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The Abyssal creatures lunged from the shadows, their forms twisting unnaturally in the water. Sharp claws and glowing eyes reflected the dim light that filtered through the ruins.

Furina moved first, her blue sword gleaming as she slashed through the water with practiced ease. Even submerged, her strikes were precise, elegant-like a performer in the middle of a breathtaking act. A blade of water followed each motion, cutting through the dark creatures with sharp precision.

Yoshika, in contrast, was controlled, calculating. Her golden-pink spear gleamed as she spun it, shifting her movements to adapt to the slow resistance of the water. Each thrust sent ripples outward, creating a mesmerizing display of light and motion as she drove her weapon into the Abyssal beings.

More creatures emerged from the depths, their grotesque forms swirling like shadows in the water.

Furina clicked her tongue. "Tsk! They're persistent, aren't they?"

Yoshika didn't respond with words-only with a swift, lethal strike to an approaching enemy.

Above them, Neuvillette and the others remained at the surface, keeping watch. But even from there, they could sense the battle raging below.

-

The fight dragged on, the water growing darker as the energy of the Abyss seeped into the ruins. Furina and Yoshika found themselves slowly pushed back, outnumbered.

Yoshika narrowed her eyes. "We need to fall back. There are too many."

Furina pouted. "Oh, fine! But don't think I'm admitting defeat."

Before they could retreat, however, something shifted in the ruins. A pulse of energy-ancient, unfamiliar-rippled through the water. The carvings on the stone walls began to glow faintly.

Yoshika and Furina exchanged glances.

"What was that?" Furina asked, voice softer now.

Yoshika turned toward the carvings, her expression unreadable. Something about the energy felt... familiar.

They didn't have time to ponder it. The Abyssal creatures, sensing the disturbance, suddenly recoiled, their forms twisting as they retreated into the shadows.

Silence.

The ruins stilled once more, the only movement coming from the faintly glowing inscriptions.

Furina huffed, flipping her damp hair dramatically. "Well, that was anticlimactic."

Yoshika ignored her, swimming closer to the glowing symbols.

A voice-whispering, ancient-brushed against her mind.

She froze.

Furina swam beside her. "Yoshika?"

Yoshika didn't respond immediately. She raised a hand, brushing her fingers against the stone. The voice-no, multiple voices-spoke in hushed tones, their words just out of reach.

Something about this ruin... it wasn't just old. It was connected to something much larger.

Finally, she spoke. "We need to go back up. Now."

Furina blinked at the sudden urgency but didn't argue. Together, they pushed off the ruins and swam toward the surface, where the others waited.

As they broke through the water, Neuvillette and Arlecchino were already watching them closely.

Neuvillette's sharp gaze landed on Yoshika. "What did you find?"

Yoshika took a deep breath, her mind still racing.

"...This ruin isn't just some lost structure. It's a key."

The group exchanged glances.

Lyney raised an eyebrow. "A key to what?"

Yoshika's expression darkened.

"To whatever's coming next."

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𝖠𝖭 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖤: Sooooooo i hope yall enjoyed this chapter yea