The group pressed forward through the deepening fog. The air had grown heavier, thick with the metallic scent of mana reacting to moisture. The further they went, the less sound the marsh seemed to hold—only the faint ripple of water and the occasional creak of trees bending under unseen weight.

Moonbounce moved quietly behind, his silver runes pulsing at a steady rhythm, casting pale ripples of light that guided their steps.

"The next target's just ahead," Aria murmured, crouching near a half-submerged stone marker covered in runic moss. "Crimson Fang Lizard's lair should be near the ruins—about two hundred meters north."

Sophia nodded, her eyes glowing faintly as she scanned the mana field. "There's definitely movement in that direction. And… heat."

Caria loaded her crossbow, the faint click breaking the silence. "Then it's awake."

Rhys adjusted his grip on the Ruinous Darkness Blade. "What are we dealing with?"

"Fast, territorial, and nasty," Aria replied. "Its bite carries a stacking burn debuff, and it can heat the water around itself until it boils. If we're not careful, the terrain itself becomes the enemy."

Sophia added, "It also dives. When it submerges, it blends into the environment just like the shrimp—but it's stronger and far more aggressive."

Rhys's lips curved slightly. "So… a hunt under pressure."

"Pretty much," Caria said, smirking. "Just how we like it."

They advanced toward the ruins—what looked like the remains of an old temple half-swallowed by the marsh. Broken pillars jutted from the water like crooked teeth, and faint crimson light pulsed beneath the surface.

The mana density spiked. Rhys felt it—a slow, rhythmic pulse, heavy as a heartbeat echoing through the ground.

"It's close," he whispered.

The words had barely left his mouth when the water exploded.

A surge of crimson light erupted from below, and the Crimson Fang Lizard burst from the depths—its scales gleaming like molten iron, steam billowing from its body. The creature hissed, jaws parting to reveal rows of jagged teeth glowing red-hot.

"Scatter!" Aria commanded.

A split-second later, a jet of scalding steam blasted through where they had stood. The impact boiled the surface, sending ripples of heat through the air.

Rhys landed lightly on a chunk of stone, eyes narrowing. "So that's your trick."

"Don't get close yet!" Sophia warned, casting a barrier of flowing water between them and the beast. "It's venting heat—if you touch it now, you'll melt your weapon before you land a hit!"

Moonbounce moved forward, his runes flaring as he projected a [Light Shield], absorbing a volley of molten droplets that the lizard spat like shrapnel.

Caria took aim. "Covering fire!" Two explosive bolts shot out, striking the creature's neck and detonating with bursts of azure flame. The explosions made it reel, its steam pressure faltering.

"Now!" Aria cried. "It's overheating—its regeneration slows when that happens!"

Rhys launched forward, mana surging through his veins. The Ruinous Darkness Blade ignited with twin hues—deep shadow and shimmering blue. "Swift Cut!"

He vanished and reappeared at the creature's flank, his strike carving a clean line across its molten scales. The blade hissed, steam hissing off it like serpents.

The lizard roared, tail whipping toward him, but Moonbounce intercepted, slamming his shell into the attack. The impact sent ripples across the marsh, and his rune patterns flared gold as he retaliated with a [Light Burst Cannon].

The beam cut across the lizard's snout, searing one of its fangs black.

Sophia and Aria synchronized—one chanting, the other tracing sigils over the water. "Bind current—Twin Tide Seal!"

Chains of blue light rose from the pond, wrapping around the lizard's legs and throat. It fought back violently, but the marsh itself seemed to drag it down.

"Finish it!" Aria shouted.

Rhys raised his sword overhead. Dark mana spiraled upward, mixing with a faint, eerie glow as the weapon pulsed with unstable energy. "Vertical Slash!"

He brought the blade down.

The impact struck like thunder, splitting the ruins' waterline apart. The Crimson Fang Lizard convulsed once, twice—then collapsed, its body dissolving into shimmering red fragments that drifted upward like dying embers.

For a long moment, the marsh was silent again—only the faint hiss of cooling air and the quiet ripples fading across the pond.

Sophia lowered her staff. "And that's number two."

Caria kicked at a floating scale fragment. "Crimson Fang Hide and… oh—Flame Core. Not bad."

Aria nodded, glancing at Rhys with a small, approving smile. "You handle pressure well. Most people panic the moment this thing starts boiling the water."

Rhys exhaled, letting his sword rest on his shoulder. "Adaptation is survival."

