The rain felt much heavier inside of Lemnian Hollow.

Followed by the betrayal of Colonel Isolde, the captain of Obsidian Division— Magus— alongside her host Orphie, were stuck.

The psychological wound was still fresh. Nobody could expect that this whole time— Isolde's true identity was Mevorakh — Overseer of the Exaltists.

Magus: "I am a soldier of Obsidian Division. I cannot shoot anyone who isn't an enemy combatant. I am a citizen of New Eridu. I have no right to take the law into my own hands against anyone. And I am the captain of Obol. I cannot let my own hatred put everyone behind me at risk." Those words spilt from her metallic mouth. Yet the rattle that occurred deep within her core functions.

Of course, even with the help of Yunkui Summit, the situation was far from their control.

Isolde: "Don't be so naïve." She spat, an army of miasmic troopers emerge from behind her. Guns raised and in formation. Isolde: "Revenge... is the path of no return. Onwards, to battle!"

On her commands, all the soldiers turned their heads up and shot at the sky, covering it in a red miasmic glow. The miasma swirled above everyone, causing their formation to instinctually tighten around Wise.

Orphie: "Careful—!" Magus: "Everybody, keep the proxy safe!"

Isolde raised her sword into the air, imbuing it with the miasma as she twirled the hilt to point at herself.

Isolde: "We've already chosen different paths, so... there's no turning back now!" Following that shout, the sword came down. Stabbing through her brooch as the miasma began to corrupt her, a violent vortex of energy blocked everyone's view as ether flowed directly into Isolde's body, festering right there and then

Wise's eyes widened, instinctually stepping closer to Yixuan, who already had a talisman prepared. Wise: "Those Ether fluctuations..."

The vortex of miasma dissipates, revealing Isolde. Or rather— what became of Isolde. Her exaltist mark shone bright, brimming with Ether as she's reborn. Reborn as the Defiler.

Isolde: "You, you're not the same flame you once were. You don't deserve the name I gave her, Magus!" She snarled, sending in a surge of Miasma towards Orpheus & Magus, who barely managed to dodge out of the way.

Seed: "W-Woah!" Trigger: "Wise—!" Yixuan: "Tch—"

The battle was about to begin.