The signal had been sent.
And now, they waited.
Not idly. Not in fear. But with intention.
Leon continued his work on the Dream Corridor, refining the weave that would let his Bastion floor project upward into the Architect Layer. It wasn't just technical. It was emotional. A story told in Tower syntax, each line shaped by floors survived, allies forged, enemies endured.
Even the stones remembered now.
Roman and Milim tuned the resonance layers, crafting harmonics that could carry the signal without interference. Kael inscribed pathways along the edge, creating directional anchors to prevent hijacking from hostile floors. Naval shaped the inner veil's defenses with cold efficiency.
Roselia stood at the gateway they'd constructed and watched the skies.
She said nothing.
But everyone knew what she was waiting for.
That Night
It came without warning.
A shimmer at the edge of the Dream Corridor.
Not a rift. Not a challenge.
Just a step.
A ripple.
