Lily turned back and began walking toward Snehwal. The tension in the competition arena had now completely settled, but it was no longer the same silence—now it carried questions… doubts… and an unspoken fear.
Snehwal could no longer hold himself back. He looked directly at Master Jins— " Master… what was all that? Why did Lily surrender…? Couldn't she win…?"
Liora's gaze also fixed on Jins. "And… how did the king's messenger suddenly appear with Shon, Lith, and Jury Yakshini…?"
For a few moments, silence spread.
Master Jins slowly closed his eyes… and then took a deep breath. "Yes… this is my understanding, because this decision will be better for Lily here."
Just those soft words—but they echoed faintly across the arena.
Snehwal's fists clenched. "So you already…?"
Jins slightly lowered his head. Then, pointing toward the messenger, he said— "freeing Jury and Lith from their chains and I realized it… the moment that shadow appeared at night. After entering the seventh stage… many things can no longer remain hidden."
Shock was clearly visible on Liora's face— "Then why didn't you stop him…?"
A cold seriousness settled into Jins' eyes. "Because… he came to test us."
The air in the arena grew heavier.
"Lith… Jury… and Shon— all three were deliberately used as pawns. So that the next conflict could happen… without any interruption. So that our attention would remain fixed on them."
A jolt ran through Snehwal's mind— "That means… they were already working together…? Is King Omas also involved in this?"
"Yes…" Jins' voice turned firm, "And we… have already become part of this game."
For a few moments, no one spoke.
Then—Snehwal asked in a low but heavy voice— "Then… Lily's surrender…?"
This time—Lily stepped forward and opened her eyes herself.
Her gaze was calm… but there was depth in it… as if she had understood everything.
"That… was necessary," she said softly.
Snehwal looked at her— "Necessary…?"
Lily gave a faint smile… but it was tired.
"No…" she shook her head, "It's not that I couldn't win. I could have died. And even if I had won… I had no intention of serving the king at all."
"At that moment… my power was unstable. I burned the domain… broke my limits… but I am still not capable of fully fighting Humbha."
She looked at her palm—where a faint flame flickered and then faded.
"If I had fought… then perhaps… I would have broken under Humbha's strength. She is a stable warrior of the seventh stage."
Snehwal fell silent.
Jins continued— "And on the other side… Humbha is completely stable. Her power is at its peak. She was waiting… for Lily to cross her limits… and then take advantage of that weakness."
Liora spoke softly— "So… it was a trap…?"
"Yes," Jins said clearly, "And instead of falling into that trap… Lily chose a way out of it."
For a few moments, only the sound of breathing remained in the arena.
Then—Snehwal asked slowly— "So now…?"
This time—a different glimmer appeared in Jins' eyes.
"Now…" he said, "The war will begin."
The temperature of the arena seemed to change instantly.
It was as if lightning had struck the field. Cruel smiles were clearly visible on the faces of Omas and Humbha.
"This is no longer just a match. This is… a war of power, strategy, and control. Humbha and Omas will strike directly now. They won't wait."
Liora's voice trembled— "Then… what do we have to do…?"
Jins slowly looked toward Lily. "Now… choosing the end by fighting till the last breath is better than living in slavery."
Lily closed her eyes.
Then she turned her gaze toward the four Yakshinis standing ahead—Humbha, Jury, Lith, and Shon—who were eager to kill her.
"I'm ready…" she said softly.
But at that very moment— FATT!!!
In the open sky—King Omas, the king's messenger black like a shadow, Humbha Yakshini surrounded by a long array of blood-red and black floral aura, Jury Yakshini holding a red staff, Lith Yakshini with a blue staff, and Shon Yakshini with a green staff— all appeared standing in the sky.
Thousands of armed soldiers surrounded Master Jins, Lily, Liora, and Snehwal from all directions.
A heavy vibration echoed throughout the entire structure from the sky.
Seeing this scene, the eyes of all four widened.
The entire sky… was filled with dense spiritual pressure. It was pressing down hardest on Snehwal… because his stage was the lowest.
Humbha's laughter echoed— "Now where will you run? How long will you survive now, Lily…?"
Her voice spread throughout the entire city.
"This is no longer a game…"
"Now… it will be a true war of death!!!"
Lily slowly opened her eyes.
This time—there was no calm in them. Only fire.
And that fire… was now ready to burn.
Master Jins smiled faintly, "I already knew this would happen. I had understood your intentions beforehand."
The gazes of King Omas and Master Jins collided.
"But in this war… Lily's side was already feeling the weight of overwhelming pressure."