They had arrived. The oppressive heat of the Depths of Vesuvietna enveloped Marshmallow and Lynx. Eternal flames danced around them, and bubbling lava lakes popped incessantly, hurling incandescent splashes into the sulfur-laden air. The hostile smell, acrid and pungent, permeated everything, making the environment even more unfriendly.

Marshmallow observed Lynx carefully, noticing her discomfort. It was the girl's first foot in this infernal realm. For him, however, it was like taking a trip to a familiar place.

"You okay?" Marshmallow asked, turning to her. Lynx visibly swallowed as her wide eyes scanned the fiery horizon.

"It's unbelievable. How did you stand this heat for days on end?"

Marshmallow smiled slightly, remembering his first visit. "Thanks to Raven and Voltran's training," he replied. "The first time I came here with the Goat Horse, I thought I'd burn to death. But then I managed to handle it."

"How so?" Lynx asked.

Marshmallow paused for a moment, thinking about how to explain. "I wrecked every enemy I encountered. In the end, the Goat Horse ended up being more of a spectator, though I gotta admit he saved my ass a few times."

Lynx stared at him with wide eyes, trying to imagine the scene. Before she could respond, though, a movement in the scorching air caught their attention.

Seven figures emerged from the flames. As they approached, their outlines became clearer, revealing female creatures of terrifying beauty.

These figures hovered in the air while their bodies, made of burning stone, were crossed by cracks from which incandescent lava flowed. Their hair, resembling tongues of living fire, danced around their inhuman faces. Long, pointed horns gleamed on their foreheads with a reddish glow, while their stone swords emitted bright flames.

"Watch out! They're dangerous!" Marshmallow shouted with a voice sharp as steel.

Without hesitation, Marshmallow activated Lumokinesis, and light particles condensed around his hands, forming luminous projectiles that he hurled at the enemies with lethal precision. Two warriors were hit full-on, their burning stone bodies shattering under the devastating impact.

Lynx, meanwhile, was clearly struggling. Her Xylkinesis, which relied on controlling wood and vegetation, was practically useless in this infernal environment.

"Damn it!" she cursed in frustration. She had insisted on coming, but she hadn't expected the environment to be so hostile that it would prevent her from using her Very Unique Skill.

"Use what you've got, Lynx! Adapt!" Marshmallow yelled at her.

Marshmallow's words echoed in Lynx's mind. With a growl of determination, the red-haired girl faced the situation head-on. Concentrating intensely, she created a sturdy, pointed wooden staff, even though she knew it wouldn't last long.

"Come here, you bitch!" Lynx shouted, launching herself at one of the warriors.

The creature of fire and stone lunged at her with its flaming sword tracing deadly arcs in the air. Lynx dodged nimbly but felt the heat of the blade graze her face. With a battle cry, she counterattacked, striking the enemy with her pointed staff in the belly.

The wood broke on impact, but not before inflicting considerable damage to the warrior. Lynx didn't stop. Using her brute strength and agility of a maxed-out A Rank, she wrenched the glowing sword from the warrior's hands and continued to strike where she saw the glowing cracks.

Marshmallow watched the scene meanwhile. Lynx was a true fury, demonstrating a strength and determination he had never seen in her before. She had figured out that those cracks were the areas where the fire warriors were most fragile and was pummeling them relentlessly. As he continued to hurl light projectiles at the remaining enemies, he couldn't help but feel proud of her.

With one last and powerful blow, Lynx managed to impale the warrior she was facing. The creature let out a harrowing scream before dissolving into a shower of sparks and ash. Then, she dropped the sword to the ground.

"I did it!" Lynx exclaimed, her face flushed from the effort and heat, but her eyes shining with satisfaction.

For Marshmallow, these enemies were nothing special; in fact, he had taken care of the remaining four warriors with relative ease. With the enemies defeated, the two allowed themselves a moment to catch their breath, especially Lynx, who was wiping sweat from her forehead with a rag she carried.

"Is it always like this here?" she asked.

Marshmallow shrugged. "More or less. But this is just the welcome party. We need to go deeper."

As they walked towards the bowels of the volcano, Marshmallow explained the purpose of their mission to Lynx.

"The hooded woman I met last time gave me a quest," he said. "I had to retrieve the Amulet of Flames, which I obviously have with me now."

They continued to advance through the tortuous caverns and fiery passages of the Depths of Vesuvietna. Marshmallow led the way confidently, his familiarity with the environment contrasting with Lynx's uncertainty. However, the girl was quickly gaining confidence, and her step became surer with every meter covered.

