The Fear Tower was essentially divided into two parts: the underground, which consisted of over fifty different floors, divided into lounges, laboratories, and other various rooms; then there were the twenty upper floors. The last was Almodeus's office, which could also serve as an unofficial throne room. Each other floor was the responsibility of one or more of his subordinates or their subordinates. For example, the sixth floor was Cortex's responsibility, while the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth were under the command of the Terror Trio. Each floor was a sort of stable dimension, capable of containing any type of structure, like Nocturn's dark mansion or Shaco's circus tent.

  That said, it was no surprise that the floor under C's direct command was all about relax. There were shops, restaurants, and even an entire wing dedicated to hot springs. The bathrooms on the twelfth floor ranged from Japanese-themed ones to ones equipped with slime that purified any negative effects. Despite being an expert in dining and economics, C had proven herself the best at treating every Fear Tower guest like a king.

  -It would have been a no-brainer to say that this was Nikusa's favorite plan.

  “Ahhh! It’s divine here, isn’t it, Hirashi?”

  The Chaos Queen asked, bringing her arms behind her head and stretching slightly. The movement caused her full breasts to jiggle—if any men were around, they would have drooled over those two beauties. Hirashi and Nikusa were considered beyond perfect in appearance; few could bear the sight of them without fainting.

  “I agree, Mother.”

  The white giantess replied stoically. It was rare to see her relaxed, since she usually only took a bath after training. She wasn't a fan of beauty treatments or other aesthetic things, but she couldn't say no to her mother. And besides, it would have been a good excuse to let Almodea and her father talk in peace. Nikusa was a real nosy when it came to other people's business.

  “You should relax more, my girl.”

  The other woman declared amusedly, splashing water in her face like a kid in a pool. Hirashi simply nodded, wiping the warm liquid from her lashes to avoid it getting in her eyes. She replied with the usual "Yes, Mother." and continued enjoying the bath as usual.

  “Did you do anything while I was gone? You know... besides training?”

  Nikusa poked her daughter's right bicep, feeling its hardness, before laughing in her face.

  “Please tell me you didn’t just lift weights and work all the time.”

  “Of course not, Mother. I also spent time with Almodea. You know...talking, playing board games and watching anime.”

  “I see, I see...”

  A wicked smile spread across Nikusa's face. That was enough to raise a doubtful eyebrow from Hirashi, who knew exactly what that gesture meant: trouble.

  For some reason, I don't feel safe...

  Nikusa's next words confirmed her concerns.

  “So... how are we doing in terms of love? Have you found a man you like? In our old world, there weren't many choices, but in this one? Maybe it's a whole different story! So? What do you say?”

  Hirashi sighed internally. Once again, her mother had asked her the same question every parent always ask to their children.

  Here we are again...

  She'd never been interested in love. She didn't despise it or avoid it, but it wasn't a priority for her. Hirashi had given different answers several times, trying to make Nikusa understand that she wasn't actively looking for a man, but the other woman seemed completely incapable of understanding that simple concept. She wanted to avoid telling her mother directly, so as not to risk disappointing her or starting an argument. That was something she never wanted to have with Nikusa — she respected her too much to argue or talk back.

  I'm not interested in finding a man, but I can't disappoint her... I'm just an inferior clone; I should be grateful for the freedom I was given.

  Hirashi's respect for Nikusa was unquestionable. If her mother gave her an order, she would obey without hesitation. It would be fair to say that Hirashi was submissive, but the Chaos Queen couldn't be entirely blamed for that. She didn't demand that unhealthy level of respect from Hirashi; in fact, she would have been more than happy for her daughter to voice her opinion out loud, even if it conflicted with her own.

  “I will try to find someone you deem worthy, Mother.”

  "You need like him, not me! You're the one who has to sleep with him and have children, after all. Everyone has their own tastes! Seeing that I chose your father, I wouldn't be surprised if you brought home a vending machine!"

  “Yes...I understand.”

  Hirashi still struggled to understand how her mother had fallen in love with a robot who didn't even notice her. Nikusa and Shockwave were definitely the strangest couple she knew, but they worked well enough. The most beautiful woman in existence with the only man who couldn't be charmed; it was like something out of a movie.

  “So, no one in mind?”

