The light from the portal wrapped around them, and they were ushered into a hot room. The searing cold of the Frostbound Lair gave way to waves of stifling heat. The air shimmered with such intensity, and the ground that met their feet was faint orange, laced with glowing veins of lava.
Welcome to the Infernal Forge.
Guardian Detected: Ignis, Titan of Flame.
Difficulty: Legendary.
"Legendary?!" Draven groaned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Couldn't at least ease into this?"
Ryu's eyes flicked around the room: towering stone columns and pools of bubbling lava everywhere. "Stay awake. If Cryon was tough, Ignis will make it look like a warm-up.
There came a deep rumble from within the chamber, shaking the earth as its stones started to tremble. Then, from the biggest lava pool, a figure arose to rise. Ignis is this behemoth of molten rock and fire; with its glowing core peeking through cracks in stony armor, twin streams of fire burned from its eyes. Each step it took had molten footprints left behind, hissing and smoking.
Ignis let out an earth-shaking roar, flames bursting from its body in an explosive wave. The notification popped up:
[Battle Commencing: Ignis, Titan of Flame.]
The first strike came fast. Ignis raised a colossal arm, hurling a massive fireball toward the group.
"Move!" Ryu shouted, diving to the side as the projectile exploded on impact, sending shards of molten rock in all directions.
Aris was already on the move, her agility allowing her to dart between the stone columns. She launched a flurry of daggers at Ignis's glowing joints, but they melted before reaching their target.
"Great. We're fighting a literal furnace," Draven muttered, using his spear to vault over a stream of lava that surged toward him.
"Care about the environment!" shouted Ryu. He pointed out some scattered pillars. "There must be some method to utilize those for attacking it!"
Draven nodded. He ran toward one pillar as an interaction prompt flashed across his vision:
[Activation of Cooling Mechanism?
Yes/No.]
He slapped the prompt. The column gave a low buzz. Jets of freezing mist were shot out from its very top, cooling down the whole area. Ignis screamed out in pain as the frost hit its molten self, steam rising up while the flames dimmed.
"That's it!" Ryu hollered. "Draven, activate as many of those as you can! Aris, keep it distracted!"
A dash of columns brought Aris near to Ignis, using quick attacks to draw her attention. She shot for the glowing core, and it responded by covering itself with massive arms.
Draven slid between the pillars, working on the cooling mechanisms. Every one of them released misty blasts of ice, which continued to weaken Ignis. Its movements had become sluggish, and the fiery armor was cracking now.
"Ryu, it's vulnerable!" Aris shouted, pointing to the exposed core in Ignis's chest.
Ryu didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, using the cooled ground for leverage. His sword glowed with a faint blue light as he activated a skill.
[Sword Skill Activated: Froststrike.]
The blade collided with Ignis's core, sending a shockwave through the chamber. Ignis roared, staggering backward. Its fiery glow dimmed further, but it wasn't finished.
The Titan slammed his fists onto the ground. Volcanic lava shot everywhere. The team was compelled to fall back. Pillars crumbled from the high temperatures and the mist began to disappear.
"Draven, we need those pillars online!" Ryu shouted as he dodged a claw swipe filled with fire.
"I am on it!" Draven screamed as he rushes off to reactivate the busted mechanism.
Aris climbed up a broken column, getting a good view. From her position, she saw a group of stalactites hanging above Ignis. "Ryu! Get it under those stalactites!"
Ryu nodded, understanding her plan. He taunted Ignis, drawing its attention. "Over here, you overgrown torch!
Ignis charged with its massive form shaking the room. At the perfect moment, Aris threw a dagger at the stalactites. And they broke free, slamming down onto Ignis and to its knees.
"This is it!" Ryu screamed as his blade lit up one last time. He sprang aboard the back of Ignis and rammed his blade into the heart of his foe. A jolt of electricity shot from the blow and, with one last deafening roar, Ignis buckled under him and slammed into a burning heap.
[Victor: Guardian Defeated- Ignis, Flame Titan.
Earned Experience: 8,000.
Acquired: Ember Core.
The room started to cool; the heavy heat dissipated. A portal opened with swirling lights, indicating their route.
"Two down," Ryu said with a steady but tired voice. "One more to go."
Draven leaned against a pillar and caught his breath. "Let me guess—this next one's going to make these two look like child's play."
Aris smirks as she too looks exhausted. "Would you expect otherwise?
Ryu picked up the Ember Core, its warmth radiating through his hand. "We'll rest for a bit, then move on. Whatever's waiting for us in that last chamber, we'll face it together."
With renewed determination, the trio stepped into the portal, ready to confront the final Guardian.