Omniscient Gacha you are too expensive!!

The forest had become Rayne's second home. At ten years old, he had already accomplished feats that most seasoned hunters would find impressive. His bond with Alaric had grown stronger, and the lessons learned in the wild had shaped him into a disciplined and focused young man.

It was early morning when Rayne stepped out of his family's house, his bow slung over his shoulder and a small satchel packed with supplies. The village was still waking up, and the air was crisp with the lingering chill of dawn. He had promised Alaric that he would meet him at the clearing for another day of hunting, but today felt different.

Rayne had confidence in his skills now, a quiet certainty that came from countless hours spent tracking, learning, and adapting. The memory of his encounter with the wolf still lingered in his mind, a reminder of the challenges he had faced and overcome.

"Rayne!"

He turned to see Sienna running toward him, her violet eyes sparkling with excitement. She was carrying a small bundle wrapped in cloth, which she thrust into his hands with a grin.

"What's this?" he asked, unwrapping the bundle to reveal a freshly baked loaf of bread.

"Mom said to give it to you," Sienna said, bouncing on her heels. "She said you need to eat more since you're out in the woods all day."

Rayne smiled, ruffling her hair. "Thanks, Sienna. I'll make sure to bring something back for dinner."

"You'd better!" she called as he headed toward the forest, waving after him.

---

The woods greeted Rayne like an old friend, its familiar scents and sounds wrapping around him as he moved through the underbrush. The trail to the clearing was well-worn now, marked by the faint signs of his and Alaric's previous journeys.

When he reached the clearing, Alaric was already there, crouched beside a patch of disturbed soil. The hunter looked up as Rayne approached, nodding in greeting.

"You're early," Alaric said, standing and brushing dirt off his hands.

Rayne shrugged, setting his satchel down. "Figured I'd get a head start. What's the plan today?"

Alaric smirked, crossing his arms. "You tell me."

Rayne raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You've been learning from me for months now," Alaric said. "Let's see if you can handle leading a hunt on your own."

Rayne hesitated, glancing around the clearing. It was a challenge he hadn't expected, but the thought of proving himself sent a thrill of excitement through him.

"Fine," he said, his tone steady. "Let's do it."

---

Rayne knelt near a set of tracks, his eyes narrowing as he studied the prints. They were larger than most he had encountered, the deep indentations suggesting a heavy animal.

"Boar," he said, glancing at Alaric.

The hunter nodded. "Good. What else?"

Rayne pointed to a patch of flattened grass nearby. "It rested here recently. It's close."

"Then lead the way," Alaric said, gesturing for him to continue.

They moved through the forest in near silence, Rayne taking the lead as he followed the trail. Every broken branch, every tuft of fur caught on bark told him he was on the right path. His senses were sharp, his movements careful as he scanned the area for any signs of the boar.

The trail led them to a narrow ravine, where the boar was grazing near a cluster of bushes. It was a massive creature, its dark fur bristling and its tusks gleaming in the dappled sunlight.

Rayne crouched behind a fallen log, motioning for Alaric to stay back. He nocked an arrow, drawing his bowstring back as he focused on the boar.

"Remember, aim for the heart," Alaric whispered.

Rayne nodded, his breathing steady as he adjusted his aim. The boar shifted slightly, and he waited for the perfect moment before releasing the arrow.

The shot was clean, striking the boar just behind the shoulder. The animal let out a guttural bellow, stumbling as it tried to flee. Rayne rose to his feet, drawing another arrow and preparing for a second shot, but the boar collapsed before it could move far.

Rayne approached cautiously, his bow still drawn. When he was sure the boar was down, he lowered his weapon and knelt beside it, murmuring a quiet prayer of thanks.

"Not bad," Alaric said, stepping up beside him. "Clean shot, good follow-through. You're getting better."

Rayne smiled, the pride in Alaric's voice warming his chest.

---

They spent the rest of the morning dressing the boar and preparing it for transport. By the time they returned to the village, the sun was high in the sky, and the villagers greeted them with cheers and applause.

"Looks like you've got a reputation now," Alaric said, grinning as he handed the boar off to the butcher.

