Chapter Two-Hundred-and-Fourteen
Natalia gasped herself awake after Adam had settled them all down. In front of them was a large cave mouth in the southeastern corner of the rectangular box made by the mountains hemming in the stage.
“How long was I out?” she asked.
“About three minutes,” Adam replied. “As promised, we arrived quickly.”
“I think I prefer unconsciousness,” Chien remarked.
Natalia ran her hands down her body frantically as she got up, but Adam had already removed the constructs from her and Chien, although he left one wrapped around Seo-Yoon, since she’d threatened to hurt him when he tried to take it away.
Natalia looked towards the cave mouth directly in front of them. “Is it in there? The shadow bird?” she asked.
“It is,” Adam confirmed. His compass had pointed to the cave the entire journey here, and now that they were close, he could sense a faint melody from within. It was that of an animal, but twisted and tainted.
According to what Natalia had said, the shadow bird had broken free of the Forlorn Shadow, and Adam assumed it was because of its resistant brain, which the Guardian wanted her to collect.
He was hoping that it meant the Shadow wouldn’t be able to protect it, but he didn’t want to make such assumptions, because it was after all a secret boss, and those were always more challenging than normal boss encounters.