Shaurya's body plunged through a twisting dark tunnel—

a spiraling throat of shadows that swallowed him whole.

The only light came from the roaring orange glow chasing behind him, swallowing the darkness like a tidal wave of fire.

His hair whipped violently around him.

His robe snapped in the rushing wind.

The sound of the vortex roared in his ears—deep, ancient, alive.

Then—

FWUMP.

The orange light vanished.

Instantly.

As if someone had blown out a candle.

Darkness opened below him—

and a massive clearing revealed itself.

A vast underground hall.

Shaurya's eyes widened.

Jagged rock walls stretched endlessly in every direction.

Lava rivers slithered along the ground like molten snakes.

Thick streams of lava dripped from cracks in the walls—

falling like glowing orange waterfalls.

Heat blasted upward.

The air shimmered.

The entire cavern glowed faintly red, lit by the glow of molten earth.

Shaurya's hand shot to the hilt of the Meteorite Sword.

He twisted mid-air—

flipped once—

and landed on the ground in a perfect crouch.

BOOOOOOM!

The stone beneath him cracked outward in a circular crater from the force.

Dust rose.

Tiny rocks rolled away.

The ground trembled.

Shaurya slowly straightened.

His expression hardened instantly—

eyes sharp, jaw tight, every muscle ready for battle.

Shaurya narrowed his eyes as he fell, his long hair whipping violently around him.

His hand tightened around the hilt of the Meteorite Sword strapped to his back.

The air grew hot.

Then hotter.

Then unbearably hot—

as if the world beneath him was on fire.

His brows furrowed.

"Tch… so this is the next stage?"

The spiraling orange light brightened—

from fiery orange

to blazing molten gold—

The ancient roar echoed one last time…

And the vortex shattered.

Shaurya burst out of the vortex like a divine meteor.

Heat slammed into him instantly—

a suffocating wave that forced even his lungs to tense.

Above him, the swirling hole of light snapped shut like an eye closing.

The world below opened in a panoramic inferno.

A massive cavern sprawled beneath him, so large it felt like a different realm entirely.

The ceiling arched high overhead like the ribs of a dead titan's skeleton.

The walls were jagged and cracked—

molten lava dripped from their fissures in thick, glowing streams.

Rivers of lava slithered across the ground like molten serpents.

Geysers of scorching steam erupted randomly from holes in the stone.

The ground looked like hardened magma, scarred with volcanic patterns.

Shaurya flipped mid-air, adjusting his fall.

His boots struck the ground—

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

A crater burst beneath him from the sheer force of the landing.

Shards of stone shot outward in a perfect circle.

Shaurya rose slowly, straightening his back.

His expression hardened.

Eyes narrowed.

Aura stabilized.

He scanned the cavern—

his instincts sharpened like razors.

Nothing moved.

Nothing breathed.

Nothing—

RUMBLE.

His eyes snapped toward the sound.

Two of the molten pools nearest to him suddenly bubbled violently.

Steam hissed upward.

The lava rippled—

Then burst.

WHOOSH!!

Two massive serpent heads—

crafted from molten rock and dripping magma—

erupted from the pools like awakened gods of flame.

Their eyes glowed hellish yellow.

Their jaws dripped with liquefied stone.

Each serpent was at least fifteen meters long, their scales cracking and reforming with every movement.

Shaurya's breath hitched—

Not from fear.

But excitement.

A wide, unrestrained smile spread across his face.

"Ah… finally."

He slid into a battle stance, legs slightly apart.

Meteorite Sword unsheathed halfway, aura swirling around the hilt.

"Come on."

His smile widened—feral, sharp, electric.

"It's playing time."

The Scene Shift.

A different hall.

Different atmosphere.

Cold.

Dark.

Silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Muo Qian, Su Quan, Jun Hua, Xu Ran, and little Xiao Lian stood shoulder-to-shoulder, swords raised, bodies tense.

Before them stood eight men—

Not warriors.

Not cultivators.

Bandits.

Their bodies were hulking, veins bulging, muscles thick like coiled rope. Their skin was covered with vicious tattoos—snakes, skulls, knives, flames. Their eyes roamed over the girls with disgusting hunger.

