The overall distance is not actually that great, right? We just had to remain in some places for some time, but we didn't actually travel that far.

[Xie Lian looks back at the mountain, looming.]

A volcano being a sacred mountain is not really that out there in terms of belief either. But like every other place we've been too, things are... out of alignment, slightly. Volcanic soil should be very rich and give plenty of food.

And that black substance... it kinds of looks like those weird creatures we saw back on the stairs, when we were traveling with Lord Ahra and the ghost army, doesn't it? And it healed your wounds, but it seems to be ... sucking out life from some things to give it back others? Maybe?

[The black sludge in the field made the pants more alive, but they sure seemed determined to kill whoever got close.]