บท 18: Chapter 18: The Endless Trials of the Domain of Fire(2)

The ground quaked violently as the Fire Elemental erupted from the molten rock, towering over Aldric and his companions. Its body was a swirling mass of flames and molten lava, with glowing eyes that burned with an intense hatred. The heat radiating from it was nearly unbearable, even for those with natural resistances to fire.

Aldric could feel the immense power emanating from the creature. This was not just another guardian of the domain; this was the true keeper of the Inferno's Core, a being born of the very flames that defined this level.

"Get ready!" Aldric shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the elemental. "This is going to be tough!"

The Fire Elemental raised one of its massive arms, and a wave of fire surged toward them. Aldric reacted quickly, using his **Creation Magic** to summon a wall of water. The water hissed and evaporated almost instantly upon contact with the fire, but it was enough to block the initial blast.

Darius, sword in hand, moved to the side, looking for an opening. "We need to spread out and attack from different angles," he called to the others. "It's too big to defend against all of us at once!"

Elara nodded, summoning a burst of wind to propel herself to the left flank. Selene followed closely behind her, using her shadow magic to create a veil that would mask their movements from the elemental's sight.

Aldric focused his **Great Divine Eyes** on the elemental, analyzing its mana pathways and the flow of energy within its form. He could see that the core of its power was concentrated in its chest, where the flames were brightest and most intense.

"We need to target its core!" Aldric shouted. "That's where its power is concentrated!"

But just as he spoke, the elemental let out a deafening roar and slammed its fists into the ground. The entire chamber shook, and cracks spread across the floor, spewing molten lava. Aldric leapt back to avoid the fissures, his mind racing for a strategy.

Darius dashed forward, his sword glowing with a blue light as he activated his mana infusion technique. He aimed a powerful slash at the elemental's arm, but the blade barely scratched its molten skin. The elemental retaliated with a backhanded swipe that sent Darius flying across the chamber, crashing into the wall with a thud.

"Darius!" Elara screamed, her voice filled with panic. She wanted to rush to his aid, but another wave of fire forced her back.

Aldric clenched his fists, feeling the frustration building within him. They were outmatched, but he knew there had to be a way to turn the tide. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, centering himself, and then reopened them with a calm determination.

"Elara, Selene, keep it distracted!" he commanded. "I'm going to try something!"

As Elara and Selene continued their assault, Aldric concentrated, summoning the full power of his **Great Divine Eyes**. He focused on the elemental's core, watching the flow of mana and how it moved with each of the creature's attacks. He needed to find a weakness, a moment of vulnerability.

Finally, he saw it—a brief fluctuation in the elemental's core when it prepared to attack. The flames would surge, drawing energy away from the rest of its body for just a split second. It wasn't much, but it was a window of opportunity.

"Now!" Aldric shouted, charging forward with blinding speed. He summoned a spear of ice with his **Creation Magic**, infusing it with his mana to enhance its durability. As the elemental prepared to strike again, Aldric threw the spear with all his might, aiming directly for the core.

The spear flew through the air like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the flames and striking the elemental's chest. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The elemental let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing as the ice began to spread, extinguishing the flames around its core.

The elemental staggered back, clutching its chest as it tried to pull the spear out. But the ice continued to spread, rapidly cooling the molten rock and slowing the creature's movements. Seeing their chance, Darius pushed himself up from the ground, ignoring the pain in his body, and charged forward.

"Let's finish this!" Darius yelled, raising his sword for a final strike. He channeled all his remaining mana into his blade, causing it to glow with a blinding light. With a powerful swing, he struck the elemental's core, shattering the ice and breaking through the molten rock.

The elemental let out one final, ear-splitting scream as its body began to disintegrate, the flames dying out and the molten rock crumbling away. In moments, it was gone, leaving nothing but a pile of cooling lava and ash.

The chamber fell silent, the oppressive heat dissipating slightly. Aldric lowered his hands, breathing heavily. They had done it. They had defeated the Fire Elemental.

"Is everyone okay?" Aldric asked, turning to check on the others.

Darius nodded, though he was clearly exhausted and in pain. "I'm fine, just a bit battered."

Elara and Selene joined them, both looking equally tired but unharmed. "We're okay," Elara said, a small smile on her face. "Thanks to you."

Aldric nodded, relieved. "Good. But we can't rest yet. There's still one more level to go."

The group took a moment to catch their breath and regain their strength. They knew the final level, the **Heart of the Inferno**, would be the most challenging yet. If the Fire Elemental was only the guardian of the third level, then whatever awaited them at the heart would be even more formidable.

After a few minutes, they regrouped and made their way to the far end of the chamber, where another set of stairs descended into the darkness. The air grew even hotter as they descended, the walls glowing with an ominous red light.

As they reached the bottom, they found themselves standing before a massive iron door, covered in intricate carvings depicting scenes of fire and destruction. This was it—the final gate, the entrance to the **Heart of the Inferno**.

Aldric took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "This is it," he said, turning to the others. "The final trial. Whatever happens, we face it together."

The others nodded, their expressions resolute. Darius gripped his sword tightly, his eyes burning with determination. Elara and Selene stood side by side, ready for whatever lay ahead.

With a nod, Aldric placed his hand on the iron door, channeling his mana into it. The carvings began to glow, and with a loud creak, the door slowly opened, revealing a vast chamber beyond.

The **Heart of the Inferno** was unlike anything they had seen before. The chamber was massive, with molten lava flowing like rivers through the cracked ground. Pillars of fire shot up from the floor, reaching toward the ceiling far above. And in the center of the chamber, standing atop a platform of solid rock, was the final guardian.

It was a colossal beast, its body composed of pure flame and molten rock. Its eyes glowed with an intense, fiery light, and its every movement caused the very air around it to ripple with heat. This was the **Inferno Titan**, the ultimate test of the Domain of Fire.

Aldric could feel the immense power radiating from the titan, far surpassing that of the Fire Elemental. This would be their greatest challenge yet.

"We have to be careful," Aldric warned. "This thing is on a whole different level."

The Inferno Titan let out a thunderous roar, its voice shaking the very ground beneath them. It raised one massive hand, and a wave of molten rock surged toward them.

Aldric quickly summoned a barrier of water, but the sheer force of the attack shattered it, sending him and the others flying back. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

Darius was the first to recover, quickly getting to his feet and charging forward. He dodged another wave of molten rock, using his agility to avoid the streams of lava that flowed across the ground.

Elara and Selene moved to the sides, using their magic to keep the titan's attention divided. Elara summoned gusts of wind to deflect the streams of lava, while Selene used her shadows to create barriers and shield them from the titan's attacks.

Aldric pushed himself up, his body aching from the impact. He knew they couldn't keep this up for long. The Inferno Titan was too powerful, its attacks too overwhelming. They needed to find a way to bring it down.

He focused his **Great Divine Eyes** on the titan, searching for any sign of a weakness. But unlike the Fire Elemental, the titan's core was not exposed. It was buried deep within its massive body, protected by layers of molten rock and flame.

Aldric's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. They needed to get close, to pierce through the titan's defenses and strike at its core. But with the intense heat and constant attacks, it seemed nearly impossible.

As he considered their options, Darius managed to get close enough to strike at the titan's leg. His sword made contact, but the molten rock was too thick, and the blade barely left a scratch.

The titan retaliated with a backhanded swipe, knocking Darius back and sending him crashing into a pillar of rock. Elara screamed his name, but there was no time to check on him as the titan turned its attention towards them.