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

the

to be powered by a sacred tree from Heart God's grove. I found a sapling to replace the original tree, which had

thought for a

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 the roots did. That was how this monster was

sigh escaped from Cassie's

ancient, but weak to fire. We can

everyone involuntarily turned to Nephis. Changing Star's expression did not change

later,

"...I'll do it."

Sunny shook his head.

"No need."

that Neph could slay the Blood-Nourished Root without too much trouble. She could also lend her flames to him or Saint... but that would require her to use her Aspect, which would trigger

rarely used her own. Strangers might not have noticed it, but anyone close to her knew that she

was how it

burn alive every time she called upon

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

glanced at

the Dawn Shard. We'll deal with the

theirs were curses of

side,

"Ah, hell."

side, Kai summoned his ivory armor, as well as the Transcendent bow

the Cruel Sight, which ignited with