Gustav departed at dawn three days later, his coastal exploration pack strapped to his back and heat-resistant gear—crafted from treated ironwood bark and seal hide—protecting him from the rising temperatures as he headed southwest toward the Smokepeak Volcanic Coves. The aura-boosting amulet around his neck glowed steadily, its energy helping him withstand the dry, heat-thickened air that carried the scent of sulfur, burnt rock, and a faint, smoky sweetness. The aura compass pulsed with a warm orange light, guiding him toward a network of caves and rocky shorelines where magma root and ashpetal flowers—his targets—were said to thrive.
The terrain shifted quickly from sandy beaches to jagged black rock, with steam rising from cracks in the ground and small streams of molten lava snaking through stone channels. Torvin's volcanic lore book described magma root as a thick, tuberous plant that grew in cracks near lava flows, its flesh infused with fire aura and tasting of smoky caramel. Ashpetal flowers, meanwhile, bloomed on rocky ledges cooled by coastal mist, their petals dark gray with flecks of orange, their energy boosting raw aura strength. Harvesting both required extreme care—magma root would burn skin unprotected by aura, while ashpetals wilted instantly if exposed to direct heat.
Gustav navigated carefully, using his aura to sense stable ground and avoid hidden pockets of superheated air. The compass led him to a cave mouth marked Cinderbloom Grotto, where steam billowed from the entrance and the air grew thick with volcanic energy. Inside, the cave opened into a large chamber with a small lava pool at its center, surrounded by cracks where magma root grew—their thick brown stems emerging from the rock, glowing with a faint red light. He pulled out his aura-harvesting tongs, now fitted with heat-resistant tips forged from volcanic glass, and channeled his Gastronomic Aura into a cooling field around his hands before approaching the roots.
As he began to dig carefully around one root, a low hiss echoed from the shadows—a fire-scaled lizard, its body covered in orange and black scales that shimmered like molten rock, emerged from behind a boulder. The creature was a guardian of the magma root, attacking anything that disturbed the plants it relied on for warmth. Gustav remained calm, mixing a small amount of tidepool pearl dust (for cool balance) and aura-nut paste (for stability) into a ball, tossing it near the lizard. The creature sniffed the blend, its tense posture relaxing as the balanced energy soothed its heat-driven instincts, allowing Gustav to continue harvesting.
He extracted three large magma roots, placing them into a heat-sealed pouch connected to his aura cooler, then made his way to the cave's upper ledges where ashpetal flowers bloomed. The petals glowed softly in the dim light, their smoky scent mixing with the cool coastal breeze that drifted through a narrow opening in the rock. Using his tongs to pluck the flowers carefully, he stored them in a separate pouch lined with ash from cooled lava to preserve their structure. Just as he finished, the ground shook slightly, and voices echoed from the cave entrance—Rook and fifteen Black Spoon members emerged, this time wearing heat-resistant armor and carrying aura-forging torches—devices that used fire energy to melt protective barriers and damage ingredients.
"Everywhere we turn, you're there," Rook snarled, lighting one of the torches. "We'll take the magma root and ashpetals—with their energy, we can forge weapons that drain aura on contact. Soon, no hunter will be able to stand against us." Gustav felt the heat from the torches intensify, the air around him growing so hot his skin prickled despite his gear. He activated his aura barrier, using the amulet's energy to strengthen it against the flames.
Just as the syndicate members moved to attack, a figure in red leather gear dropped from the cave's upper ledge, wielding a staff carved from cooled lava. "Leave him be," she shouted, striking the ground with her staff to release a wave of cool mist that doused the torches. The woman—who introduced herself as Zara, a volcanic forager who'd lived in the coves her whole life—moved with surprising speed across the hot rock, using her knowledge of the terrain to outmaneuver the syndicate members.
Kael and Finn emerged from the cave entrance moments later—Finn carried a net woven from fireweed fibers that was resistant to heat, while Kael tossed rocks that bounced off the cave walls to create distractions. "We knew they'd target the volcanic coves next," Kael said, grinning as he tangled two men in Finn's net. Zara added, "These caves have hidden passages—follow me, and we'll trap them where they can't use their torches."
