The moment Leo stepped through the portal, he pulled out his healing crystal and activated it. There was no time to lose. Especially after Cain accepted his invite much faster than he’d anticipated.

“Ells, we may have to fight him again right away. If we do, we're gonna go all out from the start, put that guy down,” Leo said.

She gave a mental assent from inside his soul-space.

Then Leo felt it.

The overwhelming heat that billowed out around him was like standing in a furnace. It wasn’t entirely hostile thanks to his Fire Essence, but it still wasn’t comfortable in the slightest.

While the healing crystal did its work, a notification appeared before him.

Welcome to the Cinder Bastion

Quest Received:

You have entered the Bastion of one of the Antling Queen’s generals. This realm of magma and sulphur will test your spirit, your strength and your will.

Slay the General that lies within the keep.

Only then will the fires stop.

Objective: Slay the Cinder Ant General 0/1

Reward: Dependent on completion.

First Clear Reward: One half of the Antling Queen Keystone

Time before exit becomes available: 23 hours, 58 minutes

It was at this point Leo had realised just what kind of place he’d found himself in.

With a name like The Cinder Bastion, he’d expected something like a castle where he’d have to navigate halls and dodge fire traps or something.

While he wasn’t entirely wrong, there was a bit more to it.

A lot more to it.

Jagged black rock and cracked obsidian plateaus stretched in every direction, fractured by rivers of flowing magma and glowing fissures that hissed steam with every breath. The air was thick with a noxious heat and burned iron scent, like a forge that never cooled.

In the distance, the keep loomed like a wound in the earth. Walls of dark, fused stone marked by veins of glowing magma that pulsed like trapped blood. Spires and shattered battlements jutted upward, silhouetted against an orange-red sky.

It was like stepping into an entirely new world. One where fire shapes the land itself.

“Holy shit,” Leo descriptively said as he stared across the wonder.

A flash appeared behind him as Cain materialised into the dungeon, eyes instantly fixed on his opponent.

“So you came, huh?” Leo said, trying to buy more time while his crystal restored his wounds.

“You invited me.”

“...I suppose I did. Kinda thought you’d take a bit longer to decide.”

“Decisions are easy. Killing is easier,” Cain said. He was no longer in his bestial form, now back in his human one—although not that less animalistic.

Leo got a better look at him now. Bearded face, rugged like that five o'clock shadow that was more like five months. His brown, shaggy hair came down to just before his eyebrows, wild and unkempt.

Leo wasn’t sure if his bestial form was just his usual and now he was pretending to be human.

Cain’s axes appeared once again in both hands as he gripped them tightly, and he charged at Leo without another second’s hesitation.

Alright, guess it’s showtime.

All of Leo’s usual skills activated as he moved to intercept, with his Fire Stance in effect. Draconic Gauntlets shimmered into being, his skin steaming with power.

They clashed in a massive explosion of mana and destruction. Cain’s axe sliced into Leo’s Volt Crash, sending blue sparks and chunks of stone everywhere as the ground quaked.

Leo ducked under a slice from Cain, placing his hands onto the ground as a wall was erected between them. He slammed his fist into it, sending shards of rubble into Cain.

Cain suddenly appeared to his left, Nerveflash warning him of the incoming danger. Leo Spark Dashed into the air, lowering his speed with his Cloak for a moment before switching to a dive.

His foot came down in an axe kick loaded with the power of Echoing Talon. Cain sliced his hatchets down on nothing as a bestial claw appeared in mid air, three jagged lines of razor sharp mana shot towards him.

Another Spark Dash put him on the ground, spinning into a punch that carried heat eclipsing the area around them.

Cain’s body bent in an unnatural way, like a cat turning into liquid. Leo’s fist scorched past, missing the mark. But at the last moment he turned his fist.

Not towards Cain, that angle wouldn’t work, but towards his own hand.

The fist of flame crashed into his palm, causing a torrent of heat to bathe himself and Cain. Leo took little damage while Cain rolled away, skin charred.

Their eyes locked, breathing heavy.

“You are not stronger,” Cain said firmly, growling slightly.

Leo was starting to believe it. It was like Cain could read every move he had, but he could also dodge everything he sent.

It was a stalemate.

