The deceptive serenity of the swamp was shattered by a sudden vibration under Johan's boots. He felt the tremor in his bones, resonating with a deep foreboding. 'This isn't an aftershock from the Kagune use... this is something much bigger.'
Before Johan could fully react, a gargantuan silhouette burst forth from the swamp's depths, showering the surroundings with putrid water and mud. It was a monstrous toad, its eyes, each the size of a wagon wheel, glaring malevolently. The earthy, mottled texture of its skin made it seem as though the swamp itself had taken on a malicious form.
But the looming behemoth wasn't the only threat. Darting in the peripheral of Johan's vision was a creature that seemed a fusion of lizard and toad. Its agile frame stood in stark contrast to the toad's bulkiness, its rapid movements a blur against the damp background. The sinuous creature leaped around with uncanny grace, making Johan's tracking difficult.
