"Intruders. Parasites. You will not cut the root."
Roots snapped free, shaping into a colossal humanoid form around the Core itself. A Root-Warden, larger even than the Titan. Its chest was the exposed, pulsing heart, half-shielded by bark-bone ribs.
Rhys tightened his grip on the Verdant Scholar Sword. His grin sharpened.
"This is it. The real fight."
Bounce's aura flared silver fire, his growl low and steady, as if daring the Core to test him. Puddle's halos spun with renewed fury, light and dark flaring in equal measure.
The Core moved first. Its rib-arms slammed down, creating shockwaves that split the ground. From the cracks, Core-spawn crawled forth—hybrid monsters of bone and vine, each carrying ember eyes.
"Bounce, keep them off me!" Rhys shouted.