The transition platform loomed ahead, an ancient construct nestled within the heart of The Forgotten Garden’s depths. Unlike the overgrown elven ruins I had left behind, this structure pulsed with an eerie, shifting glow where vines curled around stone and embers crackled along the edges.

  Stepping onto the platform and pressing the Gold floor stone to the structure, I received a similar notice of the occupants on the floor.

  Occupants detected: 0

  I registered the shift as I accepted the transition. A surge of mana roared through me, the space around me twisting as if the dungeon inhaled before spitting me out.

  You have entered The Infernal Furnace, Rank: Gold

  Heat slammed into my body.

  The Forgotten Garden’s humid, mana-rich air vanished, replaced by an oppressive furnace-like atmosphere. Ash rained lazily from above, carried by updrafts rising from the chasms of molten rock that carved through the landscape like veins of a living, breathing beast. Towering obsidian spires jutted from the scorched ground, their surfaces marred with deep fissures, glowing with molten light from within. Chains hung from these formations, swaying in the heated currents, remnants of whatever infernal craftsmanship once dominated this place.

  I rolled my shoulders, letting the heat wash over me. Uncomfortable? Maybe.

  The dungeon had increased in difficulty and had changed entirely. The floor was a domain of fire and metal, where nature looked to have long since been consumed by something far more ruthless.

  I exhaled, focusing inward. The heat pressed against my skin, seeping into my very breath. I reached out with my mana and expanded my control. The air shimmered around me as I manipulated the flow, weaving a skin-tight barrier that clung to my form. The moment it solidified, the oppressive heat dulled, no longer licking at my flesh with unchecked fury.

  A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air.

  I turned my head slightly, mana pulsing through my veins as my senses stretched outward. Lumbering forms that were brimming with molten energy prowled along jagged blackstone paths.

  I activated [Identify V].

  [Magma Hound, Construct: Fire Aligned - Level 65], Low Expert

  More emerged from the surrounding crags, molten drool dripping from between jagged fangs. Their bodies were masses of living slag, pulsing with internal heat and cracks in their obsidian hide revealing the raw magma coursing through them like blood.

  Four. No, six hounds all zoned in on my position.

  One leaped first, its massive form twisting mid-air, jaws stretching wide.

  I blurred forward, spatial mana coiling around me as I blinked past the attack entirely, reappearing to its flank. A [Tempest Blade I] erupted from my hand, cutting through its hide.

  The wound sealed almost instantly as the flames surged, feeding off the air my attack had displaced.

  My brows lifted slightly. Interesting.

  Two more lunged. This time, I met them head-on. My palm snapped forward, a Tempest Blade carving through the heated air, its cutting edge meeting molten flesh. The first hound split in two, the second staggered as its entire side was sheared away. Again, the flames flared violently, reconstructing the second hound’s mass.

  I smiled, feeling the way the heated air curled around me. A bit more challenging.

  Comparing the results of the two hounds, I supposed the displaced air and sudden gusts of my attacks fed their flames, accelerating their regeneration unless they were killed outright.

  The remaining five circled, their molten eyes narrowing as they gauged my movement. Intelligent enough to adapt. Their pack instinct urged them to flank.

  I extended my hand outward, shifting my approach. The air around me trembled with precise, controlled force.

  The moment they lunged, the air imploded, pulling them into a spiraling current that twisted through the battlefield. They howled as their forms were dragged mid-air, bodies colliding, limbs tangling as they fought against the force. I wove through them, each strike now calculated to sever their cores rather than just maim.

  The last hound broke free and charged. I let it.

  As it lunged, molten fangs seeking my throat, I planted my feet. Wind and spatial mana surged as I channeled my next strike. The air condensed, sharpening into an edge that hummed with raw force.

  The blade of wind carved clean through the hound in an instant, its entire form bisected before the energy detonated outward. The explosion ripped through the battlefield, scattering remains and cutting through the lingering heatwaves.

  Then, a tremor.

  I turned my gaze forward. At the far end of the charred battlefield, beyond the crags and molten rivers, something moved. Chains rattled, breaking apart as the beast within them stirred. The very ground rumbled with its awakening, cracks spiderwebbing outwards from the enormous, hulking mass rising to its full height.

  A towering behemoth of fused rock and flame, its form held together by layers of obsidian plating, burning sigils carved into its surface. Its eyes were twin orbs of fury that locked onto me as it stepped forward, each movement accompanied by the groan of shifting metal.

  As scheduled.

  [The Ashen Alpha, Construct: Fire Aligned - Level 68], Expert]

  Around it, the remaining Magma Hounds regrouped, their bodies shifting, preparing for the inevitable clash.

  A breath of heated air swirled between us.

  I moved and hell followed.

  * * *

  A rift split the air before me, jagged and unstable, but exactly where I needed it. My hand shot forward, unleashing a Tempest Blade through the tear in space. The razor-sharp crescent of wind howled as it tore into reality, bending through the rift to materialize behind one of the advancing magma hounds. It failed to dodge as the blade severed it in two, its body bursting into scattered embers.

