The temple's heart was a giant room filled with blinding green light.
The Tide Crystal floated on a stone stand in the middle. Its pale blue glow fought hard against the dark green rot surrounding it. Living coral covered the walls, beating slowly like a giant, fleshy heart. Water dripped from the ceiling in thin lines. Drip. Drop.
And a priest stood guarding the crystal.
He was twelve feet tall, and his body was completely twisted. Thick coral grew out of his shoulders like heavy armor. Thick green vines wrapped tightly around his arms and legs. He had no face left—just a messy lump of green growths and one giant, open mouth. He held a staff made of twisted coral that beat with the same slow rhythm as the walls.
He spoke. His voice was wet and bubbly, like a man drowning.
"The Deep has left us. The Shepherd opened our eyes. There is only growth. Only hunger. Only the endless now."
Nathan stepped forward. "We don't want to fight you. We just need to take the crystal and leave."
