Reports came again.
This time, they were not about recovered fragments.
They were about interference.
A slime in Ley Slumber shuddered when a false pulse entered the ley current.
A lock released a rhythm that mimicked the world's heartbeat but carried a hook inside.
A relay station sent command pulses toward three pressure-bearing sites.
An abandoned shrine began humming after its fragment had already been removed.
Marie's expression chilled.
"They started."
Lucien looked at the new markers.
The Keepers had moved fast.
He pointed to the relay station first.
"That one is not pressure-bearing."
Marie checked.
"No. It feeds commands into three locks, but the earth does not lean on it."
"Then it goes."
Seran straightened.
"Finally."
Lucien looked at him.
"Capture if possible. Destroy if needed. Do not let the command pulse reach the slimes."
Seran smiled.
"And if Keepers guard it?"
"Then clear the operating room."
That was enough.
