22 Shard Beast

To Zoe, it looked like something straight out of a raid boss fight—a mid-boss, maybe, but definitely the kind that could wreck your entire party if you underestimated it for even a second.

It had all the telltale signs: glowing weak points, oversized limbs, and that unmistakable air of 'mess-with-me-and-get-squashed.'

"That's our ticket forward," Zoe said, her eyes narrowing at the beast. "Crystal Chump, right there."

She nudged Roderick with her elbow, but he shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Shard Beast," he corrected, a hint of seriousness breaking through. "Doesn't look like it's here to mess around."

"Never is," Gavin muttered, unsheathing his weapon, a shimmering blade imbued with his own magic.

Serria tightened her grip on her heavy shield, her eyes set forward, calculating.

The tension around her was thick, the unease clear on her friends' faces as they eyed the unpredictable foe ahead.