“Then you better hope you put enough points in Endurance,” Leo said through breaths.

His gauntlets faded as Ellie appeared before him, roaring in defiance of the enemy before her.

All three moved to clash once again, ready to find out who the true victor would be.

Suddenly the ground rumbled. It shook for just a moment, but was enough to stop them.

Then another shudder shook the earth as Leo’s danger sense started sparking.

“Something is—” He tried to say, but was interrupted as the ground exploded into shards of obsidian. Magma spewing as a creature emerged.

A giant, obsidian black creature burst from the cracked scale, long and armoured.

All three dodged backwards in quick steps, facing up against the beast.

Leo identified it and realised he might have to change up his plans.

Juvenile Magma Worm - Level 47

It stood tall before them, gaping mouth of sharp lamprey teeth within its open face.

Okay… A bit higher than I was expecting, but not insurmountable. The problem will be dealing with Cain at the same time.

Cain’s eyes were still locked on him. Leo took it upon himself to be the bigger person.

“We need to take this thing out first, truce?”

“No. You die,” Cain growled.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? Do you not see this giant lava worm? There’s no point to this dick measuring contest if we’re both dead!”

The worm reacted, spewing hot flame across the scorched earth, coating it in sticky fire.

“I can kill that after I kill you,” Cain said, unbothered by the attack as he easily dodged it.

Just as he did however, the ground shook once more and another worm appeared, this one level 48.

Leo pointed at it. “Can you take a fucking break now?”

Cain’s eyes turned yellow—beast-like pupils replacing his usual brown. Fur coated his body as it appeared whatever skill he’d used had come off cooldown, or perhaps never had one.

“Oh for fu—”

Cain spun, jumping straight for the newly emerged worm as Leo breathed out in relief. Dealing with two worms and this psycho would be a bit much, especially while out of resonance.

Thanks to his high Endurance, he was gaining enough to be able to use the Equip for at least a little, or save it for when Cain tried for his head again.

Probably best to save it.

“Let’s go Ellie, Frost mode!”

Leo’s breath steamed as the cold mana from within his body took over from the fire.

Was trying to use frost to beat fire possibly stupid? Yes. But it worked on the torches in the bank so hopefully it would be of some use here. A Water Essence would have been nice here.

With how large and scaly the creature was, Leo wanted to try and crack the shell. Blow it up from the inside with shards of ice.

So the pair put their plan into action.

Ellie glided into the sky with two Wingbeats, taking the air approach while Leo attacked from below. His Cloak was still wrapped around his shoulders, giving him all the manoeuvrability he would need to barely touch the ground.

The worm wasn’t idle during their approach, thrashing out with its head. Leo sidestepped the slam and peppered it with rapid fire jabs and kicks before it could rise again. Each one left an icy mark that… didn’t really spread all that much frost.

Damn. New tactic.

Just before Ellie coated it in a frosty breath, he called out. “Zap it!”

The mana inside her shifted, turning into a highly condensed beam that crackled with power as it shot out. She chomped down on it to keep it stable.

It started boring into the shell of the worm like a laser through rock as it set itself upright again. Some of the shards had fallen off, but not enough to expose any flesh.

Cracked was all he needed though. Leo let the frost leave him just as he was about to impact it. Spiral Break in his Earth Stance sent damage rattling through the armoured enemy.

Leo’s fist was fully embedded into the creature as it writhed in pain. The internal damage from Earth Stance should have been his go to in the beginning. He could only chalk it up to inexperience.

Ellie began dodging side to side as it started spewing magma once again. Then Leo got a really bad feeling from behind him.

He quickly glanced back to see Cain’s worm charging up some kind of massive attack. Its head was expanding as its stomach glowed with a fiery red heat.

Leo didn’t want to go near Cain’s fight, but if he didn’t stop that attack, he had a feeling it wouldn’t matter.

He dashed towards it with everything he had but it wasn’t enough. The attack was coming, despite Cain slashing chunks from it with every swing. He needed time. He needed…

More speed.

His Earth stance dismissed, Leo circulated as much Lightning mana as he could around his body. He couldn’t use his Lightning stance as it was still on cooldown after shifting.

