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All to demonstrate that her "contribution" had helped stabilize the barrier.

"Despicable," Lucien muttered, "but functionally effective."

However, something didn't add up. Cassandra must have another card up her sleeve. If it was just about generating opposition, it would be too easy for them to ultimately resort to force and eliminate the dissident faction.

Elio's side was overwhelmingly larger and more powerful.

No, there had to be something else, something Cassandra planned to use against Elio directly…

Time was running out.

"Ren, move the group and give the signal to the soldiers. We have to act now."

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Ren's response was immediate. "Understood. What's the message?"

"Top priority: reduce casualties," Lucien replied. "Stop the riot, but with minimal necessary force. We can't give Cassandra more reason."

With that, Lucien gave the signal. In a matter of seconds, Zara, Kriz, Brok, and Micah rose above the crowd, their swifts providing them with the necessary control over helium to stay in the air. Their familiars hovered nearby, ready to assist.

Their sudden appearance caused a moment of surprise in the crowd, a brief instant of calm before the battle resumed with renewed intensity.

Zara didn't hesitate to launch herself directly into the center of the conflict. "Stop, you idiots!" she shouted, her voice barely audible above the chaos. "You're behaving worse than children!"

Kriz, always with his touch of humor even in the tensest situations, added: "Come on, people! If you want a party, I know better ways to organize it! There are less painful ways to resolve disagreements!"

But his words fell on deaf ears. The people, gripped by fear and anger, seemed to have forgotten all reason.

Brok, for his part, didn't need magic to be intimidating. His mere presence, combined with his thunderous voice, was enough to make many think twice before continuing to fight. "STOP!" he roared, his voice resonating above the chaos.

Micah, meanwhile, used his control over helium to create air currents that separated the most violent groups. "Pathetic," he muttered. "Heroes sacrifice themselves for you, and look how you behave at the first provocation."

The men and women loyal to Elio emerged from the crowd, trying to contain the violence. But it soon became clear that they wouldn't be enough.

Meanwhile, Lucien and Selene, using the increased control over carbon provided by their elephants, began creating barriers to separate the most aggressive groups.

But despite their efforts, the riot seemed to have a life of its own. The seed of discord planted by Cassandra had taken deep roots, and the people, who had never before experienced a conflict of this magnitude, seemed to have forgotten all reason.

Although they managed to contain large groups, pockets of violence persisted throughout the plaza. And worst of all, motionless bodies could already be seen on the ground, evidence that they had arrived too late to prevent all casualties.

Lucien, landing next to a particularly violent group, used his control over carbon to immobilize the ringleaders. As he did so, he couldn't help but think of Elio. 'He's not going to like this at all,' he told himself. 'We've failed to protect people from themselves.'

The battle continued, with Lucien and the others desperately fighting to contain the violence. But the damage was already done, and the consequences of this day would resonate in the city for a long time.

Lucien landed briefly next to Selene, his face a mask of concern. "This is a disaster," he panted. "We should never have allowed Cassandra to go this far."

Selene nodded, her expression grave. "I know, but now's not the time for regrets. We have to contain this before there are more casualties."

It was then that Lucien noticed something. Cassandra was no longer in the plaza. He saw her sneaking towards the central building, followed by a small group.

Realization hit him like lightning. "Elio's family," he muttered. "They're going after them… He was right."

♢♢♢♢

Meanwhile, on the other side of the plaza, Cassandra sneaked towards the central building, closely followed by Saren, Angela, and a group of loyal soldiers. Her face was a mask of cold determination, her eyes shining with anticipated triumph.

A triumphant smile played on her lips as she observed the chaos she had unleashed. She paused for a moment to look back, savoring her victory.

"How easy it is to manipulate the masses," she murmured to herself, remembering the words from the Creator's diary.

"When they're in a group, they lose all capacity for individual thought. They become beasts guided by their most basic emotions."

Cassandra allowed herself one last moment of reflection. "The Creator was right. Information is power, and I have learned to use it well. Soon, when the barrier stabilizes thanks to these... necessary casualties, I will emerge as the city's savior. And Elio...

well, he'll be just a bad memory."

"The distraction worked perfectly," Angela commented, her voice barely a whisper.

Saren nodded. "I never thought we'd see something like this in our city. But Cassandra, are you sure using the Creator's insight like this isn't blasphemy? You even changed stuff and..."

Cassandra stopped, turning to her grandfather. "Absolutely," she responded, her voice charged with conviction. "Sometimes, to save the majority, sacrifices must be made. Elio doesn't understand this, but the Creator and we do."

♢♢♢♢

Finally, they reached their destination.

Cassandra paused for a moment, her hand on the doorknob. For an instant, a shadow of doubt crossed her face. Was she really doing the right thing? Or was she letting her ambition cloud her judgment?

But then she remembered the Creator's words, the warning about necessary sacrifices, and her resolution strengthened. No, she wasn't wrong. Elio was leading the city down a dangerous path. And it was her duty, as a descendant of the founders, to ensure that the truth came to light.

With that renewed conviction, Cassandra couldn't help but smile in triumph. Soon, very soon, she would have all the cards in her hand.

Her heart pounding with anticipation of her triumph, she yanked open the door of the central building. Her voice rang out urgently as she shouted to her soldiers:

"Quick! Take Elio's family before Lucien and Selene realize and come...!"

But the words died in her throat at the scene that unfolded before her.

There, imposing and furious, stood Elio, wearing his system armor. Behind him, the seductress girls, with expressions of determination on their faces, protected the family members Cassandra had kept as hostages. And surrounding them, dozens of level 3 and 4 soldiers, all loyal to Elio, formed an impenetrable barrier.

Before Cassandra could even process what she was seeing, she felt her body immobilize. Elio, with a quick and precise movement, had created a carbon layer around her and her group.

"What were you planning to do with my family, Cassandra?" Elio's voice was low, dangerous, charged with barely contained fury.