[Part 1 - The Magmatic Canyon]

“So… what do you think?”

Two days have passed since the meeting, and somehow, I’ve managed to get myself a personal maid—a tall, pink-haired woman, seemingly around my age, with blue-green eyes and a friendly smile.

She stands beside the door to my room before taking calculated steps towards my ornate bedside table.

“Yeah, it’s not bad… I think. But don’t you have cleaning to do or something?”

I glance at the pink-haired maid as she flumps on my comfy bed—without permission, I’ll add.

“You gave me a break, did you not?”

“… True… I’ll give you that.”

“Ah, I emerge victorious once more.”

“We were competing?”

“Of course! You just didn’t know about it.”

With a sly smile, the pink-haired individual carefully retrieves a small pouch of confections from their apron pocket.

… I’ll just call them chocolate; I actually have no idea if they are or not.

“Here, please partake. You deserve this after enduring my presence.”

“… You didn’t, like, poison these or anything, right?”

Besides, I have barely any idea about the food in this world; I’m not sure if what I’ve already eaten is safe. Might have some side effects, perhaps bad luck?

“I assure you, there is no need for concern regarding their safety.”

“We only met yesterday—

“And you’re already this comfortable with me! I promise they’re just regular chocolates. And don’t worry, I’ve been eating them all day with no worry. You can trust me.”

You’re not even human. You’re a wyvern in human form; that alone is hard for my brain to comprehend.

“But if you say they’re safe, I’ll trust you, Murayama—

“As previously mentioned, you may address me as Nanase.”

“—Right. Nanase…”

I half-heartedly take a hefty bite out of the midsized, spherical chocolate, feeling the caramel flavour explode in my mouth. The chocolate tastes surprisingly sweet and delicious—a blend of white and milk chocolate, instantly putting me at ease. Nanase smiles, relieved that I enjoyed it.

“I assume you’re enjoying the chocolate then?” She asks, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “It’s one of my favourite treats.”

“It’s better than I expected, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how good it tastes.”

“Well, I’m glad you do… Anyway, shouldn’t you be heading to the gate now?”

She finally gets off my bed, not that I mind her being there, and twirls to face me.

“You are such a strange maid…”

I mutter under my breath, earning a playful chuckle from Nanase.

“Come now; I reckon Lady Elysia won’t be too thrilled if you show up fashionably late, now, will she?”

Nanase winks at me before heading out the door, leaving me on my own with the armour, gear, and elixirs the guild let me borrow. I sigh and begin to leave my home, feeling a mix of eagerness and apprehension (mostly apprehension) for the upcoming dungeon.

⁂

I stroll through the quiet streets of the guild, taking in the towering buildings that line the cobblestone paths. My eyes are drawn to the towering structures, adorned with ornate banners and signs, that boast of the myriad talents and accomplishments of their members.

The sound of my footsteps echoes in the silence, making me feel more alone than ever. Though, if I’m being honest with myself, I’ve never felt more out of place.

Because I’m about to embark on my first dungeon quest, it’s only natural to feel a sense of unease.

As I round a corner, my gaze is drawn to a massive gate looming in the distance, its imposing presence sending a shiver down my spine. A flicker of nervous excitement dances within me, mingling with the trepidation that gnaws at my insides.

“That’s… bigger than expected.”

Its sheer size is staggering, towering over me like a monolithic sentinel guarding the entrance to another world.

The heavy gold-looking bars that compose the gate are shining very brightly. Then suddenly, a window pops up in front of me—a private message from Elysia.

It seems like everyone has been waiting for me this whole time…

Wait, they were?!

Oh god, I feel embarrassed.

I hurry my pace, hoping to salvage whatever little dignity I have left, and sheepishly greet everyone.

Elysia greets me with a warm smile, her jade eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

“Sorry, I’m late!”

“Don’t worry, we’re just glad you could make it.” She replies, her voice as soothing as a gentle breeze. “I trust you brought everything you’ll need?”

“He better have!”

“Shut up, Draven.”

I hesitate to say anything when Elysia turns her focus to me, but eventually gather the courage to speak up.

“I’ve got everything I need; I double-checked before coming here.”

I didn’t double-check before coming here.

“Good, because you can only count on yourself once we’re in there.”

Draven adds, his sharp golden eyes narrowing at me.

“Draven, be nice.”

Alden, with a stern expression on his face, scolds Draven, his gaze filled with such intensity that it sends a shiver down Draven’s spine, making him feel a sense of fear.

I take a moment to awkwardly clear my throat, causing the entire group to turn their attention towards me.

