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."

Sophia's staff flared. "Then let's make sure they don't reach the walls to find out."

The ground trembled. The waves swelled. The battle horns sounded.

And as the first wave of beasts slammed against the barrier, Rhys moved — his blade igniting with mana as he leapt from the parapet, landing atop the lower platform where the defenders met the tide.

"Whirlwind Slash!"

His sword cleaved through the nearest cluster of scaled fiends, mana scattering like sparks of blue fire. The others followed — Aria cutting through with speed and laughter, Caria covering the rear with precise magic bursts, Sophia's barriers shimmering to hold the line, and Lyra's voice carrying through the wind like a song.

The air filled with sound — steel, spells, roars, and the thunder of the sea.

Above it all, Rhys could see the city — Bluewave, glowing like a heart between ocean and sky — and the countless warriors defending it together.

He gritted his teeth, cutting down another beast. "Alright then…" he muttered under his breath, eyes blazing. "Let's make sure this city keeps dreaming."

Lightning forked across the clouds as the next surge crashed in — larger, meaner, faster. The water churned violently, spraying mist and salt across the front lines.

From beneath the waves, a deep rumble echoed — not thunder this time, but a roar. The defenders hesitated for only a moment before something massive breached the surface: a colossal, serpent-like monster crowned with fins that shimmered like liquid moonlight. Its eyes glowed molten blue, ancient and intelligent.

Sophia's voice cut through the rising panic. "That… that's not part of the swarm!"

Aria's grin faltered. "Oh, great. Mid-boss already?"

"Stay focused!" Rhys shouted. "We hold until the next barrier charges!"

Lyra raised her hands, the pendant around her neck glowing fiercely. A dome of crystalline light burst outward, slowing the advance of the lesser beasts. "I can keep this up for a bit— but whatever that thing is, it's calling the rest!"

Rhys turned sharply toward the sea. The monster's maw opened, glowing brighter, pulling mana straight from the tides. The water began to spiral around it — a whirlpool of raw energy.

"Puddle!" Rhys called, his voice ringing over the storm.

A surge of light-blue energy flared from his shadow, and Puddle emerged — no longer in her small form, but as a magnificent, flowing being of shifting water and silver light. The air rippled around her as her eyes burned with ancient magic.

"Master," her voice echoed like a soft current, calm yet resonant. "Permission to engage?"

Rhys grinned. "Go wild."

The ancient queen surged forward, slamming into the oceanic serpent with a blast that shook the barrier walls. Steam hissed as water and mana collided, their light piercing through the night like twin comets.

"Holy—" Aria's hair whipped around as she shielded her eyes. "Your partner's out for blood!"

Lyra laughed breathlessly. "She's not a partner, Aria. She's a monarch."

Above them, Sophia raised her staff, sending healing waves through the wounded defenders. Caria stood beside her, releasing volley after volley of enchanted arrows into the swarm, each impact freezing and shattering clusters of enemies.

Rhys took advantage of the opening. "Mana Shield— Whirlwind Slash!" He dashed forward, the ground splashing under his boots as his sword flared with blue light. Every strike echoed with purpose, slicing through the chaos to reach the serpent's core.

Lyra's chant joined the rhythm of the battle — ancient and melodic — her magic merging with his, threads of light weaving around Rhys's blade.

Together, they moved like tide and flame — cutting through waves of enemies as the city's defenders rallied behind them.

The storm above began to break, moonlight piercing through the clouds. The serpent recoiled, its body thrashing wildly under Puddle's relentless fury.

Then, with one final surge, Puddle drew in the sea's energy and unleashed it in a blinding cascade.

The ocean exploded into light.

When the brilliance faded, only fading embers of mana drifted on the surface. The serpent's massive form sank slowly beneath the waves, leaving silence in its wake.

For a moment, the battlefield was still — only the whisper of the tide remained.

Aria exhaled, leaning on her sword. "Well… I guess dinner's on me after all."

Caria rolled her eyes but smiled. "You said it first."

Lyra lowered her pendant, the glow fading softly. "It's over," she whispered. "For now."

Rhys stood quietly at the edge of the platform, gazing out over the glimmering sea where the last light faded. "For now," he echoed, a faint smile touching his lips.

Puddle returned to his side, shrinking back into her usual compact form, water swirling around her like a gentle tide. Her eyes shimmered softly — tired, but proud.

"Good work, partner," Rhys murmured, reaching out to pat her smooth, glowing form.

Her reply came with a quiet ripple of laughter. "You too, Master."

The sea breeze carried their words away, mingling with the defenders' laughter, relief, and the distant hum of magic — a promise that Bluewave City still stood.

And as the moon rose higher, its reflection danced on the calm waves like a quiet heartbeat — the sign of a city, and its guardians, that refused to stop dreaming.

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