There were fewer than three hundred Blutlinie in total, but nearly a third of them were ArchDeities. Leading them was a young woman with sharp, refined features and a power so overwhelming that it made space-time recoil around her.
"Mirena!"
Airi clenched her fists as she recognized the leader of the opposing force. In that instant, she finally understood everything.
This had all been an ambush.
They had not been pushing the battle toward the center of the Ocean of the Blood Sun, where their attacks could have inflicted the most damage. Instead, they had been subtly guided into this location—deep within enemy territory—wounded and exhausted after prolonged combat. Only then did the enemy's true forces reveal themselves.
Airi forced herself to breathe.
"Keep a cool head," she began, her voice steady despite the situation. "We still have greater num—"
She did not get to finish her sentence.
