Elara's data-slate lit up. "Lin Mo's signal! Frequency Theta-9! Target the base of Tomb-01's main spire!"
Her shuttle dove through a storm of debris, dodging erasure beams. The Resonator crystal glowed in her hand. "Pagoda Remnant Valkyrie! Covering run! Hit that spire!"
The Valkyrie, a battered battleship, accelerated on a suicide course, drawing fire. Elara reached the coordinates. Ice fused with obsidian rose before her. She slammed the Resonator against the hull, activating Theta-9.
A pulse of pure, stabilizing energy, amplified by Yu's Catalyst signature channeled through Lin Mo, ripped through Tomb-01's phase field.
SHAAAAAANK!
The obsidian spire shattered. Tomb-01's merge with Titan shuddered, halted. Its alien fury focused entirely on the tiny shuttle.
An erasure beam lanced out.
Elara smiled. "Make it count, Keyholder."
The beam hit. The shuttle, the Resonator, Elara – vanished.
But the frequency held. Tomb-01 reeled, its connection to the Sanctum severed.
[CRUCIBLE INTEGRITY STABILIZED]
[RECONFIGURATION: 88%]
Inside, Lin Mo felt Elara's sacrifice. Felt the Titan Builder's gratitude. Felt Yu's tears as Catalyst energy flowed pure again.
Baylor's essence surged – raw, protective fury. [TOOL INTEGRATION: ENGAGED]
His will became the Seed's shield. Its new purpose: Protection. Not just power.
The Crucible blazed. The Seed snapped back into wholeness.
[VOID SEED RECONFIGURATION: COMPLETE]
[DESIGNATION UPDATED: GUARDIAN SEED]