The dungeon core repeated its request while Ivory fought the Ash-Tunnelers above them. Each impact crossed the chamber braces, shaking old grit from the inactive control plate.
[Provide one compatible beast contract to continue.]
Vell placed his hand against the plate, but the Forge returned a locked route instead of instructions. Contract Forge belonged to Rank Three, leaving him without the function Sump Gate expected its administrator to possess.
[Contract function unavailable.]
[Next Forge Rank requirement: mutual acceptance by a compatible beast.]
"The door wants a contract you cannot make," Jia said, checking the chamber's only visible exit, "that seems personal."
"It is old machinery," Luna replied, kneeling beside the nearest brace, "personal disappointment would be an improvement."
A scrape passed through the narrow vent above her before Jia answered. The sound stopped whenever someone looked upward, then resumed closer to the circular core.