Rayne chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm just doing what you taught me."

"Maybe," Alaric said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But you've made it your own. That's what matters."

As the villagers dispersed, Rayne caught sight of his family waiting for him near their home. Sienna ran up to him, her face lighting up when she saw the boar.

"Did you really hunt that by yourself?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

"Mostly," Rayne said, ruffling her hair. "Alaric was there to make sure I didn't mess up."

Sienna beamed, her excitement contagious. "You're the best hunter in the village!"

Rayne laughed, shaking his head. "Not yet. But I'm working on it."

---

That evening, as the sun set and the village settled into its usual quiet, Rayne sat outside his home, gazing up at the stars. The pendant in his pocket felt warm against his leg, a constant reminder of the power that lingered just out of reach.

He had come so far in such a short time, but he knew there was still more to learn, more to achieve. The forest had taught him patience, discipline, and respect, and those lessons would guide him as he continued to grow.

For now, he was content to enjoy the peace of the moment, knowing that greater challenges lay ahead.

And when those challenges came, he would be ready.

The forest was quieter than usual, its stillness broken only by the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. Rayne crouched low behind a cluster of bushes, his bow drawn as he scanned the area ahead. This wasn't just another hunt—it was something more dangerous, something that required stealth, precision, and absolute focus.

A group of villagers had reported livestock going missing over the past few weeks, the culprit leaving behind nothing but broken fences and scattered feathers. Alaric suspected a predator, possibly a wolf or a bear, but the lack of tracks made it clear this wasn't an ordinary animal.

"Stay close, but let me lead," Alaric had said when they entered the woods that morning. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

That had been hours ago, and now, Rayne found himself alone. Alaric had split off to follow a separate trail, leaving Rayne with strict instructions to stay alert and call for help if he encountered anything unusual.

---

The faint crack of a branch snapped Rayne out of his thoughts. He froze, his grip tightening on his bow as he scanned the shadows. Something was moving just beyond the treeline, its steps slow and deliberate.

Rayne nocked an arrow, his heart pounding as he waited. He felt the familiar weight of the pendant in his pocket, its presence grounding him.

A shape emerged from the shadows—a wolf, its fur dark and matted, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. But this wolf was larger than any Rayne had seen before, its body scarred and its movements unnervingly deliberate.

The wolf growled, its ears flattening as it fixed its gaze on him.

Trust your instincts, Alaric's voice echoed in Rayne's mind.

The wolf lunged, and Rayne loosed his arrow in one fluid motion. The shot struck true, hitting the wolf in its side, but the beast didn't go down. It staggered, snarling as it turned toward him, its movements fueled by rage and something else—something unnatural.

Rayne retreated, drawing another arrow as the wolf advanced. His breathing was steady, his focus unshaken despite the fear clawing at his chest.

The second shot hit the wolf in the chest, and this time, it collapsed with a guttural snarl. Rayne stayed where he was, his bow still drawn as he watched the beast's body for any sign of movement.

When he was sure it was down, he approached cautiously, his dagger drawn. The closer he got, the more he realized something was wrong. The wolf's body shimmered faintly, its fur rippling like water before settling again.

"What in the—" Rayne whispered, crouching beside it.

The pendant in his pocket grew warm, and the translucent screen of the System flickered to life before him:

[System Notification: Anomaly Neutralized. 10 Gacha Points Earned.]

Rayne stared at the message, his mind racing. This wasn't just an animal—it was something connected to the System, something beyond the natural world.

---

"Rayne!"

He turned to see Alaric emerging from the trees, his bow at the ready. The hunter's eyes widened when he saw the wolf's body.

"You took that thing down on your own?" Alaric asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern.

Rayne nodded, rising to his feet. "It wasn't normal, Alaric. It didn't move like a regular wolf, and when I got close, its body—" He hesitated, unsure how to explain. "It didn't feel real."

Alaric knelt beside the wolf, his expression darkening as he examined its wounds. "You're right. This isn't natural." He glanced up at Rayne, his tone serious. "Did you feel anything strange when you killed it?"

Rayne hesitated, debating whether to mention the System. Finally, he shook his head. "Just… relief that it was down."

