The heat from the magma landscape pulsed like a living heartbeat, the air thick with sulfur and shimmering waves of distortion. Monstrous shapes prowled along the jagged cliffs—creatures born from flame and shadow, with molten skin and fangs like burning metal.
One of them lunged, its claws dripping molten lava.
"KAEL, LEFT!" I shouted.
Lightning exploded beside me as Kael spun, spear crackling with electricity.
The creature shrieked as his lightning pierced its molten hide, electricity forcing the magma inside it to harden and crack.
Marina, dagger glowing with newborn light, dashed in.
Her blade traced a shining arc.
SHRRRING!
Light burst from the impact, and the creature shattered like molten glass finally breaking apart.
"Mother's amazing!" Maxen yelled from behind Hugo.
Marina blinked at her dagger as if she still couldn't believe it. "It… reacted on its own."
"No," Kael said, panting but proud. "It reacted because of you."
But the monsters didn't stop.
