The large round table in Asgard’s main hall was occupied.
It wasn’t an ordinary eting. It was a strategic eting.
Every chair was filled, and for the first ti since that group began to grow, there was no chaos, no shouting, no random attacks. Just... controlled tension... The most dangerous kind.
Strax hadn’t yet sat down.
He stood behind his chair, observing them all while resting his hands on the back. His gaze was calm, but attentive—absorbing every expression, every gesture, every intention.
Because that decision... wasn’t simple... Not by a long shot.
"So..." Scarlet was the first to break the silence, crossing her legs with an amused smile. "...who’s going with Strax?"
Direct and to the point, exactly as always.
Strax didn’t answer imdiately; he let the silence linger.
Because he knew—
They would speak.
And it didn’t take long.
"I’ll go," Cassandra said, without hesitation. Her gaze was steady, straight at him. "It’s non-negotiable."
Daniela snorted slightly beside her. "Oh, sure, the princess needs to go too."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "Want to discuss this with ?"
Daniela smiled. "If necessary."
Strax let out a low sigh. "It’s already started..."
Rogue, leaning back in her chair, spoke without raising her voice. "I’m going too."
Simple.
But laden with weight.
"If this is a eting with the Emperor, you can’t bring weaklings." Kryssia tilted her head slightly. "Then you should stay."
Silence.
For a second.
And then—
Daniela laughed. Scarlet covered her smile. Rogue looked at Kryssia. Slowly. Dangerously. "Want to repeat that?"
Kryssia didn’t back down. "If necessary."
The atmosphere began to heat up.
And quickly. "Enough."
Strax’s voice wasn’t loud.
But it was enough.
Everything stopped.
Instantly.
He pulled up a chair and finally sat down.
Now—
He was at the table. "This isn’t about ego."
His gaze swept over everyone. "It’s about strategy."
"Finally, soone sensible." Yennifer nodded slightly, her fingers interlaced on the table, her cold eyes analyzing each face present.
Cristine, beside her, tilted her head with an almost lazy smile. "Although I doubt this will continue for long..."
Scarlet chuckled softly, resting her elbow on the table. "Oh, please... you talk as if we’re going to lose control."
Kali gave a wide smile. "But we will."
Samira let out a light sigh, crossing her arms. "And that’s why we need to decide soon. The longer this takes, the worse it gets."
Monica nodded in agreent. "And more noise too."
Daniela looked around, resting her chin on her hand. "I still think it’s simple. Those who are strong, go. Those who aren’t, stay."
Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "If that’s the case, half the table will be fighting right now."
Rogue smiled. "I don’t see a problem with that."
Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Of course not."
Kryssia kept her gaze fixed on Rogue. "You rely too much on brute force."
Rogue tilted his head. "And you talk too much."
The air seed heavy.
Again.
Strax just watched.
Silent.
Calculating.
Xyn, as always, spoke little. "Unnecessary confrontation."
A pause. "Focus."
Scarlet sighed.
"She’s right... unfortunately."
Kali laughed.
"I like it better when it’s not focused."
Mionica tapped her finger on the table.
"This isn’t just any mission."
Her voice was firm.
Authoritative.
"We’re talking about the Celestial Emperor."
Silence.
Even the most impulsive...
Respected the weight of it.
Cristine rested her face in her hand.
"If this is an invitation, it’s dangerous."
Yennefer added.
"And if it’s an order... it’s worse."
Daniela let out a soft "hm."
"Then we’ll be prepared for anything."
Samira nodded.
"But without seeming like a threat."
Scarlet raised her finger.
"In other words... no Kali."
Kali’s eyes widened.
"Hey!"
Rogue laughed.
"She’s not wrong."
Kali crossed her arms, huffing.
"You’re all so annoying."
Beatrice, still leaning slightly back in her chair, looked at Strax.
"...you already have soone in mind."
It wasn’t a question.
Strax didn’t answer.
But his silence...
Was enough.
Ouroboros, who until then had only observed with that serene and dangerous smile, finally moved.
She leaned slightly forward.
"This is dragging on too long."
All eyes turned to her.
And then—
Tiamat spoke.
Without haste.
Without raising her voice.
But with a weight that made the air seem denser.
"I will."
Silence.
Instantaneous.
Her presence alone already dominated the room.
And when she decided to speak—
It was because the decision had already been made. Ouroboros smiled, satisfied.
" too."
Scarlet raised an eyebrow.
"Ah... so you’ve decided to participate?"
Tiamat didn’t look directly at her.
But she answered.
"This requires soone who understands what’s at stake."
Kali tilted her head.
"And you think only you understand?"
Tiamat finally shifted her gaze.
Slowly.
Calmly.
But overwhelming.
"No."
A pause.
"But I know many here don’t understand."
The atmosphere froze.
Samira narrowed her eyes.
"Be careful what you’re implying."
Ouroboros rested her face in her hand, smiling.
"She’s not implying anything."
A slight tilt of her head.
