Round 8 Transcript

Halie lifts her silver holy symbol, chanting the counter‑sequence revealed by Jeane’s glyphs; a warm, golden light washes over the rune lattice, and the dormant soul‑traps crackle, releasing their silent grip. The skeletal defenders shudder, their eyes flickering amber as they pause, awaiting the next move.

Jeane kneels to examine the runes more closely, her leathery wings folding tight as she concentrates. The gate itself is not the true barrier—it's a distraction. These inner chambers... they're the heart of whatever dark magic lies within. She traces symbols with a stylus, her expression shifting from concentration to revelation. The gate isn't meant to be opened from here. It's meant to be bypassed entirely.