"And if you fail?" Lyra demanded. "If something goes wrong? If he adapts faster than expected? You'd have no backup, no support, no one to pull you out if things go bad!"

"Then I die," Satou said simply. "But at least I die without having exposed your abilities to The Reaper. If I fail and you're there, he adapts to your administrative coordination, Jessica's healing, Urgak's tactics—everything. Then when he comes for our settlement eventually, we have even less chance of stopping him."

The room was silent. The logic was brutal, but sound.

"I hate this," Lyra said quietly. "I hate every part of this plan. But you're right. Limiting his exposure to our capabilities is strategically sound."

"I can't believe I'm agreeing with a suicide plan," Jessica said, her voice thick with emotion. "But if you're going to do this, you need to promise me something."

"Anything," Satou said.

"Promise me you'll come back," Jessica said fiercely. "Promise me you won't throw your life away heroically. Promise me you'll do whatever it takes to survive, even if that means running away, even if that means letting the Fallen Spires fall. Promise me."

Satou pulled her close, holding her tightly. "I promise I'll try my hardest to come back to you. To both of you," he added, including Lyra in his gaze. "But I can't promise I won't fight if fighting is necessary. I can't promise I'll run if people need me. That's not who I am."

"I know," Jessica whispered against his chest. "That's why I love you. And why I'm terrified of losing you."

Seraphine stood, composing herself back into the confident demon lord persona. "If we're doing this, we need to move quickly. The Reaper won't wait. Satou, I need to explain something about reaching my territory."

She moved to the map, pointing to the Fallen Spires. "My domain is surrounded by an anti-teleportation field. It's a defensive measure I put in place centuries ago to prevent enemy forces from portal-dropping directly into my city. It extends for approximately fifty miles in all directions from the city center."

"Which means?" Satou asked.

"Which means I can't directly teleport you to the Fallen Spires," Seraphine explained. "The field would reject any portal attempt. However, I can bring you and a few select people if you insist on some accompaniment to a location about sixty miles from my city. From there, it's a 7 days travel on foot or by flight to reach the city proper."

"That's a long exposure time," Cassius observed. "7 days of travel through potentially hostile territory?"

"The territory between the field boundary and the city is pacified," Seraphine said. "It's all under my control. You won't be attacked by random monsters. The danger is only if The Reaper's advance scouts have already penetrated that far, which is possible but unlikely."

"Who's going?" Loki asked, looking around the table.

"Just me," Satou said firmly.

"No," Lyra and Jessica said simultaneously.

"At least take Cassius," Lyra insisted. "He's a vampire—his abilities are uncommon enough that The Reaper likely hasn't encountered them in previous battles. And he can operate independently, shadow-scout, provide intelligence without engaging directly."

Satou looked at Cassius, who nodded. "I can maintain distance, observe without being detected. If the situation becomes untenable, I can extract you before engagement. My lady is correct—I should accompany you."

"Fine," Satou conceded. "Cassius comes. But no one else. The more people we bring, the more complicated this becomes."

"I'm coming too," Seraphine said. "Obviously. It's my territory. I need to be there to coordinate defenses and command my forces."

"Then it's settled," Loki said. "Satou, Cassius, and Seraphine. Three people, one mission: kill The Reaper before he destroys the Fallen Spires." He looked at Satou seriously. "This is probably the most dangerous thing you've attempted since entering the dungeon. You understand that?"

"I understand," Satou replied.

"Good." Loki turned to Seraphine. "When can you open a portal to the boundary?"

"Immediately," Seraphine said. "The sooner we return to my territory, the more time we have to prepare."

"Then we leave now," Satou said. He turned to Lyra and Jessica. "While I'm gone, you're in charge. Lyra handles administration and overall command. Jessica handles medical and civilian welfare. Urgak maintains security. If anything threatens the settlement, evacuate if you have to. Don't risk everyone trying to hold ground."

"We'll be fine," Lyra said, though her voice was tight with worry. "It's you we're worried about."

"I'll come back," Satou promised. "I have too much to live for not to."

He pulled both women into an embrace, holding them tightly, memorizing the feeling of having them close. This could be the last time—he wasn't naive enough to think this plan didn't have enormous risks of failure and death.

"I love you both," he said quietly. "More than I can express."

"We love you too," Lyra said, her voice breaking slightly. "So you better keep that promise about coming back."

"Please don't die," Jessica whispered. "Please. I just found you. I can't lose you already."

"I won't," Satou said, hoping it was true.

He stepped back, and Seraphine began channeling magic for the portal. Purple and black energy swirled, forming a gateway that showed darkness on the other side.

"Ready?" Seraphine asked.

"Ready," Satou confirmed. Cassius moved to his side, silent and prepared.

"Wait," Jessica said suddenly. She ran forward and pressed something into Satou's hand—a small crystal that glowed with soft light. "It's a healing crystal. I've been working on it for weeks. If you're badly injured, crush it. It'll release a burst of healing magic. Not as strong as if I was there personally, but enough to stabilize you if things go bad."

"Thank you," Satou said, carefully storing the crystal.

"And this," Lyra added, handing him a rolled parchment sealed with wax. "Official documents establishing you as my partner and leader of this settlement. If you die and somehow your body is recovered by humans, at least there's a record of what you built. Of what you meant to us ,but I believe you won't die Satou ."

"Yes I won't ,I ain't planning to die," Satou said, but he took the parchment anyway, tucking it into his coat.

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