"Well, then it would be easy, given your good skills" She said as Rhys nodded as they all continue to move towards the next boss.

The mist grew thicker as they advanced, rolling low across the marshland like slow-moving smoke. The water underfoot deepened gradually, rippling with faint bioluminescent hues—pale blues and greens flickering beneath the surface.

"Next target's nearby," Sophia said quietly, her staff glowing with detection light. "Mana concentration is spiking again—strong, but scattered."

Aria's gaze swept the expanse ahead. "That would be the Sapphire Eel. It likes to split its body into mana echoes to confuse attackers."

Caria loaded a new set of bolts, each tipped with silver runes. "Basically, hit the wrong one and it shocks you instead."

Rhys tilted his head slightly. "An illusion-type boss?"

"Exactly," Aria confirmed. "But physical strikes still affect the core body once you find it. You just have to be quick enough to tell the difference."

Moonbounce let out a low hum, the runes along his shell pulsing faintly in response to the surrounding mana flow. Rhys glanced at him and nodded once, silently syncing their awareness.

The ruins gave way to a narrow channel, flanked by jagged rock and drowned roots. The air shimmered faintly—like heat haze, but cooler, colder. Then the water stirred.

A faint blue light rose from below, twisting into long, serpentine shapes that darted just beneath the surface. Dozens of them.

Sophia whispered, "They're already multiplying."

"Don't attack yet," Aria warned. "If we hit the wrong one first, it'll counter with a lightning surge."

The shapes circled tighter—dozens of glowing eels weaving together like threads of light, their motion hypnotic.

Rhys closed his eyes for a moment, focusing. The faint vibration of mana patterns brushed his senses—dozens of mimic signatures, all similar… except one. Slightly denser. Its pulse didn't fluctuate like the others.

"There," he said, pointing toward a faint shimmer near a broken pillar. "The one that doesn't distort."

Aria gave him a quick look, surprised. "You can tell?"

"Let's just say I see differently."

"Then lead the strike."

Rhys nodded, stepping forward as the Ruinous Darkness Blade began to hum—a low, resonant sound like a heartbeat in the mist. Mana gathered around him, swirling into a thin, focused stream.

The moment he moved, the illusions reacted—every eel flaring in brilliant blue, the water erupting into a storm of static.

Sophia anchored a barrier with a chant—"Tidal Ward!"—deflecting the first wave of lightning. Aria countered with a twisting column of water to draw attention away from Rhys.

Rhys blurred forward, his movement slicing through the haze like a streak of shadow and light. The correct eel tried to dive, but he was already there—his blade flashing with a whisper of mana.

"Swift Cut."

The strike hit the water, and a shockwave erupted outward. The illusions flickered and burst, fading instantly—leaving only one form writhing in pain as blue blood spread through the pond.

Caria fired, bolts striking the creature's gills with perfect precision. "Hit confirmed!"

The Sapphire Eel roared, lightning surging through its body in a desperate counterattack. Moonbounce's runes flared gold—[Light Shield] expanding to cover the group. Sparks cascaded harmlessly across the barrier.

Aria didn't miss her cue. "Now—Crushing Tide!"

Water surged from beneath, wrapping around the eel and constricting its body with incredible force.

Rhys raised his sword high, shadows crawling along its length as faint blue veins of light traced the edge. "Vertical Slash."

He brought it down in one smooth, decisive motion.

The strike cleaved through the eel's core, releasing a burst of light that spread across the marsh like shattered crystal.

When the glow faded, only fragments of azure scale and faint mana remained, drifting slowly toward the surface.

Caria exhaled, lowering her crossbow. "Three down."

Sophia grinned. "And not a single injury. We're getting good at this."

Aria looked toward Rhys, her smile faint but approving. "You're sharper than I expected. You read the fight like it's written in front of you."

Rhys sheathed his blade, glancing toward the distant fog. "It usually is."

She tilted her head. "You mean instinct?"

He simply smiled. "Something like that."

Moonbounce rumbled softly, as if amused, before turning his gaze toward the next stretch of dark water.

Aria stepped forward, her tone brisk again. "Next stop—the Verdant Spined Tortoise. Slower than the last few, but tougher. Its defense scales with the terrain—it absorbs minerals from the ground mid-fight."

Sophia chuckled. "Guess Moonbounce will be jealous."

Moonbounce made a low thunk with his shell, and Rhys smirked faintly.

"Alright then," Aria said, tightening her gloves. "Let's move before night mana density peaks. We can take it down before it hardens up."

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