Shadowtits? Plaything? Sarah rolled her eyes. She supposed she should be used to the nickname by now. Still, she hadn't really expected Aya to continue using such strange nicknames outside of training. This was a real mission after all and not a romp through the danger room.

"If we manage to get out of here," Sarah replied as Aya extended a hand and helped her up, never once taking her blue eyes off of the dark nimbus that was their adversary,"you can play with my tits all you want."

She really didn't like the way that the Shadow King was fixated upon her, his crimson glowing eyes seemingly poring through her flesh, into the marrow of her bones and somehow deeper. It was not a sensation she relished, somewhat like a group of drunk guys leering at you after midnight, their loose inhibitions festering dark thoughts to prominence.

Eying the Shadow King warily as he circled and approached, Sarah wasn't the only one surprised to find the very earth around him rumbling. She would have to thank Mantle later for that, as the ground began to seemingly bubble and attempt to rise.