The path ahead unfolded like a living highway of light, stretching across layers of the lattice she had never walked before.
Threads braided themselves into a solid corridor beneath her feet while thinner strands curved upward like guardrails.
The cooperative link between her and the balance branch flowed steadily, not heavy, not invasive, but constant.
Beside her, the blue sphere rotated with quiet precision. Its outer rings adjusted angles in small increments, aligning toward the growing distortion in the distance.
"Time to impact?" she asked.
"Four hundred and twelve pulse cycles," the voice replied evenly.
"Translate."
"Less than three of your minutes."
She increased her pace.
The filament in her chest burned brighter, not painfully but with urgency. Through the anchor she felt Earth steady behind her. Daniel's presence anchored her like gravity. Mara's focus held the wider network in place. Kael and Elira were tracking everything.
The distortion ahead swelled.
