Shadow Slave

It would have been hard to fight the creature dwelling on the dark slide of the island in usual circumstances - after all, below it was the endless expanse of the dark abyss, and humans were not known for their ability to fly. Fighting a Corrupted abomination while hanging from the treacherous stone surface of the underside of the isle was a suicidal task.

Of course, there were ways to gain an advantage even in that situation. Kai, for example, could indeed fly. Sunny could assume the shadow fiend form, which was perfectly suited for just these kinds of battles. Effie was strong enough to dig a path to the creature from the surface in no time - and so on.

None of it was necessary today, though, because they had Cassie and the flying ship. The graceful vessel dove into the Sky Below and descended until the Shipwreck Island, as well as the creature hiding in its shade, was above them. They maintained a safe distance for now, but the main disadvantage was already erased.

Sunny peered into the darkness shrouding the bottom of the isle. There were large cavities in the stone and soil, making the whole island seem like a giant beehive. These caves were narrow and deep, and there was something hiding in their depths.

'Big...'

He did not have to rely on his eyes, though.

Cassie let go of the steering oars and stepped out of the runic circle, getting closer to the wooden railings. She observed the dark ravines for a while, then sighed.

"It is a Corrupted Monster. An old and powerful one."

The blind girl could perceive Aspects, Abilities, and Attributes of Awaweked... but that power allowed her to learn about Nightmare Creatures, too. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their nature - Cassie was an invaluable source of knowledge in that regard.

And knowledge was the origin of power.

She tilted her head a little.

"It is a plant abomination. Blood-Nourished Root. I... I have an idea of how it came to be."

The others looked at her with interest. Sunny raised an eyebrow.

you

pointed at the

a sapling to replace the original tree, which had died when the ship crashed... but I think it had

for a

in the soil of the island. However, the Wormvine had been unleashed within the wreck. It grew and suffocated the tree, turning it into a corpse. The roots remained, though... and so did Solvane. Her blood seeped into the soil and was absorbed by the roots throughout the centuries. Solvane did not succumb to the Corruption, but

sigh escaped

it's vast and ancient, but weak to fire. We can burn the Root to ash without

those words, everyone involuntarily turned to

moment later, she

"...I'll do it."

Sunny shook his head.

"No need."

flames to him or Saint... but that would require her to use her Aspect, which would

Awakened, using their Aspects was as natural as breathing - especially so for Sunny, who always observed the world through his shadows. However, Nephis very rarely used her own. Strangers

Shore, and that was how it was now. Usually, Neph relied on only her physical prowess and

she had to burn alive every

would it be, if she was forced to go through that suffering in the middle of

glanced at her and

the Dawn Shard. We'll deal with

theirs were curses of

side, Effie

"Ah, hell."

layer of polished metal suddenly covered her skin, making the huntress look like a beautiful steel statue. By her side, Kai summoned his ivory armor, as well as the Transcendent bow he

summoned the Cruel Sight, which ignited with the incandescent glow