Marshmallow, still wrapped in the lingering aura of his Oni transformation, stood motionless for what felt like an eternity. The smoking crater before him was the only tangible proof that BloodLust was actually gone. No more BloodLust. No more Survivor Game.

Slowly, Marshmallow felt the full weight of what he'd sacrificed crash down on him. The adrenaline that had surged through his digital veins like a raging torrent had finally subsided. Now, he felt only exhaustion taking hold. His limbs instantly became ten times heavier.

"Did I... did I really do it?" he mumbled, his voice choked and barely audible.

The four titans that had fought alongside him in the final battle - the Sun Titan, the Infernal Demon, the Primordial Dragon, and the Valhalla Warrior - dissolved into particles of light. Their weapons and armor vanished, ascending into the same light. Now Marshmallow was back in jeans and a t-shirt, the same outfit he'd worn when the Survivor Game began. As he'd started, so he would finish.

Suddenly, Marshmallow staggered as his legs gave out. He fell to his knees, then collapsed completely. He lay on the battle-scarred ground, his chest heaving violently as he struggled to catch his breath and regain his strength.

"Marsh... Marshmallow!" Lynx's voice, weak but charged with emotion, reached his ears. "You did it. You really did it!"

Marshmallow turned his head with effort, meeting his companion's gaze. Lynx was still on the ground, injured and exhausted. But her eyes shone with pride and admiration.

"No, I didn't do it. We did it," he replied.

"I can't believe it," Parabellum added. "You, of all people... managed to defeat BloodLust." A hysterical laugh broke across his face. "And here I was, convinced Raven would be the one to take him down. I feel like a real idiot."

Marshmallow wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or amused by those words. But in the end, it was just typical Parabellum. He wasn't a bad person, just a bit too ambitious. But he'd definitely contributed to winning the Survivor Game.

The Dragon Goat, in his draconic form, let out a joyous roar that echoed across the devastated battlefield.

"I knew you could do it, Marsh! I knew it!"

They were all practically in pieces. Lynx had all her bones broken, Parabellum had been drained of almost all his fire power, and the Dragon Goat was a mess of bruises and blood. Yet, they'd all regained their vitality.

A tired but satisfied smile spread across Marshmallow's face. He'd done it. He, who had started as the weakest among a thousand participants, had emerged victorious. His mind briefly wandered to the day he entered the Survivor Game, remembering how inadequate he felt, how it was his final gamble, how sure he was that he had no chance. And now...

"BloodLust," he murmured. "In the end, all your arrogance, all your power... it meant nothing."

That's when it happened. The air around them seemed to vibrate, charged with a familiar yet alien energy. A bluish glow began to materialize in front of them, condensing into a vaguely humanoid shape.

"Congratulations, Survivors," a voice resonated in Marshmallow's mind, one he hadn't heard in weeks but recognized immediately.

"Ada?" he asked, incredulous.

Ada, the artificial intelligence that had guided them at the beginning of the Survivor Game, fully manifested. She appeared in an ethereal form that vibrated in the air, a kind of humanoid hologram.

"That's right, Marshmallow," Ada replied, for the first time seeming to manifest a human emotion in her synthetic voice. "Or perhaps I should say... Marshall Merson?"

Marshmallow's eyes widened, surprised to hear his real name after so long. He had become so accustomed to his nickname that it felt almost strange to hear how it sounded when spoken aloud. And before he could respond, Ada raised an ethereal hand. A wave of bluish energy propagated from her hand, enveloping Marshmallow and his companions. Instantly, their wounds healed, their fatigue vanished, and they felt invigorated as if they had just started their adventure.

Lynx sprang up from the ground, looking at her hands in wonder. "Incredible! I feel... like new!"

Parabellum, on the other hand, rose with grace and his typical composure. Meanwhile, the Dragon Goat had returned to his humanoid form and stretched, making his bones crack. "Ah, what a relief! I was sure I had a sea of broken ribs."

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Lynx and Parabellum exchanged a confused look, then stared at the Dragon Goat.

"Wait a minute," Lynx said, furrowing her brow. "Why were you healed too? You're an NPC, right? And you can hear Ada?"

The Dragon Goat crossed his arms, looking genuinely offended. "Is this the thanks I get for being your trusty steed? I'll have you know, I'm one of the protagonists of this story! While you were off doing who knows what, I was supporting Marshmallow with all my might!"

Marshmallow couldn't hold back a laugh. "He's right, you know? I don't think I could have done it without him."

"Yeah, exactly!" the Dragon Goat continued, undeterred and proud. "Where were you when we were fighting against the Grimgoat? And against the Mechanical Cerberus? And against..."

Lynx and Parabellum seemed about to retort, probably to say that they hadn't been twiddling their thumbs either. But Ada interrupted them.

"The Survivor Game is officially over. Winner: Wyolands. Now I will announce the survivors." The AI's voice resonated in the minds of all present.

"Number of Survivors: 3. Participant number 346: Marshall Merson. Participant number 79: Elysia Miller. Participant number 13: Cedric Hall."

Marshmallow turned to his companions as a smile spread across his face. "Elysia and Cedric, huh? Finally, I know your real names."

Lynx, or rather Elysia, returned the smile. "Looks like that stupid thing about hiding our identities is finally over."

Cedric, the man they had known as Parabellum, nodded solemnly. "Indeed, it was a rather useless precaution, considering we're the winners."

Ada continued: "Congratulations, you are the Survivors! Within a few minutes, you will be sent back to reality."

An emotionally charged silence fell over the group. They had fought, suffered, lost companions, and faced unimaginable challenges. And now, it was all over.

"I can't believe it," Lynx murmured, her eyes glistening. "We're really going home."

Cedric, or Parabellum, seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I wonder how it will be possible to return to normalcy after all this."

It was then that Marshmallow remembered there was someone who couldn't follow them into the real world. He turned to the Dragon Goat.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Marshmallow said, his voice husky with emotion.

"Yeah."

Marshmallow stepped forward, looking into the eyes of his faithful companion. "Dragon Goat, or Goat Horse... I just wanted to say it was great to know you. I couldn't have asked for a better mount. If we won, it's thanks to you too."

The Dragon Goat seemed to get emotional. "It was an honor, Marsh. Live your life, you've earned it."

"Take care, Dragon Goat. See you around." Marshall knew it wasn't true, that they would never see each other again, but at that moment, it was the only thing he could say. He had started Goat, he had finished Dragon. At first, they did not get along so well, but over time they had become inseparable. And now, it was time to say goodbye.

Lynx and Parabellum observed the scene in silence, respecting that moment of farewell. They too gave a nod of goodbye to the Dragon Goat, acknowledging his crucial role in their victory.

Ada spoke again in a gentle but firm voice. "It's time. Prepare for the return."

Marshmallow felt a tingling spread throughout his body. It was happening, they were really returning to reality. He looked at the world that had been his home and battlefield for so long.

The Dragon Goat stared at him with eyes full of unshed tears. "Goodbye, Marshmallow," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

Marshmallow felt his body become light as if he were about to dissolve into the air. His last thought before everything vanished was of his faithful companion, the friend he was leaving behind.

"Goodbye, Dragon Goat."

And then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

Now, Lynx was no longer Lynx. She was Elysia Miller.

Now, Parabellum was no longer Parabellum. He was Cedric Hall.

And, most importantly, Marshmallow was no longer Marshmallow. He was Marshall Merson.