Everyone went quiet. Under the loud thumping, another beat started up fast with little scrapes moving together. A constant tink-tink-tink-tink-TINK-TINK-TINK.
"Oh no," Clara whispered, her eyes widening behind her glasses. "The-the resonant frequency... they're matching it. They're resonating the metal to weaken it! They're going to shatter it!"
"Jin-sama, get back." Shūmei moved ahead, fingers touching the decorated pin in her hair. Her red eyes lit up with something scary. "I'll take care of this trash."
"You're not leaving" Sera snapped, her voice icy.
"I just want.. to help Jin-sama"
"That's an order," Sera snapped, fingers twitching toward her weapon's handle. The air felt thick, charged, like the walls were closing in around them.
"That's enough," Jin said - his tone calm yet strong. His eyes met Shūmei's, gentle but steady. "Stay right here. Look after Clara." He paused a beat. "Can you handle that?"
