The Greek capital no longer resembled a city preparing for victory.
It resembled one preparing to survive.
Smoke from hundreds of forge fires drifted into the afternoon sky. Blacksmiths hammered broken armor back into shape while soldiers sharpened spears in uneasy silence. Every messenger that crossed the courtyard carried worse news than the last.
Jerusalem had come.
And they had come with purpose.
⸻
Alexander stood atop the western wall.
His lone crimson eye overlooked the valley stretching beyond Greece's borders.
Footsteps approached.
Cyclone lazily rested both arms against the stone railing beside him.
"…You always find the tallest place."
Alexander never looked away.
"You always slouch."
Cyclone shrugged.
"It saves energy."
"It makes you look unserious."
"I am unserious."
Alexander sighed.
"You've never changed."
Cyclone smiled.
"You've changed enough for both of us."
Silence.
The wind rolled between them.
Cyclone eventually spoke again.
"You think they're stronger?"
"Jerusalem?"
Alexander nodded.
"They're angry."
"They're desperate."
"They're dangerous."
Cyclone scratched the back of his neck.
"…The dangerous ones usually win for a while."
Alexander finally turned.
"For a while."
Cyclone's smile faded.
"…You still think Egypt is coming."
"I know they are."
"You don't know."
Alexander looked toward the horizon again.
"…No."
"I don't."
"But if I were Pharaoh…"
"…I'd wait until everyone was bleeding."
Cyclone laughed once.
"You're depressing."
"I'm realistic."
⸻
Elsewhere…
Baron slowly approached Chloe's estate.
She was already waiting outside.
Purple eyes met blue.
Neither spoke immediately.
"So…"
Baron finally said.
"You still live here."
"You still knock before entering."
She replied.
A faint smile crossed both of their faces.
"…You cut your hair."
"You grew yours."
"…Looks better."
"…Liar."
Baron laughed quietly.
"I've missed arguing with you."
"You always lost."
"I let you win."
"You absolutely didn't."
Another silence settled between them.
This one hurt.
Baron looked toward the garden.
"…I still remember."
Chloe's expression softened.
"The river?"
He nodded.
"You pushed me in."
"You deserved it."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I was trying to impress you."
"You stole my sword."
"…Borrowed."
"You threw it into the river."
"…Borrowed."
Chloe laughed.
A genuine laugh.
One Baron hadn't heard in years.
Then…
It disappeared.
"…We could've had something."
She whispered.
Baron lowered his eyes.
"…War happened."
"No."
She answered softly.
"We chose war."
Neither corrected the other.
Neither entirely disagreed.
⸻
Within another courtyard…
Valerie sat beside the memorial tree.
Calix quietly joined her.
Neither looked toward the other.
"…She would've been seventeen."
Valerie whispered.
Calix nodded.
"…She would've hated this war."
"She hated fighting."
"…She loved flowers."
Valerie smiled through watering eyes.
"She kept trying to grow them."
"In sand."
Calix chuckled.
"She said she'd prove everyone wrong."
"…She almost did."
The smile disappeared.
Valerie closed her eyes.
"…Do you ever wonder…"
"…if we made the wrong choice?"
Calix answered immediately.
"Every day."
"…Then why stay?"
"…Because if I leave now…"
"…her death means nothing."
Valerie reached over.
She quietly held his hand.
For a long while…
Neither said another word.
⸻
High above the palace…
Emperor Nero remained seated.
Perfectly still.
Beside him stood the Twins.
Cassiuss
and Gaius
Neither brother moved.
The battlefield below slowly filled with soldiers.
Nero watched.
Patiently.
Almost peacefully.
Gaius frowned.
"…Shouldn't we attack first?"
"No."
Nero answered.
Gaius tilted his head.
"…Waiting?"
"Always."
The Emperor's eyes never left the horizon.
"The impatient army loses strength."
"The patient army spends none."
"We wait."
"We observe."
"And then…"
"…history chooses."
Back in Egypt…
Three squads stood before the palace gates.
Weapons prepared.
Armor tightened.
Backpacks secured.
The excitement of becoming captains had faded.
Reality had taken its place.
This could be the last time they saw one another.
Matthew broke the silence.
"So…"
"…Nobody die."
Poison smirked.
"I'll think about it."
"You better."
Abraham adjusted his glasses.
"We'll all return."
Valentina punched his shoulder.
"That's the spirit."
Emma quietly looked toward Magnolia.
He noticed.
"…We'll be fine."
She nodded.
"…I know."
She didn't sound convinced.
One by one…
The squads separated.
⸻
Near the palace entrance…
Kahn remained beside Moxie.
The little girl looked toward the departing recruits.
"…They're all leaving."
"They are."
"…What if they don't come back?"
Kahn knelt until they were eye level.
"…Then we'll wait."
"…What if waiting isn't enough?"
He smiled.
"…Waiting never is."
"…So what do we do?"
"We become strong enough…"
"…that next time…"
"…we leave with them."
Moxie slowly nodded.
"I'll become strong."
