Every Ascended turned.
"Because some of you would rather see the world burn than admit that power alone is not supremacy."
Her eyes swept the chamber.
"You don't care about mortals. Fine. Neither do I."
That shocked them.
"But I care about balance," she continued.
"And balance is not maintained by clenched fists and broken realms."
She gestured to the barrier.
"Whoever did this believes strength means isolation. Controlled silence."
Her gaze hardened.
"That belief has always belonged to men who confuse dominance with divinity."
The air froze.
Aurelion's smile vanished.
"You accuse us," he said slowly, "because you fear we are right."
"No," Kailthrys replied.
"I accuse you because while you debate superiority, someone is rewriting creation."
She turned away from them.
"Argue philosophy if you wish. But understand this: when the daemon god rises, it won't ask whether you are male or female."
"It will only ask whether you are strong enough to survive what you allowed."