  The rest closed in and lunged.

  I shifted, my body blinking out of reach as a barrage of fangs snapped at empty air. I reappeared above them, twisting midair. My hand sliced downward, three more Tempest Blades tearing into the pack below. Wind met fire, and the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, scattering debris and igniting bursts of flame where the heat clashed with raw air pressure. I landed smoothly, already moving as another hound pounced.

  A flick of my wrist split the space before me, a rift yawning open just in time to consume the beast whole. The tear slammed shut, severing the creature mid-leap, dicing its core and leaving only smoldering embers to scatter across the ground.

  Then came the Alpha.

  It moved faster than something of its size should, claws raking across the air where I had been a moment before. A sharp shift in the air was my only warning before a wave of heat erupted from its body, sending fire-laced shockwaves outward. I braced, mana weaving tightly around my form, shielding me from the flames as I warped to the side, just out of range. The stone where I had stood bubbled and cracked, melting into a pool of slag.

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  I raised my hand, a concentrated Tempest Blade forming at my fingertips. Instead of firing it directly, I slashed a rift open and sent the attack through. The Ashen Alpha pivoted, eyes narrowing as the distortion flickered behind it. Too late. The blade of compressed wind roared through the tear, striking its hind leg. A snarl of pain tore from its throat as a chunk of flesh was sheared away, glowing embers cascading from the wound.

  The momentary victory faded as quickly as expected. Before my eyes, the fissures along its body pulsed brighter, the missing limb rapidly reforming from a surge of searing rock and slag. The embers coalesced, reshaping sinew and muscle until the leg was whole again, steam rising from the restored limb.

  It spun, rage igniting in its gaze, then lunged, jaws snapping wide. I reached out for space itself. A pulse of mana, a twist of reality, and the Alpha’s momentum was thrown off-course as a rift flared to life mid-lunge, distorting the battlefield for a fraction of a second.

  I was already gone, reappearing just above its head, another Tempest Blade forming in my grasp.

  Let’s see if you can survive this.

  I raised my hand high, the concentrated energy of the Tempest Blade pulsing at my fingertips, radiating raw power. The air crackled with anticipation, every element of my being focused on the Ashen Alpha before me.

  I brought the blade down with the finality of an executioner.

  The impact struck like thunder.

  The blade cleaved through the beast, splitting it in two. A blinding arc of wind surged forward, slicing cleanly through its form. The force continued past the Alpha, a destructive wave that swept across the battlefield. Magma Hounds caught in the wake erupted into showers of ash and embers, their anguished howls drowned out by the roar of my attack.

  I landed on steady ground, as I watched the remnants of my foe crumble to dust. The two halves of the Alpha sizzled and sparked where they fell, pools of molten rock bubbling into nothingness. The last echoes of its rage faded, signaling the rush of essence.

  A surge of energy swelled around me like a torrent, fueled by my defeated enemies. My body tingled with power as their remnants fused with my own essence, enhancing what I had accumulated with notice of three level gains. I distributed the essence points evenly into Strength, Agility and Dexterity bringing them to 38, 57, and 57 respectively.

  In place of the vanquished Alpha, a Dungeon Drop materialized. A shimmering silhouette rose from where it had fallen. As it coalesced into solid form, I identified its contents: an Infernal Core and an Infernal Cloak, dark as night and edged in flickering flames.

  I reached out and brushed my fingers against the core first. It throbbed in response to my touch, promising power. The cloak floated down gently beside, its fabric woven from shadows that danced as if alive.

  A grin spread across my face. The cores acted as part proof of the Area clearance and went to my inventory. The cloak I chose to equip. The description on the cloak provided that its wearer would be highly resistant to fire based attacks and worked to channel any mana sent through it to increase this effect.

  I readjusted the cloak and lowered the heat shield I had conjured to protect myself from the environmental dangers, confirming that the cloak achieved the same effect by channeling my mana through it instead. I stretched my senses across the terrain, identifying Low Expert, Expert and High Expert signatures. Additionally, there were some Low Master signatures attempting concealment.

  The air shifted, growing thicker with heat as I crossed into the Mid Level Area. A familiar sensation washed over me. A potent Mana Signature nearby was radiating with power.

  The ground beneath my feet turned from smooth stone to obsidian, pulsating with a fiery glow. I scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of movement. Then, a tremor rippled through the ground, and I felt it before I saw it.

  The molten air shimmered around me, waves of heat radiating from golems as they lumbered forward. Their hulking forms of searing rock and iron pulsed with superheated veins, cores burning like miniature suns within their chests. Despite the oppressive temperature, I remained unaffected, my Infernal Cloak dispersing the heat before it could even graze my skin.

  [Ember Golem - Level 70, Expert], [Ember Golem - Level 69, Expert], [Ember Golem - Level 70, Expert]

  I took to the sky and floated above them, watching as they adjusted to my position. They exhibited only mindless persistence as they tracked my new location. One of them raised an arm, the metal shifting and reforming into a jagged blade before it cleaved the space I had been. I distorted the air, willing myself sideways, the attack missing by feet that may as well have been miles.