One of the bandits licked his lips.

"Tsk tsk… looks like we hit the jackpot, boys."

Another chuckled, voice dripping filth.

"These beauties… look softer than silk pillows."

A third one took a step forward, cracking his knuckles.

"Let's take our time with this."

The girls' expressions dropped instantly.

The room grew cold.

Xiao Lian, who had curled slightly behind Xu Ran, trembled at the sight of the hulking men—

But then she heard their words.

Her little fists clenched.

Her icy-blue aura flickered to life around her.

Even the men paused.

Su Quan's aura exploded—

blue flames dancing around her blade.

Muo Qian's purple aura crackled like lightning.

Jun Hua's aura turned dark emerald, swirling like forest winds.

Xu Ran's silver aura reflected in her cold eyes.

Xiao Lian's icy blue aura shivered around her like frost.

Golden Vein Stage, every one of them.

Su Quan (Golden Vein 4)

Muo Qian (Golden Vein 4)

Jun Hua (Golden Vein 3)

Xu Ran (Golden Vein 1)

Xiao Lian (Golden Vein 1)

The bandits released their aura—

Seven of them at Golden Vein Stage 2.

Their leader at Golden Vein Stage 4.

The two groups stared at each other—

The girls breathing steady.

The bandits breathing heavy.

Then—

They charged.

The air ruptured as the two groups collided.

Eight massive male bodies rushed in with brutal force—

But the girls did not retreat.

Muo Qian → two disciples

A purple arc sliced through the air.

She stepped in, eyes cold.

Her sword arm blurred—

SHIIING!!

Two strikes.

Two sprays of blood.

Two massive bodies collapsed beside her.

She spun, gripping her sword with one hand, purple aura flaring beautifully.

"You dare look down on us?"

Her lips curved.

"How pathetic."

Blue flames swirled across her blade like dancing ocean spirits.

One bandit swung a mace at her head—

She tilted her body sideways—

barely a whisper between them.

Her sword came up.

Spark.

Blue fire erupted.

SLASH—BOOM!!

The man's chest burst open in a burning X-shaped wound.

The second bandit roared, swinging a great axe.

Su Quan stepped forward—

And kicked him in the face.

His skull cracked.

He hit the floor like a dropped boulder.

Su Quan flipped her hair.

"Hmph. Trash."

Two hulking men cornered her.

"You look tense, sweetheart."

Jun Hua's eyes sharpened.

Wind whipped across her sword.

FLASH!

She vanished.

SLASH! SLASH!

Both men froze.

Two clean diagonal lines appeared on their chests—

like twin leaves cut apart by a razor wind.

They collapsed seconds later.

Jun Hua exhaled softly.

"Disgusting."

Xu Ran was the quiet type.

But the silver aura around her burned with terrifying intensity.

The man lunged, fist thick as stone.

Xu Ran slid beneath it, sweeping her sword upward.

CLANG!!

He blocked—

But she had already pivoted.

THUD!

Her knee slammed into his gut.

The disciple stumbled—

and Xu Ran's sword pierced his throat.

She wiped her blade clean.

"…"

She said nothing.

Her silence was more frightening than insults.

Xiao Lian → one disciple

This one was different.

The hulking man grinned as he cracked his neck.

"You?

A little girl?"

He licked his lips.

"This will be fun—"

Xiao Lian's aura snapped.

Icy-blue frost spread across the ground—

her eyes glowing like winter moons.

She stepped forward.

One step—

CRACK.

The ground froze.

The bandit blinked.

"What—"

Xiao Lian's voice was soft.

"Don't ever… speak like that again."

She raised her palm.

A burst of frost erupted.

BOOOOOOM!!

The bandit's body froze solid—

Then shattered into a thousand glittering pieces.

The hall fell silent.

The girls stood among corpses—

breathing lightly, almost bored.

Muo Qian smirked.

"We're not weaker than the boys."

Su Quan twirled her sword.

"Stronger actually."

Jun Hua nodded proudly.

"Much stronger."

Xu Ran exhaled calmly.

Xiao Lian put her hands on her hips.

"Hmph!"

The scene faded—

Darkness.

