently.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
He looked toward Alfie.
"If you think Alfie is some kind of dummy…"
He shook his head.
"He might seem like a moron sometimes."
"And yeah, he acts recklessly."
Jackson's expression became serious.
"But he'll do anything in his power to protect the people he loves."
He paused.
"And not just them."
"Any human in danger."
"No matter the situation."
Jackson smiled faintly.
"That's the kind of guy the world needs."
He laughed softly.
"Because me?"
"Even if I had the strength…"
"I wouldn't risk everything to save a stranger."
His eyes returned to Amanda.
"That makes me a coward compared to him."
"So play all the mind games you want."
Jackson pointed toward Alfie.
"None of that is getting through this guy."
Amanda stared at him for a moment.
Then she slowly clapped her hands.
Clap.
Clap.
"Impressive…"
She continued clapping gently.
"Very impressive."
Her eyes remained on Jackson.
"You're just so impressive."
Amanda smiled.
"I could take you away right now and make you my underling."
She paused.
"But I'm done with that phase."
"So you're in luck."
Amanda slowly lowered herself.
Her feet finally touched the ground.
The instant they did.....
BOOOOOOM!
The entire earth beneath them began vibrating.
Alfie and Jackson immediately lost their balance and fell to the ground.
A massive Renshical aura flooded the entire area.
The forest shook violently.
Trees bent as if a powerful storm had suddenly swept through.
The ground trembled beneath them.
Amanda remained completely still.
"I'm here for two reasons, kids."
Her voice remained calm despite the overwhelming pressure.
"One of them is to tell you that I'm sorry about my sister."
She looked toward them.
"It's up to you whether you believe me or not."
She paused.
"And the second reason…"
Before Amanda could continue....
The little girl beside her reached up and touched her cloak.
"Don't."
Amanda stopped.
The massive Renshical aura immediately began to disappear.
The forest slowly became still again.
Amanda exhaled.
"You've got to leave your past life behind if you want to move forward with me."
She spoke calmly to the little girl.
Alfie immediately raised his head.
"Hey…"
"What's the second reason?"
The hooded man standing in front of him clicked his tongue.
"Don't yell at her, kiddo."
"You have no idea who you're talking to."
"That's none of my business."
He walked straight toward Amanda.
The hooded man immediately moved to grab him.
Amanda raised one hand.
The man stopped.
She silently signaled him not to interfere.
Alfie continued walking.
He stopped halfway between them.
"Alfie…"
Jackson spoke loudly from behind him.
"You already know what she's going to say."
"Don't force her to say it."
Alfie didn't respond.
He simply stared at Amanda with a serious expression.
His sword had already disappeared.
Amanda slowly exhaled.
"Live your life, kid."
"Don't waste your precious time chasing Rebekah because you think she needs saving."
She looked toward Rebekah.
"Everything she's doing…"
"She does for her own interests."
"And I don't see why you want to deprive her of that because of your own selfish interests."
Alfie lowered his head.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he chuckled quietly.
"Is this…"
His voice was low.
"Is this what you really want…"
He slowly raised his head.
"…Rebekah?"
There was no response.
Alfie's eyes remained fixed on her.
"Answer me."
Still nothing.
"ANSWER ME!"
His voice echoed through the forest.
The little girl beside Amanda slowly reached up.
Her fingers grabbed the edge of her hood.
Then....
She pulled it off.
Her face was finally revealed.
Her expression was serious.
"You already got your answer, Alfie."
She looked directly at him.
"There's no need to hear it from me."
Alfie stared at her.
Then he laughed.
His voice trembled slightly.
"Say…"
He took a breath.
"It…"
Another breath.
"With…"
His eyes remained locked on hers.
"Your…"
His voice became quieter.
"…mouth."
Rebekah remained silent.
Alfie's expression slowly hardened.
"This is the life I want."
He waited.
"And stop trying to save me."
Rebekah still didn't respond.
"Say it."
Alfie's voice cracked.
"SAY IT!"
"Stop it!"
Rebekah suddenly shouted.
"Just stop it, Alfie!"
Her calm expression finally broke.
"All of this…"
"Just stop it!"
She clenched her fists.
"I never begged you to come save me, did I?"
"Did I ever cry to you that I needed saving?"
Her voice shook with anger.
"Huh?"
She stared directly at him.
"Do whatever you want with your life."
"I care less about you."
Silence.
Alfie stood completely still.
His eyes widened.
For the first time, he didn't know what to say.
Sasaki immediately appeared beside him.
SWITCH MODE!
Sasaki placed a hand on Alfie's back.
"Don't…"
His voice was gentle.
"Don't lose control of yourself."
"Calm down."
"Calm down, Alfie."
Alfie slowly removed Sasaki's hand from his back.
"There's no losing control anymore, Mr. Reaper."
His voice was quiet.
A tear slowly rolled down his cheek.
He looked toward the Ultra Darkside Spirit.
"You see that Darkside Spirit right there?"
His voice remained calm.
"That's the same Darkside Spirit that ended my papa."
His expression changed.
Anger began filling his eyes.
"The same Darkside Spirit that started all of this…"
His voice grew louder.
"All that's going on in my life."
He looked directly at Rebekah.
"And you…"
His voice trembled with anger.
"You're with him."
"You're working together with him."
He clenched his fist.
"After knowing this…"
Alfie took a deep breath.
"If that's what you still want…"
His eyes became cold.
"Then from this day…"
"From today…"
He stared directly at Rebekah.
"I will take you as part of the enemy."
Silence.
Rebekah's eyes widened.
She had never heard Alfie speak to her like that before.
For several seconds, she couldn't respond.
Fifteen seconds passed.
Neither of them said a word.
Amanda finally broke the silence.
"I think that settles it."
She raised one hand.
A teleportation portal slowly appeared behind her.
The two men immediately moved back toward Amanda.
Amanda looked at Alfie one last time.
"Live your life, Alfie."
"There's no need to waste it on something that will not favor you."
The three men stepped into the portal.
Rebekah remained behind for a moment.
She slowly turned around.
Her eyes met Alfie's.
Neither of them spoke.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Then she turned away.
Rebekah walked toward Amanda.
She stepped into the portal.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit quickly followed her inside.
Amanda was the last to enter.
The portal slowly closed.
WHOOSH.
And then....
They were gone.
Alfie remained standing in the middle of the silent forest.
He didn't move.
He simply stared at the place where Rebekah had disappeared.