Alaric studied him for a moment before nodding. "We'll take it back to the village. Maybe someone there can figure out what's going on."

---

The walk back was tense, the wolf's body draped over a makeshift sled as they navigated the forest. Alaric was quieter than usual, his eyes scanning the shadows as if expecting another attack. Rayne couldn't shake the unease that settled over him, the weight of the System's notification still fresh in his mind.

When they reached the village, the wolf's body drew a crowd. The villagers whispered among themselves, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity.

"What kind of wolf is that?" one man asked, his voice trembling.

"It's too big," another woman said, clutching her child's hand. "And its eyes… they don't look right."

Alaric raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "We'll handle it," he said firmly. "Everyone, go about your business. There's nothing more to see here."

Reluctantly, the crowd dispersed, leaving Alaric and Rayne alone with the butcher, who offered to store the wolf's body until they could figure out what to do with it.

"You did well today," Alaric said as they walked away. "Better than I expected."

Rayne glanced at him. "You mean that?"

"I do," Alaric said, his tone lighter. "But don't let it go to your head. There's still a lot you don't know."

Rayne smiled faintly, the compliment warming him despite the lingering unease.

That night, as Rayne sat in his room, he pulled out the pendant and stared at it. The System's notification played over and over in his mind, a constant reminder that his life was no longer ordinary.

The wolf had been an anomaly, something unnatural and dangerous. And if it was connected to the System, then there would be more like it—more challenges, more threats.

Rayne clenched his fist around the pendant, determination hardening his resolve. Whatever the System threw at him, he would face it head-on.

He wasn't just a hunter anymore. He was something more.

And he was ready to prove it.

The forest seemed restless in the days following Rayne's encounter with the strange wolf. The usual serenity had been replaced with a subtle tension, the air heavy with an energy he couldn't quite name. Rayne couldn't stop thinking about the shimmering body of the wolf, the unnatural glow in its eyes, and the System's cryptic notification.

His mind buzzed with questions as he walked toward the clearing where Alaric was waiting. The hunter had asked him to meet early, his tone leaving no room for debate.

When Rayne arrived, Alaric was leaning against a tree, his expression serious. A satchel lay at his feet, and his bow was slung across his back.

"You're late," Alaric said, his usual smirk absent.

Rayne raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Come with me," Alaric said, motioning for Rayne to follow.

---

They walked in silence, the trees closing in around them as Alaric led Rayne deeper into the forest. The path was unfamiliar, marked by gnarled roots and overgrown bushes. Rayne's grip tightened on his bow as his unease grew.

Finally, they reached a small clearing where a crude campsite had been set up. A fire crackled in the center, and a tall man with a weathered face sat beside it, sharpening a long knife. He looked up as they approached, his dark eyes narrowing.

"This him?" the man asked, his voice rough.

Alaric nodded. "This is Rayne."

Rayne glanced between them, his wariness growing. "What's going on?"

"Rayne," Alaric said, his tone measured, "this is Elias. He's a tracker—one of the best I know. I asked him to help us figure out what we're dealing with."

"With the wolf?" Rayne asked.

Elias snorted. "If that's all it was, you wouldn't need me."

Alaric shot him a look before turning back to Rayne. "The wolf you killed—it wasn't normal. It wasn't just a predator. It was something… corrupted."

"Corrupted?" Rayne frowned.

Alaric crouched beside the fire, his expression grim. "Sometimes, the forest changes. Animals get twisted, their instincts replaced with something darker. It's rare, but it happens."

"And the wolf?"

"It wasn't acting on instinct," Alaric said. "It was hunting deliberately, like it had a purpose."

Elias set his knife down, his gaze piercing. "That's why I'm here. To track whatever's causing this corruption."

Rayne felt the weight of their words settle over him. He thought back to the wolf's glowing eyes, its unnatural movements. "What do you need me to do?"

Alaric met his gaze. "I want you to come with us. You've proven yourself in the forest, and you know how to handle yourself in a fight. But this isn't just about skill—it's about judgment."

Rayne nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'm in."