  They converged beneath me, three of them, their cores intensifying as they prepared to strike in unison. I extended a hand, mana surging to my fingertips, a Tempest Blade forming. It was larger, sharper and humming with condensed force. The moment it reached critical mass, I slashed the air, ripping a rift open before me. The attack vanished into the void to reappear behind them.

  The result was immediate. The crescent of compressed wind howled as it carved through the first golem’s core, severing its burning heart in two. The construct faltered, its limbs stiffening before it collapsed into a pile of cooling slag. The second took the attack across its arm, losing its entire right side in an instant. It staggered, attempting to reform, but I was already moving and striking again.

  I twisted in the air, another Tempest Blade forming with a thought. This one I sent through a new rift, the attack phasing through space before emerging above the wounded golem. The wind compressed, then detonated on impact, dispersing its molten form in a violent explosion of embers and steel shards.

  Only one remained, and I landed in front of it, meeting its burning gaze with a calm indifference. It raised both fists, intent on crushing me beneath its weight.

  I opened another rift and the moment it brought its arms down, the limbs disappeared into the void only to appear behind it, crushing its back with its own attack. I dispersed the rift and held my hand to its front and powered a Tempest Blade to further add to the damage, overwhelming its defenses and crushing the core.

  The golem collapsed, the essence of all defeated transferring to me.

  Before the embers had even settled, the ground rumbled. A deep, resonating pulse echoed through the chamber as chains snapped, runes flaring to life. Another golem rose from the shadows, towering above the rest. It was bigger and stronger, its form wrapped in glowing sigils of restraint. A massive blade ignited in its grasp, the heat from it enough to warp the air.

  [The Forgebound Sentinel - Level 79, High Expert]

  It swung its blade, the air displacing along its arc.

  I was already in the air, the force of the attack splitting the earth where I had stood. My cloak shielded me from the concussive wave of heat as I ascended, a fully charged Tempest Blade forming between my hands. The usual power behind one wouldn't be enough.

  I raised both hands, rifts crackling to life around me.

  I conjured more rifts, each one swirling with potent mana, and charged multiple Tempest Blades to match. The energy crackled as I aligned them around me, a storm brewing in the air.

  With the buildup at its peak, I sent the first blade slicing through a rift. It shot toward the Sentinel with incredible speed, tearing through the air like a comet. The moment it struck, the golem staggered back as if hit by a physical force.

  I unleashed another Tempest Blade, one after another, each surging from different rifts that swirled around me and the Sentinel. They tore into its side, leaving deep gashes in its exterior. I could see the runes on its body flicker with irritation as they struggled to mend themselves. But I wouldn’t let it recover.

  I continued my onslaught, channeling my mana into the next barrage. The air hummed with energy as blades continued to materialize from rifts in quick succession. Each successive blade shot toward the golem like missiles. The ground shook beneath me as the blades struck true, explosions erupting against its hardened shell.

  With every strike, fragments of rock flew into the air, illuminating the area in a fiery glow. The Sentinel's massive arm swung wildly in response to my relentless assault but found only empty air.

  I continued to summon more blades and they spiraled outwards in a chaotic dance of death. Tempest Blades carved through stone and obsidian alike until they overwhelmed even this mighty guardian.

  The final blade pierced straight through its core, the last and most powerful strike of my barrage. I witnessed its core shatter like glass under pressure, the shockwaves rippling outward as shards erupted from within.

  The Forgebound Sentinel crumpled under the weight of its own defeat, its essence absorbed as the first of my reward. I pulled up my notification, seeing I gained 4 more levels from this area alone. I distributed my essence points rounding out Strength and Endurance at 40 each and bringing Vitality up to 35.

  I now found myself at Level 40, a mark typical for Adepts of Eldon and my former world. Being under-leveled for one's tier was uncommon, as it often indicated a deficiency in combat experience, with years spent in study and meditation. In my world, most lifestyles couldn’t support this, as it relied on resources and was primarily the domain of nobles and royal families who could afford Master-tier tutors. My current experiences in Eldon appeared to align with this cultural norm, especially considering the impressions left by the Black Vultures.

  Given my current trajectory, I anticipated significant progress in my level, undoubtedly sparking shock and confusion among anyone who had Identified me prior. Ironically, the etiquette surrounding level assessments might have alleviated this confusion and suspicion, as using Identify which itself was noticeable to those of equivalent tiers and above was deemed disrespectful or indicative of hostile intent. Merely sensing Mana Signatures was regarded as courteous, conveying a sense of respect to those being assessed, so it didn't surprise me that many ceased their inquiries after gauging my strength at the Adept tier.

  Turning my attention to the Dungeon Drop, I Identified a Golem Core, a Gold Floor Stone, three High Grade Mana Potions, and a pair of daggers: Hellforged Twin Daggers. I sent all the items to my Inventory, excitement swelling within me alongside my accumulating wealth. I concentrated on the lone Master Signature I detected in the High Level Area beyond my current destination within the floor. The signature radiated from the largest spire ahead, igniting a newfound eagerness for the challenge I hoped it would present.