"She’s being direct."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"Then be direct all the way."
A slight smile appeared on Tiamat’s face.
Almost imperceptible.
"I will be."
She looked at Strax.
Then—
At the entire table.
"I, Ouroboros..."
A pause. And then—
"...and Scarlet."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
And instantly—
Explosive.
"Excuse , what?"
Daniela was the first.
Kali slamd her hand on the table.
"Who do you think you are to decide this?!"
Rogue leaned forward, interested.
"Now it’s good..."
Mionica frowned.
"You don’t have the authority to choose anyone."
Samira nodded.
"That decision isn’t yours."
Scarlet looked at Tiamat, a slow smile appearing.
"Curious..."
She uncrossed her arms.
"Why ?"
Ouroboros answered before Tiamat.
"Because you’re useful."
Scarlet laughed.
"Straightforward. I like it."
Kali was still irritated.
"It doesn’t change the fact that you don’t rule here."
Kryssia spoke calmly.
"Explain."
Simple.
But firm.
"What’s the criterion?"
Tiamat didn’t rush.
She let the silence linger.
Let them all look.
Question.
Get irritated.
And then—
She answered.
"Logic."
A single word.
Enough to irritate half the table.
Daniela let out a short laugh.
"Oh sure... now you’re the master of logic."
Tiamat continued, completely ignoring the comnt.
"Age."
The gazes shifted.
"Experience."
The silence deepened.
"Control."
Now—
No one was laughing.
She looked at Scarlet. "More than a thousand years."
Then to Ouroboros.
"More than a thousand years."
And then—
To herself.
"More than a thousand years."
A pause.
"We’ve all been in royal courts."
"Negotiations."
"Wars that began with words... and ended with extermination."
The air grew heavier.
Each of her words—
Carried history.
Weight.
Reality.
She looked at the rest of the table.
"This isn’t just about strength."
A slight nod.
"It’s about behavior."
Silence.
Rogue tilted her head.
Interested.
Scarlet... smiled a little more.
Kali narrowed her eyes.
"Are you calling out of control?"
Tiamat answered without hesitation.
"Yes." Silence.
And then—
Scarlet laughed loudly.
Rogue joined in.
Daniela tried to hold back her laughter, but failed.
Kali was silent for a second.
Two.
And then she crossed her arms.
"I’ll destroy you later."
Ouroboros smiled.
"Fila, darling."
Mionica took a deep breath.
"She’s not entirely wrong..."
Samira nodded.
"This requires soone who knows when to stop."
Cristine murmured.
"And when not to stop too..."
Yennifer finally spoke.
"She has a point."
Everyone looked.
"If this is a negotiation..."
A pause.
"...we can’t seem unstable."
Kryssia nodded.
"Emotional control."
Xyn finished.
"Predictability."
Beatrice let out a small sigh.
"And yet, enough strength not to be ignored..."
Strax, who had been silent until then, finally moved.
He rested his arms on the table.
Their fingers intertwined.
His gaze sweeping over them all.
One by one.
He didn’t interrupt before.
Because he needed to hear it.
Now—
He had enough.
"She’s right."
Silence.
Complete.
Total.
Kali turned her face away quickly.
"Ah, of course..."
Rogue smiled.
"Interesting..."
Scarlet said nothing.
But her gaze...
Shined.
Ouroboros only closed her eyes for a second.
Satisfied.
Tiamat remained motionless.
As if she had expected it.
Strax continued.
"This isn’t about who’s stronger."
A pause.
"It’s about who can get into that place..."
His gaze grew colder.
"...and get out of it without turning everything into war."
He looked at Kali.
"And you can’t."
Directly.
Without softening.
Kali snorted.
"You don’t know that."
Strax tilted his head slightly.
"I know."
Silence.
Heavy.
But real.
He looked at Scarlet.
"You’re unstable."
Scarlet smiled.
"But I know how to control myself."
He nodded.
"Exactly."
Then—
To Ouroboros.
"You manipulate."
She smiled.
"Efficiently."
He didn’t disagree.
And then—
To Tiamat.
"And you impose."
Silence.
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Strax leaned back slightly in his chair.
"These three..."
He tapped his finger on the table.
"...balance."
A slight sigh.
"Chaos, control, and dominance."
Yennefer nodded.
"A dangerous combination."
Cristine smiled.
"But effective."
Mionica crossed her arms.
"...makes sense."
Samira agreed.
"Unfortunately."
Kali still seed dissatisfied.
But she didn’t argue.
This ti—
She had no argunt.
Rogue just shrugged.
"I’m still going."
Strax looked at her.
"...probably."
A small smile appeared.
Scarlet leaned forward.
"So it’s decided?"
Strax looked at the table.
At all of them.
And then—
He nodded.
"Now..."
A pause.
"...we’re going to stop arguing..."
His gaze intensified.
"...and start preparing."
Because this ti—
It wasn’t just a mission.
It was a ga.
And any mistake...
Would be costly.
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