The council chamber was stark, illuminated by the pale glow of mana conduits along the walls. Twelve council members stood rigid, Ervin at the head, Seroi to the side, and the Mage King in the center. His presence was a dark pulse in the room, drawing focus even from the hardened councilors.
Ervin's voice was heavy, lined with fatigue. "The parasite attack has left most of our forces gone… entire squads lost. We barely contained the breach. How do we prevent further devastation?"
The Mage King's gaze swept the chamber, his posture unyielding. "Containment alone will not suffice. The parasites are adaptive. They infiltrate minds, convert the infected into weapons. They will not stop until all are subjugated or dead."
Seroi's fists clenched. "Then the shield is our only lifeline. But how long can it hold if the parasites find a way to bypass it?"
