I blinked into the bowl as the asphalt turned skating-rink smooth under a skin of dust. Hana's threads stabbed outward, anchoring to nothing because he'd removed purchase. She slipped. I caught her with the gauntlet and jammed Fangpiercer sideways into the lip to give us a fake handhold.
"Thank you," she breathed—then flinched. "Ethan—your heart—"
"It's doing art."
We scrambled up as the bowl tilted like a cruel spoon. The Lotus yanked to a lightpole. It tore. She hissed. The shawl snapped new lines faster than my eyes could count.
I set Anchor Recall and let go.
[ Anchor Recall — Engage ][ Jump — Anchor 1 ]
We popped back to the ledge. The bowl ate itself into a sinkhole. Bad architecture applauded as a building beyond us decided it wanted to be a ramp instead of an office block.
Raene: "Focus!"
