The sky was a haze of red and black. Ash drifted like a slow snowfall, coating the jagged basalt terrain. The ground trembled with the pulse of distant volcanoes.
Through the searing winds came a sleek, black hovercraft, gliding low above the cracked earth. At its helm sat Elion Vaydrin, Soul Reaper No. 4, his calm eyes glowing faintly. Standing behind him, unsteady, was Joren Malvek, Soul Reaper No. 6.
Elion (quietly, focused): "We're close. The Emberfall region begins beyond those ridges. From there, it's only a march to the southern city of Seryth."
Joren (flatly): "The Crimson Court mercenaries. They've already made camp. I hope they're better fighters than they look."
The hovercraft slowed to a halt. The two Soul Reapers stepped off onto the scorched ground, greeted by Crimson Court soldiers clad in red-black armor. Among them was Captain Kel Ryn, a vampire with cold, predatory eyes and a jagged blade strapped to his back.
Kel Ryn (smirking): "You Soul Reapers finally made it. Highlord Zaryon has deployed two battalions of Flameguard along the southern border. They're expecting us."
Elion's gaze sharpened, a faint heat radiating from his fingertips.
Elion: "Good. That means we won't have to waste time searching for them."
From the horizon came a rumble like thunder, but it wasn't a storm—the Flameguard was advancing. Their armor shimmered with the glow of living magma, and their weapons burned with unnatural intensity. Behind them, the earth split open, spilling rivers of molten rock that illuminated the battlefield in a hellish light.
Kel Ryn's grin widened, revealing sharp fangs.
Kel Ryn: "This will be fun."
The ground was alive. Lava rivers split the cracked terrain, hissing as they flowed toward the burning horizon. Flameguard Legions marched in precise formation.
From the opposite ridge came the Crimson Court's vanguard, mercenaries with red-glinting eyes, their blackened armor shining in the volcanic glow. Behind them strode Elion Vaydrin, fire flickering around his arms like restless serpents, and Joren Malvek, his personality just as explosive as his Awakening.
The air itself rippled with heat and power.
Behind the Flameguards, the Highlord Zaryon revealed himself. His towering figure was crowned by arcs of living fire, and with a single motion, the Crown of Solthar materialized above his head, burning brighter than the sun.
Zaryon (his voice deep, resonating): "You dare set foot on sacred Pyraxis?"
From the volcanic ridges, colossal magma beasts erupted.
Kel Ryn of the Crimson Court only grinned.
Kel Ryn: "Finally, a worthy fight."
Zaryon (deep, thundering): "Foreigners, leave or be purged. Pyraxis will not fall."
Joren (loud, grinning): "We aren't doing shit; you and your army will explode."
Zaryon (silently): "Then so be it."
The first Flameguard battalion charged. Zaryon raised his halberd, and the earth split open—volcanic titans climbed from molten rivers, their roars shaking the ground.
Elion moved first. His Fire-Awakening roared to life, engulfing his fists in spiraling crimson flames. He darted forward, igniting the air itself, creating a fiery shockwave that sent the first Flameguard scattering.
A soldier swung an Ignis Blade at him—Elion caught it barehanded, his flames burning hotter than the enchanted magma steel, melting the weapon in his grip before delivering a spinning kick that sent the warrior flying into a lava pit.
Joren Malvek. His grin was wide, almost feral, and his fingertips dripped with a faint, unstable glow, like tiny suns waiting to detonate. Even standing still, the air around him ticked with volatile energy, as if reality itself feared he might ignite it.
Joren (grinning, voice sharp with excitement): "Elion! Look at this place. Like it's BEGGING me to blow it all sky high."
The Crimson Court soldiers knew better. Even they kept their distance from him.
Joren threw out his arms, palms glowing with unstable explosive energy.
BOOM!
The ground beneath the Flameguard detonated, sending entire squads flying in a chain of fire and rock. A volcanic ridge collapsed under the sheer force, lava pouring over Pyraxis' soldiers.
Joren (laughing wildly): "YES! More! More! Let's see how far you can BURN before you BREAK!"
Elion stepped towards Joren, far calmer, weaving streams of controlled flame that sliced through the remaining soldiers. He looked at Joren with a slight frown.
Elion: "You're going to destroy the whole region before we even reach the city."
Joren (turning with a manic grin): "And what's wrong with that? Destruction IS the mission!"
Highlord Zaryon moved, and the battlefield changed. With a single swing of Aethernova, he summoned a wave of molten rock, cutting off the Crimson Court's advance. His voice boomed with authority:
Zaryon: "You will go no further."
Behind him, the silhouette of Solthar, the ancient fire-beast, shimmered in the volcanic smoke—its eyes glowing like twin suns.
Joren's grin only widened. He snapped his fingers—detonating the entire obsidian field beneath them.
KA-BOOOOOM!!!
A chain of explosions ripped across the battlefield, consuming Flameguard, Crimson Court Soldiers, and even sections of the terrain. Lava geysers shot into the sky. Zaryon blocked the shockwave with a blazing wall of flame, standing unshaken amid the chaos.
Joren (yelling over the blast): "COME ON, KING! SHOW ME SOMETHING BIGGER! I WANNA SEE THIS WHOLE LAND GO BOOM!"
Elion stepped forward, his own flames swirling into a focused lance of heat.
Elion (quiet, sharp): "Joren… focus. We kill him. Then the land is ours."
But Joren was already moving, his entire body glowing brighter, each step leaving micro-detonations in his wake. He shot toward Zaryon like a living missile, laughing as he charged.
Zaryon raised Aethernova, summoning a volcanic titan to intercept.
Zaryon: "Then burn with the rest."
The volcanic titan roared as it swung a massive molten fist at Joren.
But Joren only laughed, his palms glowing with unstable explosive energy.
Joren (grinning like a madman): "BIG! LOUD! BUT NOT LOUD ENOUGH!"
He slammed his hands together, unleashing a shockwave of chain explosions that tore the titan apart in a violent blast, spraying molten rock in every direction.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The explosion was strong enough to flatten an entire section of the battlefield. Pyraxis soldiers and Crimson Court mercenaries alike were caught in the blast wave, their screams lost in the chaos.
But when the smoke cleared, Zaryon was still there. Unmoved.
He didn't even flinch.