Chapter 63: Into the Heart of the Inferno

The oppressive silence of the Scorching Badlands deepened with every step. The brittle ground crackled beneath their feet, threatening to crumble with their weight. Heat waves shimmered across the horizon, warping the jagged spires of obsidian that towered above them. The molten rivers hissed in the distance, their glow casting an eerie light that flickered like the heartbeat of a slumbering beast.

James tightened his grip on his satchel, the hum of his Heat Resistant Runestone a small comfort against the unbearable temperature. He felt sweat trickling down his temple, but he didn't dare pause to wipe it away. Not here. Not with the unshakable feeling of eyes watching their every move.