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 know

the mast of

enchantments of this vessel are meant to be powered by a sacred tree from Heart God's grove. I found a sapling to replace the original tree, which had died when the ship crashed... but I think it had not died

thought for a few

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

sigh escaped from Cassie's

to fire. We can burn the Root to ash without destroying the

said those words, everyone involuntarily turned to Nephis.

moment later,

"...I'll do it."

Sunny shook his head.

"No need."

She could also lend her flames to him or Saint... but that would require her to use her Aspect, which would

Nephis very rarely used her own. Strangers might not have noticed it, but anyone close to her knew that she only activated her Abilities during battles,

had been on the Forgotten Shore, and that was how it was now. Usually, Neph relied on only her

alive every

was forced

glanced at her

Shard. We'll

was a curse, but theirs were curses

his side,

"Ah, hell."

statue. By her side, Kai summoned his ivory armor, as well as the Transcendent bow he had received after slaying the Corrupted Tyrant, Malignant Grave Root. An arrow that

which ignited with