The Sixth Layer of the Abyss: The Foundry Citadel.
Because of the active volcanoes, the fortress was perpetually choked with the stench of sulfur, battered by relentless gusts of scalding wind. To the denizens of the Abyss, this hellish landscape was perfectly mundane. Even Delilah had grown accustomed to it, though every breath still felt like inhaling a mouthful of fire.
Yet, there was a strange clarity to be found in the burn. Once that internal fire subsided, it left behind a refreshing sense of purity. This was the essence of the Scourge Wardens' power—the ability to internalize the fury of a natural disaster. Enduring the incineration was the only way to temper one's body and ascend to a higher state of being.
If I want to follow where Orion is going, I have to become an Archlord, Delilah thought, her resolve hardening. I have the territory, and the faith of the masses is accumulating. What I lack now is raw talent and potential.
