Kaitou's spell struck true, the force of it blasting the wolf off its feet and backwards, the roaring flames held back by the others' concerted efforts.

Rookmon, unfortunately, had not weathered the assault- but at least he was breathing. Alive, but unconscious.

Shakily, the beast righted itself, wheezing, fraying at the edges now- and it charged, momentum slowed by the limp it was now sporting, raising a claw-

And stopped.

Not quite all at once; each limb seemed to come to the same realization at different times, such that the end result was a badly-coordinated slide into stillness, as empty, flaming eyes took in the sight of the small, barely-moving body in front of them.

Like logs shifting on the fire, it sagged, and collapsed, throwing up embers that soon faded into nothing, taking with them the heart of the inferno. The lab was once more a place of ruin and decay, and there, on his knees amongst the ashes, for the first time in too, too long-

Goro Akechi wept.

"No. No, no, I'm sorry, please- help him, somebody-"