  “No one. Honestly, I'm not very interested in finding a man right now. I can still try, if that's what you want, dear Mother.”

  Hirashi was trying to remain respectful, while still giving honest answers. The mere thought of sharing a man's bed particularly bothered her, but she didn't want her mother to know that. She understood what Nikusa wanted for her and knew she was fortunate to have even a say in her own life- a luxury she couldn't squander by being guided by emotions she didn't understand.

  “Oh, my. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

  The other woman sighed discontentedly. It was clear she wanted to find her daughter a lover, but Hirashi’s disinterest was a major problem.

  "You should take more of a cue from Almodea. Sure, she likes women, but you can apply her same reasoning to men too. Try thinking about it, instead of working out every five minutes. Speaking of which, what do you even lift? You look even bigger than last time!"

  Nikusa poked Hirashi’s sculpted abs this time. She always did it to tease her daughter a bit, only for fun.

  “Do you think my physique is unattractive or unfitting for a Queen?”

  “No, absolutely not! It’s definitely…Exotic. You’re the spitting image of someone who can punch down a wall without trying.”

  “Most people in this tower can do that, though.”

  “Oh, come on! You know what I mean! You're the epitome of strength! But not brutal strength like that idiot of Hardshell. You're the beautiful strength—I can tell you're my daughter!”

  For some reason, Hardshell and Nikusa had never gotten along. Despite that, Hirashi was pleased to receive that compliment from her mother. Deep down, she feared she wasn't living up to her expectations. When she walked through the Fear Tower, most of the subordinates looked at her with fear because of her appearance and strength. The fact that her mother believed that she was fitting for a Queen meant she shouldn't change the lifestyle or habits she'd become accustomed to.

  “Thank you for the kind words, Mother.”

  “You're welcome! A parent should always help their child!”

  "..."

  For Hirashi, the concept of parenthood was foreign. She was only twenty-five and had never had a lover, let alone a child. The person she was closest to sentimentally was Almodea, but she saw her as a younger sister to be protected and served, not as a love interest. Her mind drifted from that to wondering what it would be like to be a parent. Would she like it? Could it be something she could aspire to? Or was it just her mother who wanted it for her? These questions plagued her mind, and Hirashi couldn't answer them.

  Would I enjoy being a parent? Would it make me happy?

  She stopped dead in her tracks when she thought of the word "happy." It was something Hirashi was only partially familiar with — a hidden feeling she experienced under direct pressure. She still wondered how it worked. Hirashi felt happiness in training, in spending time with C and in being with Almodea. Even now, she was happy just spending time with Nikusa, but she still couldn't understand why she felt that way. She'd always struggled to understand emotions and- little by little- she was opening up more and more, giving them importance.

  What makes me happy? What...What do I want to be in the future?

  The transition from present joy to future joy was a short one. Hirashi immediately wondered what she would do with her life from that moment on. She couldn't continue training and seeing anime with Almodea. She had to find a purpose—something she enjoyed, but that wouldn't disappoint her mother. Perhaps the difficulty lay there, in balancing what she wanted with what Nikusa expected from her. If she had to prioritize herself or her mother, it would have been obvious who she would choose.

  I'm just an inferior clone, I can’t get carried away.

  As Hirashi tried to think things through, she felt someone tap her right bicep. She looked away and saw her mother watching her with a look of confusion and mischievousness. Hirashi internally scolded herself for getting lost in the conversation and ignoring what Nikusa might have said to her during that time. How disrespectful she had been.

  “Forgive me, Mother. I was just thinking about some trivial matters...did you say something?”

  “I only asked if you wanted to come in the hot tub with me. I think it would relax those tense muscles of yours. You always look like you're ready to punch someone.”

  "Excuse me, but it's habit. I was and remain a killing machine born out of your divine blood."

  “Oh, don’t talk bullshit!”

  Nikusa stood up, the mass movement causing a massive shift within the tank. She placed her hands on her hips, proudly holding her gigantic chest out, as if to expose all her narcissism. She spoke with a smile spread across her face.

  “You are not just a killing machine; you are my daughter, born of my blood! That means you are as perfect as I am! Remember that you are superior to others, not the other way around! Now come! After all that time in that cave, I really need to relax!”

