As the clear ringing of the Silver Bell died out, plunging the Estuary Lake into dead silence once again, there was no response. The harrowing figure of the Vile Thieving Bird did not escape from the vertical fracture splitting the base of the mountain, and neither did they hear its chilling cry.
Nothing happened for a few long, tense moments...
And just when Sunny prepared to shout more profanities, Ananke suddenly raised a hand and touched her lips, looking down in confusion.
There, on her slender fingers, a drop of blood was glistening in the sunlight.
A moment later, a stream of blood trickled from her nose, and she swayed.
At the same time, a soft white radiance ignited under Neph's skin.
And Sunny...
'What the hell?'
Sunny felt his vast pool of spirit essence being drained at terrible speed.
It was then that he heard a youthful voice resound from behind him:
"Vile? Vile..."
He spun, readying his sword.
