Back on Zaltron's flagship, Lena sat at the head of the table in the war room, her expression weary as the alliance's leaders argued amongst themselves. The stakes of the war had escalated, but the internal strife within the alliance was becoming just as dangerous as the enemy fleets."We need to be cautious," General Jorvik said, his voice gruff. "Lena's reliance on the core could make her unpredictable. We've seen how it affects her—she's not the same woman we allied with. She's changing."Admiral Vora, who had long held a wary respect for Lena, crossed her arms. "And yet, she is the key to our victory. The core is a weapon like no other, and it's why the Rhytil are so desperate to control her. We can't let them get their hands on it."Lena's eyes flicked between the two leaders, feeling the tension rise. The alliance was divided, and it was clear that some of its members were beginning to question her leadership. The core's influence on her was visible, even to her closest allies, and no matter how much she tried to hide it, the cracks in her resolve were becoming harder to ignore."You think we're going to lose this war because of my power?" Lena's voice was sharp, cutting through the rising arguments. "I haven't given in. I'm still the same person who chose this path.""But the core isn't the same anymore," General Jorvik shot back. "You can feel it. It's changing you. And if it changes you, what happens to the rest of us? To the galaxy?"Lena's gaze hardened. She had never been one to back down in the face of criticism, but the words stung more than she wanted to admit. Still, she was the leader. She couldn't show weakness, especially not now."We fight, just as we always have," she said firmly. "And we'll win, because we're not just relying on the core. We're relying on each other. I will lead us through this. But we need to trust in that unity."The room fell silent. But the lingering doubts were clear—her power was both a gift and a curse, and some within the alliance feared that it was tipping the balance in dangerous ways.