"Phew. That was closer than I thought." Lina looked up at the darkening sky, her expression turning sombre. "I wish you all the luck in the world, Berry. Not for your sake, and certainly not for mine... But for him."
With the seeds of her gambit planted, Lina turned away from the high-stakes politics of the command centre. She moved toward the industrial district to inspect the ongoing spear production, leaving the "grand" manoeuvres to the girls who still believed they were the ones in control.
Berry, meanwhile, had reunited with Sara and Ro, relaying Lina's proposal with breathless excitement. The three girls huddled together, the strongest masters of their respective factions leaning in to listen. The ambition in the air was palpable.
"I like the idea in general," Ro noted, though she quickly pointed toward the central portal plaza in the heart of the city. "But that leaves us with one glaring issue. We can use the existing portals to reach the edges of the blank areas, sure.
