The chamber opened up like some fancy ritual space. Grace held her sword out, scanning for threats while Petriel gasped behind her.
"It's beautiful," Petriel whispered.
To be fair, it was. The walls glittered with blue crystals that caught the light emanating from Grace's blade. In the center, on a stone pedestal, sat a perfectly round pearl that glowed with its own inner light.
[That has to be it. The Tide's Tear!]
Grace took a step forward, then froze.
The water in the shallow pools around the pedestal began to move. Not just ripple—actually move. It rose up, forming humanoid shapes that were way more solid than the water demons they'd fought earlier.
Four figures took shape—three warriors with weapons made of hardened water and one taller figure who stood behind them. When Grace looked at them, she saw red numbers floating above their heads.
[Level 35? Level 38? Level 42? That's... not great.]
The biggest one, the one hanging back, showed "Level 45" in blood-red letters.
