“呃，不是惊吓、不是惊吓，是我自己有点吃惊而已。”听到关横这么揶揄自己，独角冰蛟有些尴尬的辩解道。就在这个时候，水玄灵兽开口言道：“好了关横，你也不要再逗冰蛟了，我有事情要问你，为什么霸魂会说只有你才...

AsweventureddeeperintotheheartoftheShadowlands,theSongoftheShadowlandsgrewlouderandmoreintense.Theairseemedtothickenwithanotherworldlyenergy,makingithardformetobreathe.Aethera‘seyesgleamedwithaninnerlight,asifshewasdrawntothesonglikeamothtoflame.

Suddenly,thetreesaroundusbegantotwistandcontort,theirbrancheswrithinglikelivingserpents.Thecreaturesoftheforestwatcheduswithanunblinkinggaze,theireyesburningwithanmalevolentintensity.Ifeltasurgeoffear,butAethera‘spresencesteadiedme,remindingmethatwewerenotaloneinthisforsakenrealm.

“Wearegettingclose,“shewhispered,hervoicebarelyaudibleoverthecacophonyoftheSong.“Thesourceofthedisruptionisnear.“

Inodded,myheartpoundingwithanticipation.Ihadnoideawhatlayahead,butIwasreadytofaceithead-on.

Aswewalked,thegroundbeneathourfeetbegantoshiftandtremble.Theearthseemedtobealive,convulsinginamaddanceofstoneandshadow.Aetherastumbled,herfootslippingonahiddenpatchofslick,blacksoil.Icaughtherbytheelbow,steadyingherassheregainedherbalance.

“Careful,“Iwarned,myvoicelowandurgent.“Wedon‘tknowwhat‘swaitingforusahead.“

Aetheranodded,hereyesflashingwithdetermination.Together,wepressedon,ourfootstepsechoingthroughthetwistedlandscapelikeafuneraldirge.

Andthen,suddenly,westumbledintoaclearing.Theskyabovewasadeep,burningcrimson,andtheairwasheavywithanelectricchargethatseemedtocracklethrougheverymoleculeofair.Inthecenteroftheclearingstoodanenormous,twistedtree,itsbranchesreachinguptowardstheskylikeskeletalfingers.

TheSongoftheShadowlandspulsedfromtheheartofthetree,growinglouderandmoreintenseuntilitbecameadeafeningroarthatthreatenedtoconsumeuswhole.IfeltAethera‘shandtightenaroundmine,asifshewasdrawingstrengthfrommyverypresence.

“Whatisthisplace“Iwhispered,awestruckbythesheerscaleofthetwistedtree.

Aethera‘seyesgleamedwithafiercelight.“ThisistheHeartTree,“shesaid,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.“Thesourceofthedisruptionthatthreatenstounravelthefabricofreality.“

Ifeltasurgeoffear,butAethera‘spresencesteadiedme,remindingmethatwewerenotaloneinthisforsakenrealm.

“Wehavetodestroyit,“Iwhispered,myvoicefilledwithdetermination.“Wecan‘tletitcontinuetodisruptthebalanceoftheuniverse.“

Aetheranodded,herjawsetinafirmline.Together,weapproachedtheHeartTree,ourfootstepsechoingthroughtheclearinglikeadeathknell.

Aswereachedouttotouchthetwistedtrunk,theSongoftheShadowlandssurgedtoacrescendo,threateningtoconsumeuswhole.IfeltAethera‘shandtightenaroundmine,asifshewasdrawingstrengthfrommyverypresence.

Andthen,inaninstant,everythingwentblack.