Ayu finally reached the edge of the Molten Crest.

The place was hellish, like a battlefield that had been scorched and broken over centuries. Jagged black rocks jutted out like crooked fangs, and molten rivers snaked through the cracks, glowing an angry orange. Heat rolled off the ground in waves, making the air shimmer and cling to her skin.

It was hard to breathe, heavy and dry, but that didn't bother her. Ayu didn't come here for comfort.

Her sharp eyes scanned the fiery wasteland, her buckler strapped securely to her arm, her sword resting lightly in her hand.

The heat pressed against her, but she welcomed it, letting it seep into her muscles. She adjusted her grip, shifting her weight lightly between her feet, and exhaled.

The buzzing sound in the distance grew louder, and she knew the Blaze-Screechers were close. Her lips curled into a small, lopsided grin. "Alright, you oversized geckos," she muttered, flexing her fingers. "Time to dance."

Her steps were calculated but fluid as she crossed the uneven ground, her body light despite the oppressive air. Lava spat up nearby, but she sidestepped it without even looking, her focus honed entirely on the vibrations coming from ahead. The faint drumming beneath her feet told her something big was heading her way. Perfect.

The creature emerged, its six-meter frame towering over her as it reared back on its hind legs. Its scales shimmered like molten metal, its glowing red eyes locking onto her like a predator sizing up prey. Ayu tilted her head, studying it for a moment. Its clawed forelimbs scraped the ground, and its chest expanded, letting out that awful, mind-rattling screech.

Ayu winced, shaking her head as she steadied her stance. "Ugh. You're loud," she said, her voice light, almost teasing. "Guess I'll have to shut you up."

The lizard lunged, its massive claws slicing through the air with shocking speed. Ayu spun to the side, the attack just barely missing her. She bent low, her body fluid as she evaded the strike and countered with a quick swipe of her sword. The blade glanced off its thick scales, leaving only a scratch. She clicked her tongue, annoyed.

The creature's tail came next, whipping toward her like a battering ram. Ayu planted her feet and raised her buckler, the impact sending a jolt through her arm. The force pushed her back, and she let herself be propelled by the momentum, flipping neatly to gain distance.

Alright, keep it light. Keep it moving.

She darted forward again, this time using her buckler to deflect its claws mid-swing. The creature stumbled just slightly, and Ayu seized the moment, driving her knee into its forelimb. The attack wasn't meant to hurt—it was meant to throw it off balance. It worked.

She slipped under its guard, slashing at the soft joint of its leg, this time drawing a hiss as its magma-like blood splattered across the ground.

The lizard reared back, screeching louder. Ayu gritted her teeth, her head pounding as both the sound and EM waves clawed at her mind. She shook it off, forcing her body to stay in motion. Her father's voice echoed in her mind: When you're in the ring, Ayu, you don't stop. You find the rhythm and own it.

The Blaze-Screecher lunged again, its claws swiping down at her. Ayu dropped low, her body twisting in a controlled bend, the attack grazing her back but missing its mark. She used the momentum to roll to the side, springing up and delivering a sharp kick to the creature's ribs. The impact gave her enough space to backpedal, adjusting her stance.

"Come on, big guy," she muttered, her breathing heavier now. "Is that all you've got?"

The lizard roared, its glowing eyes narrowing as it charged. Ayu smirked. Too predictable. As it lunged, she planted her foot and launched herself upward with a teep kick to its chest. The force pushed her backward mid-air, giving her the perfect distance to land gracefully a few meters away.

Her heart pounded, her muscles aching, but her grin didn't falter. She spun her sword in her hand, adjusting her grip. The fight wasn't over yet—not by a long shot.

The lizard screeched again, its sound sharper, angrier. It lunged once more, but Ayu was already moving. She darted to the side, her movements quick and precise, her buckler absorbing the brunt of its attack. She countered with a series of strikes—a slash to the exposed underarm, a sharp elbow to the joint, a knee to its chest. Each move flowed seamlessly into the next.

The Blaze-Screecher stumbled, its movements growing erratic. Ayu seized the moment. She spun around, leapt upward, and aimed her sword directly for its glowing eye. The blade struck true, sinking deep into the creature's socket.

A torrent of magma-like blood gushed out, splattering her arm and burning her skin. The pain was sharp, but Ayu didn't flinch. She twisted the blade, driving it deeper.

