Fire!

'Why the fuck is it taking her so long?' Ace wondered, growing impatient as Matthews prepared to launch her attack on the Lansky house.

The Apaches hovered lower, their Chain Gun-type curse gadgets primed to level the entire house. The hum of the engines and the slow rotation of the guns created an ominous tension in the air.

Meanwhile, from the other side, Janice was making her own preparations. Just as the helicopters descended further, the curse barrier array surrounding the house—originally cylindrical with an open top—suddenly sealed itself shut, trapping the Apaches inside.

Ace's eyes widened as he mentally cursed, "Shit!"

The barrier was no joke—600 yards in radius, 200 yards high. The Apaches had space to maneuver, but they weren't getting out anytime soon.

Seeing both sides were prepared to go to war, Ace turned to Ava's mother in urgency and pleaded, "Mrs. Martins, please let me talk to them before you take extreme measures—"