“I’ve actually done a few dungeons before; I think I’ll be fine…

I have not done a single dungeon before.

Elysia seems to have noticed my lie but doesn’t press further.

“Very well. If Sora says he’s ready, then I see no reason to delay our departure any longer.”

Everyone nods in agreement, and Elysia puts her hand out to the gate, touching the cold metal.

The gate opens with a single push, revealing a winding path surrounded by lush… purplery, as I guess one would call it.

The lush, purple leaves look like they’re glowing in the dim light coming through the thick trees above. The air is thick with the sounds of unseen creatures, their calls echoing through the dense foliage.

Elysia confidently leads the way, and I walk closely behind, trying to calm my growing fear of creatures suddenly attacking me.

“Hey, how long until we get to this ‘Magmatic Canyon’?”

Violet glances back at me with a reassuring smile.

“About an hour and a half. You’ll know when we’re close.”

Wait, we have to walk for an hour and a half? Oh man, I wish Aurelia could just teleport us there in a snap. it, we have to walk for an hour and a half? Oh man, I wish Aurelia could just teleport us there in a snap.

“Can’t we, like, just teleport there?”

“We could, but you seem like someone who could use a little exercise. Plus, it’ll give us a chance to enjoy the scenery along the way.”

Elysia jokes with a wink, causing most of the group to chuckle as we continue on our journey through the enchanted landscape.

The moonlight shines through the woods, giving a beautiful glow on the route ahead, creating a lovely environment that transforms the journey into an adventure rather than a chore. However, the sky appears to become browner with each minute of walking.

“Hey, is the sky getting darker, or is it just me?”

I ask, seeing the sky’s colour shift gradually as we venture deeper into the woods. More jagged rocks seem to form, the trickling water-looking liquid seems to have evanished, and the purple environment becomes less vibrant as we press on.

“I see you’ve noticed! The sky does get a bit darker down this path. It’s a sign we’re getting closer to our destination.” Elysia turns to me with a reassuring smile.

“Heat is another factor.”

Alden adds, pointing out the increasing warmth in the air as we continue our journey.

A few moments later, our path through the enchanting amethyst forest comes to an end. As we step out of the trees, we are greeted by a desolate and scorched wasteland. The once vibrant landscape has transformed into a blistering brown expanse.

The sky, now a shade of brown, surprisingly reveals a blood-red sun. The intense heat makes me feel as if I am trapped in a blazing oven.

Amidst the jagged volcanic stalagmites and the ominous streams of flowing lava, the air is heavy with the overpowering scent of sulphur. The ground crackles and shifts beneath our feet, as if alive with the fiery energy of the volcano. The once beautiful and alive forest now feels like a distant memory, replaced by a harsh and unforgiving landscape. It’s as if nature itself has been consumed by the wrath of the volcanic eruption, leaving behind only destruction and desolation.

“Are we in hell?!” I ask because the oppressive heat threatens to suffocate me.

“I don’t know what this ‘hell’ is, but I assure you, we’re not in it.”

Alden responds as he wipes sweat from his forehead and shields his eyes from the intense sunlight.

“I don’t like the heat!”

Violet exclaims over the roar of the lava streams as they flow dangerously close to our path. I agree with her sentiment, heat is not my favourite either, especially when it’s coming from a raging volcano.

“Oh, grow up! Softie. If you don’t like the heat, why come in the first place?”

Draven chides pompously as he strides confidently ahead, seemingly unfazed by the scorching temperatures.

“We’re close to the canyon. It’s about 45 minutes away, but we need to be careful navigating through this dangerous terrain.”

forty…five…minutes…?

Alden gestures towards the rocky landscape ahead, indicating the challenging journey that lies ahead. Elysia nods in agreement, her eyes scanning the treacherous path ahead as she mentally prepares for the difficult trek.

“Alright! Let’s get moving!”

Elysia says with determination, showing she’s not giving up even in tough conditions.

⁂

After trudging through what felt like forever, we finally stumble upon a path squeezed between imposing cliffs.

The air is scorching, making me sweat buckets; I hear a loud rumble far away; and the sky is full of dark clouds casting a shadow over everything.

I hear the crackling of magma in the distance, along with the occasional rumble under my feet. Tall rock walls loom above us, casting shadows and blocking the light from the dark brown sky above.

Walking deeper into the canyon, the heat becomes unbearable, and my skin starts to itch and burn.

“It’s so hot here…!”

I try speaking up to get everyone’s attention, but my words fall on deaf ears. Trying to call out to someone with bubbling as loud as this as background noise isn’t easy.

