Shadow Slave

Sunny stared at the blind girl with surprise clearly written on his face. Allowing this surprise to seep into his voice, he asked:

"The vine creature? You want to kill that thing?"

Why would she want to attempt to do something that dangerous?

Cassie nodded.

"Yes."

He shook his head.

"That bastard sprawls through the entire island, its vines buried underground. It is Corrupted, which means that our weapons will barely be able to cut it. And, if that was not bad enough, the vines produce clouds of deadly poison. Are you sure that you want to attack it?"

The blind girl lingered for a few moments, then answered calmly:

"It is a Corrupted Monster, indeed. It is terrifying and lethal, yes. But I am sure that we can destroy it, with enough preparation. Everyone has weaknesses, after all. That creature is susceptible to fire, for example. There must be other things we might be able to exploit, too."

Sunny thought for a while, then shrugged.

"Fine. I will help your cohort fight the monstrosity on the Shipwreck Island. I will not promise that we will succeed, though."

Cassie sighed.

"Then we have a deal. My cohort and I will remain in the Desecrated Growth until our business here is done. I expect it to take a month, at least. Maybe more. After, we will return to the Sanctuary, recuperate, and proceed to the Shipwreck Island."

She paused for a moment, and then added:

"And then, I will help you challenge the Second Nightmare."

Sunny smiled.

die before

turned back to the roots

we don't die

***

back to the Sanctuary,

cooperate with Cassie again, which made him feel all sorts of complicated emotions. The manner of their relationship, at least, was set clear — it

of mutual benefit. After all, Sunny could be

perspective of returning to the wreck of the ancient ship, this time to do battle with the vine monster that ruled over the island. Sunny knew very well how dangerous that thing was, so he had a lot of preparations to do

the Cruel Sight, however, was going to come in

falling into the Sky Below, at least. That… he didn't even know what to think about that. However, Sunny was not going to

mind, but continue to act as if nothing had changed. At least he thought that this was the

Sunny approached the Sanctuary of Noctis in the middle of the night. His shadow essence reserves were almost depleted, and his head buzzed from

soft grass and hearing the familiar sound of water falling over the edge of the

about it, for

the sky, which meant that he was finally going to get his

the dead Chain Worm had brought with it to the Iron Hand Island started this

prize was waiting for

clear pond in its center. Stopping for a couple of moments to make sure that no one was watching him, he then crossed the stone path

altar stood in the shade of an ancient tree, and an

'The moment of truth…'

out one of the gold coins out of

the moonlight,

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

appeared on

the runes, he

Shadow Fragments: [224/2000].

'It works!'

a dozen or so on the altar each time he had to return to the real world —

the reward was in his sight,