The creature thrashed violently, its tail smashing into the ground as its screech grew weaker. Ayu gritted her teeth, holding firm until, finally, the beast collapsed, its body hitting the ground with an earth-shaking thud.

Ayu staggered back, her chest heaving, her arms trembling from the effort. "Tough bastard," she muttered with a small grin.

She walked toward the slain creature. She gripped her sword tightly and drove it into its skull, splitting it open with a deliberate motion. The fiery blood poured out in a steady stream, hissing as it hit the scorched ground.

She waited, her breathing still uneven, watching the blood flow until it slowed. Then, she spotted the faint glow deep within. Using her sword, she carefully nudged the orb free, flicking it into her hand.

Stage 1 - 4.518%

One down. Let's see how many more I can take.

"Where is Ayu?" Lukas asked, his face a mix of confusion and concern as he looked at the other four.

"She went alone," Wang said bluntly, his usual calm demeanor carrying an edge of unease. "She wants to fight the Screechers by herself."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Lukas blinked, taken aback for a moment before letting out a disbelieving chuckle. "This is a joke, right?"

No one laughed. The silence was heavy, oppressive, and the tension in the air made his smile fade. His eyes narrowed. "Chiara?"

Chiara's breath hitched as Lukas's gaze locked onto her. She slightly hesitated before finally exhaling sharply. "It's her decision, Lukas. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

"You tried to stop her?" Lukas repeated, incredulity dripping from his voice. "And you let her go?"

"I—" Chiara stammered, guilt flashing across her face. "She made up her mind. What was I supposed to do? Chain her down? Threaten her? She—"

Lukas let out a sharp sigh, his shoulders rising and falling with restrained frustration. He stepped closer, his tone dropping, but the weight of his words pressed heavily on everyone. "She's strong, yes, but she's reckless. You know she'll push herself until there's nothing left."

Chiara opened her mouth to respond but found herself paralyzed as Lukas continued, his words rushing forward like a torrent.

"She wears that smile like armor, but you've never looked past it, have you? You've never truly seen what she carries. Do you even know her story? Do you know what shaped her into the person she is?"

Chiara faltered, her shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of his words.

Lukas's voice softened, losing none of its edge. "Her father was paralyzed in the middle of a fight—at the peak of his career. Her mother died young, and her stepmother? She left them both after that. Abandoned Ayu and her dad to fend for themselves. And Ayu, at an age when most kids only know how to play, took it upon herself to care for him, all while being raised by a group of fighters. She grew up fighting for everything."

He turned to the others, his gaze sweeping across them before landing back on Chiara. "Do you know how many times she was assaulted before she made it to the Oasis? How many people she had to kill to survive? And then Hughes… do you remember what he almost did to her?"

Chiara flinched, her fists clenching at her sides, her knuckles turning white.

"And then," he continued, his tone controlled but urgent, "she finally starts liking someone. Someone she admires, respects. And what happens? He ditches her not long after. And now he mocks all of us, flaunting his strength like it's a badge of honor. Do you have any idea what that does to someone like Ayu? Do you think she's just gone off to fight a few lizards and come back smiling like nothing happened?"

Chiara's breathing quickened, her expression shifting from conflict to determination as Lukas's words sank in.

"Ayu's out there trying to prove herself. To give everything she has. She's trying to reclaim the pride that's been stripped from her piece by piece. Today, Ayu won't just use clever tactics to take them down; she'll face them head-on, one after another. She's risking it all because, to her, this fight isn't about survival. It's about redemption."

Lukas took a step back, his voice leveling, quieter but still sharp. "So tell me, Chiara, what do you think we should do?"

For a moment, the weight of his words paralyzed her. Chiara's chest tightened, her heart pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. Her mind raced, fragmented thoughts tumbling over each other. The image of Ayu alone, facing the Screechers, flashed before her eyes. She saw Ayu's bright smile, her stubborn strength… and then, the possibility of that strength faltering, of that light snuffed out.

And then she snapped into motion, the decision hitting her like a jolt. "Wang, Lukas, Imani, Arjun—get your gear. We're going after her. Now!"

As the group rushed down the path toward the Riftflow, Chiara's thoughts churned, a storm of guilt and determination threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't lose her—not to the Screechers, not to her own mistakes.