We come to a crossroads, with two paths leading off in opposite directions. One path appears to lead deeper into the canyon, while the other appears to lead towards the magma flow.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“So, which way now?”

“The left path goes to the Underground Hell, a tough level 16 catacomb with a boss named Belial. It’s probably too hard for you, Sora. The right path leads to our goal, a level 22 dungeon with Charra, also known as The Sovereign of Molten Fire.”

I nod, slightly confused by Elysia’s explanation.

“So, we’re heading right, yeah?”

“Damn right, weakling!”

Draven confidently walks down the right path without a second thought… Why does he act this way?

I trail behind him, with the rest of the group following along.

After a few more minutes of walking, we stumble upon this huge open space. In the centre of the clearing lies a large lake of magma, with several smaller pools scattered throughout the area.

The large lake seems to be bubbling quite viciously, with a small rumbling sound accompanying it every now and again. There are also a few piles of rocks around, most likely containing minerals that could be used for crafting. The area is filled with ash, which covers the ground like snow, and the sky is still overcast, making the atmosphere quite eerie.

Not to mention, I’ve been hearing immense thuds in the distance, almost like something massive is walking around.

We cautiously approach the lake, making sure to keep our distance from the bubbling magma. And far in the distance is—

“Volcania. The Volcanic Dungeon.”

Ember speaks for the first time since we arrived at the canyon; I had no idea she was even here.

“Volcania?”

With a simple nod, she affirms my question.

“Yes, this dungeon is called Volcania. It contains many dangers, such as lava, fire, heat, and more. Be careful, Sora.”

Elysia moves closer, her gaze sweeping across her surroundings.

“I think we’re good here. Let’s take a breather before we push forward.”

“I’m kinda torn when I see lava right below us.”

I admit, trying to mask my unease as I notice a crack of flowing lava beneath us.

Elysia softly laughs, her eyes sparkling with joy.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. Stay by my side, and we’ll get through this together.”

“Nah, let him fall into the lava if he’s not careful; it’ll teach him a lesson—

“Draven! Do not ever say something like that again.”

Elysia immediately turns to Draven with a severe expression. Her eyes have a tinge of total blackness about them, as if she is threatening him with death if he does not obey. Knowing that he had gone too far with Elysia—who wasn’t to be taken lightly when it came to her friends’ safety—Draven recoils.

“Draven, please. I know people have taught you that expandability is the key to survival, but we are a team, and we need to stick together no matter what.”

Elysia sighs as her eyes return to normal, her voice softening as she reaches out to reassure Draven that she only wants what’s best for everyone.

But despite all this, I feel uneasy, as if something is definitely watching us from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can’t shake the feeling that danger is lurking just around the corner.

Maybe it’s just my imagination; maybe I’m just paranoid. Nothing bad has happened so far.

“Should we be more careful?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to alarm the rest of the team. “I just have a bad feeling about this.”

“Oh… We should be just fi—

A massive thud, reminiscent of a giant’s footstep, echoes through the darkness, causing me to freeze in fear. It’s the same thuds I’ve been hearing this whole journey.

“What the…” I mutter.

I turn back to the canyon we emerged from and see a pair of glowing eyes staring back at us.

“W-what’s that…?”

Alden turns to me as I ask, his eyes narrowing in on the source of the noise.

“I think we might have company…”

“That isn’t helpful, Alden!”

“Oh, come on, Violet, don’t tell me you’re scared of a little company?” Alden teases.

The glowing eyes move closer, revealing a massive, shadowy figure emerging from the darkness.

“…I’ve never seen this creature before?”

Elysia tilts her head, her voice tinged with curiosity.

“Should we be worried?”

I ask, feeling a shiver run down my spine as the creature looms closer, its eyes fixed on us with an intensity that sends a chill through my bones.

“I know what it is…”

Alden declares confidently, stepping forward to confront the creature.

But before he can finish his sentence, the creature lets out a deafening roar as a sizzling sound echoes through the air.

“Everyone duck!”

A voice shouts, and we quickly hit the ground as two fiery beams shoot from the creature’s eyes, barely avoiding us as we rush for safety.

We sneak to a rock nearby while the creature is busy attacking. A few seconds pass before the beams dissipate, leaving a smoky haze in their wake.

I turn around to see a massive crater where the beams have struck, the ground still smoking and crackling with heat. The footsteps of the creature can be heard getting closer, causing my heart to race with fear as I realise we are not out of danger yet.

“I’m going to die, aren’t I?”

“Oi, chill out. We won’t die. We’ll just use you as— uh… nevermind.”

“Jeez, you all are too dramatic.”

Violet rolls her eyes and pushes past us towards the enigmatic creature.

