The voice vanished.
---
Then—
---
The air changed.
---
Subtly.
---
But unmistakably.
---
My instincts flared instantly.
---
Danger.
---
Real danger.
---
A deep rumble shook the ground.
Low.
Heavy.
---
The magma rivers nearby began to bubble violently.
---
Heat spiked.
Sharply.
---
The volcanic mountain in the distance—
Cracked.
---
Then—
---
BOOOOOOM—!!!
---
A massive explosion erupted from its peak.
---
Flames shot into the sky.
Ash spread across the air like a storm.
---
The ground trembled continuously—
As if the entire domain was waking up.
---
And from within the eruption—
---
Something moved.
---
Something large.
---
Something alive.
---
My eyes sharpened.
Locked in.
---
"…So this is the Second trial."
---
A slow smile formed on my face.
---
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
---
Excitement.
---
Predatory.
---
"…Good."
---
My stance shifted.
Lower.
Balanced.
---
Every muscle aligned.
Every sense sharpened.
---
Energy began to flow through my body—
Calm.
Precise.
---
Not wild.
---
Not unstable.
---
Controlled.
---
Just as Caelion had said.
---
But deep inside—
---
Something stirred.
---
Watching.
Waiting.
---
"…Let's see…"
---
My eyes glowed faintly blue.
---
"…what this Tower can do."
---
ROOOOAR—!!!
---
The heat in the surroundings spiked again.
---
I glanced briefly at my body.
---
I was still in my shorts—
My skin covered in dark impurities.
Residue expelled when the physique merged.
---
So it purged everything unnecessary…
---
Good.
---
Then—
---
BOOM!!!!!!
---
Magma erupted violently from the volcano.
---
And from within it—
---
A figure emerged.
---
Massive.
---
Dominant.
---
It stepped through the eruption—
As if magma itself obeyed it.
---
My eyes narrowed.
---
Its body was built like a living fortress.
---
Skin—
Molten red rock.
---
Veins—
Glowing lines of magma.
Pulsing.
Breathing.
---
Steam escaped from cracks across its body.
---
Its eyes—
Red pupils.
Black irises.
---
Locked onto me.
---
Silently.
---
Analyzing.
---
"…So you're the guardian."
---
It didn't respond.
---
Instead—
It moved.
---
Slowly.
---
Floating.
---
Not walking.
---
The heat around it intensified with every inch it approached.
---
The ground beneath it melted slightly—
Unable to withstand its presence.
---
When it was only a few meters away—
---
It dropped.
---
BOOM.
---
The ground shattered beneath its weight.
---
Behind it—
The volcano continued erupting endlessly.
---
A constant reminder—
---
This was its domain.
---
And I was the intruder.
---
I didn't move.
---
Didn't attack.
---
I watched.
---
Carefully.
---
Every detail.
---
Every motion.
---
Every fluctuation of energy.
---
Then—
---
A blue screen appeared before me.
---
> [Info]
Name: Lithovar
Title: Volcanic Guardian
Threat Level: High
Affinity: Fire / Earth
Core: Internal
---
Core-based entity…
---
So destroying the outer body alone wouldn't be enough.
---
Noted.
---
Lithovar tilted its head slightly.
---
Then—
---
It raised one arm.
---
And clenched its fist.
---
BOOM—!!!
---
The ground beneath me exploded.
---
I vanished.
---
SWISH—!!!
---
Reappearing mid-air.
---
A split second later—
---
A pillar of magma shot upward from where I had been standing.
---
Fast.
---
No wasted motion.
---
Direct targeting.
---
I hovered briefly—
Then shifted mid-air.
---
SWISH—!!
---
A second magma pillar shot up—
Barely missing me.
---
It's predicting movement.
---
Not reacting.
---
Predicting.
---
My eyes sharpened further.
---
Good.
---
That made things easier.
---
I stopped dodging randomly.
---
Instead—
---
I moved deliberately.
---
Controlled.
---
Testing.
---
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
---
Magma pillars erupted in sequence—
Each one closer than the last.
---
I twisted mid-air—
---
Narrowly avoiding them.
---
But not completely.
---
One grazed my arm.
---
SSSSSS—!!!
---
My skin burned slightly.
---
I landed.
---
Sliding back a few meters.
---
"…Hot."
---
But not unbearable.
---
My new physique absorbed most of it.
---
Good.
---
Very good.
---
Lithovar moved.
---
This time—
---
Faster.