  Hirashi nodded and stood up, following her mother out of the tub. She felt a strange sense of relaxation—it was faint, but genuine. She knew it was a fleeting feeling, and she shouldn't let it get too big for her boots. The other woman was always kind with her words, but to consider herself her equal would be a sin of pride.

  Is this what it feels like to have no worries?

  She began to follow Nikusa towards the room with the hot tub, still with a thousand questions in her head.

  It's...a good feeling.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  A deathly silence reigned in the camp. The only ones awake were the soldiers stationed at various posts near the fires. In truth, two other figures refused to fall into the warm embrace of sleep. They were none other than Riktus and Ambessa. The former was guarding his commander's tent, spear in hand and ready to give his life to defend it; the latter was checking some documents, which listed the remaining supplies, the number of wounded and dead, and rough estimates of their arrival in the Kingdom of Pitova.

  We should refuel the food. I hope we have enough money...

  Ambessa sighed bitterly and gripped the quill pen in her hand. She was stressed and tired, but couldn't rest. A couple of days had passed since the fateful encounter with the ghost ship. She had lost many men, and her forces had suffered considerable damage. If she wanted to return home and start a revolution, she needed strong, armed, and “ready for battle” soldiers—something she didn't have at the moment.

  “Why is everything going from bad to even worse?”

  The woman cursed her misfortune. She had lost her home, her firstborn child, and even her husband. What more could she lose? And that was the problem—so much more could be taken from her: the soldiers, her daughter, and her very life. It was a terrible situation to be in.

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  She raised her hand to her forehead and wiped away the sweat caused by the heat of the candle she kept burning on the table. Ambessa wanted to move it a little further away, but the dim night light would have made it impossible to work.

  “I have to focus. If I lose my mind, we're all done for.”

  Ambessa held the survival of every one of her subjects on her shoulders. One mistake, and there would surely be at least one casualty—a cost too high to bear at the moment. They had to be careful with their next move, or else they would die before they even returned to their homeland. Dying in war was acceptable and honorable, but dying through one's own stupidity was not.

  She shook her head vigorously, trying to focus on the documents before her. Ambessa needed to reach the Pitova Kingdom and meet with her daughter. It was imperative that she convinced her to sell advanced weapons to her and gain support in the civil war that would soon erupt in their home kingdom. Despite the two's grim pasts, Ambessa was confident she could get Meldara's help.

  I was the one who pushed her away, but I did it for her own good...Only for her own good alone! The distance hurt me more than it hurt her...

  The woman sighed and rubbed her eyes, then gave herself a light slap on the cheek to keep herself awake. Her sleep was becoming more and more persistent, and her body increasingly tired. She looked toward the tent entrance. She was sure Riktus was on guard outside. Ambessa could call him inside for advice; after all, he was a war veteran like her, and he always knew how to best help her.

  “No, better not to disturb him...”

  She muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She needed to stop being distracted and finish her work. It was then that a soft metallic thud sounded, like a weapon falling to the ground. Ambessa immediately realized that the noise had been made by Riktus's spear. Nothing serious; perhaps it had slipped from his hand and hit the ground. If this had been just any soldier, Ambessa wouldn't have bothered to look up from her desk- but this was Riktus, a veteran who had fought alongside her for decades—and one thing Ambessa was 100% sure of was that her best soldier would never drop his trusty spear. She would have been genuinely surprised if that had been the case.

  “Riktus?”

  She said it without even realizing it. Her sixth sense was screaming at her, warning her that something was wrong. Her heart began to tremble, thinking back to the battle with the ghost ship. Could that monster have returned to avenge the defeat of the previous days? It was a reasonable possibility, except that Amon was in their camp. Ambessa didn't know much about the colossal man, but if he'd managed to drive the ship away once, he'd do it again. Besides, if they had truly been under attack, then there would have been shouts or at least the clang of clashing weapons—but instead, nothing, not even a sound: everything outside was silent.

  “Riktus! Report!”

  If Ambessa had been quiet before, she was now screaming at the top of her lungs. Riktus hadn't responded. It wasn't possible that he had moved from his position or was asleep. Something must have happened, otherwise the man would have snapped to attention.

  “Damn it, Riktus!”

