Astrid raised her hand, and a shimmering Holy Shield bloomed into existence— an elegant dome of pure light that wrapped around her like a second skin. The first wave of Red Skulls slammed into it with a bone-rattling crack. Neon-red jaws scraped the luminous surface, sparks of light bursting outward like miniature stars. Astrid narrowed her eyes.
They're stronger than before.
She didn't wait for the shield to fade. With a soft flicker, her form blurred— then vanished.
In the next heartbeat, she reappeared high above the horde, right beside the monstrous shape rising from the center of the Red Dragon Boat's deck.
The scattered Red Skulls had fused, shaping themselves into a towering humanoid abomination. Its torso was made of writhing skulls, its arms thick pillars of gnashing teeth and grinning faces. Each movement caused dozens of jaws to grind against each other, creating a sickening chorus like bones rubbing together.
Astrid's expression hardened.
