War Plans and Inner Demons

The weight of Jeong's words hung heavy in the air as he addressed us. "The underground city beneath Hwaeryun remains our largest concern. Despite our efforts, it's clear the vampires are using it as a staging ground for their operations. The tunnels are vast, and their defenses are… formidable."

I crossed my arms, listening intently. Jeong's tone didn't leave much room for doubt—this was going to be brutal. From the corner of my eye, I caught Tian Gu stepping forward, his crimson eyes sharp and resolute. "We've sent scouting parties down into the tunnels, but we've lost more than half. The vampires have fortified their positions, and the cultists have set up numerous traps and arrays. This isn't a battle we can win with brute force alone."

My jaw tightened. "What's the plan, then?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease curling in my stomach. "We can't let them continue to use the city as a stronghold. If we don't strike soon, they'll gain even more ground."

"That's why you're here," Jeong replied bluntly. His gaze locked with mine, and I could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on me. "Your group will join the main assault on the tunnels. With the combined strength of the Creighton and Windward reinforcements, along with our forces, we aim to push through their defenses and dismantle their command structure."

"An assault?" Kathyln interjected, her silver brows furrowing in disbelief. "You're suggesting a full-frontal attack on an entrenched enemy? That's a bloodbath waiting to happen."

"It's a calculated risk," Tian said evenly, though there was a tightness to his voice that betrayed his unease. "We don't have the luxury of waiting. The longer we delay, the stronger their foothold becomes."

Lucifer, standing to my left, stepped forward, his voice calm but laced with an edge. "You're assuming we can outlast them in a protracted siege. That's optimistic, considering they've already drawn on reinforcements from the Red Chalice cult."

"And what's your alternative?" Jeong snapped, his tone sharper now. "To wait until their numbers swell beyond control? To watch as they overrun Hwaeryun completely? We don't have time for hesitation."

"Enough," Rachel said, stepping between them. Her voice was steady, a quiet authority cutting through the rising tension. I glanced at her, a flicker of pride swelling in my chest. Rachel had a way of commanding attention without raising her voice. "This isn't the time for infighting. If we're going to attack, we need a plan that minimizes losses and maximizes our chances of success. Jeong, Tian—how do you propose we approach this?"

The two leaders exchanged a glance before Jeong finally spoke. "The plan is to divide our forces into three units. The main force will engage their frontlines in the tunnels, drawing their attention. A second unit will flank from the east, targeting their supply lines and cutting off reinforcements. The third unit—a smaller, elite team—will infiltrate the heart of the city to neutralize their leaders and disrupt their command structure."

I raised an eyebrow. "And which unit are we?"

Tian's smirk was faint, but it was there. "The third, of course. If anyone can breach their defenses and take out their leaders, it's you and your companions."

A chill ran down my spine, but I ignored it. This was nothing new. I'd faced worse before—or so I told myself. "We'll do it," Rachel said before I could respond, her tone firm and unyielding. I glanced at her, catching the determination blazing in her sapphire eyes.

"What do we know about their leadership?" I asked, turning back to Jeong.

"Not much," he admitted, his expression grim. "The vampires are led by several Elders, but their exact identities remain unknown. As for the cultists, they're commanded by a high-ranking priest—likely a nine-circle mage. They'll be heavily guarded."

"Good," I said, keeping my tone steady, though I could feel the tension building in my shoulders. "It'll save us the trouble of hunting them down."

Rachel shot me a look, half admiration, half concern. I ignored it, focusing on the task at hand. Lucifer, ever the strategist, broke the silence. "We'll need a solid strategy for infiltration," he said. "And we'll need to coordinate closely with the other units to ensure they draw enough attention away from us."

"Agreed," Kathyln added. "And we'll need to be prepared for contingencies. If their defenses are as strong as you say, it's likely they've accounted for this kind of assault."

"Leave that to us," Jeong said. "You focus on your objective. The rest of us will handle the diversion."

I nodded, meeting Jeong's gaze evenly. "When do we move?"

"Dusk," Tian replied. "That's when their guard rotations shift. It's our best window of opportunity."

As the meeting began to break apart, I felt a gentle hand brush against my arm. Turning, I saw Rachel standing close, her sapphire eyes looking up at me with a mixture of worry and resolve. "Arthur," she said softly. "Be careful. Please."

Her voice tugged at something deep inside me. I reached out, placing my hand over hers. "I will. And you?"

