"Seventy‑eight thousand," said Seraph.
"With the post‑redistribution weak point." Alex evaluated. "Before, with the original pattern, we were causing fifty‑two thousand at best per exchange."
"Fifty percent more damage per exchange." Seraph calculated. "But the chain cost you twenty‑four thousand damage when it broke."
"And my HP doesn't have the margin it did twenty‑two minutes ago."
Seraph looked at Alex.
Looked at his crimson eyes with the specific proportion that hadn't changed for twenty‑two minutes — 95% stable corruption, the F1+F4 synchronization holding the threshold.
"How much longer can you sustain the synchronization?"
"As long as both Fragments agree to cooperate." Alex. "If the damage rises too fast, F1 will start offering again on its own, and the synchronization will break."
"And if it breaks?"
"Corruption hits one hundred percent. The Harvester takes over."
Seraph processed that.
"Then we don't take that kind of damage anymore."
