The distance between Luca and Nova was rapidly closing as they moved across the narrow canal. They were on the verge of meeting when suddenly, a massive whirlpool appeared beneath them.
Luca could already sense a monstrously powerful creature lurking beneath the water's surface. At the same moment, he realized that this creature had only one intention—to kill both him and Nova. Without a second thought, he activated his ice magic runes once again in a flash of lightning. As the surrounding waters froze, the force of the whirlpool was quickly contained.
Without wasting any time, Luca reached out and grabbed Nova, pulling her towards the shore with all the speed he could muster.
Just as they reached the bank, the frozen surface of the canal cracked with a deafening sound. A colossal crocodile exploded from the water, crashing onto the shore. The creature was now less than twenty meters away from them.
