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Astralith and Malacar lingered in the shadowy confines of their war room, the echoes of Malumnox's departure still hanging in the air like a faintly receding storm. Astralith twirled a strand of her hair thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on the swirling nebulae outside their fortress window.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEodlxQZ3VB
"Malumnox seemed... off, didn't he?" she mused, breaking the silence. "His convictions seemed shaken, not the unyielding force we've known."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIUYWguVEH
Malacar nodded, his expression unreadable. "Indeed, but his role in our plan has been fulfilled. Whatever path he seeks in the Land of Spade is his own to tread now," he replied, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. "Let us focus on the present. The jewels and their wielders are of immediate concern."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqtj1JGN95
Astralith agreed, shifting the topic to their captives. "Speaking of which, you mentioned the extraction process for the Jewels. I assume simply killing Cairo, Elara, and Nia would be the straightforward approach?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYDvsLcwT6
Malacar's eyes glinted with a hint of impatience. "It would be easier. We kill them, and claim what is ours. Unless there is another way?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUwnVSOFGe
A thin smile curved Astralith's lips as she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "There is a secret 2-month extraction process—a way to remove the Jewels without ending their lives. Keeping Cairo, Elara, and Nia alive could prove beneficial for leverage against the Areala Universe," she explained, her eyes alight with strategic foresight.
Before Malacar could respond, the air in the room shifted, the temperature dropping several degrees. In an instant, High Mage Lyn and High Mage Zack appeared from the shadows, their sudden appearance a silent testament to their power.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRa8x12C4Z
Zack stepped forward, his demeanor unyielding. "Astralith, Malacar, this is the only time I will demand this—hand over Cairo, Elara, and Nia. Consider this your first and final warning."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7q0PTTk1q
The room tensed, the threat hanging palpably in the air. Astralith stood slowly, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp as daggers. "Zack, you are in no position to demand anything," she retorted coolly. "Leave now, and we will spare their lives after we've extracted their Jewels. Persist, and you risk more than you can comprehend."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb28D7TIBo2
Zack's patience snapped under the weight of his anger, his voice cutting sharply through the cold air of the war room. "That is not an option!" he retorted vehemently to Astralith. "You think we are fools to trust your word again, like 11 years ago? You hold their lives as leverage, and we are to wait on your whims? No, this ends now!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwHROjUJjT
As Zack and Astralith exchanged heated words, High Mage Lyn stood quietly to the side, his gaze shifting subtly across the room. Though his face remained expressionless, his eyes betrayed a keen intelligence, rapidly considering their next move.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkQfRatKAh
Reaching the limit of his tolerance, Zack acted. "Enough of this chitchat!" he exclaimed, his hands coming together to summon the formidable Galactic Blade Projection. Bright, star-like energy condensed between his palms, forming into multiple blades of pure light that sliced through the air towards Astralith, their trajectory swift and precise, aiming to end the standoff decisively.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLjC6FQ4vi
Astralith braced for impact, her eyes narrowing in anticipation, but before the starlight blades could reach their target, High Mage Lyn intervened. Recognizing the potential disaster of engaging in a full-scale battle under their current circumstances—especially with their critical leverage at risk—Lyn called upon his mastery of shadow powers. With a swift motion of his hands, he tore open a Void Gateway right in the path of Zack's attack. The gateway swallowed the incoming blades, the energy dissipating into the shadow realm with a muted echo.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG6I0vLbhy
Realizing the escalation could lead them to a disadvantageous position, Lyn turned to Zack. Without a word, he invoked Eternal Nightfall, casting a deep shadow over the area, enveloping the room in a suffocating darkness. Within this domain, their powers were amplified, and their visibility shielded from Astralith and Malacar.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K00oTGSG4
"Retreat, now!" Lyn hissed, grabbing Zack by the arm. As the darkness enveloped them completely, they disappeared from the war room, leaving behind a heavy silence and the lingering presence of their dark exit.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZCQReRlDh
Astralith and Malacar stood in the sudden stillness, processing the abrupt conclusion to the confrontation.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHflQbr2xo
Malacar turned to Astralith, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Well played, though it seems we have pushed them to their limits," he commented softly, eyes glinting with both amusement and caution.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoASV3dQALC
Astralith stepped closer to the window, looking out into the nebula. "Yes, but this is far from over. Lyn's powers... they're dangerous. We must prepare for their return—they'll come back stronger and more cunning."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymCoNeGLFN
Malacar nodded, his mind already turning towards preparations. "We'll fortify our defenses. And the extraction process—it needs to be accelerated. We can't afford delays, not when they know what we're capable of."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp0asSoPIN
Astralith's gaze remained fixed on the stars, her thoughts distant yet sharp. "Indeed," she murmured. "The jewels are the key. With them, all the power of the cosmos could be ours. Let them come. We will be ready."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98hhVfdjRT
The night deepened around their stronghold, the universe watching silently as schemes within schemes unfolded, each player plotting their next move in a game as vast as the cosmos itself.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3abpw5DZYG
