"Unfortunately, it seems extremely cautious and has no intention of engaging us in a decisive battle here... After failing with a single strike, it immediately fled far away."
Phaethon spoke as he raised his hand and drew a line through the air. A small Infinity Gate flashed into existence before the giant wall. He retrieved the "Judgment of Shamash" that was deeply embedded within the wall, causing large areas of the image to glitch. The sword blade was still scorching hot.
"Phaethon is still as... swift and decisive as ever," Hyacine said, looking at the residual marks on the giant wall and the malfunctioning color screens, letting out a helpless sigh, yet also admiring his resoluteness.
"Its presence fled towards the other end of the fortress," Phaethon sensed the faint ripples lingering in the air, already beginning to construct the outline of a triangular portal between his fingers. "Let's use the Infinity Gate to go directly. As long as I can roughly lock onto the direction and distance of its escape..."
Just then—
"Hiiiiiii—!"
A clear, melodious, yet somewhat anxious whinny suddenly came from the side above!
From behind a massive marmoreal pillar not far away, a creature of extraordinary majesty and grace actively revealed itself.
"What is that? The memory... or the soul... of a winged Pegasus?" Cyrene exclaimed in surprise, pointing at the wondrous beast that had suddenly appeared. It emanated a pure and powerful aura, yet held no malice.
"It doesn't seem hostile towards us..." Phainon observed the Pegasus's actions closely, lost in thought, then looked at Hyacine. "Hyacine, according to the legends of the Skyfolk, that form... Could it be the loyal winged companion of the Daythunder Knight—Seliose?"
Hyacine's breathing grew slightly rapid, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You mean... the legendary Lords Solabis and Lunabis, who were inseparable from Seliose and fought alongside hee in her campaigns? They were her most intimate steeds and comrades-in-arms. But... the historical records are vague. I can't be completely certain. Perhaps we need to observe a bit closer..."
Seeing that it had their attention, the Pegasus let out another urging whinny, then spread its wings and flew towards an isolated, suspended platform deep within the fortress. It stopped at the edge of the platform and looked back at them.
"No need for speculation," Phaethon interrupted their discussion. "That Pegasus has already given us the answer with its actions. It stopped on that platform, clearly guiding us."
He dispersed the nearly-formed Infinity Gate at his fingertips, which was meant to lead towards Aquila's escape route. Instead, he set the portal's destination directly to that distant platform.
"Let's go," Phaethon said, taking the lead and stepping into the portal of light. "Let's see what this ancient guide intends to reveal to us."
Crossing the shimmering Infinity Gate, the scene before them instantly put everyone on edge—
The guiding Pegasus, Lunabis, was there, stomping its hooves anxiously, wings slightly spread, facing off against a grotesque and horrifically twisted monster as if facing a great enemy!
The monster still vaguely retained some gryphon-like contours, but its once-majestic body was now covered and distorted by a viscous, constantly writhing substance. Its eyes burned with turbid flames, and it continuously emitted low, pained, threatening growls.
"Is that... a monster corrupted and twisted by the Black Tide?" Cyrene covered her mouth, her voice tinged with shock and pity.
"Careful, Hyacine!" Phainon instinctively reached out, pulling Hyacine, who seemed about to step forward, behind him.
"It's alright, Phainon," Hyacine gently shook her head, her gaze firm yet sorrowful. She brushed aside Phainon's hand and took an active step forward. Her eyes were not on the hideous monster, but on the anxious Pegasus.
She took a deep breath and said softly, "So, you are Lord Lunabis, correct? The winged companion who loyally stayed by our ancestor's side until the very end?"
She paused, her gaze shifting to the twisted, suffering beast struggling in agony. Her voice was filled with conviction and sorrow. "And this tormented, restless creature being eroded by the Black Tide before us... must be Lord Solabis, right?"
(TSL note: Solabis corrupted by black tide turned into Dark Sun Gryphon)
"Hiiiiiii—!"
Lunabis let out a remarkably human-like whinny, nodding its head heavily. Its gem-like eyes seemed to glisten with what looked like tears.
"So that's it... I understand," Hyacine turned to face the two warriors in the team, her eyes carrying a plea. "Phaethon, Phainon. Lord Solabis's body has been completely eroded and mutated by the Black Tide; I'm afraid it's beyond recovery.
But I can still try to communicate with and heal his tenacious, not yet fully fallen soul! Let him, like Lord Lunabis, lose his physical body and exist only as a spiritual entity. I believe his heart remains as noble and unpolluted as it was a millennium ago. Please... help Lord Solabis find liberation from this cursed shell!"
"Understood," Phainon responded solemnly, the giant sword "Dawnmaker" in his hand humming, emitting a chilling gleam. "The final liberation ultimately requires force. We'll try to minimize his suffering."
Simultaneously, Phaethon raised the greatsword "Judgment of Shamash," burning with dark red flames. "In short, we just need to beat his soul out of this twisted flesh, right?"
Hyacine nodded, once again facing the still-roaring twisted gryphon. She clasped her hands before her chest and spoke softly yet clearly:
"Lord Solabis, please listen to my voice... Break free from the Black Tide's control, return to a world of clarity and peace."
The next moment, the outcome of the battle was never in doubt!
The dark-red Judgment of Shamash greatsword was hurled with space-rending speed, piercing the twisted lion-like monster and pinning it firmly to the platform floor!
The monster let out an ear-splitting shriek, struggling frantically, but could not break free from the divine weapon imbued with destructive power!
Immediately after, the silver "Dawnmaker" greatsword cut through the air, drawing a freezing, bone-chilling arc of light!
With a flash of the blade, the constantly roaring, twisted head was severed! The viscous, tainted blood had no time to spray before being instantly vaporized by the high heat of the "Judgment of Shamash"!
As the body died, a hazy yet pure halo with a gryphon's figure slowly rose from the dissipating, twisted corpse.
"Solabis... you're finally awake..." A clear, emotional, human voice suddenly rang out from the side. It was Lunabis!
It actually spoke in human tongue, its voice low and magnetic, carrying an infinite sense of age and the joy of reunion.
Cyrene's eyes widened instantly: *What?! Lord Lunabis! You could speak all along?!* She felt somewhat "deceived."
The newly-formed gryphon halo—Solabis's soul—fluctuated, emitting a somewhat hoarse yet equally clear voice: "The Black Tide's prison... is finally broken. My consciousness... has finally returned..."