Stiles flicked a speck of ash off his shoulder. "Not bad. Now, let's keep moving before this whole place decides to bury us in lava."
Scanning their surroundings, they quickly spotted a large hole in the wall—a tunnel carved through the volcanic rock, glowing faintly from the reflected light of the lava below. Unlike the rest of the cavern, this path seemed like the only viable way forward.
Stiles took the lead, stepping toward the opening. "Looks like that's our way."
SteelArm followed, glancing back at the now-unstable ground behind them. "Beats standing around waiting to become a roast."
Without hesitation, they stepped into the tunnel, pressing onward into the unknown depths of the volcano.
As they stepped through the tunnel, the heat intensified, waves of shimmering air distorting their vision. The cavern ahead opened into a circular arena-like space, with lavafalls streaming down the jagged walls and collecting into molten pools below.
A low, rumbling growl echoed through the chamber.
From the center of the room, a hulking quadrupedal creature emerged. Its body was cracked volcanic rock, glowing with fiery veins that pulsed like a heartbeat. Its molten fangs dripped lava, sizzling as it hit the ground. Two ember-like eyes locked onto them with primal hunger. A Lava Fanged wolf appeared in front of them from the ground.
SteelArm cracked his knuckles. "Looks mean."
Stiles sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah… but not much more than that."
With a snarl, the Lava Fang lunged, leaving a fiery trail in its wake.
SteelArm barely moved, lifting his arm as he activated [Earthen Grip]. A molten hand shot from the ground, snatching the beast mid-air and holding it in place. The creature thrashed violently, lava spewing from its mouth as it let out a pained howl. Stiles didn't waste time. In one fluid motion, he dashed forward, his weapon glowing faintly, with a single, precise strike, he cut clean through the Lava Fang's neck. The beast froze, its molten core sputtering—then, its body crumbled into a pile of cooling rock and dimming embers.
SteelArm let out a yawn. "Well, that was underwhelming."
Stiles smirked, sheathing his weapon. "Not every fight has to be a struggle to the death."
Looking ahead, they spotted the gate materializing in the center of the chamber, its glow cutting through the molten-lit surroundings.
Stiles raised an eyebrow. "That was it? That was the boss?"
SteelArm shrugged, stepping past the crumbling remains of the Lava Fang. "Guess so. Not every fight has to end with us bleeding out and scraping by a miracle, y'know."
Stiles smirked, shaking his head as they made their way toward the gate. "Not complaining."
As they stepped through the gate, they found themselves back by the truck, the fresh air hitting them like a wave of relief. Stiles inhaled deeply, a grin spreading across his face. "Damn, I missed oxygen," he chuckled, savoring the clean breeze.
SteelArm laughed, slapping Stiles on the back. "Right? Being in a volcano is fun and all, but nothing beats good old fresh air."
They climbed into the truck and set off, the wheels crunching over gravel as they hit the road. Hours passed, filled with easy conversation and the occasional joke about their recent encounters. Eventually, the familiar sight of the Dragon Bone guild came into view, and they pulled into the parking lot, the sun hanging low in the sky.
Stiles hopped out, stretching his arms overhead. "Forty-five gates cleared today. Not too shabby, huh?"
"Yeah, not bad at all," SteelArm agreed, locking the truck. "Let's go tell Halstein the good news."
They made their way toward Halstein's office, the guild bustling with activity as members prepared for their next adventures. Stiles pushed the door open, stepping into the office where Halstein was sorting through documents.
"Ah, you two are back!" Halstein looked up, a hint of a smile forming on his face. "How many gates did you clear?"
Stiles beamed. "Forty-five. We took down a Lava Fang and a few others along the way."
Halstein's expression shifted from surprise to approval. "Forty-five? Impressive work considering I was expecting only ten to be cleared."
After days of unconsciousness, Aria finally stirred awake, enveloped in soft blankets that provided a comforting warmth. As her eyes fluttered open, she felt a pair of arms wrapped around her. Turning her head slightly, she noticed Maria fast asleep beside her, her face peaceful and serene.
