The night felt heavier than before.
Not because of fear—
But because something unspoken had finally reached its limit.
Christy stood still for a moment after Kael disappeared, her gaze fixed on the empty space as if trying to process not just his words… but everything that had been building up until now.
"…Every time he appears, it feels like the distance between us and whatever he's planning becomes clearer," she said slowly, her voice quieter than usual but carrying a weight that wasn't there before. "And yet, at the same time, it also feels like that distance is shrinking in a way that we can't fully control."
Luxe remained beside her, his expression calm but attentive.
"…That's because he's accelerating the process intentionally," he replied. "He's no longer testing boundaries quietly. He's pushing everything forward at a pace where hesitation becomes a disadvantage."
Christy exhaled softly, but her expression didn't relax.
"…Then that means we're running out of time to figure things out at our own pace," she said. "And if that's true… then there are things we can't afford to leave unresolved anymore."
Luxe turned slightly toward her.
"…What do you mean by that?" he asked.
Christy didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She stepped closer.
"…You always do that," she said quietly, her voice steady but carrying emotion that she had been holding back for a long time. "You look at situations like this and immediately focus on what needs to be done, what the next step is, and how to move forward without letting anything slow you down."
She paused, searching for the right words.
"…And I understand why you do it," she continued. "Because if you hesitate, people get hurt. If you lose focus, you lose control of the situation. I know that… and I respect it more than I can explain."
Luxe didn't interrupt.
Christy took another step forward.
"…But that doesn't mean everything else just disappears," she said. "It doesn't mean the people around you stop feeling things just because you've decided to carry everything on your own."
Her voice softened—
But didn't weaken.
"…I've been watching you since the beginning," she said. "Not just your strength, not just your decisions… but the way you handle everything without letting it show. And every time something gets more dangerous, more complicated… you just move forward like it's expected."
She looked directly at him now.
"…And that's exactly why I can't stay silent anymore."
"…I don't just trust you," Christy said, her voice steady but undeniably emotional now. "I rely on you in a way that goes beyond strategy or partnership. When things go wrong, when the situation becomes something I can't fully control… the first thing I look for isn't a solution."
She paused—
Just for a moment.
"…It's you."
Silence.
Even the air seemed to stop.
"…And I don't know when that changed," she continued. "I don't know when it stopped being about respect for your strength and started becoming something more personal… but I know that it did."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"…I care about you," she said. "Not as an ally, not as someone strong enough to stand at the front… but as someone I don't want to lose, no matter what happens next."
Luxe didn't respond immediately.
For the first time—
He paused.
"…You chose a difficult moment to say something like that," he said quietly.
Christy let out a faint, almost frustrated breath.
"…I know," she said. "But if I waited for the perfect moment, I might never say it at all. And right now… with everything that's happening… I don't want to leave anything unsaid."
Luxe looked at her—
Carefully.
"…You're right about one thing," he said. "I've been focusing only on what needs to be done. And in doing that… I haven't been thinking about how that affects the people standing beside me."
Christy didn't interrupt.
"…But that doesn't mean I don't understand what you're saying," he continued. "It just means I haven't allowed myself to think about it the way you have."
Her expression softened slightly.
"…Then think about it now," she said quietly.
Before he could answer—
The air changed.
"…How touching."
The voice returned.
Cold.
Controlled.
The Demon Commander stepped forward once more.
"…Emotional clarity in the middle of escalating conflict," it said. "Humans continue to surprise me with their ability to prioritize connection over survival."
Christy's expression hardened instantly.
"…You picked the wrong moment to interrupt," she said.
The commander smiled faintly.
"…On the contrary," it replied. "I chose the perfect one."
Luxe stepped forward.
"…Then let's continue what we started," he said calmly.
The commander didn't hesitate this time.
It attacked—
Immediately.
"…It's not holding back as much as before," Christy said quickly. "That means it already gathered what it needed. Now it's testing execution instead of observation."
Luxe nodded.
"…Then we respond at full capacity."
"Thunder Step."
Then—
"Volt Compression"
The strike—
Sharper.
Faster.
The commander blocked—
But stepped back.
"…Your control has improved," it said. "You've stabilized the technique beyond its previous limits. That level of growth in such a short time is… unusual."
"…KYUU…!"
Sylvia surged—
Azure lightning merging again—
Stronger.
Christy moved alongside him.
"…We maintain pressure and force continuous adaptation," she said. "If we give it time to stabilize, it will regain control of the situation."
Christy:
"Flame-Ice Dual Field — Maximum Disruption."
Environment destabilized—
Luxe followed—
"Azure Volt Compression"
The commander reacted—
More noticeably this time.
Christy glanced at Luxe mid-fight.
"…Don't think this conversation is over," she said, her voice steady but carrying meaning beyond the battle. "Because once this ends… I expect an answer, not silence."
Luxe didn't look back—
But replied.
"…You'll get one," he said.
The commander stepped back again.
"…Your growth rate exceeds projections," it said. "And your synchronization is becoming more refined with each engagement."
Luxe's voice remained calm.
"…Then update your projections," he said.
The commander smiled faintly.
"…I already have."
It vanished—
Once again.
Silence returned.
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…This time… we pushed it further," she said.
Luxe nodded.
"…And next time… it won't retreat as easily."
Christy looked at him again.
Closer now.
"…So," she said softly, "about what I said earlier…"
Luxe finally turned fully toward her.
"…I'm still thinking about it," he said honestly. "But one thing is clear."
Christy waited.
"…You're not someone I want to lose either."
Her expression softened—
Just slightly.
Sylvia chirped happily.
"…Kyuu…"
And this time—
The distance between them—
Was almost gone.