Reaching the inferno, Gail and Edward were met with a horrifying sight. The flames danced wildly, consuming everything in their path with a ferocious hunger. The air was thick with smoke, making it difficult to breathe. Among the chaos, Gamesh's men were setting more fires and brandishing their weapons, ready to defend their destructive mission.
"Edward and I will hold them off!" Gail shouted above the roar of the flames, his voice straining to be heard. "You all, find water and fight the fire!"
Their allies nodded, quickly scattering to find anything that could hold water. They raced to the nearby river, desperate to bring back enough to quench the voracious flames. Meanwhile, Gail and Edward launched themselves into the fray, their swords flashing as they cut through the smoke-filled air.
The heat was unbearable, sweat pouring down their faces and stinging their eyes. The air shimmered with the intense heat, making every breath a laborious effort. The flames seemed to have a life of their own, fed by the relentless wind that howled like a living beast, threatening to spread the fire even further. The battlefield was a chaotic blur of moving bodies, the clang of metal on metal, and the crackling roar of the fire. Shadows flickered and leaped in the fiery light, creating a nightmarish scene where it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
Edward's sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, each swing cutting down an enemy or deflecting a blow meant for him or Gail. The heat intensified, the fire growing larger and more ferocious, devouring everything in its path. The ground beneath their feet was hot, scorched earth that sizzled and smoked, adding to the suffocating atmosphere. The stench of burning flesh and hair mixed with the acrid smoke, created a nauseating miasma that clung to them like a shroud.
Suddenly, Gail found himself surrounded. Several of Gamesh's men had encircled him, their eyes gleaming with malice. They pushed him dangerously close to the inferno, the heat searing his skin and making every breath a struggle. Their swords glinted menacingly in the firelight, their faces twisted with a cruel delight at his predicament.
Gail's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He swung his sword in a wide arc, trying to keep his attackers at bay, but the heat was overwhelming. Sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes and blurring his vision. The flames behind him roared louder as if mocking his desperate attempts to escape.
Before he could react, a wall of flames surged towards him, ignited by a gust of wind that fanned the fire into a raging inferno. The flames engulfed him, setting his clothes alight. The heat was like a living thing, wrapping around him, biting into his skin with fiery teeth. Pain exploded over Gail's body as the fire consumed his clothing and began to scorch his flesh. He could feel the flames eating away at him, the agony almost unbearable.
Despite the excruciating pain, Gail fought on, swinging his sword with a desperate ferocity. Each movement sent waves of agony through his body, but he refused to fall. The world around him was a blur of heat, smoke, and pain, but he focused on one thing: survival.
Edward, seeing his friend's peril, let out a roar of fury and determination. He slashed his way through the enemies, his sword a blur of deadly precision. "Gail, drop and roll!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon of hope. He fought off attackers with powerful, precise blows, creating a moment of safety for Gail.
Their allies, having filled makeshift containers with water, rushed back just in time. They saw Gail writhing on the ground, his clothes ablaze, and immediately began dousing him with water. The flames hissed and sputtered as the water hit them, steam rising in thick clouds that mingled with the smoke.
Gail lay on the ground, his upper body a mess of charred and blistered flesh. The pain was excruciating, each breath a new torment. His allies gathered around, their faces etched with concern and fear. Without Gail, their hope of defeating Gamesh seemed to wither like the scorched vegetation around them.
Edward, who had put the enemies to run, knelt beside Gail, his face grim but determined. "I know you're in pain, Gail," he said, his voice steady despite the surrounding chaos. "But we can't let these hardships be in vain. We must reclaim the tribe and establish our village. We need you."
Gail's vision swam with pain and fatigue, but Edward's words anchored him. He groaned, his voice a ragged whisper. "But how?"
Edward's mind raced, searching for a solution. "How much mana do you have left?" he asked urgently.
"Two point zero," Gail replied, his voice barely audible.
Edward's eyes lit with a plan. "Use it to heal yourself, enough to fight Gamesh. You are our last hope."
Summoning the last of his strength, Gail called upon the system. The familiar interface materialized before him:
[This amount of mana is not enough for full recovery, but you will not feel pain for the next 1 hour.]
"Damn it... but one hour is enough to achieve my goal," Gail muttered through gritted teeth.
With Edward's help, he struggled to his feet, determination flaring in his eyes. Edward called for one of their allies to bring a new armored suit, but Gail waved them off. "No time," he said, his voice hoarse but resolute. "We need to find Gamesh now."
Their mission clear, they pushed forward, cutting through the remnants of Gamesh's forces and racing toward the heart of the village. The inferno raged behind them, but their path was clear. They had a singular focus: to confront Gamesh and end his reign of terror.
As they approached the tribe leader's tent, Gamesh emerged, his eyes filled with fury. "You killed my father! You set the tribe on fire! I will have my revenge."
Gail, knowing words were futile, simply raised his sword. "Enough talk. Fight."