The chamber's heat swelled until the air shimmered. Rondan's grip tightened on his sword, the leather of the hilt searing against his palm. Leina staggered to her feet beside him, her breathing sharp and fast.
The masked man stepped forward, the obsidian runes cracking under his weight. Every movement sent ripples of molten light surging outward.
"Your struggle ends here," the voice within him rumbled—low, deep, and ancient.
Rondan darted in first, blade flashing in the crimson glow. His strike met the man's arm, but the steel hissed as if biting into living magma. Sparks sprayed into the air.
A counter came instantly—a sweeping backhand that Rondan barely dodged. The blow smashed into the wall, stone exploding into shards.
Leina moved with silent precision, slipping around the runic circles, her hands weaving sigils in the air. The silver shimmer of her magic condensed into a thin lance of light. She hurled it forward, striking the man in the chest. The glow dimmed for a heartbeat… then flared brighter than before.
"It's feeding on magic!" she gasped.
The man raised both hands, and the runes underfoot ignited fully, their glow spiraling upward into jagged pillars of fire. The temperature spiked—sweat stung Rondan's eyes, his vision wavering.
He forced his mind to steady. If I can't wound the body… I'll strike the core.
Rondan feinted left, drawing the man's attention, then hurled his sword—not at the enemy—but at the heart-shaped crystal in the center of the chamber. The blade spun through the air, catching the molten light…
But before it could land, a wall of fire erupted, the steel melting mid-flight.
The masked man's molten eyes locked onto him.
"Fool. You cannot touch the flame that does not burn."
A sudden tremor shook the chamber. From above, faint muffled roars echoed—cheers from the arena, unaware of the war raging beneath their feet.
Leina's voice was urgent. "We need to break the runic circle! Without it, the Heart can't stay anchored here!"
Rondan nodded, determination burning in his crimson eyes. "Then we fight the floor itself."