Chapter 124: victory is near
Kazreth raised his rod high. Osereth chanted a string of harsh syllables. Ravessa's staff rapped the ground thrice. The illusions thickened, growing more complex and aggressive. The air shimmered with layered visions: Ember generals captured and bound, captains slain, allies fleeing. The Serpents revealed a fantasy of total Ember defeat, hoping to crush Lyrus' spirit by showing him a doomed future.
Threnix attacked in perfect sync with this vision, thrusting spear at Lyrus' side when he might be distracted by the grim tableau. Yet, Lyrus had learned long ago to trust not the surface of events, but the enduring truth of his allies' character. He recognized these horrors as fabrications—no sudden shift in morale had been reported, no captains vanished without alarm.
He pivoted and met Threnix's strike with a firm parry. The spear glanced off his staff, and Lyrus stepped into Threnix's guard. With a calm motion, he lightly struck the guardian's wrist, forcing him to drop the spear. Disarmed, Threnix backed away, stunned.
Lyrus spoke quietly: "I do not fear illusions of defeat. My allies do not waver so easily." His voice carried a quiet conviction that unsettled the Elders. Kazreth's jade mask dipped, Osereth's incantation faltered, Ravessa's tapping slowed. Their grand illusion failed to unnerve him.
Outside the illusion's sphere, real reports contradicted the Elders' falsities. Alyra's scouts signaled that Ivrineh's attempts had failed. Maron's defensive line stood firm, repelling Malzaryn's raids. Kael's supply routes remained secure. Ciri's coordinated responses foiled Yashever's chemical intrigues. Captains bested their counterparts, clan allies held strong. The Ember Circle's moral backbone held them together, rendering illusion useless.
The Elders realized their worst fear: no matter how clever their illusions, Lyrus' leadership and the Circle's solidarity made such tricks hollow. The Serpents had built their legacy on subtlety, but the Ember Circle had transcended that game, forging a unity stronger than fear.
With Threnix disarmed and illusions losing potency, the Elders faced a grim decision. Could they retreat, salvage pride, or attempt one final desperate measure? The battlefield now favored Ember's clarity over Serpent cunning. Kazreth's hand trembled slightly, acknowledging they might be witnessing the end of an era dominated by shadows.
Lyrus advanced a step, staff lowered but stance resolute, inviting the Elders to relinquish deceit and face truth directly.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone