Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Lava Giants

The group descended cautiously to the eleventh floor of the dungeon, their nerves on edge as the temperature spiked with every step. The oppressive heat was almost unbearable, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of sulfur.

The walls of the cavern glowed with a sinister red light, illuminated by molten lava that oozed through cracks in the stone. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, a patchwork of black rock and treacherous magma pools that threatened to consume anyone who lost their footing.

"This is hell," Lenora muttered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the lava. Sweat dripped down her face, her usually composed demeanor strained by the intense heat.

"I've been in worse places," Cedric replied with a forced grin, though the beads of sweat on his brow betrayed his discomfort. "But I'll admit, this is pretty damn close."

Ethan led the group, his senses heightened as he adjusted to the sweltering environment. His Earth Manipulation skill hummed with energy, tuning into the volatile landscape around him. Despite the heat, he remained calm, his mind focused on the task ahead. He could feel the tension in the air, the subtle shifts in the earth beneath them that hinted at the dangers lurking nearby.

Marcus, now fully attuned to his Geomancer abilities, walked behind Ethan with a deep connection to the earth that was both empowering and unnerving. The Heart of the Earth, his new artifact, pulsed with energy, but the lava-tainted ground made him uneasy. The earth here was alive, but twisted—malleable and yet resistant, as if it had its own will.

"This place feels wrong," Marcus said quietly, his eyes scanning the walls. "The earth here is...angry." He could sense the Earth elements in the walls with his Earth Heart.

"It's the lava," Cedric replied, not taking his eyes off the path ahead. "It's infused with fire, making everything unstable. We need to be careful."

Cedric, carrying the group's supply of potions, pulled out a vial and handed it to each member. "Fire Immunity Potions. We'll need these to survive down here."

Ethan shook his head, declining the potion. "I have a passive fire resistance skill . I should be fine without it."

Lenora followed suit, her Fire Crow Bloodline granting her natural resistance to heat. "I'm good too."

"Ohh, okay!"

The others quickly gulped downed their potions, the liquid providing a temporary shield against the searing heat. As they moved forward into the floor, the oppressive atmosphere only grew more intense, the light from the lava casting eerie shadows that danced across the cavern walls.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the air filled with a deep, rumbling growl. From a nearby pool of lava, two massive figures began to rise, their bodies composed entirely of molten rock. The creatures towered over the group, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

"Lava Giants," Cedric, his voice steady and alarming. "These things are no joke.

"Appraisal!" Ethan commanded in his mind.

The familiar holographic display appeared before his eyes.

[ Appraisal ]

"Okay." Iris nodded and used her second skill: Greater Strength.

Greater Strength: A potent buff skill designed to significantly enhance the target's physical power. This skill is often used to boost a person's raw strength by 15%..

She casted the buff skill on everyone, one after another, consuming a significant amount of Mana points from her Reserve.

The effect of Greater Strength was immediate. The group felt a surge of power course through their bodies, their muscles tightening with newfound energy. Even in the oppressive heat, the boost in physical strength was undeniable, giving them the edge they needed in this deadly environment.

Marcus flexed his fingers, feeling the enhanced power in his grip. "Alright, let's take these Lava giants down," he said, his voice filled with renewed determination. With Iris's buff, he knew their chances of surviving this fight had just increased significantly.

The battle began in earnest.

Ethan led the charge against the second Lava Giant, his Earth Manipulation skill in overdrive as he attempted to stabilize the ground beneath them and use the rocky terrain to his advantage.

As the battle raged on, Ethan's enhanced strength allowed him to wield the Holy Dragonian Blade with incredible precision and power. The [Azula Sword Strike] cleaved through the air, its fiery trail slicing into the Lava Giant's magma armor. Each strike was more effective, chipping away at the giant's defenses and creating cracks in the hardened lava.

Cedric moved swiftly, his spear darting in and out with calculated strikes. The added strength from Iris's buff made each thrust and sweep more forceful, piercing through the Lava Giant's armor with greater efficiency. His attacks were aimed at exploiting the cracks Ethan had created, breaking through the magma armor and landing blows that forced the giant to stagger.

Yona's arrows flew true, her increased strength allowing her to draw her bow with greater force. Each arrow struck with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the exposed weak points in the Lava Giant's armor. The arrows imbued with her magic exploded upon impact, creating small but powerful bursts that further weakened the giant.

As the group concentrated their attacks on the second Lava Giant, the first Lava Giant, still engaged with Marcus's Earth Elemental, began to falter. The Earth Elemental's massive fists, though melted by the intense heat, managed to land a series of solid blows, causing the Lava Giant to lose its balance and stagger.

"I won't be able to keep this up much longer!" Marcus shouted, his face flushed with exertion. The elemental was slowly disintegrating under the relentless heat, but it had accomplished its task of distracting the Lava Giant long enough for the others to focus on their target.

"Hang in there!" Cedric called out, his spear flashing as he struck the Lava Giant's exposed joints. "We're almost done!"

The combined assault of Ethan's powerful strikes, Cedric's precise spearwork, and Yona's explosive arrows began to take their toll on the second Lava Giant. With a final, decisive strike, Cedric's spear pierced through the giant's core, causing it to collapse into a pool of molten rock.

Seeing the second Lava Giant defeated, Marcus breath a sigh of relief, and he quickly turned his attention to the first Lava Giant. The giant was now a little weakened, its magma armor cracked and unstable.

Ethan, Cedric, and Yona regrouped, their breaths coming in heavy gasps as they focused on the remaining threat. With a coordinated effort, they unleashed their most powerful attacks on the weakened Lava Giant. Ethan's blade sliced through the magma armor, Cedric's spear pierced the cracks, and Yona's arrows exploded on impact, dealing critical damage.

Finally, with a final, devastating blow from Ethan's blade, the first Lava Giant collapsed, its molten form dissipating into a smoldering pool of molten rock.

"That was intense," Cedric said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Great job, everyone."

"Yeah," Lenora agreed, giving Iris a nod of appreciation. "Your buff skill was a big help, Iris."