As they were being transported, everyone could feel the gusts of hot wind.
Upon arrival at their destination, the first instinct of each person was to raise a hand to shield their eyes from the blinding red glare.
Before them lay a massive lava cavern, with lava flowing slowly like rivers. It was impossible to discern where the lava originated or where it was headed. Scattered patches of land seemed to float on the lava, rising and falling with the flow. The ground was scorching; stepping on it made you want to jump back. The cavern's vastness was immeasurable.
The adventurers carefully stepped onto the small, scattered patches of land. Qianlixue and Amy cast floating spells on everyone, hoping the group could swiftly cross the lava.
In the distance, a faint animal call could be heard. Feng listened closely, "Shh—it sounds like a dragon."
Everyone's palms immediately became sweaty.
The patches of land in the lava grew larger, leading to a natural bridge formed by rock. Lava flowed slowly beneath the high, arched bridge, which rose about 4 meters.
As soon as the adventurers stepped onto the bridge, they were stunned by the sight before them, all gasping in shock: a group of enormous land-dragons, each towering at about 5 meters, taller than the druid riding them. From their gaping maws, red flames roared forth. These land-dragons had purple-black skin, clearly of the dark element.
"Formation!" Feng shouted, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qianlixue and the two surviving Purple Heart Sword mercenaries at the bridgehead, their four gleaming long swords aimed at the dragon horde.
The land-dragons had obviously spotted them. Several spewed flames as they charged. The bridge was narrow, allowing only two land-dragons to stride side by side, causing a bottleneck.
"Ice Storm!" Amy brandished the "Blade of Ice." Despite being in the dry lava cavern, the high-level ice magic, blessed by an elemental spirit, unleashed tremendous power. The air around Amy chilled rapidly, creating large sheets of ice swirling at the land-dragons' feet, dramatically slowing their agile movements.
Feng's eight blue sword auras formed an imposing mountain of swords before him, striking at the land-dragons' heads. Qianlixue's sword summoned a thunderous strike from the sky, the cavern echoing with its roar as lightning struck the land-dragons. The other two swordsmen's blades flashed and slashed continuously at the dragons' heads.
The toughness of the land-dragons' heads was unimaginable. Thunder strikes and sword slashes left only white marks, with only Feng's sword aura carving wounds on the dragons.
With a "boom," flames burst from a land-dragon's mouth again. Feng's pristine white robes instantly turned black and caught fire, but Amy quickly placed the Blade of Ice on Feng, the cold extinguishing the flames instantly.
An old dwarf rolled from beneath Feng and his companions to the front of the land-dragons, crouched low. His giant battle axe gleamed silver, and a land-dragon let out a wail as one of its legs was severed, causing it to fall and roll off the bridge into the molten lava. Its anguished cries were abruptly silenced, replaced by the acrid smell of burning flesh filling the air.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh"—three arrows fired in quick succession pierced the eyes of the land-dragons behind them, clearly enchanted with flame magic, as bursts of fire erupted on the dragons' faces. The dragons clawed at their eyes, wailing in distress.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. Rumbles echoed as the lava started to churn, dust and debris falling sporadically from the cavern walls—evidently, the land-dragons sensed something big was happening. Each one turned anxiously, looking toward the depths of the cavern.
A more formidable sound emerged, and the land-dragons flowed like mercury, swiftly retreating into the cave's depths.
What was happening?
All the adventurers wore puzzled expressions, wondering what could wield such a powerful call. Perhaps the moment of revelation was approaching.
Before the adventurers appeared the entrance to another vast, black cavern.