一秒记住【笔趣阁】xbiquge365，更新快，无弹窗！

“好！”听到了古荒吼?的话，甲貅王和疯毒蚁后答应一声，立刻率领土灵力士奔向不远处，将矿晶石全部收集起来，疯毒蚁后清点了一下收获，而后扭项回头扬声说道：“吼?，矿晶石就只有几十块……”“这个数量似乎有些...

Aswestoodthere,frozenincontemplation,thesilencebetweenusgrewthicker,likeaphysicalpresencethatpressedagainstmyskin.Aethera‘sgriponmyhandremainedsteady,alifelinethatkeptmegroundedinthemidstofthisunchartedterrain.

Itookadeepbreath,tryingtoclearmyheadandfocusonthetaskathand.Thefigure‘swordsechoedinmymind,itschallengehangingoveruslikeaguillotineblade.Whatdiditmeantobetested?Whatfearswouldwehavetoconfront?

Aetheraseemedtosensemyunease,hergazeflickingtowardsmewithahintofreassurance.Shemouthedasingleword:“Together.“

Inodded,feelingasurgeofdeterminationcoursethroughmyveins.Wewereinthistogether,andnothingwouldbreakthatbond.

Thesilencearoundusbegantogrowmoreoppressive,theairthickeninglikeafogthatrefusedtolift.IcouldfeeltheweightoftheShadow‘spresencebearingdownonus,itsdarknessseepingintoeveryporeofmybeing.

Andthen,withoutwarning,theforesteruptedintochaos.

Treesbegantowritheandtwist,theirbrancheslashingoutlikewhips.Theairwasfilledwithacacophonyofsounds:snappingtwigs,rustlingleaves,andthedistantrumbleofthunder.Aethera‘sgriponmyhandtightenedasshestumbledforward,hereyesfixedonsomeunseentarget.

Ifollowedclosebehind,mysensesreelingfromtheassaultonmysenses.Theworldaroundushadbecomeamadhouse,awhirlwindofcolorandsoundthatthreatenedtoconsumemewhole.

Aswestumbledthroughtheforest,IcaughtglimpsesofAethera‘sreflectioninthetreesthemselves.Hereyesseemedtobeburningwithaninnerfire,herfacetwistedinafiercedetermination.Iknewthatlook,hadseenitbefore-itwasthelookofsomeonewhowasreadytofacewhateverhorrorslayahead.

Weweregettingcloser,Icouldfeelit.TheShadow‘spresenceloomedoveruslikeaspecter,itsdarknessseepingintoeverycornerofmymind.

Andthen,withoutwarning,weemergedintoaclearing.

Theskyabovewasadeep,burningred,theairthickwithanunnaturalheatthatseemedtosucktheverybreathfrommylungs.Inthecenteroftheclearingstoodanancient,twistedtree,itsbranchesreachingtowardstheskylikeskeletalfingers.

Aethera‘sgriponmyhandtightenedasshegazeduponthetree.Hereyesseemedtobelockedontosomeunseentarget,herexpressionamixofaweandtrepidation.

“Whatisthisplace?“Iwhispered,tryingtokeepmyvoicesteadydespitethefearthatthreatenedtoconsumeme.

Thefigurereappeared,itspresencetoweringoveruslikeamonolithofshadowanddarkness.Itsgazeseemedtoboreintomysoul,itseyesburningwithaninnerfirethatmademyskincrawlwithdread.

“ThisistheHeartwood,“itboomedthroughtheclearing,echoingoffthetreeslikeachallenge.“HereliesthesourceoftheShadow‘spower.“

Aethera‘sgriponmyhandtightenedasshegazeduponthetree.Iknewthatlook,hadseenitbefore-itwasthelookofsomeonewhowasreadytofacewhateverhorrorslayahead.

Wewereinthistogether,nomatterwhatlayahead.Andwithadeepbreath,Isteeledmyselfforwhatwastocome.

Together,wewouldfacetheHeartwood,andwhateverterrorslaywithinitstwistedbranches.