Having to imagine Vulcan's Lair was one thing—but standing before it was another story entirely.
The moment they stepped inside, the women's confidence faltered. A scorching wave of heat slammed into them, the ground beneath their boots glowing faintly with cracks of molten light. A vast sea of lava spread endlessly below, its surface bubbling like a cauldron of liquid fire. The sky above shimmered with heat distortion, a red haze that seemed to melt reality itself.
Everywhere they looked, fire poured from cracks in the rocks like bleeding veins.
It was hell, in its purest form.
Rafaela wiped the sweat from her forehead. "So this is Vulcan's Lair, huh… I already feel like my eyebrows are gone."
"Don't be afraid," Ren said calmly, his tone solid, his posture unshaken. "Vulcan's easy—as long as you stick to the plan."
Something about his voice steadied them. Even in this inferno, his composure radiated confidence.
