Spreading Like Poison

As the pair descended, Ming Yue showed more interest as to what was underground. They landed in a few minutes, standing between the plateaus and within the gaps. 

"I can't believe that I missed this earlier", she muttered.

Before her were these cracks that spread all throughout the pathways, some were large and others were small. Being so focused on the spires and the plateaus, Ming Yue didn't seem to notice these cracks. Albeit from afar, it was just shadows and darkness within them.

However, it was easy to tell that it was all caused by the same thing. And now that she had a closer look, Ming Yue saw exactly what it was. 

"Roots, tree roots!"

She knelt down and peered into the cracks, finding dense tree roots underneath. They twisted and coiled against one another tightly. Their color was no different from the tree trunks but something about them was strange.

Knocking against the ground, some of it crumbled apart.