---
Far faster.
---
It appeared in front of me—
---
And swung.
---
BAM—!!!
---
I blocked.
---
My arms crossed.
---
The impact—
---
Heavy.
---
Like a mountain crashing down.
---
The ground beneath my feet cracked instantly.
---
But I didn't move.
---
Not even an inch.
---
Its eyes flickered.
---
Surprise.
---
Good.
---
I stepped forward.
---
BAM!!!
---
My fist slammed into its torso.
---
The impact echoed—
---
But—
---
No damage.
---
Not even a crack.
---
Dense…
---
Extremely dense.
---
Lithovar countered instantly.
---
A low sweep—
---
I jumped.
---
Then—
---
BOOM!!!
---
Its other fist shot upward—
---
Catching me mid-air.
---
The impact sent me flying back.
---
I twisted—
---
Landed on my feet—
---
Sliding across the ground.
---
Strong.
---
Very strong.
---
But—
---
Predictable.
---
I exhaled slowly.
---
Then—
---
My stance changed.
---
Again.
---
Lower.
---
Sharper.
---
More focused.
---
No wasted movement.
---
No unnecessary energy.
---
Just—
---
Precision.
---
Lithovar charged.
---
BOOM!!!
---
The ground shattered behind it.
---
I didn't move.
---
Not yet.
---
Closer.
---
Closer.
---
At the last possible moment—
---
SWISH—!!!
---
I disappeared.
---
Reappeared at its side.
---
BAM!!!
---
A strike to its knee joint.
---
This time—
---
A crack.
---
Small.
---
But real.
---
Lithovar staggered slightly.
---
There.
---
Weak point identified.
---
Joints.
---
Not the core body.
---
I moved again.
---
Faster.
---
More aggressive.
---
BAM!!! BAM!!! BAM!!!
---
Multiple strikes—
---
Knees.
Elbows.
Neck joints.
---
Each one—
---
Precise.
---
Each one—
---
Creating small fractures.
---
Lithovar roared.
---
Loud.
---
Violent.
---
Then—
---
Its body glowed brighter.
---
Danger.
---
My instincts screamed.
---
I retreated instantly.
---
SWISH—!!!
---
Just in time.
---
BOOOOOOM—!!!!
---
Its entire body erupted.
---
A massive explosion of magma and heat.
---
The shockwave tore through the ground.
---
I reappeared at a distance.
---
Breathing steady.
---
Eyes locked.
---
"…So you can explode too."
---
Troublesome.
---
But manageable.
---
The magma reformed.
---
Its body reconstructed.
---
Cracks sealing.
---
Completely restored.
---
"…Regeneration."
---
Of course.
---
That meant—
---
Dragging this fight out was pointless.
---
I needed to end it.
---
Fast.
---
My eyes narrowed.
---
Then—
---
A faint voice echoed again.
---
"…Break it."
---
My pupils flickered.
---
"…What?"
---
"…Break the core."
---
Silence.
---
Then nothing.
---
Gone again.
---
I frowned slightly.
---
But—
---
It made sense.
---
Core-based entity.
---
Everything leads back to the core.
---
I exhaled.
---
Calmed my thoughts.
---
Focused.
---
Then—
---
Energy gathered.
---
Not explosive.
---
Not wild.
---
Condensed.
---
Refined.
---
Focused into my palm.
---
Lithovar charged again.
---
This time—
---
Faster.
---
Stronger.
---
Final attempt.
---
Good.
---
I stepped forward.
---
Directly toward it.
---
No evasion.
---
No hesitation.
---
At the last moment—
---
I slipped past its strike—
---
SWISH—!!!
---
Entered its guard—
---
Placed my palm directly on its chest.
---
Right where the energy converged.
---
"…Found you."
---
Its eyes widened.
---
Too late.
---
"Collapse."
---
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!!
---
The energy detonated inward.
---
Not outward.
---
Focused.
---
Precise.
---
The core shattered.
---
Cracks spread instantly across its entire body.
---
Then—
---
Silence.
---
Lithovar froze.
---
Then—
---
Collapsed.
---
Its body crumbled into molten fragments—
---
Then faded.
---
Gone.
---
The domain fell silent.
---
Only the sound of flowing magma remained.
---
I stood there.
---
Unmoving.
---
Calm.
---
Victorious.
---
Then—
---
DING—
A faint smile appeared on my face.
---
"…Too easy."
---
But deep inside—
---
Something laughed.