Aria whistled low. "Now that's what I call a proper raid turnout."
Lyra's eyes swept the horizon. "They're coming fast."
Rhys focused on the sea. The first wave broke through — a swarm of scaled creatures with long, glimmering fins, leaping over the barriers with snarling mouths full of fangs. Behind them, larger shadows stirred — something massive enough to make the water swell with each breath.
He took a deep breath, steady but sharp with adrenaline. "Alright… calm and steady. We've got this."
Aria cracked her knuckles. "You're saying that like you're not about to dive straight into the mess."
He smirked faintly. "I've learned from the best."
"Flattery won't save you," she said, drawing her blade, mana gathering along its edge like molten sapphire.
Lyra's pendant pulsed again — a clear, bell-like hum that resonated with the waves. "They're connected to something deeper," she murmured. "Something's guiding them."
