The rocky mountain biome stretched endlessly before us, a harsh and unwelcoming landscape. Jagged peaks jutted out from the ground like the teeth of some ancient beast, while the narrow, uneven paths seemed designed to make every step a challenge. The air was hot and heavy, filled with the faint smell of sulfur and the ever-present sound of crumbling rocks.
For me, this kind of environment was completely foreign. I'd never faced anything like it before. Sure, it was better than the swamp floor we had just escaped, but only just. The uneven terrain made movement difficult, and it wasn't long before we ran into trouble.
A group of Rocklings—small, rolling monsters covered in jagged, rocky armor—appeared ahead of us. They were slow and clumsy, but their tough exteriors made them a pain to deal with.
"Master, stay back," Tsuki said firmly, stepping forward with her weapon drawn. Her amber eyes glowed faintly as she assessed the situation.
Wogg gripped his massive axe with both hands, his muscular frame tense with anticipation. "I'll handle the ones on the left," he grunted.
"Alright," I replied, stepping back to let them take the lead.
Tsuki moved with incredible speed, dodging the Rocklings' attacks and striking at their exposed cores with deadly precision. Her movements were so fluid it was almost like watching a dance. Meanwhile, Wogg swung his axe with brutal force, each strike smashing a Rockling into rubble.
I switched my APW to a mace and joined the fight, though my swings lacked the finesse of Tsuki's or the raw power of Wogg's. After a few tense moments, we managed to clear the area. The Rocklings shattered into piles of rock, leaving behind a few items.
---
We regrouped after the fight, and I pulled up the system map. It was one of the few advantages I had in this dungeon—a complete layout of each floor. As I studied it, I noticed a potential shortcut.
"Master?" Tsuki asked, peering over my shoulder.
"There's a path here," I explained, pointing to the glowing line on the map. "If we take it, we can bypass most of the mid-bosses and avoid some of the harsher terrain."
Wogg frowned. "What's the catch?"
"There's a river," I admitted. "But it's… lava."
"Lava?" Tsuki's ears twitched, and she gave me a curious look. "Master, are you certain this is the best path?"
"It's risky," I said, "but it'll save us a lot of trouble if we can manage it."
Tsuki considered this for a moment before nodding. "If that is your decision, Master, I will make sure we succeed."
---
The river of lava was even more intimidating in person. The molten flow bubbled and hissed, its heat making the air shimmer. It was easily wider than we had anticipated, and the thought of crossing it made my stomach churn.
Tsuki stepped to the edge and studied it carefully. "It is wider than I expected," she admitted. "But I can still carry you across, Master."
"What about me?" Wogg asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll have to come along, of course," she said reluctantly. "But you're getting off the moment we land on the other side. I don't mind carrying Master, but carrying both of you is… unpleasant."
Wogg snorted but didn't argue.
I examined the river more closely and noticed a large rock in the center, its flat surface stable enough to stand on. An idea formed in my mind. "Tsuki, what if we use that rock as a stepping stone? You wouldn't have to use as much power if you broke the jump into two parts."
Tsuki's eyes lit up. "That is a brilliant plan, Master. I shall do as you suggest."
---
Crossing the Lava River
Tsuki crouched low, preparing for the jump. I climbed onto her back, holding on tightly as the intense heat from the lava made my skin prickle. Wogg climbed on behind me, grumbling under his breath.
"Hold on," Tsuki said. Then, with a burst of power, she leapt forward.
The air rushed past us as we soared over the molten river. My heart pounded as I stared down at the bubbling lava below. But Tsuki landed perfectly on the rock, steady despite the narrow surface.
Without wasting time, she crouched again and launched us toward the other side. The second jump was harder, the distance greater, but she managed it with ease.
As we landed on solid ground, I let out a shaky breath. Tsuki set me down gently before shoving Wogg off her back with a sigh of relief.
"See, Master? I told you I could do it," she said with a smirk.
"Yeah, you did great," I said, though my legs still felt like jelly from the experience.
We barely had time to catch our breath before the ground shook beneath us.
---
Two massive figures emerged from the rocky terrain ahead: a Boulderbeast Titan and a Cliffshade Wyvern.
The Titan was a hulking creature of molten rock, each step it took leaving smoldering craters in the ground. The Wyvern circled above, its stone-like wings blending into the rocky sky.
Behind them, a swarm of Stoneclad Vultures and more Rocklings followed, creating a chaotic scene.
"They shouldn't be here," I muttered, checking the map again. "According to this, they're supposed to be further north."
"Whether they should be here or not is irrelevant," Tsuki said firmly. "Master, we must deal with them now."
"The Wyvern's going to be a problem," Wogg said, gripping his axe. "It's commanding the vultures. If we don't take it down, we'll be overwhelmed."
---