---

The trio spent the next few hours combing the forest, following faint trails and subtle signs of disturbance. Elias moved with an eerie precision, his sharp eyes catching details that Rayne would have missed. Alaric followed close behind, his bow at the ready, while Rayne brought up the rear, his senses on high alert.

They found their first clue near a shallow creek—a deer carcass torn apart with brutal efficiency. The wounds were jagged and unnatural, as if the creature had been attacked by something far larger than a wolf.

"This isn't right," Elias muttered, crouching beside the carcass. "Whatever did this wasn't hunting for food. It left most of the body untouched."

Rayne felt a chill run down his spine. "What could do this?"

Elias glanced at him, his expression grim. "Something we don't want to meet unprepared."

---

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, the light dimmer. The trees seemed to close in around them, their gnarled branches reaching like skeletal fingers.

They reached another clearing, this one marked by deep gouges in the earth. The tracks were massive, far larger than anything Rayne had seen before.

Elias knelt to examine them, his jaw tightening. "These aren't just tracks. They're deliberate."

"What do you mean?" Alaric asked.

"I mean whatever made these isn't just wandering," Elias said. "It's moving with purpose. It's hunting."

Rayne's pulse quickened as he scanned the shadows. The forest felt alive with tension, every rustle of leaves setting his nerves on edge.

"We need to move," Alaric said, his voice low. "Whatever's out here, it's close."

---

The attack came without warning.

A guttural roar shattered the silence, and Rayne spun around just in time to see a massive shape barreling toward them. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen—a hulking creature with jagged claws and glowing red eyes, its body covered in dark, mottled fur.

"Scatter!" Alaric shouted, loosing an arrow that barely slowed the creature.

Rayne dove behind a tree, his heart racing as he nocked an arrow. He peeked around the trunk, aiming for the creature's chest. The arrow struck, but the beast barely flinched, its glowing eyes locking onto him.

"Rayne, move!" Elias shouted, throwing a dagger that embedded itself in the creature's shoulder.

The beast roared, swiping at Elias with its massive claws. The tracker dodged, rolling to his feet with practiced ease.

Rayne drew another arrow, his breathing steady despite the chaos. He focused on the creature's movements, waiting for an opening. When it lunged at Alaric, Rayne loosed his arrow, striking it in the side of the head.

The creature stumbled, its momentum carrying it into a tree. It let out a guttural snarl before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching violently.

Elias approached cautiously, his knife drawn. He jabbed it into the creature's neck, ensuring it was dead before stepping back.

"What the hell was that?" Rayne asked, his voice unsteady.

Alaric knelt beside the creature, his expression dark. "Something corrupted. And something tells me this isn't the last one we'll see."

---

That night, as they returned to the village, Rayne couldn't shake the image of the creature's glowing eyes. The System had been silent during the fight, but he could feel its presence lingering at the edge of his mind, watching, waiting.

Whatever was happening in the forest, it was only the beginning.

And Rayne knew he had a role to play in stopping it.

The morning sun was hidden behind thick clouds, casting a gray light over the village as Rayne sat on a stool outside his home, fletching a new set of arrows. His hands moved with practiced ease, the repetitive task helping to calm his restless thoughts. The memory of the creature they'd faced in the forest lingered in his mind, its glowing eyes and unnatural movements haunting his dreams.

"You've been quiet lately," his father said, stepping out of the house with a basket of freshly washed clothes. "Something on your mind?"

Rayne hesitated, his fingers pausing over the shaft of an arrow. "Just… thinking about the hunt."

His father set the basket down and sat beside him, his brow furrowed. "That creature you brought back—it wasn't normal, was it?"

Rayne shook his head. "No. Alaric called it corrupted. Said it was something beyond what we've seen before."

His father sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "The forest has always been unpredictable, but this feels different. Darker."

"I'll figure it out," Rayne said firmly, his gaze steady.

His father gave him a faint smile, his pride evident despite the worry in his eyes. "I know you will. Just… don't take it all on yourself, Rayne. You don't have to face everything alone."

---

Later that day, Rayne met Alaric and Elias near the edge of the forest. The tracker was crouched over a set of fresh tracks, his expression grim.

