The group journeyed deeper into the fragmented shadow world.
The terrain subtly shifted.
The ground beneath their feet grew more uneven, patches of cracked obsidian-like stone jutting out from the mist. The trees- if they could be called that, despite how unearthly, dark, and unalive they looked- began appearing more frequently.
Some even had hollow, gaping trunks that breathed out faint wisps of shadow, exhaling wisps of darkness poison. The farther they walked, the heavier the air became, not just from the cold but from something more… pressing.
It was the sensation of being watched- not by one, but by many.
"I can't tell if we're in a forest or a cemetery…" Aila whispered, tiptoeing between roots that snaked across the terrain like coiled serpents.
The air was dense, and they couldn't fly easily. They would have to expend more energy than usual.
"Same thing," Bylai quipped, arms folded behind her back, "Especially if we're the ones who are about to die here."
"..." Aila looked dumbfounded. That was so inappropriate.
Shirley giggled lightly but remained vigilant. Her flames flickered brighter now, chasing the fog away for a few feet around them. The spirits lurking in the mist didn't approach. They just… stared.
Obviously, they were scared of the new strange beings that entered their domain. At the same time, Isabella's Emperor-Tier Earth Dragon aura was unleashed in some force here. She didn't want to waste time fighting some spirits she knew they could take down in an instant.
They passed by what looked like ruins- pillars of black stone etched with ancient runes half-eaten by time and corrosion. These remnants stood like tombstones, whispering of a world that once was, or perhaps never existed at all.
It seemed to be an old settlement of a darkness spirit, once again found in a ruined state.
Shirley and the others could only wonder if these spirits could endure the tide of elemental energy wreaking havoc in this place.
"The darkness energy here is so dense. I bet Mingzhi and Yilla would love to cultivate here." She giggled.
"They would." Isabella smiled lightly,
"Elder sister Yilla should've also come. I wanted to get to know her better~" Aila pouted.
Isabella shook her head warmly, "it's better that they stayed. Mingzhi can't enter because she became an Empyrean, but Yilla and even the wolf twins need to spend time nurturing their feelings for Davis. With us out of the way, they would surely grow closer."
"Ah~" Shirley gawked, "You're almost saying as though we're hindrances."
"Objectively, yes~" Bylai giggled as she winked at Isabella, backing her up.
Isabella giggled, "I didn't mean it that way, but surely, the little ones also need time to nurture the relationship they have with our Emperor. If we took all his time, then what was the point of him taking them or we accepting them? Isn't that right, Aila?"
"Yes~"
Aila sweetly replied, "We also need time. The elder sisters should go sit on the sidelines for the time being~"
Shirley and the others suddenly stopped. They turned to look at her, their gazes scorching.
"…"
Aila's expression sank, and she looked as though she was going to cry, "Why am I the only one whose joke isn't being laughed at? You're all bullying me~"
"Ahahah!~"
Shirley burst out laughing. She walked towards Aila and put her arm around her neck, looking like a big shot.
"Little sister Aila, you're so cute that we can't help but want to tease you so badly~"
"Ah~"
She grabbed Aila's breasts abruptly, causing her to yelp.
Instantly, she went red to her ears, causing Shirley to act like she was a pervert as she groped her.
"Hehehe~ I can see why Davis went far away to kidnap you~!" Shirley cackled.
"Aiya~ That's enough."
Isabella grasped Shirley from behind and pulled her back.
"Eeeeeee!~~~"
Suddenly, a shrill cry echoed through the fog, distant but enough to make their hairs stand on end. It instantly caused all their different expressions to freeze as they went into attention.
They all turned to look in the direction the scream came from.
The cry repeated as they headed forward, closer this time. But it wasn't hostile- it was almost like...
"Something's crying," Isabella muttered lightly, "A spirit?"
"Sounds young," Shirley responded.
"Do we check it out or ignore it?" Bylai asked, half-anticipating a trap.
However, Shirley was already moving steadily, her body surrounded by light crimson phoenix flames that radiated a faint warmth, warding off the cold fog, "If it's bait, we burn it. If it's real, we see what's going on and act accordingly."
The others followed without hesitation. They couldn't afford to waste time whatever it was screaming for help.
