The next morning, the guildhall was alive with activity. Reports of shadow attacks in the outlying regions poured in, and adventurers were dispatched in groups to defend vulnerable villages. The stabilization of the nexus had bought them time, but it was clear the shadows were adapting.
Ryan stood with Arya and Grent near the mission board, scanning the latest updates. Lyra was absent, speaking privately with the guildmaster about the next Core's location.
"We're spreading thin," Arya said, her tone sharp. "The shadows are pushing harder than ever. If we can't stabilize another Core soon, the network will fall apart."
Grent crossed his arms, his hammer resting against the wall beside him. "Then we need a lead. Fast. Lyra better come through with something concrete."
Ryan nodded, his eyes lingering on a pinned map of the region. The remaining Cores were scattered, each one farther and more dangerous than the last. "We'll figure it out. We always do."
As if summoned by his words, Lyra approached, her expression grave. "I've pinpointed the next Core's location. It's deep within the Scorched Wastes."
Arya frowned. "The Wastes? That's one of the most inhospitable regions on the map. Even seasoned adventurers avoid it."
Lyra nodded. "The Core there is ancient, and its destabilization is causing extreme heatwaves and volcanic activity. If we don't act soon, the Wastes will expand, consuming everything in their path."
Grent let out a low whistle. "Great. From freezing to frying. Can't wait."
Ryan tightened his grip on his sword. "What do we need to prepare?"
Lyra's gaze shifted to the group. "Fire-resistant gear, plenty of water, and your resolve. The Wastes aren't just dangerous—they're alive. The shadows won't be the only threat."
The group left Dawnstead at midday, their supplies packed for the long journey. The transition from the cool plains to the arid heat of the Wastes was jarring. The air grew heavy, and the ground beneath their feet turned from lush grass to cracked, scorched earth.
By the time they reached the edge of the Scorched Wastes, the temperature had risen drastically. Heat waves shimmered on the horizon, and plumes of smoke rose from distant volcanic vents.
"This place feels like it wants to kill us," Grent muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Arya scanned the area, her bow in hand. "Stay focused. The shadows will use the environment against us."
Ryan activated his HUD, the interface flickering as it adjusted to the harsh conditions. Warnings about extreme heat and unstable terrain flashed across his vision, but he pushed them aside. "Let's keep moving. The Core isn't going to stabilize itself."
The first sign of trouble came as they entered a narrow canyon. The walls were lined with jagged obsidian, and the ground was littered with shards of volcanic glass. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, and an ominous silence hung over the group.
Ryan's HUD flashed a warning: Hostiles Detected.
From the shadows of the canyon emerged figures made of molten rock and flame. Their bodies glowed with an intense heat, and their movements were slow but deliberate.
[Infernal Constructs] - Level 19
Arya loosed an arrow, the projectile striking one of the Constructs in its glowing core. The creature stumbled, but its molten body reformed almost instantly.
"They regenerate!" Arya shouted. "Aim for the core—it's their only weak spot!"
Grent stepped forward, his hammer glowing faintly as he activated one of his skills. With a powerful swing, he shattered a Construct, the molten fragments cooling rapidly into obsidian. "Tough, but not invincible!"
Ryan activated [Quick Strike], darting around a Construct and slicing through its core with precision. His HUD flashed: +400 XP. The creature crumbled, but more emerged from the canyon walls, their glowing forms casting eerie shadows.
"Lyra, any tricks up your sleeve?" Ryan called, dodging a fiery attack.
Lyra raised her hands, her voice calm despite the chaos. She chanted an incantation, and a wave of frost erupted from her palms, colliding with the Constructs. The intense cold caused their molten bodies to crack, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
"Now!" she shouted.
Arya's arrows flew with deadly accuracy, and Grent's hammer smashed through the weakened Constructs. Ryan activated [Blade Tempest], his sword spinning in a flurry of strikes that cleared a path through the remaining enemies.
Finally, the last Construct fell, its core shattering with a burst of light. The group stood amidst the remnants, their breaths heavy in the stifling heat.
As they exited the canyon, the landscape opened into a vast, molten plain dotted with rivers of lava and towering volcanic spires. The Core's energy was palpable, a steady thrum that seemed to resonate with the ground itself.
"There," Lyra said, pointing to a distant spire where the glow of the Core was visible even through the haze. "That's our target."
Arya adjusted her quiver, her expression determined. "Then let's not waste time."
Ryan looked at his team, his resolve hardening. The Scorched Wastes were unforgiving, but they had faced impossible odds before. Together, they would overcome whatever the shadows threw at them. The Core awaited, and with it, another step toward saving their world.