The golden weirwood's roots spread wildly through the underground mine, the sound of them devouring the dark liquid like thousands of giant pythons hissing at once.
Danyla and Lann Lyon's blood formed dragon-shaped flame runes on the golden weirwood's trunk. Every drop that sank into its heartwood made the entire tree erupt with a dazzling violet-gold halo.
"Blood and Fire Share One Source!"
The mother and son's impassioned chant sent echoes rolling through the depths of the mine. Not only did it make the golden weirwood grow faster, but the viscous black liquid that kept welling up was shaken almost to pieces by the reverberations.
After adjusting to their bodies, the twenty-seven metal lions also approached the golden weirwood and began roaring at the viscous black liquid.
Their powerful sonic attacks shattered the black liquid outright, allowing the golden weirwood to absorb it more smoothly and efficiently.
But the horror below seemed to have been thoroughly enraged as well. The thunder of splitting rock kept rising from underground, and patches of black stained the eighteen thickest weirwood roots as the black liquid grew ever more viscous.
Those black patches spread rapidly up the weirwood's roots like a plague. Wherever they passed, the golden bark rotted and peeled away, turning into lumps of metal.
"Damn it, they're trying to corrupt the weirwood!"
Lann Lyon hurriedly raised his Light King Valyrian Steel Sword and sent streaks of golden flame slashing at the black patches. Although he dispersed many of them, the backlash of the dark power sent him flying.
Danyla's silver hair streamed around her, and her entire body was now shrouded in dazzling violet-gold flames.
"Aphrodite!"
At her call, the pink young dragon immediately took flight and breathed scorching pink dragonfire at the black patches, setting both the golden weirwood's roots