Ten minutes earlier, beyond the Present Realm, the colossal structure suspended amid layers of Rainbow Light revolved soundlessly. Like a shuttle, it endlessly wove an invisible net that covered every border.
At its center, within the transfer hall, a thunderous roar erupted. Billowing smoke spread amid the alarms.
An enraged bellow rang out from the speakers.
It was laced with curses and near-hysterical fury.
Creator: Zero.
Yet no matter how crude his language was, nobody found it out of place. After days of high-intensity operations, harsh demands, and the mounting pressure of reality bearing down on them layer upon layer, Rainbow Bridge could not tolerate the slightest deviation.
Not even the smallest one.
Less than half a minute later, Zero had arrived at the accident site at the front end of the spindle-shaped megastructure. He stared at the scorched structures and blazing equipment.
And at the enormous torrents of light pouring from other massive machines.
"What the hell happened here?! How did you guarantee this?" Zero whirled around and demanded, "Why was there such a huge deviation in the Source Matter supply from Pipeline Two?! Do you know we almost got cut off? We were this close!"
The panting engineer climbed out of the machinery, drenched in sweat beneath his protective suit. "A parameter issue. The matrix overloaded."
Zero was furious. "Consumables are replaced every four hours, and every two during peak periods. What the hell is maintenance for?"
"...Yesterday, the Continuance Institute transferred away the Grandmaster who handled maintenance. I just took over. It was my fault."
The elderly alchemist in charge stepped forward, his voice hoarse. During the emergency repairs, half his body had been charred black, and the flesh on his face had peeled away, nearly exposing his skull.
Zero's expression twitched several times. He could barely