The woman who had survived three Descents on the frontlines still stood at the edge of the viewing area, the mere charisma of her title making the gathered crowd pay attention to her words.
"Last cycle, I personally pushed through a Voidling line to target one of their leaders. Even knowing the defenders behind me could fall without my sword arm to protect them."
Her somber gaze swept across the stage, then the audience at large.
"Ten cultivators died that day. Hundreds of mortals too. There is no way to be sure if it was due to my timing, but I do know that removing the only enemy who could enact a secondary invasion point prevented thousands more Voidlings from manifesting in the region."
Qatrand listened with growing respect for her potential mentor, in no small part for how her words exonerated the 'Villainess'. Yet she felt a subtle discomfort. The strategic reasoning was sound, but something about this answer felt incomplete to her.