After traversing through a patch of dense mist, they reached a clearing, if it could be called that. It was almost like they were in the settlement's plaza. At the center lay a small spirit curled into itself, shivering. It looked like a black-skinned child wrapped in a cloak of dark feathers while its hair was wavy tentacle hair, clearly a darkness spirit.
Its race was unknown. They couldn't tell.
Shadowy vines coiled around its legs, trying to drag it into the distance, but she did everything in her power to hold on. However, no matter how she tried, it seemed like her strength was being rapidly drained as the shadowy vines pulsed with darkness energy, growing from the tip as it traversed through the vine.
"Bait…?" Shirley murmured.
The spirit looked up at them with luminous silver eyes, wide and terrified. It didn't speak- it just whimpered as the vines tightened.
"Hold on!" However, Isabella dashed forward, her earthen energy roaring fully. She was like a dragon descending as she sliced down with her hand, her powerful palm cleaving the dark vines in a flash. The vines hissed and recoiled like a wounded beast, retreating back into the darkness.
As the spirit was freed, it scrambled backward, not toward them, but just away from the tendrils. Then it stopped and looked at Isabella, confused… hopeful.
It trembled, almost similarly to how the little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit did, breathing panickedly like a little bird. It then bowed.
"Thank you…" the little spirit whispered in a tiny voice, almost inaudible, "I-I was caught… I didn't mean to be here…"
"You're not from this place?" Isabella asked gently.
The little spirit shook its head, "I strayed from our settlement… I was curious…"
"Mhm." Shirley raised her brows, exchanging glances with the others.
They wondered if they should head there to gain more information. After all, befriending the Celestial Descent Light Spirits allowed them to gain access to all entrances within that fragmented shard world. If they had help from the locals, then finding treasures would be way easier unless the treasures were in the locals' hands.
Only- they didn't know if it would go as smoothly as the last time.
Before anyone could ask further, the little spirit stiffened, its eyes going wide in terror. It backed away from them, pointing toward the mist behind them with a trembling hand.
"It's coming…"
All of them turned in the direction she pointed instantly.
The mist behind them rippled unnaturally as though something enormous was breathing through it. A deep rumble vibrated through the ground, and the fog parted slightly to reveal a tall figure approaching. It wasn't just big- it appeared… massive and regal, almost thirty meters high.
It was too large to be a spirit unless it was already unleashing a spirit phenomenon.
The figure was cloaked in shadow, but not like the others. This one shimmered with a dignified, silver-black hue. Long robes trailed behind it, flowing like liquid ink. Six black tendrils hovered behind its back, slowly undulating like a whip. It was apparent that one of these was the shadowy vine that caught and trapped the little spirit.
Its face was masked, featureless except for a crescent slit where a third eye would be—glowing with a dim, violet flame.
"…!"
The Greater One.
Shirley and the others could tell without needing to be told.
It didn't speak. It simply looked at them and the pressure radiating from it was immense. It was as though a whole realm was staring down at them through this being's eyes.
Aila whimpered ever so lightly behind Shirley in shock, and even Bylai took a step back. Isabella's fists were clenched, her aura surging to resist the invisible weight.
They instantly figured that this creature was extremely powerful, and they knew what kind of existence this was.
Something greater than a Void Calamity- a Realm Calamity, the Nefarious Darkwill Rakshasa. Its prowess was said to be insanely high, around nine levels higher, enough to make even Empyreal Sovereigns run. However, with this lifeform growing in this Elemental Dimension and in such a perfect environment, they couldn't tell where its true strength lay.
It was as though if it wanted to, it could conceal itself and disappear from their senses.
"Run!"
Isabella roared at Bylai and the others. She instantly decided that they wouldn't be able to handle this Realm Calamity, leaving only her and Shirley to take it down.
Isabella and Shirley unleashed their full power.
Emperor-Tier Earth Dragon aura and strange Emperor-Tier ice-fire phoenix aura exploded, enveloping the regions. The scarlet-blue flames surged and lit up the dark hue of the atmosphere, and a crimson-gold light erupted from Isabella.
The Greater One staggered back, pushed by their pressure, but Bylai and the others didn't wait. They grabbed the little spirit that couldn't move under the terrifying undulations and escaped.