Before dawn's first light, Cedric and Lynne broke camp at the mouth of the forest. A hush fell as they skirted the tree line, each bearing the weight of the Weaver's Heart in their packs—and the seal's fate in their hearts.
> Next Target: Embered Spire
Distance: 3 leagues northeast
Fragment: "Heart of Cinder"
They followed a narrow ravine, its blackened stones whispering of ancient conflagrations. Cedric's ribs still ached from their last battle, but adrenaline steeled him.
Lynne pointed ahead. "There—see the glow?"
Perched atop a volcanic outcropping, the Spire blazed with trapped embers. Veins of molten mana ran in cracks along its obsidian walls. At its base, a yawning archway framed by cinders beckoned.
They approached cautiously. The arch bore glyphs similar to those at Arthen Hollow, but these pulsed with red heat. Lynne laid glyph-inks across her palm.
> Ward Bypass in Progress…
Stability: 67%
She whispered an incantation. The cinder-glyphs dimmed, then ignited behind them in a low roar as the arch sighed open.
Inside, the air was furnace-hot. A spiraling staircase carved from volcanic glass led downward into a cavern lit by drifting sparks. Cedric's status blurred in the heat, but the threads—once hidden—wavered like red-hot filaments in the gloom.
At the chamber's heart sat a pedestal of black basalt. Resting atop it was a gemstone glowing like molten steel: the Heart of Cinder.
Lynne eyed the gem. "This one is volatile. Handle with care."
Cedric stepped forward. He reached out—and the world erupted.
---
Battle Start
From the pedestal's base, molten rock peeled away into a shape—an Ember Warden, a hulking sentinel of living magma and stone, steam rising from its cracks. Its eyes burned white-hot.
> Threat Level: Red
Recommended Combat Tier: Level 6+
Current Host Level: 5
Cedric's breath hitched. This golem would be a formidable opponent—but the fragment was too valuable to abandon.
He braced himself. The Warden smashed the pedestal, sending basalt shards raining down. Cedric rolled clear as the gem clattered to the floor, its glow undimmed.
He sprinted for the gem, scooping it up. The Warden howled and charged, its fist swinging like a battering ram.
> HP: 115/120
MP: 70/70
Cedric dodged, but the blow still caught his shoulder, sending him skidding across the glassy floor.
> HP -29 → 76/105
He coughed, tasting ash. The Warden advanced, cinders falling like sparks. Lynne called from the stairs: "Use the Threads!"
Focusing, Cedric flicked his senses inward. He glimpsed the ember-threads weaving between the Warden's molten core and the cavern floor. Summoning all his will, he tugged at the threads—raw magic responding with a low hum.
A fissure cracked beneath the Warden's feet. It roared as the ground gave way, fiery lava spilling in. The sentinel staggered, one marbleized foot melting. Cedric seized the moment: he dashed in, blade drawn, and drove it into a seam near the Warden's chest.
> Damage Dealt: 83
Warden Collapse Imminent
With a final, steam-filled scream, the Ember Warden collapsed, its molten form seeping back into the floor. Silence fell, broken only by dripping lava.
> XP +164 (Ember Warden Defeated)
Current XP: 44/300
Level Up! Level 6
HP +35, MP +18
+3 Skill Points
New Unlock: "Emberform Insight" (Passive Resistance to Fire Damage)
---
Staggering, Cedric rose, clutching the Heart of Cinder—a palm-sized gem of living flame. He felt the System's approval thrumming through his veins.
Lynne descended, wiping sweat from her brow. "Remarkable control," she said softly. "You truly can weave fire."
He nodded, hand burning slightly where the gem warmed his palm.
> SYSTEM NOTICE:
"Heart of Cinder" Acquired (Fragment 002/∞)
Seal Integrity Restored: +5% → 69%
Outside, dawn's light painted the sky. Cedric slid the fragment into his pack.
"On to the next," he said, voice hoarse but determined.
Behind him, the Embered Spire's molten veins pulsed once more—waiting for its guardian's return.