Ethan saw the massive catfish-like mouth looming before him and immediately reached out to Yaya with his mind.
"Yaya, control the Tree of Life! Don't let it release any more life energy!" he urged, his voice trembling with anxiety.
"But… brother…" Yaya's voice quivered, uncertain. She barely managed half a sentence before Ethan cut her off.
"Yaya, listen to me. Do it now—hurry! It'll be too late if you don't!"
The foul stench from the creature's gaping mouth hit him like a wave, thick and rotten. The Quintessence Bone, which was supposed to shield him in moments of mortal danger, still lay dormant. Yaya's constant replenishing of his life energy had kept him from reaching that critical threshold, leaving the bone's power idle and unwilling to awaken.
"Alright…" Yaya finally answered, her voice small.
