Termite's eyes snapped open as a wave of intense heat washed over him. The ground beneath him felt like a blistering hot iron plate, and he winced, quickly pushing himself up to escape the burning sensation. He looked around frantically, the searing heat pressing against his skin. His vision blurred momentarily, but he spotted two figures nearby—both Imina and Roberdyck were sprawled out, still unconscious from the fall.
"Imina, Roberdyck, get up!" he called out, urgency in his voice. The heat was unbearable, and he could feel his energy sapping away with every second spent on the scorching surface.
Imina groaned, her eyes fluttering open. She winced as she pushed herself up, feeling the heat through her armor. "What... what happened?"
Roberdyck followed, wiping sweat from his forehead as he rose shakily. "That impact... I don't know how far we fell, but this place..." He trailed off, noticing the extreme heat radiating from every direction.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted behind them. The ground shook violently, and Termite instinctively threw up his arms to shield himself from the blast of hot air. The three of them turned in unison, eyes widening as they saw streams of molten lava cascading down jagged rocks and spewing into the air like fountains.
In the distance, Hiro was locked in battle with the now-molten form of Gargantua. The giant's molten body glowed like a furnace, and every step it took left trails of bubbling lava that spread rapidly across the floor.
"WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOLCANO!!" Termite shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring lava.
"No, this isn't a volcano," Albedo's voice called out as she appeared beside them, her expression calm despite the chaos. "This is the Seventh Floor of Nazarick—a lava wasteland. It's a hostile environment, where only the strongest can endure."
Termite stared, wide-eyed. "A lava wasteland...?"
Albedo nodded. "Yes. We need to stay alert and find a safe position. Hiro's handling Gargantua, but this floor is relentless."
As Hiro clashed with the molten titan, he caught sight of Albedo tending to the Foresight members. Her attention was split between them and the raging battle, but thanks to Hiro's protective aura, they had managed to survive the fall and were slowly adapting to the floor's unbearable heat. Still, with the constant onslaught from Gargantua and the rising lava levels, Hiro knew their safety was hanging by a thread. He had to act fast.
"Albedo! Go to safety quick. This guy's a tough one!" Hiro shouted, parrying another molten fist from Gargantua. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, causing more lava to bubble up and flow faster, turning the floor into a searing river of molten rock.
Gargantua's mouth opened wide, and an inferno of lava spewed forth, cascading down and raising the already dangerous lava levels. The heat intensified, and steam hissed from the cracks in the ground as the entire floor started to transform into a fiery, volatile landscape.
Albedo hesitated. Leaving Hiro alone was the last thing she wanted, especially in such a hostile environment. But it was a direct order from her master, and she had no choice. With a determined nod, she brandished her massive axe and began carving through the rock wall with swift, precise strikes.
"This isn't the time for hesitation," she muttered to herself, the axe cleaving through stone like butter. "The only way I can serve him now is to ensure the humans' safety."
She knew this floor well; it was not unfamiliar territory. With each swing, she dug deeper, her path lit by the glow of lava as she guided Termite, Imina, and Roberdyck into a safer tunnel. The echoes of her strikes mingled with the roars of Gargantua and the clash of Hiro's katana against the giant's molten body.
"Follow me!" she commanded, her voice firm. "I know exactly where to take you!"
Termite exchanged worried looks with Imina and Roberdyck before refocusing on Hiro's battle. "We need to move, now!" He said, following Albedo throught the tunnel she's digging with the two others.
The heat was overwhelming, and Hiro's breath came in ragged gasps. The small rock beneath him trembled, barely holding under the intense temperature and the weight of his armor. Every second felt like an eternity as he watched the lava levels rise steadily, submerging the stones he had just leaped from. It was only a matter of time before his precarious perch would give way.
Gargantua's eyes flared with molten fury, and steam poured from the cracks in its massive stone body. Each step the titan took sent waves of lava surging, transforming the floor into a bubbling sea of destruction. The roar of the molten giant echoed across the wasteland as if mocking Hiro's struggle.
Hiro gripped his katana tighter, feeling the heat sear through his gloves. Sweat trickled down his face, and he felt the metal of his armor beginning to warp from the intense heat. He had to think quickly. The small rock beneath him was sinking, and he needed to find a way to counter Gargantua's unending assault.
"Think, Hiro," he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting for any higher ground, any foothold that could give him a strategic advantage. But the landscape was changing too fast; rocks were disappearing beneath the lava, and the steam hissed upward, burning his skin.
The only option left was to confront the giant head-on. Gathering his energy, Hiro leaped from the rock, aiming directly for Gargantua's face. The golem roared, and lava spewed from its mouth, but Hiro twisted mid-air, dodging the stream as he landed on Gargantua's massive shoulder.
With every ounce of strength, he drove his katana into the crack between Gargantua's neck and head. The stone resisted, but Hiro pushed harder, feeling the heat threaten to melt the blade. "I won't let you win!" he shouted as he struggled to pry open the crack.
Hiro stood on a small rock in the lava-filled wasteland of the Seventh Floor, sweat beading on his forehead as the oppressive heat radiated from Gargantua. The colossal golem loomed over him, steam hissing from the cracks in its stone body, its red eyes burning with fury. Lava pooled around them, and Hiro could feel the ground shaking beneath him as he prepared for battle.
