The world was teeth.
Rows upon rows of ivory fangs surrounded them, gnashing like a grinder. Dark shapes twisted in the water—vague, eel-like monsters with human faces frozen in silent screams.
Haruka's HUD screamed warnings:
WORLD BOSS: Abyss Maw (Lv. 30)
Madness Meter: 72% – DANGER.
Special: Consume Reality, Sanity Erosion, Body Split.
Soren gripped her hand. "Haruka, listen. If your Madness hits 100%, you'll be trapped here forever. No respawns, no logout."
"I-I can't breathe—" Haruka gasped as the water grew thick like syrup.
"Focus on me." His voice cut through her rising panic. "Remember the rod in your hand. The ocean. The line. That's real. We're real."
Her panic eased slightly. The Madness Meter dropped to 65%.
"Good girl," Soren murmured.
Eamon's voice crackled over comms. "The Abyss Maw's core is inside its stomach. Only way to destroy it is from the inside. Someone's got to get swallowed."
Mirelle's eyes met Haruka's. "It has to be you, Aqua-Arcanist. You're the only one with a binding skill strong enough to hold it open."