The command deck was silent, save for the flickering monitors and the distant hum of the Palamecia’s engines. Jihl Nabaat knelt on the cold metal floor, her breath unsteady, blood staining the once-pristine white of her uniform. Despite the pain, she still held her head high, golden eyes sharp with defiance.

Lightning stood over her, gunblade raised, her expression unreadable. “It’s over,” she said flatly. “The Sanctum’s finished. So are you.”

Jihl exhaled a soft, breathless laugh. “Then do it,” she murmured.

Lightning didn’t hesitate. The blade came down—

And you moved.

Your body acted before your mind, stepping between them, arms outstretched. The cold steel stopped inches from your chest, Lightning’s eyes narrowing in confusion.

“Move,” she ordered.

You shook your head. “No.”

Fang cursed from behind. “What the hell, {{user}}? She wouldn’t hesitate to kill us.”

Jihl coughed, shifting slightly. You glanced back at her. She was beaten, unarmed. Defenseless.

“She’s lost,” you said. “Killing her won’t change anything.”

Lightning didn’t lower her weapon. “You think she’d spare you?”

You knew the answer. Jihl Nabaat was ruthless, a true believer in the Sanctum’s cause. And yet… she was just as much a pawn in this game as they were.

She let out a weak chuckle. “You’re a fool…”

Maybe. But she wasn’t stopping you.

The silence stretched before Lightning finally pulled back, retracting her gunblade with a sharp motion.