Far ahead of the Serpent's Maw, the black waters of the lower trench were running thick and warm with crimson.
Yua moved through the submerged ruins like a phantom made of liquid gore. Her black dress was torn at the hem, floating around her knees, and her long dark hair drifted freely in the churning sea. Her black-and-red eyes held no hesitation now. The initial shock of the surprise attack had passed, replaced by the razor-sharp, lethal efficiency of a pureblood princess defending her territory.
A squad of seven vanguard mages surged down a narrow coral corridor, their polished wooden wands raised, bright yellow light condensing at the tips.
"Target spotted! Fire—"
Yua didn't let them finish the word.
