The central volcano rose before them—largest of seven peaks, smoking continuously, lava visible at crater's rim. The mountain's sheer size was humbling—three kilometers tall, base stretching kilometers wide, ancient and powerful.
No visible entrance existed. The volcano was solid rock and flowing magma—impenetrable to normal beings.
Raziel's draconic form approached the mountain's southern face. His black-scarlet scales absorbed heat eagerly as magma channels along obsidian-blade wings glowed brighter with proximity. Molten orange eyes scanned the volcanic stone analytically.
"The entrance is buried," Raziel rumbled. "Sealed by millions of years of lava flow. The Architects built deep—protected by the mountain itself."
Draven sat on Malvorn's broad back as the four-legged behemoth remained steady. "Can you reach it?"
Raziel's chest glowed like contained furnace. "I can create passage. Stand back."
Raziel placed one massive clawed forelimb against the volcanic stone. His element—fire and magma—responded to his will instinctively.
The rock beneath his touch liquified instantly. Stone melted into molten slag while flowing away from contact point. Magma veins throughout the mountain recognized Raziel's authority—Overlord-tier fire-element commanding lesser volcanic forces absolutely.
He pushed forward as claws sank into liquified rock. A passage formed—three meters wide, carved through solid mountain as Raziel's power parted stone and magma like curtains. The molten rock flowed aside, held back by his elemental control, creating tunnel descending into volcanic interior.
Heat radiated intensely from the passage walls—glowing red-orange, barely solid, maintained only by Raziel's continuous concentration.
"Follow closely," Raziel commanded. "I'll hold the passage stable."
The alliance moved forward carefully.
The passage descended steeply for fifty meters before opening into volcanic interior—massive hollow chamber carved by ancient magma flows.
The alliance emerged into cathedral-sized space—hundred meters wide, fifty tall, walls glowing red from residual heat. Lava rivers flowed along chamber floor while cutting through obsidian rock. Steam vents hissed periodically while releasing sulfurous gases. Temperature was apocalyptic.
Raziel released his hold on the entrance passage. Behind them, molten rock flowed back while sealing the tunnel. They were inside the volcano now—committed.
"The merger-era entrance is deeper," Raziel stated as attraction pulled him forward. "This way."
---
The volcanic interior's passages were confined—narrow tunnels between chambers, low ceilings, tight spaces carved by flowing lava over millennia.
Malvorn's massive behemoth form barely fit through the initial chamber. His four pillar-like legs, bone-spikes jutting from shoulders, sheer bulk—all too large for efficient navigation.
"Human forms would be easier," Frostina stated practically as her enormous ice-wyvern body was similarly constrained.
Naelvorn's serpentine length coiled uncomfortably in the heat. "Agreed, bro. Can't even move properly like this."
The three Overlords shifted simultaneously—forms compressing, reshaping, becoming human-sized.
Malvorn: Massive human, stone-grey skin, single red-orange eye glowing on forehead
Naelvorn: Lean man, blue-toned skin, carrying ocean's grace even on land
Frostina: Elegant woman, pale-skinned, ice-blue eyes cold
Raziel remained draconic—his element, his comfort, no need to change.
The pack remained in their natural beast forms while navigating volcanic terrain carefully.
"Feyra" larger than warhorse, snow-white fur reflecting orange lava-glow, vines with crimson roses along neck and limbs. Her golden eyes stayed cautious as each step left red petal trails that faded quickly in intense heat. Light Fox uncomfortable near concentrated fire.
"Velnar" massive scorpion, bark-and-stone exoskeleton dark, thorn-spines bristling along back. Forest-green eyes dimmed with concern as earth-sense read unstable ground constantly. No soil here, only ash and rock—unsettling.
"Sylvara" tall druid figure, pale-blue hair flowing, antler-branches rising from head. Turquoise eyes sad at lifelessness, but determined. Moving quietly despite environment's hostility.
"Zor" midnight-black raven, violet lightning crackling through feathers, wingspan enormous. Purple eyes scanning analytically while flying above and scouting passages ahead. Thunder Raven adapting best—aerial advantage maintained.
Raziel led them through volcanic chambers as attraction pulled him specific direction.
They passed lava rivers flowing between obsidian formations. Steam vents erupted periodically—alliance pausing, waiting for sulfurous gases to dissipate before continuing. Volcanic crystals grew from walls—sharp obsidian, glowing sulfur, fire opals pulsing with trapped heat.
Warden's Mantle kept Draven protected as temperature regulation worked constantly. Raziel's thermal buffer surrounded the alliance with heat controlled despite apocalyptic environment. Frostina's cooling barriers reinforced protection—ice and fire balancing.
"The entrance is close," Raziel stated after twenty minutes of navigating. His molten orange eyes fixed on passage ahead. "I feel the attraction intensifying. This way—deeper."
They descended through narrowing tunnel.
And found it.
---
The narrow tunnel opened into chamber unlike any they'd passed—clearly not natural formation.
Fifty meters wide, perfectly circular, walls too smooth for volcanic carving. And dominating the chamber's far wall: merger-era gateway.
