Sophia smirked, nudging Caria with her elbow. "Told you he wasn't just another lucky swordsman."

Caria rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Yeah, yeah. Guess I owe you that bet."

Rhys tilted his head. "Bet?"

Aria chuckled. "Nothing serious. We just wondered if you'd pick up on the mana sync before the seventh boss. Most don't."

Rhys sheathed his sword, the faint glow along its edge fading. "Guess I ruined your wager, then."

"Not ruined," Aria said, her grin widening. "Just made it more interesting."

The wind shifted again—this time colder, carrying with it a deep, rhythmic vibration that pulsed through the ground beneath their feet. The swamp's mist swirled unnaturally, as if drawn by invisible threads toward the south.

Sophia's smile faded. "That's… not normal. The mana sync's accelerating."

Caria's expression darkened. "It's drawing energy faster than before. Could the serpent be acting as a conduit?"

Aria's eyes narrowed. "If it's channeling from all the others, the Blackmire Serpent won't be a mid-tier boss anymore—it'll be closer to a raid-class."

Rhys placed a hand on Moonbounce's shell. The turtle's runes flickered uneasily, responding to the distorted mana field. "Then we don't wait. The longer we give it, the more it'll evolve."

Aria nodded firmly. "Agreed. We move now—straight into the basin. No delays, no scouting."

Sophia groaned softly, adjusting her staff. "Straight into a raid-class swamp serpent. Fantastic."

Rhys looked ahead, eyes narrowing as the distant fog shimmered with veins of black and violet light. "If it's already changing, we might not have a second chance."

The mist rippled like breath against glass—something massive stirring beneath the surface far ahead.

Aria's voice cut through the rising hum of mana, steady and fierce. "Formation Delta. Stay sharp."

And as they descended into the dark basin, the pulse of the swamp began to sync with their own hearts—slow, heavy, and hungry.

The basin opened before them like a wound in the earth—vast, silent, and glistening with black water that reflected no light. The air was dense with mana, each breath thick enough to taste. Veins of violet energy pulsed beneath the surface, their rhythm matching the slow, deliberate beat that had haunted them since the last boss fell.

Despite the oppressive weight in the air, none of the three women showed even a flicker of unease. Aria's expression remained composed, eyes scanning the shifting ripples across the basin. Sophia adjusted her staff with practiced ease, the faint glow at its tip harmonizing with the ambient mana. Caria checked her bolts, her movements smooth and measured, as if preparing for another familiar drill.

They had done this before—many times. The calm that surrounded them wasn't ignorance. It was discipline carved by experience.

Rhys noticed it. No racing heartbeats, no erratic mana flow—only precision. Veterans through and through, he thought, his own pulse aligning with theirs as he steadied his grip on the sword.

Moonbounce moved to the front, his runes dimming into a focused silver glow. The ground beneath them trembled faintly, but none of the three flinched.

"Depth distortion's at thirty percent," Sophia said evenly, her tone analytical. "It's merging the surrounding mana veins—probably to fortify its core zone."

Aria nodded. "Then the serpent's already conscious of us. Caria, check for secondary flows."

Caria knelt, dipping a small mana sensor into the water. The device flashed red for a moment before stabilizing into orange. "Three flows merging ahead. It's forming a tri-core resonance. That's not defensive—it's hunting alignment."

Rhys frowned. "Meaning it's waiting for us to move first."

"Exactly." Aria's gaze sharpened. "If we rush in, it'll counter with everything it's built up. So we bait it instead."

Sophia's lips curved faintly. "Just like last time?"

Aria smirked. "Exactly like last time."

Caria smiled too, quietly loading her weapon. "You know, it almost feels nostalgic."

Rhys looked between them, realizing with mild surprise that they weren't pretending calm—they were comfortable. Even facing a creature that could rival a raid-class boss, their presence was steady, almost serene.

"Moonbounce," he said softly, "set barrier—thirty percent density. We'll let it see us."

The turtle's eyes gleamed gold as a translucent dome expanded around them, faint ripples of light spreading over the basin.

Instantly, the water responded. The black surface convulsed, and from the depths, something vast began to stir—massive coils sliding beneath the water, their scales reflecting violet and green light like living obsidian.

Sophia lifted her staff, calm as ever. "Contact established."

Aria's voice was steady, precise. "Phase one protocol—containment. Don't overcommit."

Caria exhaled, her aim unwavering. "Target confirmed. Waiting for the breach."

Rhys's blade hummed softly in his hand, its runes synchronizing with the serpent's heartbeat. The air thickened with intent.

Then the water exploded upward in a towering column of black mist and coiling scales.

Aria didn't flinch. "There you are."

The Blackmire Serpent's eyes burned like twin suns through the fog—vast, cold, and intelligent. It opened its maw, and the swamp answered with a guttural roar that shook the trees.

But the three women stood still, composed, their mana perfectly in sync—like conductors waiting for the right note.

Rhys could feel it now. The calm wasn't just confidence. It was mastery. They had faced this kind of horror before—and this time, they had him and Moonbounce beside them.

He lifted his sword. "Let's finish this before it finishes syncing."

Aria's smile returned, sharp as the edge of her spear. "That's the spirit. Formation Delta—engage."

The battle began.

The serpent's emergence tore the swamp apart. Black water surged outward like a collapsing tide, smashing against the basin's edges. The air itself warped under the pressure of its mana—heavy, distorted, ancient.

Aria was already moving before the first shockwave hit. Her spear traced a clean silver arc, striking the air with enough force to split the mist. "Caria—eyes on its lateral fins! Don't aim for the scales; they'll rebound elemental shots."

"Copy." Caria's reply came calm and clipped. She fired. Her bolt shimmered with piercing enchantment, slicing through the air like a line of light before vanishing beneath the serpent's twisting body. A second later, a muted crack echoed as it detonated, marking the weak point.

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