♪- Main Theme (Tears of the Kingdom OST)

Near the Hyrule Hole, there have been reports of a strange black and red substance that the denizens have called, "the Gloom." When a living being touches this substance, their life quickly drains out of them. It's best not to get it on you if possible, but there seems to be a short amount of time for you to get out of it before it claims your life. There are also reports of horrifying hands being made out of that substance that will attack once they see you.

Yes, you heard that right. These hands can apparently see. Some report an eye in the middle of these hands' palm. The people have aptly called these things, "Gloom Hands."

The first order of business is to check out the site of this Gloom corruption. Upon reaching the survey site, you'll find that the dangerous substance has almost completely surrounded this cavernous hole. It almost looks like an infection of the land. Particularly unlucky Guardians may already spot those Gloom Hands mentioned in the reports.

After some discussion about the situation, the team has decided that sealing this disaster-in-the-making isn't safe enough for the people living in Hyrule. They have to carve out this infection by the root.

♪- High Altitude

Considering that they will be dealing with a highly dangerous substance, it would make sense to see if there's anything around that could either give you more time or cure it completely if you're trapped in the Gloom. Hyrule's ground level is as explored as it can be for natural resources, and none of them are capable of combating the Gloom. Thus, your eyes turn... upwards to the floating islands. The islands are the only things that haven't been explored since their sudden appearance. The only way to get up there would be to fly on their own power, get the help of a Flying Pokémon, or use a flying contraption.

Whatever way you use to get up there, it's time to do some exploring. Various robots can be found free roaming the islands, and most of them will attack the second they see you. Most of them shouldn't prove too much of a challenge, but there are some that can utilize flamethrowers, so perhaps one shouldn't get too cocky.

However, there are some steward constructs that are friendly to people. Should you help them out with some of their problems, you might endear yourself enough to these robots that they'll help you find what you're looking for. Or, if you would rather not bother with potentially menial tasks, there's always just setting out on your own.

Eventually, you will come across a flower that's unlike anything you've seen previously: a sundelion. While eating it raw or putting it on an open fire will do nothing except kill the plant, if you use it to cook with or create a potion, you'll find that it has a very interesting effect. Damage caused by the Gloom can be healed by using this flower as a component.

♪- The Demon King's Phantom Saboteur

Into the hole you go, then. The question is, how? The hole is quite deep and cavernous. When you drop a stone down there to see how far, it takes about 30 seconds before someone with good enough hearing can hear it hit the bottom. Perhaps you jump down because you're immune to fall damage as a Wind elemental user. Perhaps you simply fly or teleport down. Maybe you have a grappling hook. Or maybe you just jump in like a lunatic with no plan on how to get out if you survive the fall.

Maybe you find someone who can just craft a dirigible that can go up and down the hole!

Either way, once you survive the fall in some manner, you will quickly come upon the source of the Gloom. A shadowy, dried up husk of a man made entirely out of Gloom. The "man" will raise up a slightly curved sword and rush to attack the Guardians. This is going to be a fierce and difficult fight, so they had best be light on their toes. His abilities are able to infect characters with Gloom, but using the Sundelion potions or food hat they've created in preparation will surely come in handy. If those preparations have been made, anyway. If not, good luck Dark Souls-ing it!

♪- Mipha Court

After coming out of the fight victorious, though most likely still battered, bruised, and injured, much of the Gloom dissipates. Not all of it, though. Casting a look around, the Guardians will soon find a giant root that glows in the impenetrable dark. On taking a closer examination, just a touch from someone's hand will activate the lightroot. It glows far more brightly, and its radiance completely destroys the remaining Gloom.

With that, it's a successful Mission Complete for the team.

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