The group pressed onward, the glow of the Volcanic Wastes growing more intense as they approached the Pyreforge. The heat was suffocating, even for Kaelara, whose fiery heritage granted her some immunity. Rivers of lava widened, and the ground beneath their feet trembled with the occasional eruption of geysers.

Kira’s grip on the Phoenix Spirit’s essence was firm but cautious. The ember pulsed faintly in his palm, its warmth unlike the oppressive heat around them—comforting, almost protective.

Darumu wiped the sweat from her brow, glaring at the molten landscape. “This place is a deathtrap. Are we sure the Pyreforge is worth all this trouble?”

Kaelara glanced over her shoulder. “The Pyreforge isn’t just a tool. It’s a conduit of ancient power. If we can unleash the Phoenix Spirit’s full strength, it could turn the tide against the dark god.”

Selvi adjusted her quiver, her tone teasing despite the tension. “Sounds like a lot of ‘ifs.’ But hey, what’s an adventure without a little uncertainty?”

Mira stayed close to Kira, her worried gaze lingering on the ember. “I just hope this power doesn’t come at too high a price.”

As they crossed a precarious stone bridge over a bubbling lava river, a shadow darted above them. Kira looked up, his heart skipping a beat. Against the bright orange sky, the silhouette of a winged figure hovered briefly before descending with alarming speed.

The group scrambled to prepare for an attack, but the figure landed softly on the bridge ahead of them, folding its bat-like wings. It was a man—no, a demonkin, his crimson skin and jagged horns marking him as otherworldly. His eyes glowed like embers, and his smirk revealed sharp fangs.

“Well, well,” the demonkin said, his voice smooth and mocking. “A group of adventurers wandering through my territory. How quaint.”

Kaelara stepped forward, her blade igniting. “State your name and purpose, or be cut down where you stand.”

The demonkin chuckled, unfazed. “Such fire. I like that.” He shifted his gaze to Kira, his smirk widening. “You’re the one carrying the Phoenix Spirit’s essence, aren’t you? That’s quite the burden for someone so… fragile.”

Kira tightened his grip on the Flameheart Blade. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

The demonkin tilted his head, feigning thought. “You may call me Raezel. And as for what I want… let’s just say I have a vested interest in your little quest. The dark god and I have… history.”

Raezel stepped closer, his movements casual but deliberate. “Relax. If I wanted you dead, you’d already be ashes.”

Selvi raised her bow, her voice sharp. “We’re not interested in making friends with a demon.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Raezel sighed dramatically. “Such hostility. Typical mortals. Let me make this simple—I can help you. The Pyreforge is no ordinary artifact. Without my guidance, you’ll likely die before you even reach it.”

Mira frowned, her hands glowing faintly with healing magic. “And why would you help us?”

Raezel’s smirk faltered, his expression briefly darkening. “Because I despise the dark god more than you can imagine. If you fail, his corruption will consume not just your world, but mine as well. And I’m not particularly fond of being erased.”

Kaelara hesitated, her fiery aura flickering. “He’s dangerous, but he’s not lying. Demonkin like him wouldn’t risk their lives unless the threat was real.”

Kira glanced at his companions, their expressions a mix of doubt and curiosity. Finally, he lowered his blade slightly. “Fine. But if you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

Raezel grinned, his fangs glinting. “Oh, I like you already, hero.”

Under Raezel’s guidance, the group took a hidden path that wound through a series of lava tunnels. The air grew thicker, the heat more oppressive, and the ground more unstable.

“This tunnel leads to the Infernal Maw, a volcanic chasm that serves as the final barrier to the Pyreforge,” Raezel explained. “But beware—it’s guarded by a creature even I wouldn’t face lightly.”

Darumu raised an eyebrow. “And you expect us to fight it?”

Raezel shrugged. “You’re the heroes, not me.”

The group emerged into a massive cavern, the ground split by a gaping chasm filled with bubbling lava. Across the chasm was the Pyreforge, its structure glowing with a fiery aura. But between them and their goal stood a monstrous creature—a Magma Titan, its body towering and composed entirely of molten rock.

The Titan roared, its movements causing the ground to quake.

“Of course,” Selvi muttered, nocking an arrow. “Why wouldn’t it be a giant lava monster?”

The fight against the Magma Titan was unlike anything they’d faced before. The Titan’s massive size made it nearly impossible to approach, its molten body scorching anything that came too close.

Kaelara darted around its feet, slashing at its joints to destabilize it. Darumu leaped onto its arm, her chi-enhanced strikes chipping away at its rocky exterior. Selvi fired arrows at its glowing weak points, while Mira chanted defensive spells to shield the group from its fiery attacks.

Kira stood at the center of the chaos, channeling both the Ocean’s Heart and the Flameheart Blade. With Raezel’s guidance, he unleashed a powerful new ability—Arcane Inferno Barrage, combining his arcane magic with the fire energy around them to bombard the Titan with explosive projectiles.

Despite their efforts, the Titan remained relentless. It raised its massive fist, aiming to crush Kira.

Raezel, watching from the sidelines, finally intervened. “You’re hopeless without me,” he muttered, summoning a barrier of dark flames to deflect the blow.

Kira seized the opportunity, channeling the Phoenix Spirit’s essence into the Flameheart Blade. With a mighty leap, he plunged the blade into the Titan’s core, unleashing a fiery explosion that shattered the creature into molten fragments.

As the Titan crumbled, the group stood in stunned silence. The path to the Pyreforge was now clear, but the cost of the battle was evident in their exhaustion.

Raezel clapped slowly, his expression one of amusement. “Well done, mortals. I might actually start believing in you.”

Darumu glared at him. “You could’ve helped more.”

Raezel smirked. “And deprive you of the chance to prove yourselves? Perish the thought.”

Kira shook his head, a tired smile on his face. “Let’s get to the Pyreforge and finish this.”

But as they approached the Pyreforge, the Phoenix Spirit’s ember began to glow brighter, its warmth intensifying. A sense of foreboding washed over Kira.

“Something’s wrong,” he said, clutching the ember.

The ground beneath the Pyreforge began to tremble, and a dark figure emerged from the shadows—a Fire Revenant, its eyes burning with malevolence.

“Your journey ends here,” it hissed, its voice echoing like a furnace.

The group readied their weapons, their exhaustion forgotten as they prepared for yet another battle.