"I believe you."
⸻
Outside the eastern gate…
Saijew walked beside Magnolia.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally…
Saijew looked toward the scar stretching across Magnolia's chest.
"…Still hurts?"
Magnolia instinctively touched it.
"…Sometimes."
"The lightning."
Saijew nodded.
"…Not physical pain."
"No."
"…Ra."
Magnolia looked down.
"…I can barely feel him."
"He feels…"
"…far away."
Saijew remained quiet.
"…Restrictions are strange things."
"They don't only limit your body."
"They convince your mind that you're already defeated."
Magnolia clenched his necklace.
"…How do I remove it?"
Saijew smiled faintly.
"…If I knew…"
"…I would've removed every restriction I've ever carried."
Emma quietly listened behind them.
Her hands tightened together.
Valentina noticed.
She gently nudged Luna.
Emma's worried.
Luna nodded.
"…He's going to be okay."
Emma whispered.
"…I hope so."
⸻
Several hundred meters away…
Arya walked beside Poison.
"You've gotten quieter."
Poison shrugged.
"I've been thinking."
"Dangerous hobby."
"…Kahn was right."
Arya glanced toward him.
"About?"
"…Balance."
"I always thought winning meant overpowering someone."
"And now?"
"…Sometimes the fastest kill…"
"…isn't the smartest."
Arya smiled.
"You're learning."
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I am."
⸻
Ahead of them…
Ren walked beside Asam.
"So."
Ren spoke.
"You don't trust me."
"I don't trust anyone."
She answered.
"…Fair."
"I trust results."
"You've shown them."
Ren looked ahead.
"…Do you think I'll make a good captain?"
Asam answered after a long pause.
"…No."
Ren blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"I think…"
"…you'll become one."
"…Those are different things."
Ren quietly smiled.
"…I'll take that."
⸻
Far behind every marching soldier…
The Pharaoh walked alone.
The tiny black serpent disappeared beneath his braided hair before emerging beside his ear.
Its eyes glowed emerald.
A voice older than kingdoms whispered.
"They move."
The Pharaoh didn't answer immediately.
"I know."
"You remember our agreement?"
"I do."
The snake hissed.
Softly.
Almost lovingly.
"When the time comes…"
"…Ra belongs to me."
The Pharaoh's eyes remained forward.
"…Yes."
"…The boy."
"…Magnolia."
"…Yes."
The serpent curled tighter.
"But not only him."
The Pharaoh's heartbeat slowed.
"The other half…"
A brief image crossed his mind.
Emma.
The serpent smiled.
Or something close to one.
"I want her as well."
Silence.
Then…
"I remember."
The snake disappeared once more beneath his hair.
No one nearby had heard a word.
⸻
Meanwhile…
The hills outside Greece shook.
Thousands of boots struck earth together.
General Gideon raised Judgment toward the sky.
"Advance."
The army surged.
Nema drew her blade.
"Squad A."
"Forward."
Jema smiled.
"Squad B."
"Break them."
Cassian transformed first.
A deafening wolf's howl echoed across the valley.
Miriam quietly began singing.
Tobias rested one weathered hand upon the bronze bell chained across his back.
Salome unsheathed both crimson blades.
Ezekiel…
Simply vanished.
The Jerusalem army charged.
Across the battlefield…
Three figures calmly stepped beyond the Greek front line.
Alexander.
Cyclone.
Helena.
Alexander rested his hand upon his sword.
Cyclone stretched his shoulders.
Helena smiled politely.
"Looks like they're finally here."
Alexander slowly drew his blade.
"No."
His crimson eye fixed upon Gideon.
"They've been coming for a long time."
The eastern walls of the Greek palace rose from the mountainside like a fortress carved by the gods themselves.
Ancient marble columns stood cracked from countless wars, while banners bearing the crest of Greece fluttered against the morning wind.
Squad One stopped atop a rocky ridge overlooking the palace.
General Saijew narrowed his eyes.
"…There."
Everyone followed his gaze.
Standing before the eastern gate were three familiar figures.
Baron.
Chloe.
And behind them…
Nearly twenty young warriors.
Students.
Each wore light armor bearing Athena's owl upon their chest.
Some held swords.
Others spears.
Every one of them looked disciplined.
Magnolia instinctively stepped forward.
Then…
Baron's eyes met his.
Everything disappeared.
The battlefield.
The soldiers.
The palace.
All Baron saw…
…was Magnolia.
His jaw tightened.
His fists slowly clenched.
"…You."
Magnolia felt the hatred before Baron spoke.
The lightning scar across his chest pulsed violently.
His muscles stiffened.
His breathing shortened.
Saijew immediately noticed.
"Magnolia."
The boy looked toward him.
"Do not fight Baron."
Magnolia frowned.
"…What?"
"Not yet."
Saijew's voice remained calm.
"Worry about your fundamentals."
"Your footing."
"Your breathing."
"Your timing."
"The restriction wants you emotional."
"So deny it."
Magnolia slowly exhaled.
