“啪！”说时迟，那时快，土灵力士顺势薅住一只伪王级邪虫的后腿，而后将其狠狠掼摔在地，这家伙的躯体立时四分五裂，土灵力士手里就剩下一条腿了。很显然，力士也没想到这家伙的身子如此糟粕，但是很快的，它就被其...

WhenIcameto,Iwaslyingonthecold,dampearth,myheadthrobbingwithadullache.Aethera‘sfacehoveredaboveme,hereyeswidewithconcern.

“Whathappened“Igroggilyasked,tryingtositup.

“Youwereknockedunconscious,“shereplied,helpingmetomyfeet.“TheSongoftheShadowlandswastoopowerful.Wehadtoretreat.“

Istumbledforward,myvisionblurry.Theclearingwaseerilysilentnow,theonlysoundthedistanthumoftheSongstillechoinginmyears.

“WhatabouttheHeartTree“Iasked,myvoicebarelyaboveawhisper.

“It‘s...different,“Aetherasaid,hereyesdartingaroundtheclearingasifsearchingforsomething.“TheSongisgone,butthetreeitselfseemstohavechanged.It‘stwistedandcorrupted,likenothingI‘veeverseenbefore.“

Itookastepforward,myheartpoundingwithanticipation.“Weneedtodestroyit,“Irepeated,tryingtosoundfirm.

Aetheranodded,herjawsetindetermination.Together,weapproachedtheHeartTree,ourfootstepsechoingthroughtheclearinglikeadeathknell.

Aswereachedouttotouchthetwistedtrunk,Aetherahesitated.Herhandlingeredonmyarm,alookofuncertaintycrossingherface.

“Doyouthinkit‘sworthit“sheasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.

Itookadeepbreath,tryingtocalmmyracingheart.“Wehavetotry,“Isaidfinally.“Ifwedon‘t,thebalanceoftheuniversewillbeirreparablydamaged.“

Aetheranodded,hereyeslockedonmine.Together,wereachedoutandtouchedtheHeartTree,feelingitsdarkenergycoursingthroughourveins.

Theworldaroundusbegantodistortandwrithe,likealivingthinginagony.TheSongoftheShadowlandssurgedbacktolife,growinglouderandmoreintenseuntilitbecameadeafeningroarthatthreatenedtoconsumeuswhole.

Andthen,everythingwentblackonceagain.