The first thing through the aligned routes was a claw, and the empty city square split beneath its shadow beside the archive.
The arm behind it was larger than the old crossing body from Arc 9, with obsidian plates carrying fresh red seams.
Aria measured the limb before its elbow reached Ouro, and the result tightened every Ring around Hajin's forearm beneath the route.
"True-body segment confirmed," she said inside his thoughts. "This is not a disposable material projection."
The claw turned toward the archive stair, where Ash stood behind the Watcher with one small hand around her wrist.
The Collector's fingers opened, and the route pulled at the child's unknown designation beneath the old refusal pattern inside the archive.
The Watcher moved first, closing both hands around the claw before it crossed the inner boundary beside Ash's feet near the stair.
Stone burst under her feet, though she kept Ash behind her shoulder while the black fingers strained against her grip.