“Violet! What are you doing?!”

“Provoking the creature? We don’t need to worry about much, do we?”

Well, I do. Thank you very much!

“Does anyone actually know what the creature is? Is it in anyone’s bestiary”

“Not that I know of.”

“Well, we actually haven’t seen it yet. It could just be another molten golem.”

Molten golem?!

I take a small peek out of the boulder to see an igneous golem emerging from the shadows. Cracks of glowing lava spread across its rocky surface as its jagged form looms closer. Its fiery eyes fixate on Violet, who stands her ground with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, it is a molten golem. Shouldn’t be too hard, then.”

Elysia turns to face us with a slight grin on her face.

“Hold on, did we not just establish a few minutes ago that we didn’t know what the creature is?”

“That was before we took a good look at it.”

“Hey look! It’s charging at me.”

I take a step back from the rock and see the molten golem charging at Violet super fast.

It spits out fireballs at Violet, who skilfully dodges each one with a nimble dance.

Out of nowhere, a shockwave of intense heat emanates from the golem, causing everything within a 67-metre radius to sizzle and burn.

Violet quickly summons a hex-patterned, violet-coloured protective shield around herself, deflecting the intense heat and fireballs with ease.

“We can’t just stand here and do nothing. We have to help Violet.”

Alden quickly summons giant, sharp metallic rods in the air and hurls them towards the molten golem. The golem roars in anger as it turns its attention towards Alden.

Not wanting to die again, I quickly run from all this chaos and run as far away as I can without going too far.

“That brat ran off!”

I hear Draven yell as I sprint through the smoke-filled air, my heart pounding in my chest.

Arriving at a safe distance, I can see Elysia, Draven, Violet, Alden, and the rest of the party continue to battle the molten golem.

The ground shakes with each blow exchanged between the party and the golem, sending debris flying in all directions. I watch in awe as they work together to defeat the formidable foe, hoping they will emerge victorious.

While they don’t seem to be struggling, they don’t appear to have the upper hand either. It’s like they’re holding back for some unknown reason. As I ponder their strategy, a sudden flying rock almost decapitates my head, reminding me to stay alert and not get too comfortable, even from a safe distance.

“Sora!! It’s coming for you!!”

My eyes widen as I recognise Alden’s voice, snapping me out of my thoughts and reminding me that danger could strike at any moment. I quickly dive out of the way, narrowly avoiding the next attack aimed in my direction: a barrage of molten spikes hurtling towards me with deadly precision.

“This is definitely NOT a molten golem!”

“I know what it is!”

Alden’s voice echoes through the landscape as a colossal sphere of pure ice forms above us. Its size is tremendous, like a miniature asteroid aiming to crash down on us.

“Alden! What are you doing? We can’t—

“Don’t worry, we won’t fail in our demand… In fact, doing this will only aid us.”

Demand? What demand are they talking about?

Before I could think of anything else, the ice sphere plummets towards the ground, shattering into a million icy shards upon impact. Every single shard, at least from what I could count, pierced through the golem and slowly began to freeze it from the inside out. Alden’s plan is working, and I can’t help but feel a sense of awe at his power and strategy.

There’s a brief smoke that plunges the surrounding area into a cool blue.

Did we win…? I hope so. I don’t want to see that thing again—

The golem somehow emerges from the dissipating smoke and lunges at me with its gargantuan claws, scraping my entire face and leaving me gasping in pain. I stumble backwards, trying to gather my wits as the golem advances, seemingly unfazed by Alden’s attack. It’s like it’s dead set on getting me, not giving up as it aims another lava beam right at me, about to turn me into dust.

Suddenly, a brief and lurid light blinds me and probably everyone around me. It didn’t take long for me to notice a massive hole in the golem’s head; whatever pierced through it clearly did the job—I can see through its head.

Wha… what just happened? Why is there a hole in its head?

The once menacing golem now oozes a strange substance that seems to be dissolving its body, leaving behind only a grey, metallic goo.

“Sora! Are you okay?”

I look up to see Elysia, her face filled with concern and relief as she rushes over to help me up.

“That was a close call…”

“W-what happened to it…? Why did its head just explode like that?”

I ask, still in shock. Elysia looks at me with a mixture of awe and fear before replying.

“It’s as simple as I killed it.”

What? Elysia did that?

“Sora!!!”

Violet appears out of nowhere and hugs me.

“I thought you were going to die!!”

“Ehh?”

“Violet… You’re being a bit too dramatic. But I’m glad you’re okay, Sora.”

Elysia says with a small smile.

Violet gets off of me, giving me a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, I tend to overreact sometimes.”

