The blood chain came from the right flank.
Not Alex's [Blood Weapon] — different. Alex's crimson energy was dark, almost black at the edges.
This one was redder. More alive.
Fragment 3.
The chain wrapped around the Veil's right arm — not for damage, to deflect. The Veil's plane tried to dissolve it.
It didn't fully succeed.
The Veil's arm diverted by fifteen degrees.
Enough.
The attack passed ten centimeters from Alex.
---
[Level Four — 3:04 PM]
Raven was on the right flank.
She had moved — silently — while the Veil was focused on Alex and Grim.
Fragment 3 active in her left hand — the hand she didn't normally use for Army of Bones.
The hand where the Fragment's mark lived.
Her eyes glowed green, brighter than usual.
The Veil turned toward her.
"Fragment 3," he said.
Without surprise.
Fragment 4 had detected it since they entered Level Four. "The Hand."
"The same," said Raven.
"The Heralds said Fragment 3 was with the Core's team."
"The Heralds were right."
