C-Rank Dungeon: Molten Maw – Danger Rating: 3 Stars
Type: Fire-Elemental, Beast-Type
Dungeon Traits: Volcanic Terrain, Lava Pools, Unstable Mana Nodes
"Most fire users avoid this place," the gatekeeper warned as Blazing Dawn approached the swirling red portal. "It's chaotic. Wild. Unpredictable."
Aira only smirked. "Sounds like home."
Molten Maw – Entrance
As soon as they crossed the threshold, heat smothered them like a heavy cloak.
Lava rivers flowed beneath crumbling rock bridges. The air shimmered with heat mirages, and every breath carried the taste of ash.
System Alert: Environmental Hazard — Continuous Heat Damage Detected
Party Buff Active: Fire Resistance +10% (Leader Aura: Aira Flameheart)
"We've got a timer," Lina said, squinting ahead. "The mana's surging. If we don't clear this dungeon in under three hours, the entire chamber might collapse."
"Perfect," Aira said, drawing her flame-wreathed blade. "Let's move."
Wave One – Magma Wyrmlings
The first threat came fast.
Dozens of lava-coated wyrmlings burst from the cracks, spitting molten sludge and hissing with fiery hunger.
Mira threw down a Healing Flame Ward, shielding their front. Korin danced through the chaos, lightning-enhanced sword slicing clean arcs of light through molten scales.
Lina blinked behind enemy lines, her dagger flickering like smoke—quick, surgical strikes disabling the broodmothers.
Aira raised her hand, flames spiraling around her arm.
Skill: Scorch Spiral – Level 2
Effect: AoE Flame Burst — Melts armor, stuns beasts within radius
She slammed it into the ground.
WHOOM!
A spiraling inferno detonated from her core, blasting wyrmlings in all directions. Steam hissed. Magma boiled.
+390 EXP
+230 EXP
System Alert: Team Combo Achieved — Coordination Rank: A
Midpoint – Crater Heart
Halfway through, the dungeon twisted into madness.
Flame geysers erupted without warning. The walls pulsed with red veins of volatile mana.
At the crater's center stood the mid-boss: a Lavafang Ravager, twenty feet tall, armored in obsidian and breathing fire hotter than dragon's breath.
"Split and surround!" Aira shouted.
Korin charged head-on, distracting it with jolts of electrified slashes. Lina vanished into shadows, appearing behind the beast to disable its rear limbs.
Aira unleashed Blazing Chains, trapping its legs, while Mira kept everyone alive under a constant barrage of fiery healing.
The Ravager roared—then collapsed, erupting into a burst of searing embers.
Mid-Boss Defeated
Dungeon Progress: 72%
Party Status: Stable
Warning: Mana Surge Detected Near Dungeon Core
Dungeon Core – Lava Beast Sovereign
The final chamber opened like the heart of a volcano.
At its center stood a colossal, humanoid beast formed entirely of molten stone and crimson fire: the Lava Beast Sovereign, a rare dungeon evolution variant.
"That's not standard for a C-rank," Mira said, paling.
"It's reacting to me," Aira whispered. Her fire aura flared, and the Sovereign roared back like an echo of her power.
Then it charged.
The battle was brutal.
The Sovereign's fists cratered the floor with every strike. Firestorms ripped through the cavern. The heat climbed beyond survivable.
Lina took a blow and collapsed. Korin lost his sword arm to a burst of magma. Mira's mana ran low holding the team together.
And Aira?
She stepped through the inferno like a phoenix reborn.
Her body glowed—her Phoenix Heart pulsed with divine flame.
Phoenix Resonance: 50% Reached
New Talent Unlocked: Flame Rebirth — Passive
Effect: Upon fatal blow, resurrect once with full HP and burst damage wave
Cooldown: 48 hours
The Sovereign struck her down—flames engulfed her—
And she rose again.
Exploding with radiant fire.
She launched Flame Rebirth Nova, engulfing the Sovereign in a burst of sacred flame.
It disintegrated into glowing ash.
Dungeon Cleared
Total EXP Gained: +18,400
Loot Acquired: Core of Eternal Flame (Epic – Dungeon Relic)
Party Level Up: All members reached Level 7
Phoenix Resonance: 53%
Blazing Dawn Ranking Increased – Now visible on C-Rank Leaderboard
As they exited the dungeon, battered but victorious, a new alert blinked on Aira's interface:
You are being watched.
An unknown divine entity has taken interest in you.
Aira smiled, flames flickering in her eyes.
Let them watch.
Blazing Dawn had only just begun.