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Mordred, meanwhile, maintained a neutral expression, his calculating eyes assessing every move his father made.

Fathoran began pacing the room, his presence filling every corner. "If you eliminate someone, their family must go with them. Grandparents, parents, children... all of them." He stopped, paralyzing his sons with a penetrating gaze. "Don't you understand that families will seek revenge if you take their members? They must be eliminated together."

"But father," Mordred began, his mind already calculating the implications, "that would mean eliminating entire family lines. The political consequences..."

"Political consequences won't matter when the city collapses under its own weight," Fathoran interrupted. "Or have you forgotten the purpose of all this? That's why I gave you that book. It's the only way to ensure stability."

Estin, with a cruel smile forming on his lips, interjected: "I don't see the problem, father. If entire families must be eliminated, so be it. Starting with Elio's and all his accomplices."

Fathoran nodded, a spark of approval in his eyes. "At least one of you understands the gravity of the situation. That's why God separates families into unique houses, why the homes are so large."

Estin nodded enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Of course," Fathoran responded. "Not just them. We need to eliminate anyone who might pose a threat to our control."

Seeing an opportunity to prove himself, Estin stepped forward. "How... how should we proceed, father?"

"The people will accept what we tell them to accept," Fathoran said. "As they always have."

He moved towards a large map of the city spread out on a nearby table. "For the past year, I've been... expanding our family." A strange light entered his eyes as he spoke. "Hundreds of new children, born of me and other men of our line."

Estin and Mordred exchanged uncomfortable glances. They had noticed the increased activity in the harems, the swollen bellies of the concubines, but hadn't dared question it.

"That's why you've been... distant," Estin ventured, carefully choosing his words.

Fathoran nodded, a twisted smile curving his lips. "Yes, my sons. I've been preparing for this moment. Our family must strengthen, must solidify its control over power. And to do that, we must make room."

He moved back to the window, his gaze sweeping over the city once more. "We'll reduce the tower's mana a bit more and extend military service to 20 years, women too. After five children, they must go to the wall. Children will be educated communally..."

"That will greatly reduce the numbers. But not enough. To eliminate families, we'll use only our summoners, doing it daily, house by house."

He turned back to the map, his finger tracing the city's outline. "We'll start with the poorest, the weakest. They'll be the easiest to... remove."

Mordred felt sick thinking about the number of people he'd have to eliminate. They would need more summoners in the families. "And the bodies?"

"The monsters will take care of that," Fathoran responded, his voice devoid of emotion.

The room fell silent again, the weight of what was being planned hanging heavily in the air.

Fathoran turned to his sons, his penetrating gaze evaluating them. "I see doubt in your eyes, Mordred," he said, his voice laden with disappointment. "After all I've done for you, after allowing you to buy the life potion twice..."

Estin and Mordred visibly tensed at the mention of the potion. Both were painfully aware that, at 65 years old, they were reaching the limit of the 70 years the two potions had granted them. Without another dose, their time was rapidly running out.

♢♢♢♢

The inverted cone vanished before Zara's eyes, the sea of monsters inexorably reclaiming the space. Each passing second was agony, the possibility of saving Elio slipping through her fingers like water.

"No," she whispered, her voice cracking, her eyes fixed on the spot where she thought she'd seen Elio. "It can't end like this."

Her eyes burned, dry from so much crying. How long had it been since she saw that figure she believed was Elio? Minutes? Hours? Time seemed to have blurred into a continuum of anguish and desperation.

The realization hit her like lightning. If Elio had fallen after trying to climb up, this could be her last chance to save him. She couldn't waste it.

"There has to be a way," she muttered, her mind working feverishly. She couldn't stand idly by. She couldn't fail him.

Micah, Brok, Kriz, and Ren watched her intently, their faces tense with concern. They knew what Zara was thinking, what she was considering doing.

"Zara," Micah said softly, stepping towards her. "I know what you're thinking, but you can't..."

"Can't what?" Zara interrupted, her voice laden with emotion. "Can't save him? Can't even try?"

"It's suicide," Kriz insisted. "You wouldn't survive a minute down there."

Zara looked at them. "You don't understand," she said. "If it were one of you down there, Elio wouldn't hesitate to jump."

"We know he was like that," Ren replied, his voice calm but firm. "But throwing yourself to certain death won't help Elio."

She looked at her friends, who watched her with pity. They didn't understand. They couldn't understand.

Zara clenched her fists, fighting against the tears threatening to spill. She knew they were right, but every fiber of her being screamed for action.

Zara took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

In a fluid motion, she activated her magnetism. Her friends' lances vibrated violently, surprising them. Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, Zara ran towards the edge.

"Zara, no!" Micah shouted, quickly recovering.

Brok, the closest, tried to block her. Zara summoned a dense fog, reducing visibility to inches. In the confusion, she slipped between the giant's legs.

"She's going to the left edge!" Ren warned, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind.

Zara smiled. Exactly what she wanted them to think. Abruptly changing direction, she ran to the right side.

Kriz, anticipating her move, appeared in front of her. Zara didn't hesitate. She covered her fist with nickel and charged directly at him. The impact resonated like a gong, sending Kriz staggering backward.

She reached the edge, but knew she only had an instant. She could hear her friends approaching rapidly.

"ZARA!" Micah's desperate cry echoed in her ears.

Micah arrived too late. She was already in the air, her body arching in a perfect dive.

The wind whistled in her ears as she fell, her heart beating frantically. She didn't know if she'd find Elio, didn't know if she'd survive. But she had to try.

"Elio," she whispered, "I'm coming for you."

But instead of the fall she expected, she felt strong arms surrounding her. Her eyes snapped open, meeting Elio's familiar gaze.

"I've got you," he said.