Lilith dropped the Oculus.
"Jewel," she said sharply, "get ready. We're going to turn them into dust."
Jewel responded, "Understood."
Lilith continued, "I suppose I'll be the one who has to put him down. Our target is in their stronghold — five kilometers across the border. Everyone, stock up."
Sujibur raised a concern. "But ma'am, why are we going on the offensive? The more we defend, the more they corner us."
Lilith's eyes narrowed. "Then we stop defending. We defeat them — we kill them."
Jewel interjected, "I'm against this plan. With both you and me on the frontlines, the entire area will be exposed to a massive counterattack."
Lilith replied, "It's a risk we have to take — regardless."
Jewel sighed and turned to the others. "Man your posts. We deploy in two hours."
Two hours later…
Lilith addressed the group. "Everyone ready? Let's go."
Jewel stepped beside her. "Lilith… we both know why you're doing this. Please reconsider."
Lilith's voice was cold but firm. "That's what I've been doing for the last few hours. But this… is something I have to do."
Jewel faced the troops. "Everyone — your job is to keep their defenses distracted and stay alive. The captain and I will destroy them in an instant."
"Understood!" everyone shouted.
Lilith and Jewel soared into the sky while the Black Rose forces charged on foot. The stronghold shifted focus to the invading ground forces, leaving the skies open.
Inside the central control room…
The traitor asked, "Are you sure, Mrs. Elaar, that the defenses will hold?"
Elaar replied, "Don't worry about it, my knight."
The traitor growled, "Don't even think this means I'm loyal to you. I'm only helping because I have to — not because I want to."
Above the stronghold…
Lilith asked, "Jewel, are you ready?"
Jewel smirked. "Yeah. Let's use the S19 move — from the classic old days."
"Got it."
Jewel shouted, "Light Magic — Holy Angel's Descent!"
They crashed through the rooftop, tearing straight down into the central control room.
Elaar jumped up. "How did you get here?!"
Jewel stepped forward confidently. "Make way… for the Dark Steel Empress — the new captain of Black Rose."
Lilith landed beside him, glaring. "Elaar… you really are clever. And Tenebris… I never wanted to believe you were the traitor."
She raised her hand. "Void Magic — Black Hole!"
Tenebris countered, "Smoke Magic — Endless Smoke!" and slipped away into the mist.
"I'll take care of Tenebris," Lilith said. "You handle Elaar."
She launched after Tenebris, chasing him into the storm-filled skies.
Lilith screamed, "Why the hell are you doing this?! What did she offer you? Money? Power? Status? Rank?! Enough to betray your own father-in-law?!"
Tenebris called back, "It's not like that—!"
"Stop flying, you traitor!"
"Lilith, listen to me—"
"LISTEN, MY ASS!" she roared.
"You're the one person I won't forgive.
You're the one person I must kill!"