Dargan coughed again, blood spitting between his cracked teeth.
Liora didn't rush.
She walked calmly—her blade dragging.
She stopped in front of him.
Dargan tried to push himself up with one arm, trembling. "You…"
"You must've heard me from that comm-link in your armor," Liora said coldly.
She raised her voice just enough for the distant surveillance gear to catch it.
"Luxoria officially declares war on the Aurelius family."
In a steel-lined chamber deep inside the Aurelius vault, multiple red screens lit up.
Theron Aurelius stood tall, one arm folded behind his back.
The other gripped a control wand linked to his command console.
His gunmetal eyes narrowed.
"…She said it," Theron growled.
"Replay that. Streamline to Hadrian."
Dargan spat blood into the rubble.
"You… think you'll live long enough to make that matter?"
"You think declaring war makes you powerful?"
Liora tilted her head, unmoved.
"No."
