Chapter 10 – Heat of Battle
Smoke curled from Kael's lips as the next wave of beasts surged through the gate.
The corrupted mana thickened, twisting the air, warping the sound of snarling jaws and clawed feet pounding against dirt and stone.
Talia tensed beside him, eyes flicking between targets.
Kael exhaled, letting the last wisp of smoke fade.
"Pyra," he muttered, "how many more are coming?"
"Enough to exhaust these amateurs," Pyra's tone sharpened, "but just enough to warm you up."
Kael grinned, Void Flame already swirling around his fingers.
"Perfect."
Dozens of hounds, tusked beasts, and bony, skeletal wolves poured from the widening gate, their bodies leaking black mist, their movements uncoordinated yet terrifyingly fast.
Kael moved first.
[Void Step – Activated]
One blink and he was above the first monster, slamming a violet flame-coated fist into its skull. The beast's head folded into itself before its body crumpled, devoured by the spatial distortion.
Talia danced behind him, her Chaos Flame rippling along her arms, forming sharp, shifting blades. She sliced through two smaller beasts, one bursting into distorted ash, the other melting into a puddle of shimmering fluid.
The mercenaries nearby stopped retreating and stared, eyes wide, as Kael carved through beasts like a reaper born from the abyss.
"Kael!" Pyra's voice echoed, "Your system has detected high combat potential in this environment. Activating Combat Bonus Acceleration for faster flame comprehension."
A blue notification appeared in Kael's sight.
—
[System Notification]
Combat Environment Detected!
+25% Flame Energy Circulation Speed
+30% Void Flame Mastery Progression
Small Chance to Trigger Flame Concept Comprehension
—
Kael's grin stretched wider.
"Now we're talking."
Talia struggled near the broken wall, three beasts cornering her. Kael flickered across the space, appearing behind them.
With a swift wave of his hand—
[Dimensional Flicker – Activated]
—he sent out a sharp, cutting ripple of void flame. The creatures twisted violently before collapsing into mangled heaps of ash and bone.
"You're late," Talia grunted, wiping blood from her lip.
"I was letting you build confidence," Kael said casually, flicking the ashes off his fingers.
"Arrogant much?"
"Efficient," he corrected.
Then it happened.
The gate pulsed again, but this time, the ground trembled beneath their feet. The world seemed to dim, the air thickening with suffocating pressure.
Kael's expression tightened. "Something big's coming."
"Pyra?"
"Analyzing..."
Danger Rating: High
Entity Detected: Dungeon Gatekeeper - Rank: Bronze Peak Tier
Known Title: Corrupted Flame Beast
"Great," Kael muttered. "A big flaming corrupted mutt."
From the center of the portal, it emerged—a massive, four-legged beast with charred black scales, ember-like cracks glowing across its body, and a maw of burning red mist. Its eyes locked on Kael instantly, recognizing a threat—or perhaps, recognizing the Void Flame swirling around his hands.
Talia staggered back. "That's… that's a Gatekeeper! We can't fight that!"
Kael crushed his cigarette underfoot.
"Oh, we can."
"Kael," Pyra cut in, voice colder than usual. "You can't fight it conventionally. Activate your system's first Legacy Trial Ability—let's see if the Gatekeeper can handle the flame of the void."
Kael's system glowed brightly before him, text flashing.
—
[Legacy Trial Skill Unlocked!]
Skill: Void Devouring Lance (Initial Form)
Condense Void Flame into a piercing lance that devours space, destabilizes mana structures, and weakens high-tier foes.
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Cost: 15% Flame Core Energy
—
Kael's grin sharpened.
"Let's see how it likes real fire."
With one step, he vanished, reappearing in front of the charging Gatekeeper.
His hand extended forward, Void Flame swirling, condensing, darkening, until a long lance of pure violet flame formed, vibrating with unstable, devouring energy.
The Gatekeeper roared, mouth wide, flame breath charging.
Kael's voice cut through the air—calm, cocky, laced with smoke-tainted breath.
"Eat this."
[Void Devouring Lance – Activated!]
With a violent thrust, the lance tore forward, splitting the air with a loud sonic crack. Space folded where the lance passed, twisting the corrupted breath backward before the lance pierced the beast's chest, carving through mana cores and corrupted organs alike.
The Gatekeeper staggered, trembled, howled—
Then exploded into black and violet fragments.
Silence.
Talia blinked from behind a ruined pillar. The mercenaries stood frozen, too shocked to cheer, too confused to speak.
Kael rolled his wrist, the remaining smoke drifting from his lips.
"Who's next?"
"Arrogant brat," Pyra muttered, but her tone sounded pleased.
Kael just smiled.