  With a decisive movement, Ambessa emerged from her tent, swords drawn, ready to fight. What she saw made her blood run cold: Riktus's corpse was impaled on his own spear in the middle of the camp, which was no longer even a camp anymore. All the tents had been destroyed, and the bodies of soldiers were scattered across the desolate wasteland.

  “W-What? How could this have happened? No.…It must be a dream...Of course!”

  It was crazy to think everyone was dead without her even realizing it. It was simply impossible! But everything seemed so real, from the blood pouring from Riktus's mouth to the flames devouring the camp around her.

  Ambessa began slapping herself in the face until her cheeks were red. It was a dream, it had to be. She couldn't have lost everything, not again. Ambessa began to remember the night she'd returned home to find the body of her husband Azibi, killed by assassins send by the Grand General, the new head of the government. Sadness and anger began to clash within the woman, who didn't know whether to throw herself to the ground and cry, or search the camp for whoever had caused the massacre, ready to fight—and probably die—against the monster who had shattered her hopes.

  At least she would fall with honor.

  Would this be the end of the great Krieger family ? Would this be the end of Ambessa? Perhaps, but someone didn't seem to agree, because a voice spoke, cutting through the incessant crackling of the flames.

  “Mother? Is everything okay?”

  Ambessa's heart skipped a beat. She whirled around and saw a figure approaching a few steps away. She was a woman about five feet seven inches tall, with dark skin and jet-black hair. She wore elegant clothes, high heels, and a red cloak. Up close, she looked a lot like Ambessa when she was younger, only she seemed much less robust and combative—more like a diplomat, in fact.

  “You...You are...”

  Even though he hadn't seen her for years, he would never forget the face of his only daughter.

  “Meldara? W-What are you doing here?!”

  “I came to talk to you, mother.”

  “Talk to me? And tell me what? No, it's not important! We have to run!”

  “Run away? And why?”

  “What you mean why?!”

  Ambessa couldn't believe her daughter would ask such a question. She doubted it was even Meldara, but it was too real to be an illusion. Somehow her daughter, who must have been more than four months away, was there with her. Ambessa's sanity was taking one blow after another.

  “Can't you see what's around us?! Riktus is dead! They're all dead! I won't let you die in this wasteland too!”

  “Do you want to run away? Mother...it's too late.”

  “Shut up! It's never too late!”

  Ambessa roared in rage at her daughter's cowardice. She looked toward the back of the field, where the horses should have been. She truly hoped at least one had survived the massacre. She didn't have time to test her theory before she heard laughter coming from behind her.

  “Meldara?”

  She whirled around and saw her daughter laughing as if she'd heard a joke. She looked at her with a confused look, not understanding the reason for her reaction. How could you laugh like an idiot while surrounded by dead bodies?

  “What the hell are you laughing about?! First you're acting like a coward, and now you're laughing like an idiot? What the hell happened to you? Where's your honor gone from Krieger? What is wrong with you?!”

  “Excuse me, mother.”

  Meldara replied, calming down slightly.

  “I just laughed at what you said. Do you really think you can escape from here?”

  “Of course! We have to hurry! Come and— “

  “it's useless...”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said it's no use, mother.”

  Meldara's face had turned cold and dark, making it impossible to believe that just seconds before the woman had been laughing like crazy.

  “And why would it be useless?”

  “Because he's already here...”

  Ambessa didn't have time to ask her daughter what she meant when the girl began screaming, clapping her hands to her temples. It sounded like she was being burned alive, such was the genuineness of that scream of pain. Ambessa tried to move closer to help her, but stopped when Meldara's body burst into flame out of nowhere.

  "No...No!"

  For a mother, watching her daughter burn alive was like being stabbed in the heart. Ambessa could do nothing to help her; it was already too late. Meldara's body fell to the ground, lifeless and reduced to a mere burned skeleton. It had all happened so quickly that she had been unable to do anything.

  -Her daughter was dead.

  “Meldara...What...I..."

  Ambessa was doing everything she could not to collapse in tears. How had everything gone sour in such a few seconds? Why? Why was her daughter there? Why had she died so miserably? How had it happened? Who was responsible?

  “How unfortunate. I can understand what it feels like to see a daughter suffer...”

  A mocking voice spoke from behind Ambessa. The woman turned once more, observing what appeared to be a huge humanoid figure. It had dark gray skin and some sort of elegant black suit covering a red shirt. It wore a black top hat, and its right hand was a massive red claw that could have slashed the woman apart in a single blow.

