> “Oil, metal, and broken dreams—this factory devours more than machines. A clang, a hiss, my heart grinds with it.
Mother’s stories of the Batal Stone whispered hope. Young hands reaching into mystery, now calloused by reality.
Tomorrow, I forge anew. One breath, one strike closer to freedom. ✴”
— Scene 1, *The Hero’s Stone* ⟁
_Batal Vol.2 · Ep.2 · Scene 1 – Factory Manager · Factory Floor_
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📖 **Excerpt from the book:**
> Factory Manager: It’s defective. Again, it’s defective. What exactly is the problem?!
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