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Perhaps an hour or two had passed, but it felt like an eternity. At a certain point, they saw a hooded figure waiting for them.

"Welcome, brave warriors," the woman's voice resonated, deep and mysterious as the first time. "I sense that you have completed your task, Marshmallow."

Marshmallow stepped forward, extracting the Amulet of Flames from a pocket. "Here it is," he said, handing it to the hooded woman. "As promised."

The woman took the amulet, examining it carefully. A smile formed on her lips hidden by the shadow of the hood. "You've done an excellent job. And now, as promised, it's time for your reward," she said.

Lynx watched the scene with her eyes jumping from Marshmallow to the hooded woman with vibrant curiosity. "What kind of reward?" she couldn't help but ask.

The woman turned to Lynx, studying her for a moment. "Ah, I see you've brought a companion this time," she said. "Welcome, young Lynx. I'm certain your presence here is not coincidental; it must be the will of fate."

Marshmallow and Lynx exchanged a surprised look. How did the woman know Lynx's name?

"Marshmallow," the hooded figure continued, "you have shown great courage and determination. This is the second time you're facing the trials of Vesuvietna; a warrior like you has no equal. Now, it's time to complete your equipment."

With a fluid gesture, the woman raised her hands. The air around them began to vibrate, charging with an ancient and powerful energy. Particles of smoke, sulfur, and flames danced in the air, converging at a point in front of Marshmallow.

"What you lack," the woman said evocatively, "is a helmet worthy of your strength and courage."

Before Marshmallow and Lynx's astonished eyes, the energy particles began to take shape. They condensed, solidified, until they created an object. It was a helmet of a fiery red like the most intense fire, shaped like a classic Viking helmet. Two large horns rose at the sides, curved and menacing. Ancient runes were engraved on its surface, glowing with a golden light that seemed to pulse to the rhythm of an invisible heart.

A true masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

Marshmallow took the helmet with reverence, feeling its weight and the power it emanated. As soon as he touched it, a screen appeared before his eyes.

Helmet of Valhalla's Fury

Rarity: Ultra-Legendary

Effect: Increases Dexterity by 50% for 30 seconds when activated.

Cooldown: 300 seconds

"Incredible," Marshmallow murmured. "Another power-up!"

Lynx approached, observing the helmet with wonder. "But this is an Ultra-Legendary item! You can count seven of them in the entire Survivor Game. Only Raven was known to possess another! You, Marshmallow, now own two."

The hooded woman nodded solemnly. "Use it wisely, Marshmallow. The power it holds is great, but remember: with great power comes great responsibility."

Marshmallow wrinkled his nose. "You could've spared me the Spiderman quote." He immediately put on the helmet and activated the skill. Instantly, he felt a surge of energy course through his body. He felt much faster and more agile than before.

Yeah, it works!

The woman smiled enigmatically. "Now go. Your journey is not over yet; the greatest challenge awaits you."

With a final look of gratitude, Marshmallow and Lynx turned to leave the chamber. As they walked towards the exit of the Depths of Vesuvietna, Marshmallow couldn't help feeling euphoric. With this new equipment, he felt finally ready to face BloodLust and his followers.

However, as they approached the exit of the Depths of Vesuvietna, an icy shiver ran down Marshmallow's spine. The air suddenly became denser, charged with a menacing presence that seemed to permeate every corner of the place. He stopped abruptly, his senses on high alert.

"What's wrong?" Lynx asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.

Before Marshmallow could answer, a deep and terrifying voice resonated, making the walls themselves tremble:

"Not so fast, worms."

From a vortex of flames and lava appeared none other than King Balor the Immortal.

"Well, look who's here," Marshmallow said with a scornful tone. "The new Final Boss of the Survivor Game. What brings you here, Balor?"

But before Marshmallow could continue, Lynx stepped forward, passing Marshmallow. Her face was determined, and her green eyes shone with a fierce light. With a slow and deliberate gesture, she cracked her knuckles, the sound echoing like an omen of battle.

"Marsh," Lynx said with a voice loaded with confidence that Marshmallow had never heard from her before, "leave this one to me. So far, I haven't been able to show you what I'm truly capable of."

Marshmallow stared at her, surprised and confused. "Huh? What are you talking about, Lynx?"

The red-haired girl turned to him with an enigmatic smile on her lips. "Trust me," she said simply, before turning her attention back to King Balor.