The crackle of the fire seemed to amplify in the silence that followed Beatrix's revelation.
"Karma's Retribution," Celestia repeated, the words tasting like ash. "A perfect defense against a direct assault. It neutralizes Julian's most effective opening moves." Her gaze was distant, already running through tactical simulations and finding each one ending in their own power being turned against them.
"Then we don't fight him with malicious intent!" Emma proclaimed, though her fiery confidence was tinged with uncertainty. "We... we fight for justice! Our justice!"
Veronica scoffed, but it was a thoughtful sound. "Intent isn't a switch you can flip, you dolt. In a life-or-death struggle, 'malice' is a given. It's survival." She turned to Julian, her brow furrowed. "My enchantments can bolster will and focus, perhaps even purify intent to a degree, but against a skill of that magnitude... it would be a fragile shield at best."
