The dust clouds settle.
The silence is heavy—heated. Tristan's ragged breathing is the only thing that breaks it.
There he stands, looming over the dragon master's body. Sweat pours down his face, his clothes completely drenched.
Their eyes lock.
The dragon master chuckles, blood spurting through the gaps in his helmet. Tristan follows suit, laughter spilling from his lips as well—their voices filling the space. Slowly, the dragon master's laughter fades, his body finally going still as he takes his last breath.
"…"
"…"
"Yes," Tristan says.
"EAT SHIT, BASTARD!!"
He kicks the corpse as a final act of triumph, laughter bursting from his chest.
"Hahaha!"
Victory is finally his.
He didn't need to run.
He didn't need to change.
"I just needed to adapt," he mutters under his breath, a final sigh of relief escaping him.
He stands there in silence, head lowered.
"…Okay."
Tristan sheathes his blade and lifts his gaze toward his comrades, walking in their direction.
"—Someone is coming out!" Mira exclaims.
Tristan's figure emerges from the darkness.
"We're done here," he says calmly.
"What?" Kade asks, frustration and confusion clear on his face. "Won't you tell us why you just ran off?"
Tristan halts. He turns his head just enough to meet Kade's gaze, then turns forward again, continuing toward the exit.
"Don't worry," Tristan says.
"Things will be different from now on."
A faint smile forms on his face.
Kade watches him leave the gate, Mira and Jin hesitating before following. He takes one last look at the dragon's corpse. His eyes drift toward the dark space Tristan emerged from.
He clicks his tongue in frustration before exiting.
"…Hmm?"
"!"
Peter spots Tristan and his team emerging from the gate. He rushes forward, microphone in hand, his cameraman close behind. Other reporters quickly gather, swarming the scene.
Camera flashes erupt, nearly blinding—but Tristan doesn't shrink. He stands tall, gaze unwavering.
"Have you managed to clear the gate?" Peter asks, holding the microphone up to Tristan.
"See for yourself," Tristan replies, a smile forming.
All the reporters turn at once, eyes locking onto the swirling gate behind him—
—and then it shatters into pieces.
"!"
"From now on…" Tristan mutters.
Shock hangs thick on the reporters' faces, their eyes still fixed on where the gate once stood.
"…things will be different. I'll make sure of it!"
He grins.
His teammates look at him.
The reporters look at him.
Silence crashes over the scene—the calm before the storm.
Then the questions come flooding in. Microphones press closer. Recorders crowd his face. Camera flashes intensify.
Even so, Tristan stands firm.
He clenches his fist and closes his eyes, shutting out the noise.
"Yes… I shouldn't be afraid anymore," he thinks.
A calm breeze sweeps through his hair and clothes.
"Even if it takes time, I will overcome it. Yes… I must overcome it."
"I have to make use of this skill."
"From now on, I will become the best hunter in all of UNIKA."
"No matter how long it takes."