Aria sighed, annoyance swirling within her. With a gentle push, she nudged Maria's shoulder. "Hey, wake up," she said, her voice a little rough from disuse. Maria stirred, blinking rapidly as she slowly came to consciousness. "What? Huh?" She looked around, then focused on Aria.
Aria pushed herself up slightly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. "How long have I been passed out for? I feel like I've been through hell and back."
Maria rubbed her eyes, yawning. "It's been a few days at least."
"Let's just get going; I still need to find some different books," Aria said, stretching her limbs to shake off the remnants of sleep.
Maria sleepily nodded in agreement, her eyes still heavy as she rose from the bed.
Aria glanced over at her and her eyes widened for a brief moment. "Uh… maybe put some clothes on first?"
Maria blinked, momentarily confused, then looked down at her attire—or lack thereof. A blush crept across her cheeks as she quickly made her way to the closet, rummaging through it for a fresh outfit.
"Right! Good idea," she chuckled nervously, tossing on a comfortable shirt and pants.
Once dressed, she turned back to Aria to look at her slightly.
"Let's just go…" Aria said, determination fueling her words. She reached for Maria's hand, and as their fingers intertwined, ice enveloped them both, shimmering brilliantly before shattering into a cascade of glimmering shards.
When the particles settled, they found themselves standing in an eerie, abandoned village. The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the faint rustling of the wind. Not a soul—human or animal—was in sight, as if life itself had fled from this place.
"I'm looking for a book made of rock. It's called Voids of Ages," Aria explained, her voice steady despite the desolation surrounding them. "If you find it, let me know. But whatever you do, do not open it."
Maria nodded, feeling the weight of Aria's words. "Got it. I'll keep my eyes peeled."
With that, Aria turned and began to search the wooden houses, her keen eyes scanning for anything of value. She rifled through various items, dust motes dancing in the slanting sunlight that filtered through cracked windows.
As Maria rummaged through one of the dimly lit houses, her eyes fell upon a peculiar stone tablet half-buried beneath a pile of debris. Excitement surged through her as she picked it up, brushing off the dust, and she couldn't help but shout, "Aria! You need to see this!"
Aria's heart raced at the urgency in Maria's voice. She quickly made her way to the house, pushing aside a creaky door to find Maria holding the tablet, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution.
"What is it?" Aria asked, stepping closer. She took the tablet from Maria's hands, her eyes widening in disbelief as she examined its surface. "What the hell is this doing here?"
With a swift movement, she blew away the dust, revealing intricate carvings etched into the stone. In an olden language only she understood out of the two of them there. The words "Principles of Ruin" it translated to. Instinctively, Aria encased the tablet in a thick layer of ice, feeling a surge of power as it solidified. "This needs to be kept safe," she muttered, and with a flick of her wrist, the ice shattered, sending the tablet vanishing into the void.
In a distant location, Revolt suddenly found himself gripping the now-frozen tablet in his hand. Confusion washed over him until he heard Aria's voice echoing in his mind. "Place the tablet somewhere safe, and whatever you do, do not let anyone or anything remotely close to it."
His gaze hardened as he realized the weight of her warning. The tablet pulsed with a mysterious energy, and he knew he had to act quickly to protect it.
"What was it?" Maria asked, glancing over at Aria with curiosity etched across her features.
"It was nothing of importance… just a stone tablet," Aria replied, her voice steady but her mind racing. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as darker thoughts crept in. "I can't let her live", she thought.
In a sudden, decisive movement, Aria reached out and touched Maria's arm. Instantly, ice engulfed her, wrapping around her like a cold embrace. With a whispered incantation, Aria summoned chains of pure darkness that erupted from the ground, piercing the ice as they embedded themselves into Maria's flesh. As the dark energy made contact with her skin, a swirling vortex of pure darkness materialized beneath them, its pull inescapable. Maria's eyes widened in shock as the vortex swallowed her whole, the force closing around her with an unsettling finality.
"You've seen too much for me to let you go," Aria said softly, a warm smile gracing her lips that belied the gravity of the moment. "She'll understand."
With those words hanging in the air, Aria encased herself in ice, before shattering into a flurry of crystalline shards, vanishing without a trace.