The Alliance’s Strained Response

Outside the war room, the alliance's leaders were convening in the midst of the chaos. The war was escalating, and every faction, from the Xivoran Mercenaries to the Ploral Dominion, had their eyes trained on the power that Lena held through the core. While some recognized her strength and the potential of her power, others were beginning to question her decisions, fearing that her reliance on the core was becoming too great.

"She's losing control," General Jorvik, the leader of the Xivoran Mercenaries, said bluntly. "If she continues to wield that thing unchecked, we're all in danger. I've seen the kind of destruction it can cause—it's a force beyond comprehension."

Admiral Vora, of the Ploral Dominion, didn't immediately respond. She was an older leader, shrewd and calculative, and had long been watching Lena with quiet interest. The Ploral Dominion had no love for the core's power, but they had long known that alliances were necessary to defeat the more established alien factions—namely, the Rhytil Consulate.

"The core is... unstable," Vora finally said, her tone measured. "But we cannot afford to dismiss Lena. She's proven herself, and the power we've seen her unleash—though terrifying—is necessary if we are to stand a chance against the Rhytil."

But even as she spoke those words, there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Vora wasn't one to place her trust blindly in anyone. Especially not someone as young and untested as Lena.

The room fell into a tense silence. The alliance was divided, unsure of Lena's growing power and the consequences of her reliance on the core. There were whispers that Lena had become a threat in herself—too much power for anyone, even her, to control. It wasn't just a question of defeating the alien factions; it was a question of whether Lena could continue to hold the alliance together, or whether the core's influence would tear it apart from within.