The following morning, rain fell in relentless sheets.
The sky, which was now a mass of swirling gray, seemed intent on drowning everything below. Vastarael stood at the base of the volcanic mountain. The air carried the metallic tang of sulfur. Chainless stood beside him. The rain streamed down her bloodstained armor that she stole from the guards she killed as she escaped. She didn't flinch or shiver.
The main path to the mountain was visible in the distance. It was a wide, winding trail that disappeared into the clouds above but it was crawling with soldiers. A confrontation was inevitable if they went that way and while he was confident they could obliterate the opposition, he wasn't interested in wasting precious time.
"We're going up."
Chainless tilted her head slightly. Without waiting for a response, Vastarael stepped forward. The volcanic slope was nearly vertical in some places but Vastarael wasn't concerned.
He reached out with his Essence. Sharp, crystalline spikes erupted from the rock, creating sturdy grips for his hands and feet. With ease, he began his ascent. The Essence barrier he had crafted shimmered faintly around him that kept him completely dry despite the downpour. Chainless followed closely behind, using her chains to latch onto higher points of the rock face.
"Not bad."
The higher they went, the fiercer the rain seemed to grow. The wind howled around them, tearing at their forms and threatening to send them plummeting. His hands gripped the sapphire spikes with the ease of someone climbing a ladder.
To him, this was nothing. Rock climbing wasn't a challenge. It was a minor inconvenience at best. He could feel the volcanic stone crumble slightly under his weight but his sapphire spikes always held firm, creating a seamless path upward. Chainless wasn't as lucky. The rain made the rock slippery and more than once, her chains slipped from their holds, sending her swinging dangerously. Each time, she corrected herself with remarkable agility.
"Need a hand?"
Chainless didn't reply but her glare was sharp enough to speak for her.
"Suit yourself."
The mountain's incline grew even steeper as they ascended. They reached a particularly treacherous section where the rock face jutted out in an overhang, leaving no natural way forward. Vastarael paused, assessing the situation. Chainless, without hesitation, sent her chains flying upward. They wrapped around a distant outcrop with a metallic snap. She launched herself into the air, swinging gracefully past the overhang and landing on the other side with a quiet thud.
"Impressive. But watch this."
He placed his hand against the rock and concentrated. Sapphire essence surged from his palm, forming a narrow makeshift bridge that extended outward and curved over the overhang. He stepped onto it without hesitation, walking as if on solid ground. When he reached the other side, Chainless was already waiting for him.
"You know, you could at least act a little impressed. It's not every day you see something like that."
Her only response was a faint whisper.
"Still not talking, huh? Fine. Not the first time I'm dealing with silent women anyways."
The rest of the climb was just as grueling. The wind grew colder as they neared the summit. Vastarael noticed Chainless shivering slightly, though she tried to hide it.
"Here," he said, extending his Essence barrier to encompass her as well. The shimmering layer enveloped her and the moment it did, the rain stopped touching her.
"You're welcome," Vastarael said with a grin, continuing his climb.
By the time they reached the top, the storm had intensified. Vastarael stood at the edge of the summit, looking out over the vast expanse of forest below. The path they had avoided was barely visible but the faint glimmers of torches confirmed that the soldiers were still there, waiting for them.
"We made it. Told you it'd be easy."
Chainless didn't respond but this time, the faintest hint of a smile ghosted across her lips.
"Now then, where is the monster? Down below the vent?"
The summit of the volcano trembled slightly. Vastarael stood at the edge, peering into the black abyss below. The air was thick with the acrid scent of sulfur and a strange metallic tang.
"The monster's down there, huh? Couldn't just meet us halfway, could it? Seriously, please don't be a lava monster. So uh... hold on tight, unless you're planning to take a scenic route down by yourself."
She tilted her head slightly. Then, without hesitation, she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her touch was cold but firm.
"Good," he said, sliding an arm around her waist to secure her. "Let's hope you don't get motion sickness."
Without another word, Vastarael leaped into the vent. The blue glow grew brighter as they plunged deeper. As they fell, Vastarael extended his free hand, summoning a sapphire-blue Solid Mystic circle in midair. The glowing construct appeared beneath them, catching their weight for a brief moment.
"Not bad. I kind of expected it not to hold."
Vastarael stepped off the Mystic Circle, letting it dissolve as they continued their descent. Another circle appeared moments later, halting their fall once again. As they got close to the bottom, the source of the blue glow became clear. The lava at the base of the volcano wasn't the typical molten red. Instead, it was an intense, otherworldly blue. It was shocking for him to see blue lava.
The heat was immense but neither Vastarael nor Chainless flinched. Before they had jumped, Vastarael had inscribed Cold Runes onto both their skin. The intricate markings glowed faintly now, radiating a cooling aura that repelled the oppressive heat.
Vastarael landed gracefully on a boulder protruding from the sea of blue lava. He released Chainless, who stepped lightly onto the rock beside him.
"Not too bad, right? Cold Runes are a lifesaver."
The low growl they'd heard earlier was louder now, reverberating through the volcanic chamber.
"Now then, where is our dear monster friend?"
The lava ahead of them churned violently, sending waves of molten blue crashing against the rock. The glow intensified and a massive shape began to rise from the depths. Vastarael sighed, his hand moving to the hilt of his glaive that he materialized.
"Of course. It couldn't just stay quiet, could it? And it's a lava monster too."