  “What are you? What do you want?!”

  Despite the pain and confusion, the woman did not let herself be knocked to the ground and drew her swords, ready to fight to the death, if necessary.

  “Me? I have many names, but you can address me as Almodeus.”

  The creature teleported behind Ambessa, who whirled around and stabbed it in the chest with one of her swords. The blade sank into the beast's flesh, but no blood gushed, and no screams of pain erupted. Quite the opposite...

  “Ahahahahah!”

  ...The monster laughed, snapping the blade with its clawed hand. It could have attacked Ambessa, but instead it leaned toward her, locking eyes. Its right eye glowed like a blood in the sunlight.

  "I'd say we're off to a bad start. I'm not here to fight, but to offer you a deal."

  “A deal? What are you? A demon?”

  “Exactly! I see you've got the chapter on the fly!”

  Ambessa had spoken casually—she hadn't expected to find herself facing a full-blown demon. She'd never faced one so large and seemingly powerful. She was ready to fight, but if that monster had managed to kill everyone without her noticing, it meant it was definitely on the level of an Archdemon.

  Why is he here? What does he want?

  She was about to voice her doubts, but Almodeus spoke first.

  “I am the Fear Demon. I have been watching you for a long time, Ambessa Krieger. You have earned my interest!”

  The creature's eyes were studying her like those of a predator observing helpless prey. Ambessa didn't know how deeply this monster could lie to her, but she was certain of one thing: the situation couldn't turn in her favor.

  “If you're here to steal my soul and offer me support in exchange, I refuse! I'll never accept help from someone like you!”

  She declared in a harsh tone, ready to die rather than give up her honor.

  "Unfortunately, you don't have much of a choice. I can offer you the chance to reach the Pitova Kingdom and reunite with your daughter."

  “You know everything, I see...”

  It was logical. That demon had probably been spying on her for months, or used some spell to read her mind. Either way, something wasn't right.

  “Let me guess, this is all an illusion?”

  “Exactly. Do you like it?”

  “Umpf!”

  Ambessa must refrain from insulting the demon. Her heart was filled with joy at knowing that Riktus and the others were still alive, but she wasn't sure things would work out. If this Almodeus was so powerful that he could create a realistic illusion that even deceived her warrior instincts, then who knows what he could do in reality? Facing him no longer seemed the right choice—it seemed more like a pointless suicide.

  “What do you want from me, demon?”

  “I'll be direct, Ambessa. I offer you protection and support for your personal crusade! Imagine your armies arriving in your home kingdom with weapons provided by your daughter, all thanks to me!”

  “Cut the bullshit! What do you want in return?”

  “I see you're being direct, all right. What I want is control! You will be loyal to me and me alone! Once you've rebuilt your nation in your image, I will rule it from the shadows. Don't worry, you'll have your say in political decisions. Simply put, we'll be allies.”

  “That's all well and good, but...what would happen if I said no?”

  “Oh? You refuse? I understand, too bad! The illusion could become reality, you know?”

  Meldara's body rose from the ground. It was reduced to a smoking skeleton, slowly regenerating. Soon, she had returned to her original form, but her face remained static, as if she were nothing more than a mere mannequin. Almodeus moved his right hand close to the young woman's face, laughing lightly.

  “You don’t want anything to happen to her, do you? You already lost a child, why lose another one?”

  Ambessa was good at reading between the lines. If she refused Almodeus's proposal, she would lose her usefulness in his eyes, along with everything else. That demon wouldn't stop at her. He would also kill her daughter and everyone close to her.

  He'll kill us all...and he can do it without a problem.

  Ambessa clenched her fists, trying to keep from screaming. She had little choice but to follow what Almodeus was telling her—for now, at least. Everyone was apt to betray, especially desperate humans. Her thoughts were interrupted by a movement of the demon's hand, which opened in front of Ambessa's face, revealing a gigantic A, similar to the one pulsating on Almodeus's chest, now visible from beneath his robes.

  “Is it a deal then?”

  She was faced with a choice that offered no real advantage to her, but she couldn't refuse. Ambessa wanted to use her only remaining sword to attack the demon, but that would have been the stupidest move she could have made. She should have accepted, but she hesitated...

