The oppressive heat of the cave was suffocating as Tianyi and Zhi Yue stepped further into its depths. The molten lava pooled and churned, its glow illuminating the jagged rock walls. The air was thick with an ancient, primal energy that made Tianyi's skin prickle.
Tianyi glanced at Zhi Yue, who was whistling nonchalantly despite the blistering heat. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"
Zhi Yue smirked. "Why ruin the mood? It's just a cave. With lava. And an ominous vibe. What's the worst that could happen?"
Tianyi sighed, muttering under his breath. "Why do I even bother…"
As they ventured deeper, the air grew heavier, the lava more intense. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and a low, guttural growl reverberated through the cave.
"That doesn't sound like 'just a cave,'" Tianyi said, his hand instinctively moving to his sword.
Zhi Yue shrugged, though his eyes sharpened. "Maybe it's just a friendly...lava dog? You should go say hello."
Before Tianyi could respond, the source of the growl emerged—a massive, ancient beast with molten scales and eyes that burned like twin suns. Its roar shook the cave, sending ripples through the lava.
"Well, that's not a lava dog," Zhi Yue said with a dramatic sigh. "Guess it's time to dance."
The growl of the beast was enough to send waves of heat rippling through the molten lava around them. Emerging from the depths, the creature towered above them—a monstrous hybrid of flame and stone, its molten scales dripping with liquid fire. Its eyes were twin orbs of fury, and every step it took made the ground tremble.
Zhi Yue tilted his head, letting out a low whistle. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Don't you think it looks a bit like your temper, Tianyi? Big, loud, and perpetually burning?"
Tianyi shot him a glare. "This is no time for jokes." He gripped his sword tightly, his body tensing.
"On the contrary," Zhi Yue said, stretching lazily. "If we're about to die, I'd rather do it with a smile on my face. You, however, should worry less about looking broody and more about not getting roasted alive."
The beast lunged with a deafening roar, its claws crashing down like a meteor. Tianyi rolled to the side, barely evading the attack, as the impact sent shards of molten rock flying in every direction.
"Sloppy!" Zhi Yue called out from a safe distance. "You move like a drunk mortal on ice!"
Tianyi ignored him, charging forward with his sword raised. His blade sliced through the air, striking the beast's side, but the molten scales absorbed the blow. Sparks flew, and the beast retaliated, its fiery tail whipping toward Tianyi with terrifying speed.
"Watch your back!" Zhi Yue called, sounding more amused than concerned.
Tianyi ducked, the tail missing him by inches. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Nope," Zhi Yue replied, stepping forward and summoning a sphere of dark energy in his hand. "But since you're struggling so much, I suppose I'll help. Try not to be jealous of my technique."
He hurled the sphere at the beast, the impact sending a shockwave through the cave. The beast staggered, letting out a furious roar, but it wasn't done. It reared up on its hind legs, molten fire pouring from its mouth as it prepared to unleash a devastating attack.
Tianyi's eyes widened. "Get down!"
Zhi Yue, instead of dodging, stood his ground, arms crossed. "Relax. I've seen more fire from an angry housewife."
The flames shot forward, a massive wave of destruction. At the last second, Zhi Yue conjured a barrier of shadow, the fire splitting around them like a river around a rock.
"That's it?" Zhi Yue mocked, grinning. "I was expecting more."
The beast, enraged, lunged at Zhi Yue with its claws. This time, Zhi Yue didn't dodge. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a whip of dark energy, snapping it around the beast's arm and yanking it off balance.
"Your turn, Tianyi!" Zhi Yue shouted. "Don't just stand there gawking like a mortal seeing his first spirit beast!"
Tianyi hesitated for a moment, then charged forward, his sword glowing with celestial energy. He leapt onto the beast's back, driving his blade into a gap in its scales. The creature howled, bucking wildly to throw him off.
"Hold on tighter!" Zhi Yue called, laughing. "What are you, a scared kitten on a wild horse?"
Tianyi gritted his teeth. "If you have time to make jokes, you have time to end this!"
Zhi Yue smirked, summoning another sphere of energy. "Fine. But you owe me for making this look easy."
He hurled the sphere directly at the beast's chest, the explosion lighting up the cave in a blinding flash. The creature stumbled, weakened but still standing.
"Still not enough," Zhi Yue muttered, his expression hardening.
The beast retaliated with a ferocity that caught even Zhi Yue off guard. Its molten claws struck the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked both men off their feet. Lava surged around them, cutting off their escape.
"This is bad," Tianyi said, struggling to stand.
"Understatement of the century," Zhi Yue replied, coughing as he got to his feet. "But don't worry. I'm just getting warmed up."
Zhi Yue's aura darkened, the air around him crackling with energy. He raised his hand, summoning an intricate sigil of shadows that spread across the cave ceiling. "You might want to cover your ears," he said casually.
Before Tianyi could question him, Zhi Yue unleashed his power. Tendrils of shadow erupted from the sigil, wrapping around the beast and pulling it down. The creature roared, its struggles growing weaker as the shadows drained its energy.
Tianyi watched in awe and unease. Zhi Yue's power was overwhelming, far beyond anything he'd shown before.
"You're enjoying this too much," Tianyi muttered.
"Of course I am," Zhi Yue replied, his grin widening. "But I'd enjoy it more if you'd stop looking like a lost puppy and help me finish this!"
With a final burst of energy, Zhi Yue tightened the tendrils, crushing the beast into submission. It let out one last, pitiful growl before collapsing, its molten form cooling into solid rock.
Zhi Yue collapsed onto a stone slab, his breathing heavy. "Well, that was exhilarating," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Do you feel as alive as I do?"
Tianyi, leaning against the wall, glared at him. "You almost got us killed."
"Almost," Zhi Yue corrected, smirking. "But we're not dead, so technically, I'm still a genius."
Tianyi shook his head, too exhausted to argue. He glanced at Zhi Yue, noting the faint tremble in his hands. For all his bravado, the fight had taken a toll on him too.
"Why didn't you hold back earlier?" Tianyi asked quietly.
Zhi Yue looked at him, his smirk fading for a moment. "Because some fights…aren't meant to be easy."
He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Now, stop staring at me like I'm your savior. Get some rest before something else decides to kill us."
Tianyi didn't reply, his thoughts racing. The beast was dead, but the questions it raised were far from answered.
The air in the cave was heavy with the acrid scent of scorched rock and ash. Both Tianyi and Zhi Yue were battered, their clothes torn, and blood seeping through their injuries. They had barely managed to limp to a stone ledge near a calmer area of the lava flow. The faint glow of molten fire cast flickering shadows across their weary faces.
Zhi Yue sat down with a dramatic groan, leaning back as if the fight had been nothing more than an inconvenience. "Well, that was fun," he quipped, wincing as he adjusted his position. "Nothing like a flaming overgrown lizard to make you appreciate being alive, huh?"
Tianyi, his breath still ragged, shot him an incredulous look. "You call that fun?"
"Relatively speaking," Zhi Yue said, flashing a grin. "Although, you looked pretty close to becoming roasted Tianyi. I've seen barbequed ducks with better survival skills."
"Mock me all you want!"