CHAPTER 71: A TRUE HELLSCAPE

Violets first thoughts after entering into the new domain could be summed up in a singular word, Hot!

Whilst she and Luna had some experience with similar fire domains such as the valley in which they fought that Drake a while ago. The sheer difference between the two was palpable.

If the previous one could be compared to a particularly hot day, this domain would be better suited to being referred to as an oven.

This was particularly troublesome for Luna as this directly opposed her own specialty of ice and cold. She could somewhat counter it but she had to constantly expend mana just to prevent her blessing of the Arctic from dissipating as it battled with the omnipresent heat.

Thankfully they shouldn’t have to stay here for too long if the previous zones were anything to go by. They had spent around 1 hour each in the previous two zones. With them beginning the decent when the timer was at 8hrs 30min remaining. Luna quickly checked the system to check.

[Time Remaining - 5hrs 53min remaining]

"Well let’s try to get out of this place as fast as possible eh?" Luna said, only half joking as she was already beginning to sweat from the heat.

Not that Violet was doing considerably better, her void coating did help but it was a decent drain on her own mana so she opted to just suffer through the heat so she could save her mana for the inevitable battles to come.

Speaking of battles, the pair of companions were not the first of the beast tide to have entered this domain but were still amongst the early arrivals. Already battles were taking place, this time it seemed that the fire denizens were happy to sit back in their pools of fire and lava for any foe to approach them. And given that Violet could see a giant river of lava flowing in a seeming circle around the centre of the domain she knew that they would be running into them soon enough.

The actual landscape was somewhat similar to the lightning domain, by being dominated by barren ground and rocky outcroppings. Crevasses and sink holes seemed prevalent here only instead of housing only a chance of falling, they were instead filled with either lava or ever burning fires. Each of these features was guarded by either a lone strong guardian or a group of weaker beasts.

Knowing that they shouldn’t dally much longer Violet gave her final assessment before they continued onwards. "Well let’s try avoid fights where possible, and when we get to that river of lava hop on my back and I’ll try fly us over. Will need you to watch out for sneak attacks when in the air though!" Only after feeling her companions agreement at the rough plan did Violet begin to trot forward.

Nothing that a particularly large pool of fire was directly ahead of them they opted to circle around it and the dozens of balls of floating fire, they looked remarkably similar to the lightning Sprites they fought previously so we’re not eager to jump right into another battle right away.

Saddly for them fights would just instead find them. They had hardly gotten half way around the pool before a particularly large group of small lizards, around a meter in length from tail tip to snout began to charge them.

They were peculiar creatures, yellow and red in colouration with a leathery hide. Their bodies hung close to the ground and they moved with surprising swiftness and were rapidly closing the gap between them. The backs of the beasts were covered in numerous spiney protrusions from which occasional bursts of fire would be emitted.

Around 7 of the beasts were currently charging them and the duo was not all too eager to allow them to close in without being opposed. A series of void bolts was rapidly launched forwards towards the front 3 beasts of which only the left hand one managed to avoid being impacted.

The two that were hit were sent sprawling backwards, one of which was missing half its face and the other missing one of its front legs. This naturally caused a small pile up as the lizards behind these two tripped over their dead and collapsed comrades. Still they were not disused for long and rapidly began to close the distance.

This time Lina struck out, sending a spear of ice forwards which impaled one beast causing yet another to trip over the skewered lizard.

More bolts were fired by Violet whilst Luna stepped forwards to engage the first of them that got within reach. Just as the first beast sprang forward she too made her moved and blurred forwards, spear extended. She peirced through the beast in that singular thrust before swiping the spear down, dislodging the impaled beast and sending its soon to be corpse flying at another.

Then she moved again and cut the leg of another before being forced to dodge out of the way of a incoming fire bolt. Violet not one to be outdone also opted to get in close after her last barrage of bolts. She was already under half her total mana and was not eager to let it get much lower incase they encountered a truly strong foe. So she pounced forward and crushed a unfortunate lizard that had the misfortune of not paying attention.

She followed up with a tail whip at one that was looking to flank Luna sending it sprawling away and giving her companion time to dispatch yet another lizard.

The rest of the battle was swiftly cleaned up with the companions only receiving superficial damage from the encounter, saddly though they received no level.

[Your group has defeated Incendiary Iguana lvl 47~52 x 7 exp rewarded]

From their the two continued circling the pool of fire, thankful that their battle had not attracted the attention of the fire sprites lazily floating above the flames.

From their they had an almost straight dash towards the wide river of lava that separated the outer region of this domain from the inner region.

So all they had to do now was make it across the nearly 200 meters wide river of molten earth that was home to hundreds of beasts that would quite enjoy the chance to drag them down into the flames and out an end to their lives.