"…Understood."
Saijew nodded once before turning toward the others.
"Valentina."
She stepped forward.
"Yes, General."
"The soldiers behind Baron."
"They're yours."
Valentina grinned.
"Finally."
Saijew looked toward Magnolia.
"You and I handle the front."
"Baron."
"Chloe."
Magnolia nodded.
Emma quietly stepped beside him.
"What about us?"
Magnolia looked toward Emma before glancing toward Luna.
"You two stay mobile."
"Guard the battlefield."
"Find any Jerusalem soldiers trying to interfere."
"Take them down before they reach us."
Luna blinked.
"…Jerusalem?"
Saijew answered.
"The soldiers of Jerusalem no longer fight as ordinary humans."
"They sold their souls."
"They fight using blessings granted through Mot."
"The God of Death."
Luna rested a hand against the hilt of her blade.
"My contract…"
Saijew smiled faintly.
"…Is exactly why I'm telling you."
"Your contract doesn't simply remove abilities."
"It restores balance."
"If one of Mot's followers appears…"
"…strip away the blessing."
"Force them back into ordinary humans."
Luna slowly nodded.
"I understand."
The eastern battlefield erupted.
Valentina launched herself from the ridge.
The ground shattered beneath her feet.
The Greek students barely had time to react before she crashed into their formation like a falling boulder.
"Move!"
One shouted.
Too late.
Her first punch sent one warrior flying through two stone pillars.
Her second kick swept three more from their feet.
The battle had begun.
Baron slowly drew his sword.
His gaze never left Magnolia.
"I've waited…"
"…for this."
Magnolia reached toward the scar across his chest.
It hurt.
But…
He stepped forward anyway.
⸻
Far deeper inside the Greek capital…
Squad Two quietly crossed a ruined courtyard.
Ren raised one hand.
"Movement."
Everyone stopped.
Two familiar figures emerged from the palace entrance.
Calix.
Valerie.
Sous immediately recognized them.
His eyes widened.
"…Them."
Matthew looked between the two.
"You know them?"
"They're the ones."
Sous answered quietly.
"They took us."
Amelia's expression hardened.
Behind Calix and Valerie…
Rows of Greek guards poured into the courtyard.
Spears.
Shields.
Swords.
Enough to overwhelm ordinary soldiers.
Valerie calmly rested one hand upon her blade.
"You've grown."
Sous said nothing.
Calix looked toward Asam.
"You must be their escort."
"I am."
Asam answered.
Calix sighed.
"…Then this becomes troublesome."
Asam stepped forward.
She rolled one dagger across her fingers.
Then another.
"Children."
She spoke without looking back.
"The guards."
"You deal with them."
Matthew frowned.
"What about those two?"
"I have them."
Ren looked toward her.
"Are you sure?"
She smiled.
"…No."
"…But that's never stopped me before."
Calix slowly lifted one hand.
Dark mist began gathering around his fingers.
Valerie closed her eyes.
Golden flowers bloomed beneath her feet.
For the first time…
Their contracts awakened before the recruits.
The earth cracked.
Shadows spilled outward like liquid.
The temperature dropped.
Asam's smile disappeared.
"So."
"They've finally stopped holding back."
She spun both daggers into reverse grip.
"Good."
"Now…"
"…show me Hades."
Calix's voice echoed unnaturally.
"As you wish."
Beside him…
Valerie whispered.
"Persephone…"
The flowers beneath her feet blackened instantly.
The courtyard died.
Every blade of grass withered.
Every flower wilted.
Matthew swallowed.
"…That's…"
Amelia tightened her fists.
"…Beautiful."
"…And terrifying."
Asam never looked away.
"Go."
The recruits sprinted toward the guards.
Steel clashed.
The second battlefield ignited.
⸻
At the northern front…
Thousands of Jerusalem soldiers continued advancing.
General Gideon pointed Judgment toward Greece.
"No retreat."
"No surrender."
"Forward!"
The army roared.
Then…
Another force appeared.
Poison's squad arrived from Egypt.
Alexander stepped forward.
His crimson eye immediately found Arya.
"…You."
Arya rested her spear across her shoulders.
"I was hoping."
Cyclone lazily stretched.
"Looks like today's busy."
Helena smiled politely.
"New faces."
Poison studied the battlefield for only a second.
Then pointed.
"Kibo."
Helena.
"She's yours."
Kibo nodded.
"You got it."
"Abraham."
"Sofia."
"The Jerusalem soldiers."
"Keep them off us."
Both nodded simultaneously.
Arya stepped ahead of everyone.
She planted her spear into the earth.
"Alexander."
"You belong to me."
Alexander slowly drew his sword.
"I've been waiting."
Poison rolled one shoulder.
Then looked toward Cyclone.
"…Guess that leaves you."
Cyclone grinned.
"I was wondering when you'd notice."
The wind suddenly shifted.
Every battlefield.
Every soldier.
Every kingdom.
Had finally reached the same moment.
No more preparation.
No more waiting.
Only war.