The Ashen Marches stretched before them, a harsh land of molten rock and choking ash. The sky was a dull orange, heavy with smoke from countless small eruptions, as if the earth itself was simmering with rage.
Kael, Lyra, Darric, Pyra, and Eren trudged through the cracked terrain, the heat pressing against their skin like a living thing. The tension in the group was thick—each step deeper into this volatile land felt like walking into the jaws of a beast.
"I don't like this place," Lyra muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "Too much death here. Too much loss."
Kael glanced at her, noting the tight line of her jaw. "It's a land forged by fire, but fire can purify or destroy. We have to find the Oracle's vault before Malrik's forces do."
Darric's heavy boots thudded beside them. "And if the Wyrm awakens, it'll be a reckoning none of us will forget."
Eren, ever stoic in his ash-streaked armor, added, "The Wyrm's scales are said to be impervious to steel, but its heart is vulnerable. We just have to reach it."
Pyra, her emberblade sheathed but glowing faintly, gave a wry smile. "Then let's hope Kael's 'Crimson Ascendance' can light a path through that darkness."
Kael's eyes flickered red with the Mark's pulse. "We'll need to fight smart. Together."
As they advanced, the ground trembled violently. A low, rumbling growl echoed through the rocky canyons. Dust and cinders rained down as the Wyrm broke through the earth—a colossal beast with scales like burning coals, eyes like molten gold, and jaws that dripped lava.
The group scrambled into formation.
Kael drew Ashrend, its blade blazing brighter than ever. "Darric, shield wall up front. Lyra, pick off its eyes. Pyra, Eren—support with fire and steel. I'll engage the heart."
The battle erupted.
The Wyrm lashed its massive tail, sending rocks and fire flying. Darric stood firm, his shield absorbing the onslaught while shouting commands. Lyra's arrows streaked through the air, each one a precise strike aimed at the beast's fiery eyes.
Pyra's emberblade ignited into a storm of flames, cutting through the Wyrm's smaller scales with blistering heat. Eren charged, ash swirling as his sword clashed against hardened scales.
Kael sprinted forward, feeling the power of the Crimson Ascendance surge through him. Flames danced around Ashrend as he leapt onto the Wyrm's massive snout.
With a roar, he unleashed his signature attack: "Blazing Sovereign Slice!"
A wave of red-hot energy surged from the blade, carving a deep wound across the Wyrm's throat. The beast howled in fury, thrashing wildly.
Kael held fast, the Mark burning in his chest, pushing beyond pain, beyond fear.
"Hold on!" Lyra called, firing a volley of arrows that forced the Wyrm's attention.
With a final cry, Kael whispered, "Crimson Severance."
Ashrend pulsed violently as he swung with devastating speed, slicing clean through the Wyrm's neck.
The creature collapsed, shaking the ground one last time before silence fell like a shroud.
The team stood panting, covered in ash and sweat.
Pyra exhaled deeply. "That was… something else."
Darric clapped Kael on the shoulder. "Your blade's not just cutting flesh anymore. It's cutting destiny."
Lyra's gaze softened as she looked at Kael. "You're changing, Kael. Growing stronger. But don't forget who you fight for."
Kael met her eyes, feeling the weight of their shared journey. "I won't. We end this together."
Eren nodded solemnly. "Then let's find that vault before the fire burns us all."
As they pressed onward, the ash falling around them felt less like death—and more like the ashes from which a new legend would rise.