The sky was still dark, and a gray morning mist shrouded the lakeshore.
The expedition team assembled before dawn.
Velin, Ola, Barrett, and Kael, who practically melted into the shadows.
A troop of non-humans stood quietly behind them.
Twenty giant dung beetles, each one sturdier than an ox—they were Sarah's newest creation, the Level 3 Magical Beasts known as the Soldier Ants.
Their carapaces bristled with barbs that glinted coldly, and their six jointed legs were steady and strong.
Ola swallowed hard as he gazed at the silent, menacing creatures.
The smaller 'battering ram' on each of their heads looked like it could pierce a thick ironwood shield.
One by one, they drank their Underwater Breathing Potions and dove into the cave at the heart of the lake.
The frigid lake water enveloped them, a crushing pressure seeping through the gaps in their leather armor.
Boosted by Glow Potions, they could see through the darkness of the lakebed.
