One after another, powerful auras arrived—filling both sky and ground.
The thick smoke slowly cleared.
Three figures stood surrounding a man lying on the ground.
It was Alan.
One hero stepped forward and offered a hand.
Alan looked up—
just as he was about to take it—
a sudden, searing pain struck him.
He collapsed, clutching his neck.
Liberty and Caesaro landed beside him, rushing forward, trying to help.
Soon—
another figure descended.
A woman in a green suit.
A well-known hero.
Maya—of the Healing Sand.
A rare type.
Healers held a unique status in society.
Some could regrow limbs.
Cure any illness.
Even prolong life.
Maya knelt beside Alan and examined him closely.
A moment later—
she frowned.
Her sand… reacted strangely.
Alan's body began to boil.
His skin reddened—
before darkening.
His eyes—
his mouth—
bubbled.
His hair began to fall.
"Make it stop!" Alan screamed. "Make it stop!"
More heroes arrived, one after another.
They gathered.
Watched.
Silent.
Helpless.
Maya did everything she could.
Her sand wrapped around Alan, trying to stabilize him—
to soothe him—
to heal him.
But it wasn't enough.
Alan screamed.
Again.
And again.
The heroes could only watch.
Even Liberty and Caesaro—
powerful as they were—
could do nothing.
At last—
after what felt like forever—
Alan stopped screaming.
His body relaxed.
His skin slowly returned to its normal hue.
His eyes cleared.
Maya exhaled in relief.
"I… I think he's stable…"
She checked him again, carefully.
Verifying.
Hoping.
Without warning—
Alan's eyes snapped open.
Wide.
Urgent.
"Jake…"
His voice was weak—but desperate.
"Jake…"
A man in shining armor stepped forward.
Jake.
The moment Alan saw him—
he forced himself up.
Barely standing.
"Come… closer…" he whispered.
Jake moved immediately.
Alan grabbed his head, pulling him close—
and whispered something into his ear.
Once he finished—
Alan pulled back.
He looked at Jake one last time.
A look that said everything.
His body went limp.
He collapsed.
This time—
he didn't move.
No pulse.
No heartbeat.
Jake didn't move.
Not when Alan's body hit the ground.
Not when the heroes rushed forward.
Not when Maya called out that he was gone.
He just stood there—
silent—
staring at nothing.
Because the words Alan whispered…
were still echoing inside his head.
Over.
And over.
And over.
His fingers slowly curled into fists.
His breathing grew uneven.
Finally—
very quietly—
Jake whispered to himself:
"…That's impossible."
Redmont City—
a place built on heroism and bravery.
Many of the world's most powerful and celebrated heroes were born here.
Redmont District.
Inside a courtroom.
A judge sat high upon the bench, overlooking the entire room.
Two lawyers stood at the counsel table—
one man, one woman—
both silent. Waiting.
The air was heavy.
The judge lifted his gavel.
"In the case of Alan James Carter…"
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"Based on the evidence and testimonies presented before this court"
"The defendant is found guilty of violating bioethical guidelines."
The judge's gaze hardened.
"The sentence is death."
"To be carried out by lethal injection."
For a moment
everything felt still.
The
BANG!
The gavel struck.
And with it
Alan James Carter's fate was sealed.