Hold on, Ayu. Hold on. I'm coming.

Ayu barely had time to catch her breath after defeating the third lizard when the ground shuddered violently beneath her feet. A guttural rumble echoed through the wasteland, and she turned her head sharply to see a fissure erupting not far away, spewing molten lava and fiery debris into the air.

"Perfect timing," she muttered, the sarcasm lost in the chaos. Her body screamed for a break, but the approaching lava left her no choice but to pick up her backpack and run.

She sprinted across the scorched terrain, every step uneven on the jagged ground. The air thickened with ash and heat, her breaths coming shallow and labored.

As if the eruption weren't bad enough, the faint vibration of claws against stone reached her ears. She glanced back to see two more Blaze-Screechers tearing toward her, their glowing eyes fixed on her retreating form.

"Really?!" she growled, her frustration bubbling over. They were faster than she was, closing the distance with terrifying speed.

Ahead, the path narrowed, boxed in by jagged rocks and bubbling magma pits. There was nowhere to hide, no room to maneuver. She was trapped, and they knew it.

Her steps slowed, her chest heaving as she turned to face the creatures. Her buckler felt heavier on her arm, her sword like a dead weight in her hand. "Alright," she muttered, shaking the tension from her shoulders. "If this is how it's going to be…"

The first lizard lunged, its massive claws swiping through the air with deadly precision. Ayu sidestepped, twisting her body just enough to avoid the strike, then countered with a quick slash to its side. The blade scraped against its molten scales, drawing a hiss but not much blood.

The second lizard didn't wait for her to recover. Its tail whipped around, and she barely raised her buckler in time to block it. The impact cracked the shield, the force knocking her backward and slamming her into a jagged rock.

Pain shot through her ribs, and she gasped, but she pushed herself back to her feet, her stance shaky but unbroken. Her eyes locked on the two creatures circling her. "You're not getting rid of me that easily," she spat blood to the ground.

She darted forward, using her buckler to deflect one lizard's claws as she struck at its exposed joint with her sword. The blade connected, and once again, the magma-like blood scorched the ground as it burst from the wound. The creature screeched, rearing back, but the second lizard was already upon her.

Ayu twisted, barely dodging its strike, and drove her elbow into its jaw. The blow staggered it, but only for a moment. The first lizard recovered quickly, its tail whipping toward her like a hammer. She had no time to dodge. The impact slammed into her buckler, and this time, the shield shattered, fragments scattering across the ground.

The force sent her flying, her body skidding across the searing rock. Her mask cracked under the pressure, splintering into pieces and falling away. Her sword slipped from her grip, clattering once before falling into a bubbling magma pit. Ayu's eyes widened as she watched it disappear beneath the surface.

She rolled onto her hands and knees, her breath ragged, her arms trembling. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her vision swam. She had nothing left but her gauntlets and her battered body.

The Blaze-Screechers circled her, their glowing eyes unrelenting, their screeches reverberating through her skull. Ayu clenched her fists, as she forced herself to her feet.

"Ayu, when the world hits harder than you can handle, you don't break. You adapt. You survive."

Her chest heaved as she raised her fists, her stance low and defensive. She knew this wasn't a battle she could win—not the way it was going. But she wasn't going down without a fight.

She scanned the terrain desperately, searching for an opening, a way to outmaneuver them, but nothing presented itself. The jagged rocks boxed her in, the bubbling magma pits blocking any chance of escape. Her body screamed in protest, too battered and weak to attempt a retreat.

Dammit.

Was this really it? Bad timing and two fucking lizards converging in one spot?

Her vision blurred, the edges darkening as exhaustion clawed at her.

"When you're on the ropes, Ayu, that's when you learn what you're made of."

"A hell of ropes are these, Dad," she chuckled, her breathing heavy but a smile tugging at her lips. All the memories suddenly flashed by—her aunty, Uncle Weng, her dad, even that fucking smug bastard with his stupid smile.

She raised her gauntlets to her face and corrected her stance. She closed her eyes. The screeches faded, the pain dulled, the chaos of the world fell silent. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her chest and the vibrations of the ground from their approach.

"When the world's against you, trust your body to remember what you've trained it to do."

She emptied her mind, her thoughts dissolving into nothingness. She let go of control. She put her entire faith in her body.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.