Dripping lava.

A demonic presence filling the entire hall.

The beast's molten skin glowed in pulsing rhythm as it roared—

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!!!!

The sound shook their bones.

Lin Shu lowered her stance, sword trembling in her hand.

Elder Liya's petals spun around her like a cyclone.

The beast charged.

Its massive legs thundered across the ground.

Lin Shu dashed sideways—

the beast's claw grazed her shoulder—

CRRRRACK!!

Blood splattered.

Elder Liya parried another blow—

The beast swiped her with its colossal arm—

She flew like a ragdoll, smashing into a wall.

"ELDER LIYA!!"

Lin Shu slashed at its leg—

Golden sparks burst—

but the thick lava hide was too tough.

The beast roared, spinning its body—

its tail struck Lin Shu—

BOOOOOM!!

She hit the ground hard, coughing blood.

The beast lifted both arms—

molten claws dripping—

ready to smash her into pulp.

Lin Shu looked up.

Eyes wide.

She had no time to dodge.

FWAAAASH!!

A streak of pink light flashed.

Elder Liya appeared, grabbing Lin Shu around the waist and dashing aside using Aerial Steps.

The beast's claws smashed the ground—

CRAAAAACK!!

Stone exploded.

Elder Liya landed, panting hard.

"You okay?"

Lin Shu coughed.

"I'm fine… thank you."

The beast roared in fury and charged again.

Elder Liya clenched her teeth.

Lin Shu's eyes burned with determination.

They exchanged a glance.

And nodded.

They pressed their backs together.

Their fists rose at the same time.

Golden energy spiraled around them—

two flames merging into one towering inferno.

The beast sensed danger.

Its magma-filled chest glowed—

a massive grey-black spiritual cannon formed in its throat.

Lin Shu and Liya roared in unison—

"DUAL!!!

DRAGON!!!

FIST!!!"

Their combined fist thrust forward—

A colossal golden spiritual dragon erupted from their strike—

bigger, brighter, more divine than any ordinary Dragon Fist.

The beast roared, firing its own cannon—

a swirling blast of demonic grey energy.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

The two forces collided.

The shockwave was immeasurable.

The floor shattered.

Walls cracked.

Ceiling splintered.

Both Lin Shu and Elder Liya were pushed back, feet sliding, blood dripping from their palms.

They screamed and pushed harder—

Their golden dragon surged forward—

Overpowering the beast's cannon—

slamming into its chest—

consuming it entirely in a fiery explosion.

The hall collapsed.

Stone rain fell.

Lava geysers burst upward.

When the dust settled—

A golden barrier shimmered.

Inside stood Lin Shu and Elder Liya—

bloodied, bruised, but alive.

The Lavafang Demon Beast lay dead—

its molten body cracked open like shattered glass.

Lin Shu collapsed to one knee.

Elder Liya barely stood.

They breathed heavily…

Relieved.

Then—

Footsteps echoed.

Voices followed.

"ELDER LIYA!!"

"LIN SHU!"

From the left—

Elder Feng Yu and Elder Hua.

From the right—

Elder Wan with disciples.

From the front—

the single-mingle gang: Xiao Rui, Luo Chen, Wang Tian, Sheng Lu.

Everyone rushed in.

Elder Wan practically skidded to Elder Liya, pulling her into a hug.

"You idiot—!"

He cried, checking her injuries.

"If something happened to you… how would I face Master?!"

He shoved two healing pills into their hands.

Lin Shu swallowed hers and sighed softly.

They stood again.

"We need to find the others."

The group shifted formation—

circling Lin Shu and Liya protectively as they walked.

Silence.

Dust swirling.

Heat radiating.

Dead bodies—

piles of rock-lava serpents—

scattered across the massive cavern floor.

Smoke drifted upward from the corpses.

In the center—

On the biggest serpent corpse—

Shaurya sat.

One leg crossed over the other.

Sword sheathed.

Covered in dust.

Expression hard, serious, calm.

Like a king sitting on a throne of fallen monsters.

His eyes lifted slightly—

golden light flickering around him.

"Now…"

He exhaled.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"…the real game begins."

TO BE CONTINUED…

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