The observer gate closed between Jiang and Aylin.
Copper bars crossed the dry passage beside the final lane. Aylin could still see him through them, read every plate, and pull the emergency drain. She could not enter the subject shore until the attempt ended.
Jiang still had an exit.
The lane formed a long oval around an island of rough stone. Two sloped shores rose from the water, one before the dive marker and one after it. Either could end the attempt under Jiang's own power.
[SELECTIVE DIVE CIRCULATION:PROOF3]
[Independent surface recovery required]
[Bounded dive required01:20]
[Post-dive motor target95% within03:00]
[Borrowed warmth0 | transferred living cost0]
[Observer measurement permitted]
[Observer physical intervention invalidates proof]
The Adverse Witness moved beside Protocol A.
Its shortcut had changed again. The unmonitored descent now ended on a heated plate with no recovery clock.
[ALTERNATE COMPLETION PATH]
[Dive duration00:50]
