He frowned, stepping back instinctively as the shadow expanded across the battlefield. The glow of molten fissures reflected off its carapace — a smooth, black-crystal sheen that shimmered with deadly beauty.
"Shard Beetles…" he muttered under his breath. "They came sooner than expected."
The first of them swooped down, its translucent wings cutting through the air like scythes. Its maw — a jagged saw-like spiral — snapped open with a horrible grinding sound. Sparks flew as it bit into a nearby golem by mistake, shearing through basalt as though it were butter.
The golem staggered and fell, its head split open, before the beetle turned toward Xavier with mechanical precision.
More shadows appeared above — half a dozen, then more. Their wings flickered with dim blue veins, reflecting the cold shimmer of the dungeon's mana field.
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "Since the fliers are here… the walkers won't be far behind."
