The great municipal bells of Ouro tolled in unison across the valley, marking the start of the thirty-second synchronization window.
Hajin stood suspended upon the high viaduct, channeling his five celestial rings into a vaulted barrier to hold the mountain passes apart.
His sixth celestial ring remained dark and dormant, locked in deep harmonic recharge while the five forward rings bore the structural strain.
Far across the northern foundry gorge, the third clone braced his shoulders against the primary support strut of the viaduct arch.
"The hydraulic load is transferring into the central bedrock culvert!" the clone reported through the open auditory link.
"Do not hold the brace past your operational threshold," Hajin commanded, his teeth gritted against the crushing recoil.
"The thirty seconds require an unbroken anchor beneath the northern foundations," the clone answered calmly.
"You will disperse into raw mana if you take the secondary shock wave!"