"I'll be with you," she replied, a faint smile gracing her lips. "So you'd better keep your promise."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Always."

The moment lingered, but reality came crashing back as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. War didn't wait for anyone. With Rachel by my side and the others preparing for the fight ahead, I steeled myself. We were walking into the heart of darkness.

But I would face it, no matter what. Because I wasn't alone.

And because I had no choice.

I had to grow more.

Even now, I wasn't at the level of relative power that Art had once reached. That stung. Hard.

Of course, expecting to match someone like Art at this stage was ridiculous. He had decades of experience in mana manipulation, not to mention his mastery of swordsmanship—even if he'd limited himself to just Sword Resonance. But knowing that didn't make the gap feel any less daunting.

Still, it didn't change the truth staring me in the face: I had to grow. Fast.

Growing my relative strength at this stage wasn't realistic. I'd pushed it to its limit for now. No, the real goal was simple—reach Ascendant-rank as quickly as possible. That was the path forward. Anything less would leave me trailing behind where I needed to be.

I shifted my gaze to Lucifer. He stood a short distance away, arms crossed, his expression cool as always. But I could feel the weight of his presence, the sharp edge of his power. Somehow, in the time I'd overtaken him in mana rank, he'd closed the gap again.

No—he'd done more than that. 

'What a monster,' I thought, watching him. From what I'd gathered, Lucifer had reached high Integration-rank now, and his combat ability had surged. If the rumors about his strength were true—and I had no reason to doubt them—he could hold his own against a low Ascendant-ranker in battle. 

That feat alone would make him a legend. The second person in history to achieve it.

The first, of course, being me.

The corner of my mouth twitched upward, not quite a smile. Lucifer wasn't someone I could ignore, not anymore. In a way, it was exhilarating—to have someone nipping at my heels, reminding me that there was always more work to do. But it was also a stark reminder of the stakes. In this world, standing still wasn't an option.

Especially not now.

"Are you worried?" Seraphina's voice broke through my thoughts, her tone calm but curious. Her crystalline blue eyes studied me, sharp yet gentle, as if she were trying to pull the truth straight out of me.

I shook my head, offering her a light smile. "No, just thinking about how far I still have to go."

Her gaze softened, though the corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smirk. "Lucifer isn't your match anyway," she said with quiet confidence, as if daring me to disagree.

I nodded, a faint chuckle escaping me. She wasn't wrong. Of course Lucifer had gotten stronger—it was impossible not to notice his progress—but so had I. The gap between us hadn't closed; if anything, it had widened. He wasn't my match anymore. Not by a long shot.

The relentless training Art had put me through during that year had seen to that. He hadn't just pushed me hard—he'd dragged me to the edge of my limits and thrown me beyond them. Time and again. It had been hell. And it had made me far stronger than anyone could have imagined. 

Even Jack Blazespout, with his vaunted dual Gifts, would stand no chance against me now. If we clashed—if he unleashed the full force of his Nirvana Flames and whatever else he had in his arsenal—I'd still win. And that was something Lucifer wasn't ready to do yet.

Not yet.

But the thing about Lucifer was that he wasn't just talented—he was relentless. Just like me. If I slowed down even for a moment, he'd catch up. Maybe surpass me. And that was a thought I couldn't ignore.

Seraphina watched me quietly, her expression softening into something less certain, more vulnerable. "You're not doubting yourself, are you?"

I shook my head again, this time more firmly. "Not at all. I'm just… aware of the road ahead."

Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Good," she said simply.

The truth was, I didn't care all that much about Lucifer surpassing me. It wasn't arrogance; it was simple reality. For him to overtake me, he'd need a miracle—a third Gift, maybe, or for me to mysteriously fall into a years-long coma. Neither of which seemed likely.

My desire to grow stronger wasn't fueled by rivalry. It wasn't about staying ahead of Lucifer or anyone else. No, it was because of her. Alyssara. That insane, monstrous woman who'd made it her mission to haunt my life.

My fists tightened at the memory, my knuckles white against the grip of my sword. She'd killed Professor Nero. Killed him because he'd tried to protect me. One of the most formidable in the world, a warrior ranked among humanity's strongest, had died because of me.

No. Not because of me. Because of her.

Alyssara Velcroix had turned this war into a game, and the lives lost along the way were just pieces she casually brushed off the board. Her strength was monstrous, her methods twisted. And I knew—I knew—she wouldn't stop until she had what she wanted.

I didn't intend to give her the satisfaction.