The Aqua Serpent Beast.
The surface of the silver lake was broken.
A geyser of water shot up into the sky, drenching the glade in a torrent of sound. Leon stepped back reflexively, boots scuffling over wet moss as his sword flashed into guard position. Something huge emerged from the depths.
Scales of midnight sapphire disturbed the water first, glinting like burnished armor. Afterwards came the ridged, horned head—crocodilian in outline, but thinner, more deadly. Steam spat out of its nostrils. Silver-blue eyes fixed on Leon with a still, appalling malevolence.
"Aqua Serpent-Beast," he grunted, eyes squinting.
The beast rose up from the lake, coiled and coiling, an impenetrable wall of sinuous muscle and primal fury. Water streamed down its sides in rivulets, hissing as it encountered the heat emanating from its body. The air hummed. Mana charged like electricity in Leon's bones.
