Lilith was not on any battlefield.
She was in the shadows.
Whispering to contacts.
Planting rumors.
Poisoning wells of information.
Every Guild messenger who tried to flee…
Was intercepted.
Not by soldiers.
But by "casual" citizens blocking roads.
By "accidents" that sealed routes.
By fog appearing out of nowhere.
And when they finally reached their destination…
They had already forgotten the message.
Courtesy of Lilith.
No warning ever reached The Chasm.
---
Dusk — The Meeting
Adelheid and Naporia returned to the rendezvous point.
An abandoned cabin halfway to The Chasm.
Kaito was waiting.
Adelheid reported first.
"The northern caverns are eliminated. Thirty-five hostiles. Zero casualties on our side."
Kaito nodded.
"Information recovered?"
Adelheid handed over documents.
"Smuggling routes. Contacts. And this…"
She pointed to one page.
"It confirms Avernor was funding them."
Kaito clenched his jaw.
"Of course he was."
He looked at Naporia.
"Graustein?"
Naporia smiled.
"Sixty hostiles. Zero survivors."
She paused.
"And yes, I verified there were no civilians before I began."
Kaito studied her.
"Our casualties?"
"None."
Kaito blinked.
"None?"
Naporia shrugged.
"I didn't need help."
The soldiers who had accompanied her nodded silently.
One muttered,
"It was… incredible."
Another added,
"Terrifying."
Naporia smiled in satisfaction.
Kaito exhaled.
"Good. Rest tonight."
He looked at the map.
"Tomorrow… The Chasm."
Everyone nodded.
---
Midnight — Camp
Kaito couldn't sleep.
He stepped outside his tent.
He found Naporia sitting by the fire.
Cleaning her sword.
"You're not sleeping," Kaito observed.
Naporia didn't look up.
"Never before an important battle."
Kaito sat across from her.
"Will The Chasm be difficult?"
Naporia finally looked at him.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Naporia smiled.
"On whether you let me do what I do best."
Kaito frowned.
"And what is that?"
Naporia sheathed her sword.
"Conquer."
She stood.
"Tomorrow, mon général… don't send soldiers first."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Send me. Alone."
Kaito stood as well.
"Naporia, that's—"
"Efficient," she interrupted. "Fast. And it sends a message."
She stepped closer.
"That Neudämmerung does not play games. That when they attack ours…"
She smiled.
"We send an empress."
Kaito studied her.
"And if they outnumber you?"
Naporia laughed.
Mon général… I have never been outnumbered."
She began to walk away.
"Trust me. Tomorrow you'll see why they called me Empress."
And she disappeared into the shadows.
Kaito remained alone.
Staring into the fire.
Am I really going to let her go alone?
But deep down…
He knew he would.
Because Naporia was not like Adelheid or Lilith.
She didn't need armies.
She didn't need poison.
She only needed her sword.
And that…
Was terrifying.
---
The Next Day — The Chasm
The full group approached the entrance to The Chasm.
A massive opening in the ground.
Stairs descending into darkness.
Adelheid assessed it.
"Easy to defend. Difficult to assault."
Naporia smiled.
"That's why we won't assault it."
She looked at Kaito.
"Let me go in alone. Ten minutes."
Kaito hesitated.
Adelheid protested.
"Commander, that's suicidal—"
Naporia cut her off.
"Suicidal? Please."
She looked directly at Kaito.
"Trust me, mon général."
Kaito closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
"Ten minutes. If you don't return—"
"I'll return," Naporia said confidently.
She removed her cape.
Let it fall.
"And when I do…"
She unsheathed her sword.
"The Chasm will be yours."
And she began to descend.
Alone.
Adelheid looked at Kaito.
"Commander…"
Kaito raised his hand.
"We wait."
---
Inside The Chasm
Naporia descended the stairs.
The smell of damp stone and metal greeted her.
Torches illuminated winding tunnels.
Guards saw her.
"Intruder!"
Naporia didn't stop.
She simply… smiled.
"I am not an intruder."
Her voice echoed through the tunnels.
"I am death."
And she attacked.
---
Outside — Nine Minutes Later
Kaito counted mentally.
The soldiers waited tensely.
Adelheid's hand rested on her sword.
Lilith watched the entrance with an unreadable expression.
Then…
A sound.
Footsteps.
Naporia emerged.
Covered in blood.
Dragging something.
The head of the Guild leader.
She threw it at Kaito's feet.
"The Chasm is yours, mon général."
Kaito looked at the head.
Then at Naporia.
"All of them?"
Naporia nodded.
"All."
Adelheid descended quickly with a group.
She returned minutes later.
Pale.
"Commander… she… eliminated over a hundred men."
She looked at Naporia.
"Alone."
The soldiers murmured.
Naporia sat on a rock.
"Does anyone still doubt my usefulness?"
No one answered.
Kaito stepped closer.
"Good work."
Naporia smiled.
"Always, mon général."
---
That Night — Return Camp
The group marched back victorious.
Zero casualties.
The Shadow Guild… eliminated.
Kaito walked at the front.
The three queens behind him.
Adelheid, reluctantly respecting Naporia's efficiency.
Lilith, calculating how to use this to her advantage.
Naporia, satisfied.
Kaito realized something.
I just unleashed something very dangerous.
But also…
He glanced back.
I just proved that Neudämmerung has fangs.
And that…
Was exactly what he needed.