151 Dylan’s head was spinning, the world a blur of pain and shadows. The thud of his body hitting the stone wall had left him shaken, but his stubborn will to survive kept him pushing through the agony. His ribs were screaming in protest, his breath shallow and labored, but somehow, he managed to prop himself up on his hands, his vision slowly coming back into focus. He could hear Titan’s heavy steps as the giant advanced, a low growl rumbling from deep within his chest.“Not done yet, huh?” Titan sneered, cracking his knuckles menacingly. “You’re just making this worse for yourself, Dylan.”Dylan forced a smile, though it was more of a grimace. “You know, Titan, you’re like a bulldozer. Big, strong… but predictable. Just like all the others.” His voice wavered, but he pushed through, almost louder now. “You think you’ve got me cornered? You think you’ve won just because you knocked me down? I’m just getting started.”Titan’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a snarl. “You talk to

Chapter 153: The Final GambleDylan’s heart pounded in his chest as he fought to stay conscious. His body was on the brink of collapse, every muscle crying out in agony, but his mind screamed at him to keep going. Titan was down—momentarily. The giant staggered, gasping for air as his massive form swayed, trying to gather his balance. But Dylan knew better than to believe this fight was over. The giant was only biding his time.Titan’s eyes locked onto him with a burning fury, as if every ounce of rage in the world had been funneled into that gaze. Dylan barely had time to react before the earth-shaking roar of Titan’s wrath shook the very air around them.Titan lunged forward, his massive arm swinging with enough force to level a mountain. Dylan saw it coming, but his body was slow to react. His legs wobbled beneath him as he tried to get out of the way, but it was no use. The blow was too fast, too powerful. Titan’s fist smashed into his side like a hammer striking steel.Dylan’s bo

155Titan’s chest heaved as he lunged forward, throwing another crushing punch. Dylan barely dodged, feeling the air move around him as Titan’s fist passed just inches from his face. His heart pounded in his ears, but he didn’t let it throw him off balance.He had to stay calm. He had to—A low growl escaped Titan’s lips, and his massive arm swung again, but this time, Dylan was ready.Move fast. Move smart.Dylan darted to the left, his body twisting in a fluid motion. His feet barely touched the ground as he darted closer to the giant, moving like a shadow, calculating every step. Titan’s next punch landed with a deafening crash, and for a moment, Dylan thought it might be the end.But it wasn’t.He ducked beneath Titan’s next blow, his hands shaking as they gripped the ground to keep him steady. There, just beneath Titan’s ribs, was the opening he’d been waiting for. The weak spot. The one place Titan couldn’t cover with his sheer force.With a burst of energy, Dylan surged forward

157: The Prisoner’s FateDylan’s body lay stiff, trapped in the metal confines of the pit that had swallowed him whole. His bones ached, and his vision wavered, but even in his near-unconscious state, he could feel the heavy weight of Seraphina’s gaze above him. The air felt suffocating, the silence pressing down on him like a physical force.Then, her voice sliced through the stillness, low and filled with raw, unrestrained fury.“You’re my prisoner now, Dylan,” Seraphina said, her words laced with venom. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment.”Dylan, too weak to move or defend himself, barely lifted his head. His body trembled, each breath a fight against the crushing pain. He could hear the tremor in her voice, the crack of emotion in her words that twisted the knife deeper into his heart. What happened to her?Her shadow loomed large over him, a looming specter of rage and betrayal. Seraphina’s eyes burned with an intensity he had never seen before, her expression

159 “I didn’t want to leave you, Sera,” he said, his voice barely audible now, strained with the weight of his own pain. “I didn’t know how to stay. I was scared. I thought I had to fix things on my own, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I didn’t know how to come back to you.”The silence between them stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Seraphina didn’t turn around, didn’t acknowledge him. He could feel her standing there, her back to him, but the distance between them had never felt greater.“I thought you were dead, Dylan,” she whispered again, this time more to herself than to him. “And then you come back with her, and everything is… it’s just a lie. You lied to me. You lied about everything.”Dylan’s chest tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. He had lied. He had hidden the truth from her, kept secrets that had cost them everything. And now, even if he apologized a thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough to undo the damage.He tried to speak again, but the words stuck