  “So? What do you tell me?”

  "I..."

  She gritted her teeth, refusing to bow her head to the monster. However, the time for hesitation was over: she had to give an answer, and quickly. Ambessa looked up, staring into Almodeus's eyes, ready to give her answer.

  A red bolt of lightning split the sky in half. A pact had been made; how would it alter the course of events? Only fate would know for sure.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  “General! General! Wake up!”

  Ambessa opened her eyes abruptly. She found herself lying on the ground, with Riktus beside her. The man had a worried expression. She'd heard a thud and now found her general unconscious for no apparent reason.

  “General! Are you okay? You fell out of your chair. You need to rest! You're working too hard.”

  “Riktus...I know you won't believe me, but we need to talk. We have a problem.”

  It took Ambessa about ten minutes to recover, and then she told her right-hand man everything. She left out nothing of her encounter with the demon. Anyone would have thought her mad, but Riktus didn't doubt a single word. The man remained serious the entire time, waiting for his commander's permission to speak.

  “So...Did you accept his offer?”

  “I had no choice!”

  A fist slammed into the poor, innocent desk. Ambessa's anger made her face red. She hated being a pawn in someone else's plans, and in this case, there was nothing she could do to prevent it from the start. It was bad luck.

  “That bastard would have killed everyone if I hadn't agreed, and now I'm left with...this!”

  She showed the man her right hand. A red A seemed to be tattooed on it. She'd tried to remove it, but she was sure the damned letter would reappear even if she cut off her hand. However, the symbol was proof that she wasn't lying, and that Almodeus wasn't just a sick image generated by her tired mind.

  “What do we do, Ambessa? If it's so dangerous, perhaps we should ask the Northern Empire for help. They're experts at eliminating demons, especially if they lend us the aid of the Martial Goddess.”

  Ambessa had to agree with Riktus. The Martial Goddess was the most powerful human known, certainly on par with Amon or even stronger. However, requesting help from the Holy Northern Empire would be risky, especially given the religious differences between their nations. The former was monotheistic, while the latter was polytheistic—it would be difficult to unite under a single flag—and they were not the representatives of their nation; they could not guarantee anything to the Holy Empire. This was also why they could not ally themselves with the Theocracy or other nations without risking those states to gain too much power once Ambessa's revolution took hold.

  “So, what can we do? We can't just let that demon win...”

  “You are right, Riktus. Our only hope is the Dwarf Kingdom, located in the mountain ranges of Freliord.”

  “The Dwarf Kingdom? Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely! It's said they have metals that can keep demons and dark creatures at bay. It could just be rumors... But we have to try! It's our only chance to exploit this demon who thinks he can rule us!”

  “I understand. I’m alerting the troops!”

  “No! For now, only we need to know... As long as Amon is with our group, at least.”

  Riktus raised an eyebrow, visibly confused. Why had Ambessa brought up Amon at this moment? Didn't she trust a great, seasoned warrior?

  “What do you mean?”

  “Almodeus had the same symbol on his chest that Amon has on the armor. It's too big a coincidence to be just that...coincidence!”

  “Do you think Amon is under the command of Almodeus? Could it be some sort of rune or something? Do you think it was that demon who sent us on that cursed ship, and that Amon saved us only to draw his boss closer? Why all this?”

  "We can't know, but we have to be sure and careful. One mistake and we're dead."

  Ambessa was walking on hot coals. One false step and her plans would be ruined. She would become a puppet in the hands of someone who wanted everything except what she desired.

  We're screwed...

  “Riktus, let's prepare for immediate departure! We must reach the Ashen Kingdom by evening and separate from Amon.”

  “Of course, General!”

  The man left the tent, while Ambessa sat back down at her desk, her nerves on edge. Everything was crumbling around her, and she felt herself breaking down, something she'd never thought possible. She had enough problems of her own, but now she had this demon tormenting her.

  I can't start my revolution if Almodeus rules me like a puppet. I need an insurance policy.

  The only thing she could think of was the Dwarven Kingdom's famed sacred steel. It would cost her a fortune, but it was the only way to maintain their autonomy. She would lose nothing more. Ambessa was tired of being crushed to the ground; this time, she would be the one to crush the others.

  I will defend my army, my homeland and...my family.