Yeah, I can tell.

I limp towards a conveniently placed rock and slouch down, feeling the adrenaline wearing off and the pain starting to set in. Elysia walks over and sits next to me, her expression softening.

“What was that thing?”

I ask as I look at the giant creature lying on the ground, motionless.

A green-haired boy squats beside me as he utters the word “heal.”

Suddenly, all my wounds—well, most of my wounds—recover instantly, and I stand up, wiping away some of the blood dripping down my cheek.

“Uhm… Who are you?”

“I go by the name Sage… It’s surprising how easily I slip under the radar. But hey, now you know. Moving on, that was a Molten Mimic; they’re quite rare and powerful. They usually spawn in volcanic areas like these.”

He explains as I gaze at the motionless creature and activate the skill [Analyse].

« Molten Mimic »

─Level: 18

─Skills: [DEAD]

─Attributes: [DEAD]

“Why is it called a Molten Mimic? Does it copy the look of molten stuff?”

I pose my question, and Elysia looks directly at me.

“Well… It can ‘mimic’ the form of molten things, yes, like you saw it mimicked a molten golem. But it’s much more dangerous than that. Not only can they possess the skills and abilities of the subject it possesses, but they can also manipulate pure magma to their absolute will while having outlandish power. They can also absorb heat energy from their surroundings to increase their power and use it to assail you, and they tend to appear when you least expect them due to their extraordinary skill in camouflage and concealment.”

I can feel my brain melting.

“Why does it look like goo now?”

Alden, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, unexpectedly steps forward and responds to my inquiry, catching me completely off guard.

“… They don’t really have a fixed shape as they’re always mimicking something, so they change their appearance based on what they’re mimicking. However, once defeated, they revert to this form and eventually solidify into pure imitosteel.”

I glance at Alden, then back to the Molten Mimic.

“…Right…”

I can feel sweat trickling down my neck as I watch the defunct Molten Mimic.

Elysia clears her throat and speaks up.

“Anyway, let’s get going. We don’t want to be attacked by sentient lava now, do we?”

“Sentient-what now?”

“Sentient Lava. They usually spawn in volcanic areas like these. They’re basically conscious clumps of magma that can move around freely somehow. And they can shoot out beams of lava at you. But don’t worry too much about them; they aren’t too aggressive unless provoked. And they don’t really attack unless they’re threatened.”

I nod slowly, trying to process the information.

“Sounds pretty scary…”

Elysia laughs lightly as she shakes her head.

“At any rate, encountering one means we’re close to the dungeon.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. The heat is intense, making me sweat, never mind the thick armour I’m wearing. Elysia leads the way, her steps confident and sure as she navigates the treacherous terrain.

“Hey, do you think you’re ready for this?”

Violet asks with concern evident in her voice.

“I think so.”

I reply with uncertainty laced in my tone. I look towards Violet, seeing the worry in her eyes; She sighs softly, placing her hand gently on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, we’ll all be here with you.”

I nod slightly, smiling faintly.

“Thanks…”

We continue walking through the canyon, passing by a few more pools of magma, and eventually arrive at a large, open area.

In the middle of the area sits a colossal volcano, its jagged peak piercing the sky like a fiery spear, emitting a deep rumble that reverberates through our bones. The intense heat radiating from the volcano warms our skin, while the vibrant colours of crimson and orange dance before our eyes, painting the landscape in a mesmerising display.

“So… this is it. Volcania. The Volcanic Dungeon.”

I stare wide-eyed at the closed entrance, unable to comprehend the sheer magnitude of its size.

The gate is huge, way taller than anything around it. Actually, it’s so huge that it makes even the biggest buildings I’ve seen look tiny. The gate is made of a material that I can only describe as smooth and polished obsidian. The way they shine and reflect light is so captivating, almost hypnotic.

The arched ceiling of the gate adds to its grandeur, resembling that of a majestic cathedral. The scorching hot ground is beautified with stalagmites, mirroring the stalactite-covered ceiling and intensifying the area.

Several glowing red cracks run along the walls, giving off a faint glow.

As Elysia approaches me, her gentle touch on my shoulder sends a wave of reassurance through me.

“Are you ready?”

“He better damn be.”

“Draven…”

With a glare from Elysia, Draven immediately stops talking. It’s strange how Draven can switch from being so arrogant and imposing to submissive with just a glare from Elysia, and it makes me wonder why that is.

“Anyway, Sora… Are you ready?”

I nod, my heart pounding with fear as I try to push down the rising panic within me.

This is my first dungeon… and I’m not ready for it.

Not by a long shot.