As the lightning coursed through him in the power of Spark Dash, he kept it going, pushing the mana into every muscle as he tried to extend the feeling, make it last longer to dash a greater distance. He got his wish, and then some.

Spark Dash (Common)

Upgraded to:

Lightning Drive (Uncommon)

His body surged into motion, not Spark Dashing, but like he just equipped rocket-boots. His feet tore across the ground, each step barely visible.

“Move!” Leo shouted.

Cain growled and moved out of the way.

As he got to the bottom of the worm he still managed to use a Spark Dash. Flickering upwards and crunching the bottom of its face.

All his momentum and lightning coursed into the strike. Volt Crash amplified it, locking the beast up while it was about to attack. Its mouth closed, and whatever attack was inside it fizzled as it lost focus.

He swiftly kicked out twice, Echoing Talon cracking its head even more.

Leo followed it up with another Dash, carrying him upwards. Then he changed weight to descend as hard as he could. Scarlet Impact coating the bottom of his heel. He felt the strain of trying to combine both skills, but pushed through.

Leo’s heel hit the worm, exploded, and then passed right through where he thought he’d hit the worm.

The combination of the attacks completely obliterated the top of its head.

A notification came in shortly after.

You have slain: Juvenile Magma Worm - Level 48

Experience increased for defeating a higher-level enemy

+678 Store Credits

Your Elemental Adept class has reached Level 40

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Anchored Progression:+1 All stats, +2 Free Points

Level 40 Elemental Adept class skill selection available

Ellie has reached level 37

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Ellie’s gains from race:

+5 Free Points

Leo hit the ground with a tumble, the power of Lightning Drive fading from his body. He could tell that he could turn it back on again, but knew that the cost would be substantial, even with all his Endurance.

Leo quickly popped all 8 Free points into Agility. He needed to start being even faster than Cain.

Cain looked at him, and for the first time it wasn’t like he wanted to kill him. He just turned to the other worm. Who was trying to chase down a little speedy dragon.

Leo got to his feet and ran towards the other worm. They needed to finish this one before it used the same kind of attack the other one did.

The trio quickly took care of the worm, with Cain slicing chunks from it, Leo backing him up with quick strikes, and Ellie distracting it until her Elemental Breath came off cooldown. In its final hurrah, it tried to use whatever massive attack the other had, but it was no use.

Cain swiped both axes downwards as two massive claws of energy appeared, blood red and razor sharp. It cut the worm to ribbons, causing it to collapse and bleed out before it could finish charging.

You have slain: Juvenile Magma Worm - Level 47

Experience increased for defeating a higher-level enemy

+790 Store Credits

After the worm died, Leo collapsed to the floor. Cain did the same. They didn’t immediately go for each other's throats, but the tension was still palpable.

The ground rumbled again, far away but also getting closer each second.

God damn it. These worms must sense us or something.

He was in no state to fight another group of worms as while he hadn’t taken any hits, his stamina had taken a massive one, running very low after the extended fight against Cain and his goons, Cain again, then the worms.

“Look,” Leo said, panting. “I know you want to kill me, I get it. I would be thrilled to see you dead. But we can’t fight if we keep getting attacked by worms until we die of exhaustion.”

Cain looked towards the incoming worms, ground shaking as they burrowed closer.

“So I suggest a truce. Not an alliance. Fuck that. Just until we get out of this dungeon, we don’t go for each other’s heads.”

“Fine.” Cain stood up. “Once we leave. You die.”

Leo rolled his eyes. Damn caveman.

Ellie popped into his soul-space. She had taken a few hits from the worm’s attacks, only light grazing, but enough to need a bit of recuperation. She was also pretty tapped on mana and stamina, not having the same reserves as Leo did.

You did great Ells. Get some rest.

She was asleep the second she entered his soul-space.

Leo and Cain took off, running anywhere but here. He couldn’t trust this man, not even close. But he could tolerate him until he got out.

A plan of potentially leaving Cain alone to do his own thing in here while he did the same did cross his mind, but ultimately he couldn’t risk Cain deciding to leave after 24 hours and killing his friends. He doubted it, but the possibility was enough to dissuade him.

Instead, they would try and clear the dungeon. A task that would possibly get them both killed. Especially when the boss died.

Until then, all he could do was sleep with one eye open.