The horns did not stop.
One call turned into many.
And then
The forest itself began to tremble.
Not from nature.
But from footsteps.
Heavy.
Unified.
Calculated.
The Alpha Council had released its Enforcers.
And they were arriving.
Lira stood at the edge of the ridge, unmoving.
The wind around her no longer felt soft.
It felt alert.
Alive.
Beside her, Ronan tightened his grip on his weapon.
"They're not normal Alphas," he said quietly.
Lira didn't look at him.
"I know."
Ronan frowned. "You keep saying that like it's not a problem."
A faint pause.
"It's not," she replied.
Below them
The forest line broke open.
Figures emerged in formation.
Not rushing.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
Each one wearing dark armor marked with the Council insignia.
The Enforcers.
One stepped forward.
Larger than the rest.
A scar running across his jaw.
Cold eyes.
Commander Kael.
He looked up toward the ridge.
And smiled slightly.
"There she is," he said.
The voice carried unnaturally far.
"Moon anomaly confirmed."
Behind him, the Enforcers spread out in silence.
No shouting.
No hesitation.
Just formation.
Ronan stepped forward slightly.
"They're surrounding us."
Lira finally moved.
One step.
Then another.
She walked down the ridge.
Calmly.
Like she was going to meet them… not escape them.
Ronan called after her.
"Lira wait!"
But she didn't stop
Commander Kael tilted his head.
"She walks into it willingly," he muttered.
Interesting.
He raised his hand.
"Containment formation."
Immediately
The Enforcers moved.
The forest lit up with shifting energy lines.
Barriers forming in a wide circle.
A cage.
A battlefield shaped in advance.
Ronan reached the ground just in time, standing beside Lira.
"This is bad," he said.
Lira looked ahead.
"No."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is expected."
Kael stepped forward.
"You are Lira," he said.
A statement.
Not a question.
Lira met his gaze.
"Yes."
Kael nodded once.
"Council verdict: termination is now unrestricted."
Ronan scoffed. "That's a nice way of saying 'kill her on sight.'"
Kael ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Lira.
"You are unstable," he said.
"You are dangerous."
A pause.
"And you are unnecessary."
Silence followed.
Then
Lira tilted her head slightly.
"That's what they said before I died the first time."
Kael raised a brow.
"Then let's ensure there is no second time."
He moved first.
Of course he did.
The Enforcers attacked as one.
A synchronized wave of force erupted toward Lira.
The forest bent under the pressure.
Ronan barely had time to react
But Lira raised her hand.
And the entire attack stopped mid-air.
Frozen.
Like time itself had been interrupted.
Ronan's eyes widened.
"You're kidding…"
Lira stepped forward.
Slowly.
The frozen attack began to tremble.
Not breaking outward
But inward.
Collapsing.
Into her.
Kael's expression changed slightly.
"…She's absorbing it."
Lira's voice was calm.
"You brought energy to kill me."
A pause.
"I simply accepted it."
The attack vanished completely.
Not blocked.
Not deflected.
Consumed.
Silence hit the battlefield.
Then Kael smiled again.
"This is why you were erased."
He raised his hand again.
"Kill formation."
The Enforcers split instantly.
From every direction.
Above.
Below.
Sides.
Every angle.
No escape.
Ronan cursed under his breath.
"This is a trap."
Lira's eyes glowed faintly brighter.
"No."
She stepped forward.
"This is a test."
The first Enforcer reached her.
Blade aimed for her neck.
But before impact
Lira disappeared.
A blink of light.
She reappeared behind him.
One touch.
Just one.
And the Enforcer dropped instantly.
No scream.
No blood.
Just silence.
Ronan froze.
"…What did she do?"
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"Interesting."
Now the battlefield erupted.
Enforcers attacked from every angle.
But Lira moved differently.
Not dodging.
Not running.
Flowing.
Every step she took shifted the battlefield itself.
Energy bent around her like gravity obeying a new law.
One by one
Enforcers fell.
Not defeated violently.
But neutralized.
Like their systems… simply stopped responding.
Kael finally stepped forward.
"Enough."
The entire battlefield paused.
Even Lira stopped.
Kael removed his outer cloak.
His aura exploded outward.
Different from the others.
Heavier.
Older.
Stronger.
"I was sent to end this personally," he said.
Ronan swallowed.
"This guy is not normal…"
Lira looked at Kael.
For the first time
Something shifted in her expression.
Recognition.
Kael noticed it.
"You remember me," he said.
Lira didn't answer.
But her silence said enough.
Kael raised his hand.
"This time," he said.
"There will be no mercy."
The ground cracked beneath him.
And the real battle began.