The doors stood fifteen meters tall, constructed from unknown material—black surface holding starry depths, identical to the First Anchor. Beveled patterns covered every surface with geometric precision beyond Theian understanding. The patterns pulsed faintly with residual mana, rhythmic like heartbeat, ancient power cycling after millions of years.
Heat radiated from surrounding volcanic rock, but the gateway remained cool—temperature-resistant, indestructible.
"There," Raziel breathed as chest glowed brighter. "The Fire Anchor entrance. I feel it—the attraction originates beyond these doors."
Luminestra's presence stirred through Genesis Codex. "Architect construction. Fire Anchor gateway. The patterns match perfectly—designed to withstand volcanic environment eternally."
Draven approached slowly, awed despite having seen similar doors before.
Draven placed his hand on the doors as Genesis Codex hovered beside him. He channeled Fragment energy—Life's Law resonating with merger-era craftsmanship.
The beveled patterns blazed golden-green. Ancient mechanisms activated—dimensional locks releasing, stone grinding against stone despite no visible hinges.
The doors swung inward slowly while revealing passage descending into depths.
Cool air rushed out—temperature-controlled despite volcanic surroundings. The Architects had created isolated environment, protected from external heat.
"Incredible engineering," Malvorn murmured with stone-grey face impressed.
Naelvorn peered inside. "Finally, somewhere that doesn't feel like oven, bro."
Frostina's ice-blue eyes calculated. "Thermally isolated. Sophisticated."
The alliance entered the passage—leaving natural volcanic interior, entering constructed merger-era structure.
The walls were smooth, reinforced with heat-resistant material, beveled patterns providing faint illumination. Temperature dropped dramatically—from apocalyptic to merely hot, Architect climate control functioning after millions of years.
The passage descended steeply while spiraling downward.
Feyra's white fur stopped reflecting orange lava-glow while returning to natural radiance. Velnar's thorn-spines relaxed slightly—still no life, but less hostile. Sylvara's turquoise eyes brightened marginally.
Even the pack felt relief.
"The central magma chamber is below," Raziel stated. "The Anchor waits there. Beneath molten lake."
They descended together.
---
The passage opened into viewing chamber—architect-designed platform overlooking internal lava flow.
Below, magma river flowed through carved channel—twenty meters wide, glowing orange-red, viscous liquid flowing eternally. The river descended from higher volcanic chambers while feeding toward central core.
Spanning the river: Architect bridge.
Single piece of unknown material, forty meters long, perfectly level despite lacking visible supports. The bridge's surface displayed beveled patterns—geometric precision, glowing faintly from absorbed heat yet cool enough to walk safely.
"How does it not melt?" Naelvorn asked with blue-toned face bewildered. "Lava destroys everything."
Luminestra answered through Codex. "Original Universe materials. Substances that no longer exist after dimensional separation. This bridge has endured millions of years unchanged."
Raziel's scarlet skin glowed with appreciation. "Even I cannot create such permanence. The Architects surpassed all."
They crossed the bridge carefully—lava flowing beneath, heat radiating upward despite impossible engineering protecting them.
The passage descended alongside natural phenomenon—lava waterfall.
Magma cascaded from opening forty meters above—molten rock pouring in slow-motion arc, viscous liquid falling gracefully. The cascade roared continuously with sound deafening and heat radiating in waves that shimmered air violently.
The lava fell into lake below—churning pool of molten rock, surface swirling with convection currents. Steam rose in towering columns. Orange-red glow illuminated everything.
The Architect pathway descended along the waterfall's edge—carved into chamber wall, beveled patterns providing traction, narrow but secure.
Zor flew beside the cascade as violet lightning crackled through midnight feathers. His purple eyes reflected molten glow while analytical mind processed the spectacle.
Velnar's earth-sense read the volcanic structure carefully while guiding the ground-bound alliance members safely.
"Beautiful," Feyra whispered with golden eyes wide despite discomfort.
"Deadly," Sylvara added quietly.
"Both," Draven agreed.
They continued descending.
The passage opened into the volcano's central magma chamber—and breath caught.
Three hundred meters across, two hundred tall—cathedral-sized hollow core. The walls curved upward in perfect dome as natural volcanic formation was enhanced by Architect engineering. Heat-resistant material seamlessly integrated with stone.
At the chamber's bottom: lava lake.
Vast molten sea churning constantly, orange-red surface swirling with convection. Steam columns rose as heat remained apocalyptic despite protections. Multiple lava rivers fed the lake from higher chambers—smaller cascades painting the chamber walls with flowing fire.
Raziel's entire form trembled—not fear, but overwhelming sensation.
"It's here," he breathed as molten eyes blazed. "Beneath this lake. Deep in the magma. The Fire Anchor calls. Powerfully. Fire to fire. Magma to magma."
Malvorn's single eye focused downward. "How do we descend? Even you cannot swim through lava indefinitely."
Draven stared at the churning molten sea.
Somehow, he'd have to enter that.
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