Mystical Fantasy : The Analogi

Dozens of Ifrit soldiers surrounding them began stepping forward. The flames on their weapons roared, their bodies glowing red-hot. The air became nearly unbreathable—dense with heat and pressure.

Ravyn, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, struggled to stand firm beside Zeo.

"Master... don't worry about me... I'm ready to fight," she whispered hoarsely.

Zeo clenched his fists. The aura around his body started to tremble. A counterattack could erupt within seconds. It would be troublesome if all the Ifrit soldiers attacked at once, especially with Ravyn's condition potentially burdening Zeo.

But just before the clash could begin—

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

A thunderous explosion erupted from the eastern side of the village.

The sky quaked. The ground beneath their feet shook violently. Smoke and fire billowed from the volcano at the edge of the village. Boulders launched into the sky as if thrown by a giant hand. Wild energy surged in the air.

Every eye turned toward the source of the explosion.

The Ifrit soldiers froze. Some instinctively lowered their weapons. A new wave of heat swept through the area—but this time, it was different. Not the heat from their own bodies, but from a foreign power, bursting out of control.

The Elder Ifrit gazed toward the mountain. His usually calm eyes widened slightly.

"Heh... Looks like you're lucky this time, youngsters..." he muttered toward Zeo and Ravyn.

He then raised his hand.

"Soldiers, move out immediately."

In an instant, the Ifrit soldiers retreated in order, dispersing the encirclement without a word.

Zeo and Ravyn simply stood still, exchanging glances.

"They... left?" Ravyn asked, her voice raspy from the intense heat.

The Elder Ifrit walked past Zeo slowly. He glanced briefly, as if reading something within Zeo. Without further explanation, he and his troops vanished into the red mist and the cracked stone path.

Now, only Zeo and Ravyn remained before the volcanic stone village.

Ravyn let out a long breath. The surrounding heat started to thin, and her fur-covered body, flushed from the extreme temperatures, slowly returned to normal.

"Finally... I can breathe again..." she muttered, slumping down onto a rock. "Master, let's go home. I can't stand being here any longer..."

But Zeo didn't respond.

He stared sharply toward the volcano at the edge of the village—the origin of the explosion.

"Wait a moment..."

Ravyn looked up, noticing Zeo's expression far more serious than during their standoff.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"I think we need to go there. I felt something from that explosion. The energy... it's not normal," Zeo said quietly. "That wasn't a natural eruption. Something—or someone—is there."

Ravyn tensed. She slowly stood up. "So... you mean... we're going there?"

Zeo nodded, his eyes fixed on the glowing mountain.

"Let's go."

Zeo began moving toward the volcano.

Ravyn opened her mouth to protest—but stopped.

She lowered her head and sighed heavily. All she could do was follow.

"Just escaped hellish heat... now we're walking into its heart. Hiks..."

Zeo led the way, navigating rocky cliffs and narrow paths toward the volcano.

Ravyn followed, grumbling.

"Why is my life always like this since I met you, Master... