The next morning, after a night of uneasy rest, Jinwoo and his companions stood at the edge of Verdus, looking at the swirling portal that would take them to their next challenge: Ignara, the world of fire and molten chaos. The sky above them was clear now, the forest fully restored from its corrupted state, but there was no time to admire their success.
The air around the portal crackled with energy as Aeloria's voice echoed in their minds once again.
"Ignara is a harsh and unforgiving world," she warned. "Be prepared. Once you enter, the oppressive heat and constant volcanic activity will drain your stamina quickly. The corruption there is far stronger than what you faced in Verdus."
Jinwoo took a deep breath and stepped forward. "We've come this far. Let's keep moving."
Donghyuk cracked his knuckles, clearly excited for the challenge. "Fire and destruction, huh? Just another day for the Limitbreakers."
Hyeri, standing beside Jinwoo, looked more nervous. "I know we've dealt with a lot already, but... this one feels different. The heat, the corruption—everything in Ignara is working against us."
Gorath, ever calm and focused, simply nodded. "We must remain vigilant. This world is no place for carelessness."
Jinwoo nodded to the others. "Let's go."
Without another word, the group stepped through the portal, the vibrant colors of Verdus disappearing behind them as the fiery world of Ignara unfolded before their eyes.
The moment they arrived, the heat hit them like a wave. The air was thick with ash and smoke, and the ground beneath their feet was jagged and cracked, glowing with molten lava that flowed through the cracks like rivers of fire. Towering volcanoes loomed in the distance, constantly spewing ash and flame into the sky. The landscape was a stark contrast to the lush, green forests of Verdus.
Donghyuk wiped sweat from his forehead almost immediately. "Whew, they weren't kidding about this heat. I feel like I'm standing inside a furnace."
Hyeri conjured a small barrier of cool air around herself and Jinwoo. "I can use my magic to keep the worst of the heat off us, but it won't last long. We need to be quick."
Jinwoo surveyed the landscape. "We should move carefully. The environment here is dangerous enough on its own. If the corruption has spread as far as Aeloria said, we're going to be facing even worse."
Gorath unsheathed his sword, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Keep your eyes open. The creatures of Ignara will likely be hostile."
As they made their way through the molten wasteland, the group could feel the weight of the heat bearing down on them. Even with Hyeri's magic, the oppressive atmosphere made it difficult to breathe, and every step felt like a drain on their stamina.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the air, and the ground beneath them rumbled violently. Jinwoo raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "Get ready. Something's coming."
The ground in front of them split open, and from the fiery depths below, a massive creature emerged. It was a towering, lava-covered beast, its body a mix of molten rock and flame. Its eyes glowed with the same sickly green hue of corruption they had seen in Verdus.
Donghyuk's face lit up with excitement. "Finally, some action!"
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "Be careful. This thing's corrupted, just like the guardian in Verdus. It'll be tough."
The lava beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground as it charged toward them. Gorath was the first to react, rushing forward with his sword drawn. He brought the blade down in a powerful strike, but the creature's molten skin caused his blade to sizzle on impact.
"It's tough!" Gorath grunted as he leapt back.
Donghyuk, not one to back down from a challenge, dashed in next, his fists crackling with lightning. He launched a series of rapid punches at the beast's core, causing small explosions of energy to erupt on its surface. But while the attacks caused some damage, the beast seemed barely fazed.
"It's like punching a mountain!" Donghyuk shouted as he dodged a fiery swipe from the creature's massive arm.
Hyeri, keeping her distance, focused her magic on cooling down the lava beast's body. She raised her hands, and a stream of freezing air shot toward the creature, slowing its movements as the molten rock began to harden around it.
"That should help!" she called out. "But I can't hold it for long!"
Jinwoo saw the opportunity and rushed in, his sword glowing with Primal Energy. With a swift, precise strike, he aimed for the beast's neck, where the corruption was most concentrated. His blade sliced through the hardened rock, and the lava beast let out a pained roar as it staggered backward, its body beginning to crumble.
"We've got it on the ropes!" Jinwoo shouted. "Keep pushing!"
Donghyuk, seeing an opening, charged in again with a massive punch that connected with the creature's core, sending cracks spreading through its body. With a final, shuddering roar, the lava beast collapsed, its molten form dissolving into the ground.
The group stood still for a moment, catching their breath as the heat continued to press down on them.
"That... was intense," Donghyuk said between heavy breaths.
Hyeri wiped the sweat from her forehead, her magical barrier flickering as her energy waned. "We're not even close to the Nexus Stone yet. This was just one of many challenges ahead."
Jinwoo looked toward the horizon, where the towering form of a massive volcano loomed in the distance. "That's where we'll find Infernos—the Lord of Flame."
Gorath's grip on his sword tightened. "We should expect the corruption to be even stronger the closer we get. The Nexus Stone will be heavily guarded."
As they continued toward the volcano, the landscape grew even more treacherous. The air was thick with sulfur, and rivers of lava flowed around them, making it difficult to find stable ground. The group moved carefully, avoiding the molten streams and staying alert for any signs of danger.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled again, but this time it was different—more controlled, more deliberate. A massive shadow passed overhead, and when Jinwoo looked up, his heart skipped a beat.
A colossal, fiery creature flew above them, its wings made of molten rock and fire. It circled the volcano, letting out a roar that sent waves of heat crashing down upon them. Its body was enormous, easily the size of a fortress, and it radiated an intense, terrifying energy.
"Is that... Infernos?" Hyeri asked, her voice filled with awe and fear.
Jinwoo nodded slowly. "Yeah. That's him. The Lord of Flame."
Donghyuk's usual bravado faltered for a moment as he stared up at the fiery titan. "That thing's... huge. How are we supposed to take it down?"
"We'll find a way," Jinwoo said, though he couldn't hide the uncertainty in his voice.
Aeloria's voice chimed in once again, this time more urgent. "Infernos has been completely consumed by the corruption. He is no longer the ruler of Ignara—he is its destroyer. You must defeat him to reach the Nexus Stone, but be warned—his power is immense, and the corruption amplifies it."
Gorath's eyes were fixed on the flying behemoth. "This will be the hardest fight we've faced so far."
Jinwoo tightened his grip on his sword. "We'll need a strategy. We can't just charge in blindly like we did with the lava beast. We need to find a way to weaken him first."
Hyeri stepped forward, her eyes glowing with determination. "I can try to weaken the corruption around him, but it'll take time. You guys will have to keep him distracted while I work."
Donghyuk smirked, the fire of battle returning to his eyes. "You got it. I'll keep him busy."
Jinwoo looked at each of his teammates, feeling the weight of their trust on his shoulders. "This is it. We take down Infernos, purify the Nexus Stone, and keep moving. No mistakes. Let's do this."
With a final nod, the group moved toward the massive volcano, where Infernos waited, his fiery form lighting up the sky like a second sun.
The battle for Ignara was about to begin.
End of Chapter 19