chapter 116 internal battle

Lysara's Realization

Lysara stepped out of the grand guild hall of Diamond Breeders, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone pavement. The towering guild structure behind her loomed like a fortress—once a place of strength and belonging, now a cage filled with silent judgment.

The night air was crisp, but it did little to cool her frustration. She had been outmaneuvered, and she knew it. Magic Flame—whoever he was—had played her perfectly.

Still, that wasn't what truly bothered her.

Something deeper, more unsettling, had taken root in her mind.

As she moved through the guild's bustling inner courtyard, she began noticing things.

Members who once greeted her with respect now barely acknowledged her presence.

Some lowered their gazes as she passed, while others whispered in hushed voices, stealing glances in her direction.

Lysara's eyes narrowed.

This was different.

She had always been aware that some elders disliked her, but this? This was an undercurrent of resentment.

Her instincts screamed at her—this was more than just a minor disagreement.

She turned a corner, approaching the training grounds, where many of the guild's elite members gathered.

The sounds of clashing weapons and skill activations filled the air, but her ears honed in on one conversation.

The Whispered Conversation

She paused near a stone archway, partially concealed in the shadows.

> [Guild Elder 1]: "She's reckless. Always making high-stakes trades without consulting us first."

[Guild Elder 2]: "And look where it got us. We spent a fortune trying to drive up the price, and now that player dumped the gold into the market."

[Guild Member]: "The forum's already talking about it. They're calling it 'Diamond Breeders' biggest blunder.' It's humiliating."

[Guild Elder 3]: "The higher-ups will step in soon. She's been untouchable for too long."]

Lysara felt a chill crawl down her spine.

So, this was it.

They wanted her out.

She had assumed her position was secure—that her strength and leadership were enough to keep her standing.

But in a guild like Diamond Breeders, strength wasn't enough.

Politics mattered more.

And she?

She had no allies among the elders.

Lysara's Decision

She inhaled slowly, her heartbeat steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Then, she smirked.

> **[Lysara, to herself]: "So, they want me gone? Let's see if they have the guts to do it themselves."]

With calculated steps, she walked away from the training grounds, her mind already working on a counterattack.

She wasn't just going to sit and wait.

If they wanted her out, she would make them regret it.

Lysara's Ultimatum

Lysara stepped into the grand meeting hall, where the guild elders of Diamond Breeders were gathered. The atmosphere was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken tension.

The room was dimly lit by golden chandeliers, casting flickering shadows across the long mahogany table where the elders sat, their expressions unreadable.

She already knew what this was about.

> [Elder Varos]: "Lysara, we've discussed your recent… actions, and after much deliberation, we have come to a decision."

Lysara crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

> [Lysara]: "Oh? And what decision is that?"

Elder Varos glanced at the others before leaning forward.

> [Elder Varos]: "If you wish to remain in Diamond Breeders, you must marry the leader of Twinkle Stars."

A dead silence filled the room.

For a second, Lysara thought she misheard.

Then, she laughed—a sharp, cold laugh that echoed through the chamber.

> [Lysara]: "So that's your solution? Marry some corporate-backed fool so I can be a pretty little pawn in your guild politics?"

The elders did not flinch. They had expected this reaction.

> [Elder Harvin]: "It's a strategic move. Twinkle Stars is a first-rate guild, just like us. They have powerful backers, connections in tier-one cities, and access to resources we do not."

> [Elder Varos]: "You will be the bridge between the two guilds, strengthening our position. It's a logical step, and quite frankly, the best option you have."

Lysara leaned forward, placing both hands on the table.

> [Lysara]: "Best option for who? Me? Or for you, who want me under your control?"

Elder Varos sighed, shaking his head.

> [Elder Varos]: "This is not up for debate, Lysara. If you refuse, your position in Diamond Breeders will no longer be secure."

Her smirk vanished.

She had expected betrayal, but this? This was them forcing her into a cage, stripping away any power she had left.

Lysara pushed away from the table, her voice now calm and lethal.

> [Lysara]: "You want me to be your pawn? Fine."

She turned towards the door.

> [Lysara]: "But let's see if you survive when the board is flipped."

With that, she walked out, her mind already plotting her next move.

If they thought she would simply submit, they had no idea who they were dealing with.

Lysara stood still for a moment, her hands clenched into fists. The flickering chandelier light cast shadows over her face, but her expression was crystal clear—disgust, defiance, and something close to amusement.

> [Lysara]: "So this is it? After everything I've done for Diamond Breeders, you're throwing me away like a piece of merchandise?"

Her voice was cold, but the weight of her words echoed in the grand meeting hall.

The elders did not waver.

> [Elder Varos]: "We are securing the guild's future, Lysara. This is bigger than your personal feelings."

> [Elder Harvin]: "You can either accept or leave. The choice is yours."

Lysara chuckled, a sharp and mocking sound that made the elders shift uncomfortably.

> [Lysara]: "Choice? Don't make me laugh."

She reached for her guild badge, the emblem of Diamond Breeders, and ripped it off her cloak.

With one swift motion, she threw it onto the table, the metal clinking against the polished wood.

> [Lysara]: "Then I'll make it easy for you. I'm leaving."

A few elders' eyes widened, but most of them remained silent.

Lysara turned on her heel, her long silver hair flowing behind her, and started walking toward the massive double doors of the hall.

> [Elder Varos]: "You're making a mistake, Lysara."

She paused but didn't look back.

> [Lysara]: "No, the mistake was thinking I'd ever let you control me."

Without another word, she pushed open the doors, stepping into the open corridor.

As the doors slammed shut behind her, a wave of realization washed over the elders.

They had just lost their strongest asset, and they didn't even know it yet.