"Another one?" Rayne asked, his grip tightening on his bow.

Elias nodded. "Larger this time. Moving fast."

Alaric glanced at Rayne, his tone serious. "This isn't just a random occurrence. Something's stirring in the forest, and we need to find out what it is."

The three of them followed the tracks deeper into the woods, their movements careful and deliberate. The air grew colder as they walked, and Rayne felt the familiar weight of the pendant in his pocket.

After an hour of tracking, they reached a clearing where the tracks abruptly ended. The ground was disturbed, the grass scorched in places, as if something massive had landed there.

"What the hell happened here?" Alaric muttered, crouching to examine the scorched earth.

Elias knelt beside him, his brow furrowed. "Whatever it was, it didn't leave naturally. This is magic."

Rayne felt a chill run down his spine. The air in the clearing was heavy, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle. He reached into his pocket, pulling out the pendant, which glowed faintly in response.

Alaric noticed the movement and raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

Rayne hesitated, his mind racing. The System had always been a secret, something he'd kept to himself. But now, standing in the center of a corrupted clearing, he wondered if it was time to share the truth.

"It's… something I've had for a while," he said finally. "It reacts to magic."

Elias frowned. "Where did you get it?"

"I found it," Rayne lied, tucking the pendant back into his pocket. "Near the forest, a few years ago."

Alaric studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well, it's reacting for a reason. Whatever caused this, it's connected to the magic in the air."

---

The three of them spent hours searching the clearing for more clues, but the trail had gone cold. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Alaric called for them to head back.

"We'll regroup tomorrow," he said. "This isn't over."

Rayne nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. The pendant's glow had faded, but the memory of its warmth lingered, a constant reminder of the System's presence.

---

That night, as Rayne sat by the fire in his room, the System flickered to life before him.

[System Notification: Anomaly Identified. Further investigation required to unlock new abilities.]

Rayne frowned, his fingers brushing over the pendant. "What do you mean by 'further investigation'?" he muttered, knowing the System wouldn't respond.

The screen shifted, displaying his current progress:

[Gacha Points: 30]

[Next Draw Available at 50 Points.]

Rayne sighed, leaning back in his chair. The System was giving him pieces of a puzzle, but the full picture remained out of reach. Whatever was happening in the forest, it was tied to the magic that had been growing stronger around him.

He didn't know what the System wanted from him, but he was determined to find out.

---

The next day, Rayne returned to the clearing alone, his bow at the ready. He moved with practiced stealth, his senses sharp as he searched for anything the group might have missed.

As he reached the center of the clearing, the pendant began to glow faintly, its light pulsing in time with his heartbeat. Rayne crouched, examining the ground, when he noticed something glinting beneath the scorched grass.

He reached for it, his fingers closing around a small, intricately carved stone. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy shot through him, and the pendant flared to life.

[System Notification: Artifact Acquired. Progress Unlocked.]

The stone disintegrated in his hand, its energy absorbed by the pendant. Rayne staggered back, his vision swimming as the System's screen appeared once more.

[New Skill Unlocked: Dead Eye – Temporarily slows time, enhancing precision and reflexes. Duration: 3 seconds.]

Rayne's breath caught as the glow faded, leaving him standing alone in the clearing. The forest seemed to exhale around him, the tension easing slightly.

He didn't know what the artifact had been or why the System had led him to it, but one thing was clear: the forest's corruption was growing stronger, and the System was pushing him to confront it.

Rayne clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head-on.

For his family. For his village.

For himself.

The clearing was quiet now, the eerie tension that had gripped it earlier replaced by a heavy stillness. Rayne sat on a fallen log at the edge of the forest, his bow resting across his knees. His mind raced as he replayed the moment the artifact had dissolved in his hand and the System had granted him a new skill.

Dead Eye. The words lingered in his mind, carrying with them the promise of something powerful. The ability to slow time, even briefly, could mean the difference between life and death in a fight. But it was more than that—it was proof that the System was guiding him toward something greater, even if its motives remained unclear.

He flexed his fingers, staring at the faint glow of the pendant tucked beneath his shirt. The System had been a part of his life for so long that he'd almost grown used to its cryptic nature. But now, with the corruption spreading through the forest and the increasing danger it posed, he couldn't ignore its influence any longer.