Together, the four led the Black Spoon members deeper into the cave, where narrow tunnels forced them to spread out. Zara triggered a small rockfall that blocked their retreat, while Gustav used a handful of ashpetal flowers to create a smoky haze that disoriented them. Rook, realizing he was trapped, ordered his men to flee through a side tunnel, shouting, "This isn't over—we'll bring reinforcements and burn this whole cove to the ground!"
After ensuring the syndicate was gone, Zara led Gustav to a hidden chamber where lava berry vines grew—small, red berries that absorbed fire aura without burning, their flavor sweet and spicy. "These pair perfectly with magma root," she explained, harvesting a handful and handing them to him. "I've been watching Black Spoon for months—they're working with more than just rogue Hunters. There's a powerful Nen user pulling their strings, someone who wants to control all rare ingredients in the region."
Finn added, "We should form a loose alliance—me from the coast, Zara from the volcanoes, Lena from the wilds, and you and Kael in the city. Together, we can protect the ingredients and keep Black Spoon in check." Gustav nodded, agreeing to the plan before the group parted ways—Zara staying to guard the coves, Finn heading back to the coast, Kael to the city to gather more intel, and Gustav to return with his harvest as the sun began to set.
He arrived at the Outer Market to find Mara speaking with a group of Nen users who were looking for ingredients to boost their aura strength. "Magma root! Ashpetal flowers!" one user exclaimed, her eyes wide as she examined his harvest. "These are exactly what we need to refine our Nen techniques." Mara traded him a heat-resistant aura pouch—crafted from fireweed fibers and volcanic glass—to store fire-infused ingredients safely. "This will keep your lava berries and roots fresh even in extreme heat," she said, and Gustav thanked her, tucking the pouch into his gear.
Next, he went to Elara's clinic, where she was treating a Hunter who'd been injured by an aura-draining creature. "Magma root paste can help repair damaged aura pathways faster than any medicine I have," she said, examining the root with excitement. "In return, take this Nen enhancement guide—it details how to pair ingredients with different Nen types to maximize their effects." Gustav added the guide to his collection, grateful for the new information.
He then made his way to Torvin's workshop, where a crowd of chefs, Nen users, and hunters had gathered for a class focused on aura-strengthening cuisine. "Today, we'll make magma root stew with ashpetal glaze and lava berry compote," Gustav announced, laying out his ingredients. He explained that the magma root's fire aura would boost raw strength, while the ashpetals refined aura control and the lava berries added a balancing sweetness. He demonstrated how to channel his Gastronomic Aura into the stew as it cooked, weaving fire and cool coastal energy to create a dish that glowed with a warm orange light.
As the attendees tasted it, a Nen user named Jax said, "I can feel my aura growing more concentrated—this would help me master my ability faster than months of training alone." A chef added, "The flavor is incredible—smoky, sweet, and rich without being heavy." Gustav spent the rest of the evening guiding them through each step, from preparing the magma root to infusing the glaze with ashpetal energy, answering questions about how to adapt the recipe for different Nen types.
By the time the workshop ended, Torvin presented him with a map of the Northern Highlands, marking locations of blizzard leaf and ice crystal fruit—rare cold-aura ingredients that paired perfectly with fire-infused ones. "These will help you create even more balanced dishes," he said, clapping Gustav on the shoulder. "The highlands are harsh, but your training so far has prepared you well."
Back at his shelter, Gustav spread out the highlands map and Nen enhancement guide, updating his training log: "Today: explored Smokepeak Volcanic Coves, harvested magma root, ashpetal flowers, and lava berries, gained the trust of a fire-scaled lizard, fended off Black Spoon's aura-forging ambush with Zara, Kael, and Finn's help—formed a loose alliance to protect regional ingredients, traded for a heat-resistant aura pouch and Nen enhancement guide, and taught aura-strengthening cuisine at Torvin's workshop. Fire aura manipulation and multi-group coordination skills have advanced dramatically. Two and a half years until the Hunter Exam—planning to head to the Northern Highlands next to harvest cold-aura ingredients and perfect flavor balance."
He held the volcanic lore book in his hand, then glanced at the aura compass, which glowed with a cool blue light toward the north—the direction of the highlands. He imagined the snow-covered peaks, glowing ice crystals, and new challenges that awaited, already packing his cold-resistant gear and preparing for the journey into the mountains.