Chapter 341: Protection Freely Given

"No damaging attacks," Martin ordered. "Break weapons, strings, and those anchors. If you can’t tell what you’re hitting, defend."

The Sairren patrol reached the bridge.

Martin met the first hooked spear with Breakwater Aegis. He turned the point into the rail, trapped the shaft beneath the shield’s rim, and tore it from the route-warden’s hands without striking her body.

A second spear came over the shield.

Rias slipped beside Martin and cut the spear’s leather wrist loop with Gloamneedle, then swept the same blade through the strings of two raised bows before either Sairren could release. Both archers reached for fresh strings with the same empty precision.

"They are still hearing the copied command," Mireva said.

Her counter-call rose through the span in a series of silver chirps. The patrol did not react. Dark Force anchors pulsed against their harnesses and repeated the false song over her voice.

Angel climbed from beneath the bridge and planted her enormous body across the avenue behind them. Her crystal shell formed a living wall, preventing the compelled Sairren from reaching the wounded operator or the workshop beyond.

Alexandra and Kumoe moved together on the other side.

Kumoe’s curious head caught a hanging cloak and pulled one Sairren backward without biting the body beneath it. The right seized a weapon strap, while green light from the middle washed over a route-warden who had scraped her wing against the rail.

Alexandra cut belts, sleeves, and harness ties instead of flesh. When one Sairren swung a curved blade toward Kumoe’s eye, Alexandra caught the attacker’s clothing between both swords and pinned her against a support post.

"I liked monsters better," she said through clenched teeth.

"Monsters are less delicate," Cassandra replied.

She held Patient Draw while tracking an anchor between two folded wings. The shot left almost no margin for error. If the patrol member turned, the arrow would pass through the device and into living flesh.

Katherine sent Kinnami around the Sairren first. A golden barrier closed between the anchor and the Sairren’s back.

Cassandra released.

The arrow shattered the Dark Force anchor against the barrier without reaching the body beneath it.

The freed route-warden collapsed to her knees. Confusion replaced the empty silver glare in her eyes, but the copied call from the other anchors immediately pulled at her again.

Elisebeth raised both hands.

Spellweaver threads formed close-fitting Mana Shields around the controlled Sairren. Elisebeth curved each field so the Dark Force anchor remained outside its boundary.

"Silent Stage."

Sound died inside the shaped shields. The copied commands still pulsed from the exposed anchors, but Elisebeth bent each vibration away from its wearer and emptied it toward the open shaft below.

The patrol’s perfect rhythm broke. The Sairren continued the motions already forced into them, but their attacks no longer landed on the same beat.

That unevenness gave Martin room to take ground without injuring anyone. He drove one spear aside with his shield, stepped through the opening, and used his shoulder against the attacker’s harness to guide her toward Alexandra rather than knocking her down.

"I can keep the false song from crossing inward," Elisebeth said. "But these fields will block Mireva’s voice too. The anchors are still exposed."

Mireva looked toward the copied route-song core lying near the damaged relay. "Then I must answer through the network before my call reaches them."

Three compelled Sairren stood between her and the housing.

Martin braced the Breakwater Aegis. "Stay here. We’ll open the route."

"No." Mireva’s silver-ringed eyes met his. "The copied command recognizes my voice. I have to stand where the core can hear me."

She stepped behind his shield by her own choice and placed one hand against the back of his armor.

"Emperoar, I am asking for your protection. Carry me to the relay and keep them from stopping my call."

Worldshell Carapace tightened around Martin’s chest.

[An unbonded intelligent beast has voluntarily entered your protection.]

[Protected Target Recognized: Mireva.]

[Worldshell Arm Stage Trial Activated.]

[Distinct Monster Auras Endured While Protecting the Intelligent Beast: 0/3]

[No party member may harm an intelligent beast during the trial.]

"Stay behind me," Martin said.

He advanced.

Breakwater Aegis caught a spear, then a hooked blade. Stand Against the Current accumulated through each impact and kept the patrol from driving him away from the relay. Mireva remained close enough that her fingers never left Worldshell.

Rias cut another bowstring. Alexandra trapped a route-warden’s sleeve against the rail, and Kumoe dragged a spear away by its tassel. Katherine and Kinnami layered barriers behind every anchor Cassandra targeted.

One by one, her arrows broke the devices.

The shadows beneath the bridge shifted.

A Muteclaw Stalker climbed onto the underside of the span and opened its narrow jaws.

[Muteclaw Aura: Predatory Silence]

The monster’s aura swallowed every sound.

Silent Stage’s carefully shaped quiet became meaningless inside the greater absence, though its curved shields remained. Mireva’s hand tightened against Martin’s back, but he could no longer hear her breath or the patrol’s weapons striking his shield.

The Worldshell outlines beneath his forearms burned sapphire.

[Distinct Monster Aura Endured: Predatory Silence.]

[Worldshell Arm Stage Trial: 1/3]

No armor formed. The trial had recorded the aura and nothing more.

Martin could feel the unfinished patterns burning beneath his skin, but they remained only light. Two more distinct monster auras still stood between him and the Arm Stage, and Mireva had to remain under genuine protection while he endured them.

The Muteclaw lunged over the rail toward Mireva.

Martin stepped into its path. He caught the monster on Breakwater Aegis, turned it away from the Sairren behind him, and drove it toward Angel’s waiting shell. Angel struck with the side of her head and sent the Stalker across the empty lane.

Alexandra shattered its Dark Force core before it could rise.

Sound returned.

Mireva reached the second relay, seized the copied core with both hands, and sang one clear counter-call into it.

The note traveled through every remaining anchor.

The compelled patrol froze.

Cassandra broke the final device. Silver light drained from the Sairren’s eyes. Their weapons dropped across the bridge, but every route-warden remained safely on the span.

Elisebeth dismissed her shields. Katherine and Kinnami moved among the freed patrol, healing bruises and torn wing membranes caused by their compelled movements.

Mireva inspected every member before facing Martin’s party.

"The Belfry Wardens grant you provisional trust," she said. "You may cross our guarded routes while accompanied by one of us."

[Sairren Belfry Wardens now regard your party as Provisional Allies.]

Her gaze settled on Cassandra’s Condemned marker.

"The marked one is included as an ordinary member of your party. This judgment does not erase her mark or place her above our wardens."

"I understand," Cassandra said. "I asked for neither."

The second relay lit beneath Mireva’s hands.

Its silver song should have traveled deeper into the Sunken Belfry.

Instead, the pulse raced back across the repaired bridge.

Far behind them, the first relay answered.

Then another bell rang closer to the Sairren district above.

Mireva’s ears flattened. "The second relay is carrying the song backward."

Cassandra watched the Hungerline turn toward the city they had entered.

Something below was using the restored route to reach the Sairren above.