---
"Cave-Slink!" Needle gasped. "This should be two-star scout beasts of this area, this one feels bigger."
Indeed, aura reading flickered to a three-star peak. Worse: more clung upside down like gargoyles along the ceiling, now unfolding.
Mia whispered, calm but fierce. "Shield formation, but don't shout. We need out of this choke. Kai, you clear us a lane."
He gripped his spear, advanced. Spear-butt tapped once: right flank follow. Two Slinks dropped. Kai twirled the weapon, deflecting acid spit, then lunged. His spear pierced one's chest; acid boiled along the shaft but his Tiny Tank layer shielded. He spun, flicking the corpse into the second to unbalance it; Shale's follow-up hammer pulped both.
More hissed, bounding along walls with spider speed. The banner edged forward, fighting in near-silence, only wet crunches and grunt breaths.
