Sloan tunneled through the muddy underground using the earth-shifting technique. Even though he'd found good cover earlier, the altar's destruction still affected him. Now, his energy was a chaotic mess, and every breath sent fresh pain lancing through his torso.

But he had no time to worry about his injuries. He raced toward the Nether Crypt at maximum speed. The grand elder had to be warned. They need to relocate their base.

Hidden beneath the gnarled roots of a 1,000-year-old banyan tree, t