> “Searing heat, the grind, clamor of machines swallowing my heartbeats.
Long ago, barefoot in fields, I held the Batal Stone, its cold prophecy whispered of this grind.
Tomorrow, rise anew, forging hope from the embers of toil. ✴”
— 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: Defects again. More defects. What is the problem here!
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