The final gate rose beyond the cleared road, its upper stones disappearing into the white above the city as Loccy guided the guardian's cart toward the threshold.
Hajin walked beside her with both weapons stored, keeping his attention on the patrol lining the approach while Ferra checked the three gauges in her case.
[ External relay signals: Three ]
[ Heart frequency held by Hajin: None ]
The cart's lower rail creaked beneath the covered body, making Loccy stop with one hand against its side.
"He gets heavier whenever those riders look away."
Ferra lowered her needle toward the cracked breastplate, following a new pressure beneath the cloth without touching the body.
"Surviving cores are gathering inside him."
Hajin signaled Toven to hold the families behind the cart, opening the Divine Eye as the first black light reached between the dead ribs.
[ Last City gate: Reached ]
[ Corrupted guardian corpse: Hostile cores consolidating ]
