Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game

The Dungeon Boss died with its maw open, a whisper echoing out like smoke. Half a scream, half what sounded like a prayer. Its massive form began to collapse inward, not into decay but into undoing, as though the system itself were rewriting reality. Chunks of its flesh turned to ash midair, and where its countless eyes had burned like dying stars, only darkness remained.

Diego did not think twice. After confirming that the boss had died, he sprinted back towards Dee, taking him in his arms as tears finally began to pool up in his eyes.

And in Miles’ arms, Diego began dissolving.

Not in ash, like the Dungeon Boss, but in light.

"Miles..." Sarissa whispered, just behind him. Her hand hovered near his shoulder. "Is he-"

"Yes."

The word tore itself free, simple, complete, final. There was no confusion, no denial. Just a boy made of light in Miles’ arms, too broken to hold form, too stubborn to leave without one last blaze.

Miles cradled Diego’s fading body as if it were made of glass.

The damage had been absolute.

When Mara finally arrived, she was torn, tattered, mangled, and bloodied, but as soon as her eyes landed on Dee’s dispersing form, her lips quivered, and after a few brief moments that felt like an eternity to her, she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Miles didn’t speak, he couldn’t.