*The Rise of the God of Death*
*Chapter 44: Mount Ignara*
The sky was calm, stretched wide above the endless green forest below. Cutting through the open air, Daimon and his companions flew swiftly toward their next destination.
As they glided forward, Nil broke the silence.
"So... what kind of place are we going to?"
"It's a magic volcano," Daimon replied flatly.
"A *volcano*? Why are we going to a volcano though...?" Darren asked, already looking uneasy.
"There's something helpful inside the volcano," Daimon answered, his tone cold and emotionless.
Darren's face turned pale. "So we nearly died like two days ago... and now you want us to *go inside* a volcano?"
"Of course not, stupid," Lucy snapped. "It's a *magical* volcano."
"To enter it, we need to complete a trial," Daimon added calmly. "I can easily finish the trial, but I don't know about you three."
The three stared at him with blank expressions.
"Is he serious?" Nil muttered.
"Lucy, are you *sure* that's your dad?" Darren asked, raising a brow.
"I hope not," Lucy replied with a sigh.
"Is something wrong?" Daimon asked, confused by the sudden awkwardness.
"No, no! Nothing at all!" Nil said quickly.
"Everything's totally fine," Darren added, forcing a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Dad," Lucy said, her tone strained.
"Oh, okay," Daimon replied innocently.
A brief silence followed. Then—
"YOU TOOK US TO A PLACE YOU KNEW WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO ENTER?!" they all screamed in unison.
"Uhhh…" Daimon hesitated, his expression pale. "Yes."
"WHY?!" they yelled again.
"Don't worry," Daimon said confidently, puffing his chest out. "I believe everything in this place can be solved by me."
Darren groaned. "Now he sounds like an old fart."
"I trust you, Master," Nil said loyally.
As they argued, a massive mountain range came into view. In the heart of it stood a towering volcano, its peak wrapped in a strange, glowing mist. The three stared in awe as they descended toward the peak.
The sight was breathtaking.
"Woah…"
"Amazing…"
"Beautiful…"
The three landed softly on top of the volcano. Strangely, despite the lava bubbling below, the air around them was cold.
"This place is cold…" Lucy noted, shivering slightly.
"How does that even work?" Darren asked, clearly confused.
"Follow me," Daimon said, walking ahead with purpose. "We don't have time to waste."
"Umm... okay!" the three replied, quickly hurrying after him as they entered the looming mountains surrounding the mystical volcano.