Logan's expression shifted the moment he felt it.
Something was wrong.
Not on the battlefield.
Far behind it—deep in the forest.
"…Ellie."
Xavier noticed the change instantly.
That small break in focus. That single hesitation.
A faint smile formed on his face. "You felt it too, didn't you?"
Logan didn't answer.
He moved immediately.
Steel collided with steel as he forced Xavier back with a powerful strike, the ground cracking beneath their clash.
But Logan's attention had already drifted.
Xavier tilted his head slightly. "Careful, Logan. Lose focus here and you die."
Logan didn't respond.
He was already gone in the next instant.
***
Far away from the fight.
Moving quickly through the forest, Elizabeth pushed forward with the children close behind her.
Branches snapped underfoot. The air still carried the aftermath of the battle behind them.
"Mom, we have to go back!" Marie said, her voice shaking. "Dad might've been caught in that explosion!"
Elizabeth didn't stop.
"Your father will be fine," she said, though her voice was tighter than usual. "Right now, we need to get out of the forest."
She turned slightly to look at her daughter—
And then—
A hand shot out from the darkness and grabbed her by the head.
"Mom!"
Everything froze.
Gray reacted instantly.
He dashed forward, raising a hatchet and swinging straight for the attacker's head—
But before the blade could land, another figure emerged and caught his wrist mid-swing.
The grip was crushing.
Gray struggled, but the man forced his arm down, ripping the weapon from his hand.
"Easy there, kid," the man said calmly. "Unless you want your mother to die, I suggest you stop."
A dagger pressed lightly against Elizabeth's throat.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Gray stopped.
His body went still.
"…Let her go," he said through clenched teeth.
Instead, the men moved quickly.
Ropes tightened.
Gray and Marie were bound and forced against a tree.
"There," one of them said, stepping back. "All done."
"Contact the boss," the other replied. "Tell him we've got them."
CUT BACK TO LOGAN VS XAVIER
Steel clashed.
Logan pressed forward, his blade cutting through the air with controlled force.
Then—
Xavier smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" Logan asked, thrusting his weapon forward.
Xavier blocked and slid back, creating distance.
"Oh, nothing," he said lightly. "I just feel like something interesting is about to happen."
Logan's eyes narrowed.
"…What are you talking about?"
Then—
Two figures appeared between them.
And with them—
Elizabeth.
Bound.
Held in place.
Xavier moved instantly, grabbing her and pulling her close. His blade pressed against her neck.
"Stay back," he said.
The tip of the sword pierced her skin slightly. Blood trickled down.
"Now," Xavier continued, his voice sharpening, "tell me where the Shadow Core is."
Logan didn't move.
But everything around him felt heavier.
"Ellie… are you alright?" he asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Elizabeth said, her voice steady despite the situation. "But they tied the kids to a tree."
Something in Logan shifted.
Not visibly.
But it was there.
Xavier chuckled.
"You had kids? Damn… you really settled down, didn't you?" he said mockingly. "Too bad. Looks like their future ends here."
The pressure in the air spiked.
Several of Xavier's men flinched.
Then—
"Mom! Dad!"
Logan turned sharply.
Marie came running toward them, clutching something glowing faintly in her hands.
Gray was right behind her.
Elizabeth's expression snapped.
"What are you doing here?!" she shouted, anger breaking through. "I told you to run!"
The children froze.
They had never heard her raise her voice like that.
"But we couldn't just leave you!" Marie said, tears running down her face.
Xavier smiled wider.
"…How touching."
His eyes dropped to Marie's hands.
The Shadow Core.
"There's a reason we vampires are cold-hearted," he said softly. "Now, little girl… hand it over."
Marie hesitated.
"…You promise you won't hurt them?"
"I promise."
Gray's eyes narrowed.
But Marie stepped forward anyway.
THE TURN
A thin red string shot through the air.
In an instant, the Core was ripped from Marie's hands.
At the same time—
One of Xavier's men moved behind her, raising his blade.
Fast.
Too fast.
The sword came down—
And stopped.
A hand had caught the attacker by the throat.
A crack followed.
The body dropped.
Logan stood there, holding the lifeless man.
"If you touch a single hair on her head…" he said quietly,
"I'll make 'hell' sound inviting."
Even Xavier didn't smile this time.
ELIZABETH'S DECISION
Logan glanced at Elizabeth.
A small nod.
That was all.
She understood.
Light gathered around her hands.
In an instant—
She vanished.
And reappeared beside the children.
The Shadow Core appeared with her.
She pulled both Gray and Marie close.
"I love you," she said softly, tears falling now. "No matter where you go… we'll always be with you."
"Mom, don't—!" Gray reached out—
Light swallowed them.
FINAL STAND
Silence.
Then—
Everything changed.
Elizabeth rose into the air.
Light exploded outward.
Eight radiant wings unfolded behind her.
At the same time—
Darkness gathered around Logan.
The ground beneath him dimmed.
Two horns emerged from his head.
Black wings spread behind him.
The air warped between light and shadow.
"Let's show you," Logan said,
"What happens when you touch our family."
Then—
The forest disappeared into light and darkness.
AFTERMATH
"Mom! Dad!"
Gray's voice echoed through the ruined land.
The forest was gone.
Burned. Broken. Erased.
He ran through dust and debris until he saw a faint glow ahead.
He pushed forward—
And stopped.
A crater.
At its center—
Two figures.
Elizabeth.
Still.
Wings broken.
Logan.
Barely breathing.
"Mom! Dad!" Gray ran forward, dropping to his knees.
Logan gave a weak smile.
"…Hey, Gray… not my best look, huh?"
Gray's hands shook as he saw the wound.
A hole in Logan's chest.
Blood pouring endlessly.
"Dad… what happened…?"
Logan pulled Elizabeth closer.
Then reached out and ruffled Gray's hair.
"Listen to me…" he said, his voice fading. "I need you to do something."
Gray nodded quickly, tears falling.
"Go to the Dark Regions… find Luna City…"
He coughed blood.
"…Find a man named Ray Bloodvine… and give him the Shadow Core."
"…Okay… okay, I will…" Gray said desperately.
"Gray…"
Logan placed a finger on his forehead.
Pain.
Instant.
Overwhelming.
Gray's body locked up as something surged through him.
It felt like he was being torn apart and rebuilt at the same time.
But he didn't scream.
He endured it.
"…We won't be with you forever," Logan continued weakly. "But we'll always be watching…"
He turned slightly and touched Marie's head.
She went still.
Fainted.
"…Take care of her."
Gray looked up.
Logan and Elizabeth's bodies began to break apart into light.
"…We love you," Logan said.
"Goodbye… Gray."
The light faded.
And they were gone.