The subtle, sharp pulse of demonic energy—a predetermined signal—hit Luke's senses just as he reached his front door. He glanced at Yuma, whose face had immediately gone serious. "That's them," Luke confirmed quietly. "The Knights are back."
Luke ushered Yuma inside, his own focus already shifting to command. He headed straight to the privacy of his bedroom. A flicker of crimson energy resolved into the familiar forms of the four Recon Knights: Snoke, Valis, Ezio, and Gale.
"No frills," Luke cut in. "What did you find, and what did Lamina Mortis send his people to retrieve?"
Valis stepped forward, presenting a small, metal cylinder. "The mission objective has been located, My Liege. This is the transit key. It leads to the final location where Lamina Mortis was attempting to secure the primary objective."
"And the objective?" Luke pressed, taking the cold, heavy key.
"It is a sealed container in a fortified vault at the Old Port District," Ezio reported. "The contents are known to us only as the Sealed Will of Sariel."
Yuma gasped softly, the name of her deceased mother instantly raising the stakes.
Snoke's tone was grim. "We believe Lamina Mortis intended to use this information to leverage a massive political shift within the Grigori, destabilizing the entire Fallen Angel leadership. It is a political weapon of unimaginable power."
"Understood," Luke confirmed, his expression hardening with resolution. He raised his hand, channeling his intent.
"Knights Assemble."
With a low hum of power, the four remaining Knights—Robin, Rager, Thunder, and Tank—materialized instantly, completing the full assembly of the Eight Knights.
"What is the status of the prisoner?" Luke demanded, his eyes fixed on the new arrivals.
Snoke, as the lead knight present, stepped forward again to deliver the unified report. "My Liege, Lamina Mortis remains entirely immobilized by the conceptual containment field. He is no threat."
"Very well," Luke confirmed. "You've done excellent work. Stand by within the Chess Space. I will call you when the plan is set."
The Eight Knights bowed in perfect unison and, in a quick flash of crimson light, were gone, retreating into Luke's soul for immediate redeployment.
Luke turned to Yuma. Her face was pale, reflecting profound distress.
"The Sealed Will of Sariel," Yuma whispered, the name of her deceased mother heavy on her tongue. "I don't... I don't know what that is. Neither of us does. Kyra always said Mother left almost nothing behind. If Lamina Mortis was after it, it can't be good."
Luke stepped toward her, his grip tightening on the transit key. "It's the last remaining shadow of your mother's life—and Lamina's last weapon. We don't need to know the contents to know its purpose: to cause chaos. I will not let the consequence of my power endanger our stability or let that shadow define your future. I will secure it and destroy it."
Yuma did not move away. Instead, she took the final step, closing the space between them, and pressed herself into his chest, her hands wrapping tightly around his waist.
"You almost died, Luke," she murmured into his shirt, her voice muffled but intense. "Promise me you won't let your speed put you ahead of your strength this time."
Before Luke could answer, her head tilted back, and she reached up, pulling his face down to hers. It was a kiss born of relief, fear, and escalating tension, a desperate affirmation of life and connection in the face of immediate danger.
The moment was abruptly shattered by a gentle, clear cough from the doorway.
"As touching as this is," Riis said, leaning against the frame, a faint, almost imperceptible line of irritation tracing her brow. "The end of the world can wait until after we retrieve the evidence. We have a meeting to attend, and Kyra's news won't wait."
Yuma pulled back, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly stepped away from Luke. The intimacy vanished, replaced instantly by the cold gravity of the mission. She gave Riis a triumphant, knowing look.
"Looks like I'm his first kiss," Yuma teased, a small, genuine smirk on her lips.
Riis's composure twitched slightly. She took a steadying breath. "Fine, you win," she conceded, the words clipped.
How dare you kiss my servant before me, cheater, Riis thought internally, masking the flare of possessive irritation with a steely calmness that only her closest friends would recognize as dangerous.
Miles away, Kyra prepared for the necessary deception. She stood in a bare room, facing a shimmering magic circle broadcasting to the Fallen Angel leadership in the Underworld. The image resolved to show the seven figures of the Seven Grigori.
Araqiel began, her voice chilling with authority. "Kyra, we are waiting for your explanation as to the sudden, and highly unauthorized, containment of one of our own. Begin."
"My Lords and Ladies," Kyra replied, her voice steady. "The incident was a regrettable necessity. Lamina Mortis was pursuing an unsanctioned war, placing the Grigori presence at risk of exposure. He was neutralized by a conceptual containment field prototype during an attempt to retrieve classified material."
Araqiel watched her, her intense eyes searching for deception. "We detected a conceptual anomaly that briefly saturated the Tokyo area. Yet, you describe a simple, if volatile, containment field."
Kyra maintained her composure. "The prototype was experimental. The resulting discharge of raw, unrefined mana may account for the energy saturation you detected. The objective was achieved: the asset was secured."
Tamiel spoke next, his voice low and laced with severe disappointment. "Regardless of the technical details, Lamina Mortis has brought shame upon the Grigori name through his reckless actions and failure to maintain discretion. He should have known better."
Araqiel delivered the final command. "Very well, Kyra. But the matter is not concluded. We will take custody of our own. After this broadcast, you are to prepare Lamina Mortis.
You will bring him to the Grigori Headquarters in the Underworld for debriefing and final judgment. And, Kyra, you
will explain, in person, who actually defeated him."
The magic circle dissolved, leaving Kyra alone. The reprieve was over. The Grigori had delivered a direct command that would expose Luke entirely.
The political crisis demanded an immediate war council. Luke, Riis, Yuma, and Kyra were assembled in Luke's private study, joined by Riis's core peerage: Akane, Kai, Asuna, and Kotori.
Riis's expression was hard. "They bought the story, but the investigation into the power used is only delayed. If they learn Luke's identity, this entire alliance collapses, and my own house is exposed to immense scrutiny."
Akane took the lead. "The Sealed Will of Sariel must be destroyed. If Lamina's remaining followers retrieve it, or if the Grigori retrieve it, it becomes evidence that threatens both our houses."
Yuma confirmed, "We eliminate the evidence and force them to contain the political damage internally."
Kai focused on deployment. "The Old Port District is a low-visibility zone. We use a small, fast team for retrieval. I will secure the perimeter."
Asuna addressed the data. "I can use my network access to create blind spots in the local surveillance grid for a limited window, securing the entry and egress."
Luke stepped forward. "I'm the point man. The Knights are bound to me, and my speed is our biggest advantage. I take the lead on infiltration." He was their most volatile asset, the single entity holding the collective power of all eight Pawns.
Riis nodded. Her orders were sharp and precise.
"Akane, you manage all communications and the political narrative. Asuna, you create the window. Kai, you and Kotori will accompany Luke. Luke, you are the point of the spear; your speed and Knights are the offense. Kai, you secure the immediate ingress and extraction routes. Kotori, your defensive power is the final conceptual guarantee of our extraction and the contingency plan for any surprise attack. Your team is our best combination of speed and absolute defense."
She looked at Luke. "Go. Secure the Will. The stability of our alliance and the future of both our houses depend on your speed tonight."
The strategic meeting was over. The team mobilized. The battle for the Sealed Will of Sariel had begun.