The monsters advanced with brutal clarity.
Ten of them, each distinct yet perfectly synchronized—like instruments in a war-born symphony. Shields locked, flankers rotating, ranged elements releasing blasts in calculated intervals. They didn't rush. They pressed forward with the calm certainty of predators that had done this before.
And for a moment, even Team Fourteen felt it.
The weight of precision.
Jasmine's blade clashed against a pincer's arm—CLANG!—but the moment she parried, a second one slid in from her right with impossible timing. Layla intercepted with her shield—THOOM!—but took the full brunt, skidding two meters to the side.
"I can't keep pace with all of them!" she snapped.
Irina launched a fireblast—FWOOOSH!—but it was absorbed by the monster's shielding stance, the elemental core buried beneath layers of enchanted armor.
Sylvie's enhancements spun like clockwork, but she was hitting limits.
Too many mana types in motion. Too much chaos.
