
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Four circles with radii $2, 4, 6,$ and $8$ are tangent to line $\ell$ at the same point $A$. Each circle can be on either side of $\ell$. Region $S$ consists of all the points that lie inside exactly one of the four circles. Suppose that the smallest circle is completely inside the next larger circle and the same for the subsequent pair of circles. Calculate the maximum possible area of region $S$.
A) $24\pi$  
B) $40\pi$  
C) $56\pi$  
D) $64\pi$

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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