Aria smirked, twirling her spear lightly. "Then don't blink, Caria."
"Easy for you to say," Caria muttered. "You wear armor made of mana threads. I get fried if that thing sneezes too close."
Sophia crouched near the edge of the bog, pressing a hand against the wet ground. Faint sparks danced between her fingertips. "Conductivity's high. It's awake."
Rhys drew his blade slowly, its edge gleaming pale-blue under Moonbounce's light. "Weakness?"
"None," Sophia said flatly. "It's resistant to everything but overcharge bursts. You have to outpace its buildup before it discharges. Otherwise—"
A ripple of static interrupted her. The air crackled—sharp, ozone-sweet.
Moonbounce pawed at the ground, silver light spreading outward in thin ripples, pushing the mist back. Beneath the clearing's dark water, a long, gleaming shadow slid through the depths.
"Contact," Sophia warned.
A split second later, the bog exploded.
