"But it's too late," Queen Arlen said grimly.
"The traps are already set. Dismantling and retrieving them would take a week. If we don't use them now, this entire operation becomes nothing more than gift-wrapping our traps to be used for slaughtering our own soldiers. I cannot afford that."
Ace's gaze sharpened. "And you can afford to risk your soldiers' lives instead? Are you truly willing to make that call?"
Arlen didn't answer immediately. Silence stretched between them like a taut wire. Then she turned slowly to her guards.
"Gather the army—" she paused midway, clenched her jaw, then changed her mind. "No. There's no time. Send word to the generals instead. Tell them everything."
One of the guards blinked. "Everything… Your Majesty?"
She nodded solemnly. "Tell them a Divine Step cultivator leads the enemy. Tell them this might be the end. We can either retreat and preserve what we can… or fight and fall as warriors."
Ace stared at her, speechless.
