"All of you focus on me," Lola commanded with authority that brooked no argument.
"That human is under my protection. Anyone who attacks him answers to me directly, and I promise you won't survive the experience."
The parrot squawked with frustration but didn't dare test her declaration. The three remaining grandmaster beasts found themselves completely locked down by Lola's overwhelming presence, unable to pursue their actual objective while this peak grandmaster demon monopolized their attention through sheer intimidation and superior power.
Noah heard Lola's declaration and felt both gratitude and pressure. She was creating the space he needed to deal with the invisible lizard and potentially claim the fruit, but that meant he had to actually succeed in this incredibly dangerous task.
The weight of their entire plan now rested on his ability to overcome a grandmaster-rank stealth predator while somehow securing the World Tree's teardrop.
