The Ironrock Mountains were nothing like ordinary mountains. The ground was covered in dark red gravel that crunched softly underfoot.
Ava's father was an avid explorer and mountaineer. When she was a child, he had taken her to several volcanic regions. As she walked along the rugged mountain path now, she couldn't help but think that the Ironrock Mountains bore a striking resemblance to modern-day volcanoes.
And her hunch turned out to be right.
Lorne, the handsome blond and a knowledgeable companion, recounted the history of Nolan Continent as if it were the back of his hand.
"About four hundred years ago, the earth trembled, and the towering mountain split in half. Blazing flames erupted from its core, and golden-red lava snaked down the slopes, consuming everything in its path—melting rock, devouring forests and villages. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, shrouding the world in darkness like a demon's shadow. When the molten rock cooled, it hardened into jagged black stone, giving the mountain its name—Ironrock."
So that's how it was! Ava's face paled slightly. This mountain had once been an active volcano. The last thing she wanted was for it to suddenly erupt while she was trekking through it.
Lorne, ever attentive to Ava, glanced back at her and chuckled when he noticed her unease. Casually, he used his sword sheath to push aside a thorny branch blocking their path.
"Relax. Three hundred years ago, the fire and earth mages of the Arcane Empire sealed the volcano. Since then, it has remained dormant. These days, the only thing thriving here is fire lizards. Those creatures are mid-level magical beasts—tough opponents, even for Lucien and me together. Fortunately, we've been lucky so far and haven't run into one."
Ava's brow twitched. "Oh, great. Now you've jinxed it."
At that moment, the group was navigating a narrow volcanic fissure. Beneath their feet, dark brown stones crunched under their boots, while the air was thick with the scent of sulfur.
Just as they rounded a protruding rock wall, a seemingly ordinary volcanic stone suddenly exploded—
A creature the size of a foal burst forth from the rock! Its dark red scales gleamed ominously, jagged spines lined its back, and a faint flame flickered at the tip of its tail.
"Fire lizard!" Lorne shouted.
In the past three days, their mercenary team had already encountered two of these beasts. Without hesitation, they drew their weapons. "Be careful! Aim for the throat and the eyes—that's their weak spot!" Lorne barked.
Ava rubbed her forehead, thinking, See? I knew it. Never jinx yourself.
Then, she looked up at the creature—and immediately regretted it.
The fire lizard was a monstrous, grotesque beast. Its gaping maw revealed rows of dagger-like teeth, while foul-smelling drool dripped from its jaws. Ava had only ever seen creatures like this in horror movies, but now, one was standing less than three meters away from her.
She gasped and instinctively ducked behind Kyle.
Kyle, despite his not-so-broad frame, stood firmly in front of Ava, puffing out his chest with newfound determination. Strangely, he felt no fear at the sight of the attacking beast—only an overwhelming sense of battle readiness, as if he had once faced enemies far stronger than this.
As the fire lizard dodged Lorne's attack and lunged toward him, Kyle calmly chanted the only spell he had learned.
"Ignis Ardeo!"
In an instant, a fireball the size of a bowl shot toward the fire lizard's eye. The creature twisted mid-air with surprising agility, and Kyle's spell struck its scales instead. The attack barely fazed the beast, only forcing it back a step.
"Ah, so close! I almost got its eye," Kyle lamented.
What he didn't realize was how shocked Lorne and Lucien were. Kyle wasn't even considered a Level 1 novice mage, and yet, he had managed to push back a mid-tier magical beast with a single spell. It was nothing short of miraculous—unbelievable, even.
Lucien, who had been guarding the rear, finally caught up. As he passed Kyle, he clapped him on the shoulder in silent approval. The boy had earned his respect.
Of course, Lucien didn't forget to shoot Ava a disdainful glare.
With precise coordination, Lorne and Lucien launched their counterattack. Lorne seized an opening and drove his sword deep into the fire lizard's throat, while Lucien struck from the side, plunging his dagger into its eye.
The fire lizard let out a bloodcurdling shriek, convulsed violently, and then collapsed, lifeless.
Lorne turned to Lucien, his face alight with excitement. "Luc, our teamwork is getting even better! We took it down so easily!"
But Lucien frowned. "Something's not right… This fire lizard was too small and inexperienced. I think… it was a juvenile."
Lorne's face darkened. "A juvenile? Damn it! We need to move—now."
Fire lizards were solitary creatures. The only time they lived in groups was during their juvenile stage.
And a mother fire lizard in a berserk rage? Even if their team had all five original members, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Move! Stay behind me—" Lorne's words were cut off as the ground beneath them trembled violently. Not far ahead, a semi-hardened lava pool churned and bubbled—
A massive red-scaled beast erupted from the molten ground!
Its entire body was covered in black-and-red armor-like scales. Its eyes burned like molten lava, and the flames spewing from its maw roared forward with the force of a raging locomotive, promising utter destruction. Every step it took made the ground quake. From deep within its throat came an ear-splitting roar—a wail of fury and loss.
"Shit! A berserk mother lizard!" Lorne's face went pale as his grip on the sword tightened, his hands trembling slightly. "Run! We don't stand a chance against this thing! I'll hold it off—just go!"
But instead of retreating, Lucien stepped forward, shielding Lorne with his own body.
"Luc! What the hell are you doing?!" Lorne's voice cracked in alarm.
"Shut up. Stay behind me," Lucien snapped, crouching low like a predator ready to strike. Though his knuckles were white from gripping his dagger so tightly, he didn't waver.
Ava, watching from the back, saw everything. Lucien was scared—anyone could see that. Yet, the cold and sharp-tongued assassin had stepped up without hesitation when Lorne was in danger.
Lorne felt an unfamiliar panic rising in his chest. Even if Ava was a mid-tier mage, against a beast nearing high-tier strength, she wouldn't stand a chance. A chilling premonition filled him—
This might be the place they all died.
Just then, Ava finally overcame her initial fear.
Taking a deep breath, she clenched her trembling fingers, and as the mother fire lizard's earth-shaking roar nearly deafened her—
As its flames surged toward them, mere meters away—
She completed her transaction.
[Confirm purchase: "Eternal Frost" Spell? Price: $20]
"Confirm!" Ava clicked her mouse with a trembling hand.
Almost immedieterly, her cool, steady voice rang out, cutting through the sweltering heat.
"Glacies Aeternum."
In an instant, time seemed to freeze.
A glowing blue magic circle unfolded beneath Ava's feet. The mother fire lizard's scorching breath halted mid-air, transforming into an eerie sculpture of frozen flames. The beast itself, still lunging, was encased entirely in glistening ice, every scale shimmering with frost. Its crimson eyes remained locked in an expression of unrelenting rage—
Until—
"CRACK!"
With a crisp shatter, the frozen monster broke into countless shards of ice, scattering across the ground.
The battle was over.
Lorne's sword slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the rocks.
Lucien's dagger hovered mid-air, his usual cold expression replaced with sheer disbelief.
Kyle, still in his protective stance in front of Ava, could only stare, wide-eyed, at the spectacle before him.