Loccy held the western arch while Ferra removed the First Prince's concealed lock one fastener at a time. The undercroft responded before the final fastener piece came free.
White-gold figures unfolded from the ceiling, each carrying divine cores inside jointed stone bodies. Demonic extraction hooks rose from floor channels beneath them, creating alternating attacks that punished whichever circulation answered first.
"Divine bodies above, demonic tools below," Hajin said while opening two Rings around his right forearm. "Nobody uses a broad counter, and nobody lets the two systems touch a living body."
Loccy walked point beside him into the first junction, her hammer resting easy across one shoulder. She bumped her shoulder into his arm as the intersection cleared, a small repeated collision that said the ground was hers to guarantee.
