The air grew hotter with every step toward the looming volcano. A low rumble echoed in the magma-lit sky.
As the group made their way into dungeon, they already entered crimson forest, and in front of them was a volcano which looks like a mountain now since its been dormant for too long.
Its not strange for second floor to be so big, advanced dungeons like flame dungeon may seem easy at first floor, but just going one level below true danger reveals itself.
"I read about this caldera while researching," Mia murmured. "The Lava Dragon sleeps in the core of this volcano. If it stirs, we're finished."
"Then we leave—as fast as possible," Tyrant agreed.
Adonis also felt uneasy tug in his gut seeing the volcano so he nodded in agreement. But before they could retreat, the heat spiked. A chorus of shrill, infant-like cries rippled through the ash-laden trees.
Out of dense bushes and towering trees, red shadows pour up, with thick stench of burning flesh and smoke.
Out of the shadows poured red short creatures, with twisted appearance, Hob Goblins—short, crimson, reeking of sulfur. Their eyes glowed like coals, and each wielded a crude weapons wrapped in hungry flames.
Ai hissed, "H-hob Goblins! That means we're deep in their territory."
Alex grimaced. "And they use flame-tipped arrows too."
A whistling barrage streaked toward them.
Adonis braced to use eclipse, but an icy barricade rose first—Mia's frost aura condensed into a thick glacier that hissed and steamed under the flaming shafts.
She turned, blue eyes hard. "You don't have to shoulder it all alone. We are also here."
For a heartbeat Adonis remembered: from the habit of fighting solo, he always work alone —Elora was the only exception. Seeing these four stand with him he felt rare sense of relying on others, which made him smile.
He manifested a gleaming golden sword holding in his hands. "Right. Let's end this together."
The group fanned out:
Tyrant triggered his Metal Element, skin turning iron; he charged like a juggernaut, drawing aggro.
Alex cast shimmering Light Blessings, bolstering everyone's speed and resistance.
Ai, knowing fire and wind were useless here, conjured a Lightning Lance, arcs crackling down her arm.
Mia unleashed a Hailstorm, needle-sized shards dropping the temperature and slowing the goblins.
Adonis invoked Sword Domain in a sweeping arc, blades erupting to sever lines and scatter formations.
Steel met flame. Icy winds clashed with lava heat. The cavern rang with screams, quacks and thunderous impacts.
Within minutes, scorched hob goblin corpses littered the basalt floor. Adonis spun once more—Killing Circle—cleaving the last goblin captain in half. Tyrant crushed the archer line with an iron shoulder-bash. Ai's lance speared through two more, lightning dancing across their charred armor. Mia sealed exit tunnels with permafrost, preventing reinforcements
Silence fell, broken only by distant magma bubbles.
Meanwhile, on the volcano's far side…
The chained elven siblings trudged onward, prodded by two cloaked men.
"Did you hear that?" one hooded figure growled, heatwaves flickering in his red eyes.
"We confirmed no students would reach floor two today," the taller hissed. "Explain, this Wrath."
Wrath clenched his whip. "I can't track every brat in this academy, Gluttony."
"Hmph. Master won't like this."
Gluttony sighed theatrically. "A hassle—but loose ends must be cut."
Wrath's eyes narrowed. "Let's flush them out before they sniff around."
The elves exchanged fearful looks but kept praying under their breath:
"What's gonna happen now"
Back at the battlefield, Adonis wiped sweat from his brow. The victory felt good—shared.
But the group knew one thing: the louder they fought, the more attention they risked drawing from whatever else lurked down here.
And somewhere beyond the lava glow, two cloaked predators were already hunting their trail.