"Albedo, Foresight, stay back!" he shouted, glancing at his allies who had just recovered from their fall. They were still disoriented, but Hiro knew he couldn't let them get involved in this fight. "This guy's a tough one!"
"Understood, Master Hiro!" Albedo responded, gripping her axe tightly. With one last glance at the golem, she began guiding the Foresight members away from the danger.
Gargantua roared, a sound like thunder echoing across the lava wasteland. It swung its massive fist down toward Hiro, who barely rolled out of the way in time. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, and Hiro quickly leaped onto a nearby boulder to regain his footing.
As he stood on the precarious rock, he could feel the heat rising. The golem raised its other arm and unleashed a torrent of steam that engulfed Hiro. He barely managed to escape, leaping to another stone just as the steam exploded, sending scalding air all around him.
Hiro crouched low, his heart racing as he processed the implications of Gargantua's volatile steam. The air around them crackled with tension, heavy with the acrid smell of sulfur that filled his lungs. He could feel the oppressive heat radiating from the golem's massive form, and the danger of the situation was palpable. If Gargantua unleashed too much steam, it could trigger an eruption that would engulf everything in flames and molten rock.
Gargantua glared at Hiro with fierce red eyes, steam hissing from the cracks in his rocky exterior, creating a suffocating mist that obscured Hiro's vision. He knew he had to be careful. If he pushed too hard, he risked a catastrophic eruption that would destroy everything in its path.
The titan lunged forward, arms raised high to deliver a devastating blow. Hiro's instincts kicked in, and he sprang to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the crushing fist that slammed into the ground, sending plumes of ash and molten rock flying into the air. "I need to keep my distance," he thought, eyeing Gargantua's massive form as it rose from the crater it had created.
Realizing that the steam could work to his advantage, Hiro began to formulate a plan. "If I can use the steam against him, maybe I can create an opening," he thought, glancing at the lava pools surrounding them. If he could create a distraction, he might have a chance to strike.
"Hey! Over here!" Hiro shouted, drawing the titan's attention. He moved quickly, darting around the rocky terrain to keep Gargantua focused on him rather than the surrounding environment.
Hiro unleashed his hyoercharge to the ceiling, unleashing a massive shockwave that shattered the rock above. Boulders rained down like meteors, crashing into the ground and creating a chaotic landscape of debris. Hiro seized the opportunity, leaping onto the falling rocks as they tumbled toward the ground. Each jump propelled him higher, using the disarray to gain an advantageous position.
"Come on, Gargantua! Is that all you've got?" Hiro shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern as he dodged falling debris. The titan roared in response, fury emanating from its towering form. It had no choice but to react; the rising lava levels forced its hand.
With a violent quake, Gargantua raised its arms, sending a surge of molten lava surging upward, aiming to engulf the platforms Hiro was using. The lava twisted and roared, threatening to consume everything in its path. Hiro's heart raced as he realized the imminent danger.
"Not today!" he yelled, springing off one boulder and vaulting to another. The heat was unbearable, but Hiro's determination fueled him as he climbed higher, expertly navigating the rain of rocks and the rising tide of lava. Each leap took him closer to Gargantua's head, the ultimate goal of his assault.
Hiro could see the titan's fiery eyes narrowing, clearly frustrated by his agility. The steam billowed around Gargantua, the heat distorting the air as it prepared to unleash another devastating attack. Hiro had to act fast; the lava was rising rapidly, and soon the platforms would be submerged.
Gathering his strength, he launched himself toward Gargantua's shoulder, aiming to get a better vantage point. The titan swung its massive arm to swat him away, but Hiro was quicker, rolling off the stone and back onto another boulder.
"Your time is up!" Hiro shouted, focusing all his energy into one final strike. He needed to cripple the golem, and the only way was to attack its core. As he prepared to leap again, he could feel the heat radiating from Gargantua, a pressure building that signaled the imminent eruption.
In a moment of sheer determination, Hiro propelled himself high into the air, aiming for Gargantua's head. The titan roared in frustration, its massive mouth opening wide as it prepared to unleash a wave of molten lava. But Hiro was ready.
With a battle cry, Hiro lunged downward, katana poised to strike. As he descended, he could see the cracks in Gargantua's rocky exterior begin to glow with molten heat. He had to strike true.
"Now!" he yelled, driving the katana into Gargantua's eye socket. The blade pierced deep, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. A surge of energy coursed through Hiro as he felt the connection with the titan.
Gargantua howled in agony, steam and lava erupting from the wound. The force of Hiro's strike created a shockwave that rippled through the ground, knocking loose debris from the walls and sending boulders tumbling down around them.
The ground trembled violently beneath Hiro's feet as he felt the overwhelming surge of pressure building in Gargantua. Lava poured from the creature's mouth, the fiery liquid cascading like a waterfall of molten fury. Steam hissed from the cracks in Gargantua's rocky body, filling the air with a dense fog that blurred Hiro's vision and threatened to choke him.
"Too much pressure!" he shouted, panic rising within him. The cavern was no longer just a battleground; it was a ticking time bomb. "I need to get out of here!"
Hiro looked at the tunnel created by Albedo, was he going to make it on time?
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