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.

we don't die before that, you

back to the roots

don't

***

the Sanctuary, Sunny had a

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

away his resentment for the sake of mutual benefit. After all, Sunny could be

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 if he

augmentation of the Cruel Sight, however,

the ominous prediction that Cassie had made about both of them dying sometime in winter. Or falling into the Sky Below, at least. That… he didn't even know what to think about that. However, Sunny was not going to let this vision affect his

thing to do was to keep it in his mind, but continue to act as if nothing had changed.

the middle of the night. His shadow essence reserves were almost depleted, and his head buzzed from all the

of water falling

about it, for now. First

the sky, which meant that he was

brought with it to the Iron Hand Island started this whole ordeal, and now,

waiting for him up

moments to make sure that no one was

shade of an ancient tree, and an obsidian knife lay on its

'The moment of truth…'

Coffer, took out one of the gold coins out of it, and placed it on

coin shimmered, reflecting the

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

smile appeared

runes,

Shadow Fragments: [224/2000].

'It works!'

altar each time he had to return to the real world — to minimize the

in his sight, he decided against