-

The air in Fontaine was thick with tension. The streets, once filled with lively chatter and elegant performances, now echoed with the rhythmic march of soldiers. The once-pristine waters shimmered under the weight of approaching battle, the city standing on the brink of war.

From the top of the fortress walls, Yoshika surveyed the city's defenses. Neuvillette stood beside her, his gaze as sharp and calculating as ever. "Snezhnaya's forces have arrived just in time," he stated, watching the soldiers reinforce key positions. "But even with their help, we are still at a disadvantage."

Yoshika didn't respond immediately. She had already taken in the city's vulnerabilities, from the gaps in Fontaine's land-based defenses to the limitations of their naval forces. Their only true advantage was their knowledge of the terrain and the strength of their leaders.

"They'll strike soon," Yoshika finally said. "They want to catch us before we're fully prepared."

Neuvillette nodded. "Which means we must be the ones to act first."

The First Strike

At sunrise, the enemy made their move. Explosions erupted at the city's outer edges, shattering the silence with violent force. Smoke rose into the sky as enemy forces pushed into Fontaine's lower districts, their numbers overwhelming the city's defenses.

Yoshika moved swiftly, spear in hand, cutting through the invading forces like a phantom. Her movements were precise, calculated-every strike a deadly flourish of gold, pink, and gray.

Not far from her, Furina wielded her sword with unexpected finesse, using the water itself to drown and push back attackers. Though she was no longer a god, the sheer force of her presence on the battlefield was undeniable.

Arlecchino, meanwhile, was a storm of destruction. Her scythe carved through enemy ranks with ruthless efficiency, her every movement exuding dominance. She fought without hesitation, her mere presence enough to strike fear into the opposition.

Lyney and Lynette moved together in perfect sync, the magician using his pyro-infused arrows to create diversions while his sister eliminated enemies with swift, silent strikes.

Clorinde stood as a dueling champion should-undaunted, facing multiple opponents at once. With her gun and sword, she moved through the battlefield like a specter, precise and deadly.

And at the heart of it all was Neuvillette.

The Chief Justice did not wield a weapon, but he did not need one. With a single wave of his hand, the heavens opened, and a torrential downpour crashed upon the battlefield. The enemy forces faltered under the sheer force of the water, their formations breaking apart.

Despite the overwhelming numbers, Fontaine stood its ground.

But the battle was far from over.

The Turning Point

As Yoshika cut down another wave of enemies, she suddenly felt a shift in the air. A presence.

And then-

A dark figure emerged from the chaos, their aura suffocating, their power undeniable.

Yoshika's grip on her spear tightened.

The true enemy had arrived.

A shadow moved at impossible speed, and before Yoshika could react, she found herself face-to-face with an opponent unlike any other. Their blade clashed against her spear, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.

For the first time since the battle began, Yoshika felt something she rarely experienced.

A challenge.

Furina, fighting nearby, turned just in time to see Yoshika locked in combat with the enemy's strongest warrior. Her heart pounded.

"Yoshi-!"

But Yoshika didn't look back. She couldn't.

This battle had just begun.

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𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖧𝖾𝗁𝖾𝗁𝖾