Lucifer descended from the tower to confer briefly with Jin and Ava. "Thoughts?" he asked simply.
"They adapted faster than expected to our automated defenses," Jin noted, already adjusting his energy circulation to recover. "I'll modify my approach for the next wave."
Ava rolled her shoulders, working out minimal tension. "Nothing I couldn't handle, but these four-stars were smarter than usual. The next wave will be interesting."
"Conserve strength for the final wave," Lucifer advised. "It will test us far more severely."
Their conversation was brief and focused on tactical refinement. As they resumed their positions, they noted the state of the other fortresses. Two had sustained minor damage to their outer walls, while a third was actively repairing a breach.