---

Rayne returned to the village just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the fields in hues of orange and purple. The faint hum of voices greeted him as he approached the butcher's shop, where Alaric and Elias were waiting.

"You're late," Alaric said, his arms crossed.

Rayne shrugged, setting his bow down against the wall. "I went back to the clearing."

Alaric's expression hardened. "Alone? That was reckless."

"I found something," Rayne said, ignoring the reprimand. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the remains of the stone—now a faintly glowing shard—and held it out for them to see.

Elias leaned in, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What is that?"

"I don't know," Rayne admitted. "But when I touched it, it… dissolved. And then I felt something—energy, power."

Alaric exchanged a glance with Elias before nodding. "We'll look into it. For now, keep this to yourself. The villagers are already uneasy, and this will only make things worse."

Rayne nodded, slipping the shard back into his pocket. He felt a flicker of relief knowing Alaric and Elias were taking him seriously, but the weight of the discovery still pressed heavily on his shoulders.

---

That night, as the village settled into quiet, Rayne slipped out of his house and into the fields. The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light casting long shadows across the landscape. He moved toward the edge of the forest, his steps purposeful as he reached a secluded spot he'd claimed as his own.

He drew his bow, nocking an arrow and aiming at a distant tree. His breathing steadied, his muscles tensing as he focused on the target. Then, he activated Dead Eye.

The world shifted. Time slowed to a crawl, every sound muffled and every movement deliberate. The faint breeze seemed to still, the rustling of leaves falling silent as Rayne's senses sharpened.

He loosed the arrow, watching as it sliced through the air with perfect precision. It struck the tree dead center, the impact breaking the stillness as time resumed its normal flow.

Rayne lowered his bow, his chest rising and falling as he processed the experience. The skill was unlike anything he'd ever felt—an extension of his instincts, a tool that made him faster, sharper, and deadlier.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he retrieved the arrow, the weight of the System's power settling more comfortably on his shoulders.

---

The next morning, Rayne joined Alaric and Elias at the edge of the forest. The tracker was crouched over another set of tracks, his expression grim as he gestured for them to come closer.

"Another one," Elias said, motioning toward the claw marks gouged into the ground. "Larger this time. Moving fast."

Alaric frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. "We're running out of time. If this corruption spreads any further, it won't just be the forest that suffers."

Rayne crouched beside them, his gaze focused on the tracks. "Then let's end it."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Bold words for a kid."

Rayne met his gaze, his voice steady. "I can handle it."

Alaric smirked faintly, though his eyes carried a hint of concern. "Let's hope you're right. Because if you're not, we're all in trouble."

---

As they moved deeper into the forest, Rayne felt the familiar weight of the pendant against his chest. It pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power it held and the responsibility that came with it. The System had given him tools, but it was up to him to use them wisely.

The trail led them to another clearing, this one darker and more foreboding than the last. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the ground was littered with bones—animal and otherwise.

Elias drew his knife, his movements slow and deliberate. "Stay sharp. Whatever did this is still close."

Rayne nodded, his bow drawn as he scanned the shadows. The tension in the air was palpable, every sound amplified as they moved forward.

A low growl broke the silence, and Rayne's pulse quickened. He turned toward the sound, his senses sharpening as he activated Dead Eye.

The world slowed, and he saw it—a massive creature emerging from the shadows, its body twisted and unnatural. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him, and it lunged.

Rayne's arrow flew, striking the creature in the shoulder. Time resumed as the beast roared, its movements jerky and erratic. Alaric and Elias moved in, their weapons flashing as they attacked.

The fight was brutal and fast, the creature's strength and speed making it a formidable opponent. But Rayne's new skill turned the tide, allowing him to anticipate its movements and strike with precision.

When the creature finally fell, collapsing in a heap of blackened fur and bone, the three of them stood in silence, their breaths heavy.

"What the hell are these things?" Alaric muttered, wiping blood from his knife.

Rayne stared at the fallen beast, his hand tightening on the pendant. "Whatever they are, this isn't the last of them."