diff --git a/tests/unit/brainy/batch-operations.test.ts b/tests/unit/brainy/batch-operations.test.ts
index 889127ee..16f0f93d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/brainy/batch-operations.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/brainy/batch-operations.test.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,12 @@ describe('Brainy Batch Operations', () => {
         items: Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_, i) => ({
           data: `Bulk ${i}`,
           type: NounType.Thing,
-          metadata: { counter: 0 }
+          metadata: { counter: 0 },
+          // This test exercises updateMany's batching, not embedding — the
+          // sanctioned "unvectored" `[]` shape (see
+          // tests/integration/index-skips-unvectored.test.ts) skips the
+          // real embedder entirely.
+          vector: []
         }))
       })
       const manyIds = manyResult.successful
@@ -274,7 +279,12 @@ describe('Brainy Batch Operations', () => {
       const manyResult = await brain.addMany({
         items: Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_, i) => ({
           data: `Bulk Delete ${i}`,
-          type: NounType.Thing
+          type: NounType.Thing,
+          // This test exercises removeMany's batching, not embedding — the
+          // sanctioned "unvectored" `[]` shape (see
+          // tests/integration/index-skips-unvectored.test.ts) skips the
+          // real embedder entirely.
+          vector: []
         }))
       })
       const manyIds = manyResult.successful
@@ -545,10 +555,18 @@ describe('Brainy Batch Operations', () => {
     
     it('should validate batch size limits', async () => {
       // Try to add a large batch (reduced from 10000 to 1000 for reasonable test time)
+      // This test validates the batch SIZE law, not embeddings — items carry
+      // the sanctioned "unvectored" `[]` shape (see
+      // tests/integration/index-skips-unvectored.test.ts) so addMany's batch
+      // embedder is never invoked; 1000 real embeddings under the root
+      // vitest config (which does not mock the embedder) is a 60-180s
+      // budget flake waiting to happen, not a defect in what this test
+      // actually asserts.
       const largeCount = 1000
       const largeItems = Array.from({ length: largeCount }, (_, i) => ({
         data: `Large ${i}`,
-        type: NounType.Thing
+        type: NounType.Thing,
+        vector: []
       }))
 
       try {
@@ -560,12 +578,7 @@ describe('Brainy Batch Operations', () => {
         // Might throw if there's a limit
         expect(error).toBeDefined()
       }
-      // order-of-magnitude guard: this test batches 20x the item count of the
-      // sibling "perform better" test above (worst measured 11.9s for 50
-      // items on CPU-only honest iron); the prior 60s timeout was itself
-      // observed being hit, so this is 3x that floor rather than a scaled
-      // extrapolation, to leave real headroom for run-to-run variance
-    }, 180000)
+    })
     
     it('should provide meaningful error messages', async () => {
       try {