The heat in the cavern grew unbearable, as if the air itself had ignited. Kairos, his celestial blade gripped tightly, locked eyes with the creature before them. The Molten Behemoth—a towering elemental beast of fire and infernal power—had emerged from the dark portal like a harbinger of destruction. Its molten skin glowed red-hot, dripping with liquid fire. Even standing near it, Kairos could feel the oppressive waves of heat radiating from its body, threatening to overwhelm them.
His companions stood beside him, faces pale with a mixture of exhaustion and determination. They had barely survived the goblin warlord, and now this—a creature beyond anything they had ever faced. Kairos stole a glance at Lucius, who clenched his sword tightly, his normally composed expression replaced with grim resolve.
Aella's breath came in ragged gasps, her hands trembling on her weapon's hilt. "That thing... it's regenerating," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of flames. She was right—the molten skin of the Behemoth pulsed as though it was being continuously healed by the lingering dark energy from the portal.
Kairos' heart sank. This wasn't just a battle against a powerful foe—it was a fight against time itself. If they didn't end this quickly, the beast's regenerative abilities would outlast them.
"Lucius, Aella, Caelum—stay on the move!" Kairos commanded, his voice firm despite the panic gnawing at his chest. "We can't afford to get hit. Its strength will crush us in a single blow."
Lucius nodded, his face slick with sweat as he gripped his blade. "Right. Keep it distracted, I'll try to find a weak spot." His eyes were sharp, calculating. But even as he spoke, the Behemoth let out a guttural roar, the molten claws of its hands flexing with molten fury.
It came at them with frightening speed, faster than anything that size should have been capable of. Inferno Breath—a torrent of flame—erupted from its mouth, melting the very stone of the cavern walls. Kairos leaped to the side, his celestial magic flaring as he pushed himself out of the attack's path. Lucius rolled in the opposite direction, narrowly avoiding the searing heat that scorched the ground where he had stood.
But Aella wasn't so lucky. The flames licked her armor, and though she managed to shield herself with her weapon, the intense heat left her staggering, her skin red and blistering. Caelum darted toward her, casting a hasty healing spell with his dragon-kin arm, but the damage had been done. Aella's movements slowed, and her sharp eyes no longer held their usual edge.
Kairos cursed under his breath. They were outmatched.
The Behemoth raised a massive arm, prepared to strike. Its skill, Molten Fury, channeled all its fiery strength into a single devastating blow. Kairos felt the surge of heat before the strike even landed, and without thinking, he called upon his celestial magic. His sword, glowing with the power of the stars, met the Behemoth's molten fist in mid-air.
The impact sent a shockwave through the cavern. Kairos' muscles screamed in protest as he fought against the sheer force of the blow, the molten heat threatening to melt his sword. But the celestial magic held, though just barely.
"We can't win like this," Kairos growled through gritted teeth. "It's too strong."
Lucius, breathing hard, managed to find a moment to speak. "There's a way," he said, his voice steady. "Its movements are slow, Kairos. If we can outmaneuver it, we might be able to bring it down."
Kairos nodded, but even as he prepared to move, the creature's next attack came. Flame Surge—an explosive burst of fire magic—erupted from the Behemoth's core, forcing them to scatter. The sheer force of the blast threw Kairos backward, his body slamming into the cavern wall. He groaned, his vision swimming.
Caelum and Lucius, though bruised and battered, managed to keep their footing, but Aella, weakened from the earlier flames, collapsed to her knees. The Behemoth lumbered toward her, molten claws raised to strike.
Kairos' heart lurched. He scrambled to his feet, desperation fueling him. "Aella!" he shouted, summoning every ounce of celestial energy he had left. He dashed forward, his blade cutting through the thick air with a starry glow, but the Behemoth was faster.
The molten claws came down with terrifying speed, but just before they made contact, Lucius appeared, his sword raised in a desperate parry. The impact nearly crushed him, but he held his ground, his legs trembling under the immense pressure.
"Go!" Lucius shouted through gritted teeth. "Kairos, find a way to stop this thing!"
Kairos hesitated for a heartbeat, his mind racing. Then it clicked. The dark energy—the portal that had summoned the Behemoth. It was the key. If they could sever the creature's connection to the portal, it would stop regenerating. But how?
Eclipse's voice rang in his head, twisted and mocking. "You're stronger than this, Kairos. Use your head—or die."
Kairos took a deep breath. There was only one way.
"Aella!" he called, sprinting toward her as Lucius struggled under the Behemoth's crushing strength. "Cover me! I'm going for the portal!"
Aella, bloodied but resolute, nodded and forced herself to her feet, her sword raised to deflect the next attack. Kairos dashed toward the swirling vortex of shadows and flame, its malevolent energy pulsing with each second. His celestial magic flared, lighting the path before him.
The Behemoth roared, sensing what Kairos was about to do. It swung its massive claw, aiming to crush him before he reached the portal, but Caelum, with a ferocious yell, unleashed a torrent of fire magic from his dragon-kin arm, momentarily staggering the beast.
Kairos reached the portal, his heart pounding in his chest. The dark energy crackled with danger, but he didn't hesitate. With a roar of his own, he plunged his celestial blade into the heart of the vortex.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, with a deafening crack, the portal began to unravel, its dark energy dissipating into the air. The connection severed, the Behemoth let out a bone-shaking roar of pain. Its molten skin no longer pulsed with regeneration, and for the first time since the battle began, Kairos saw a glimmer of hope.
Lucius, seeing the creature weaken, gave a fierce grin. "Now, Kairos! Finish it!"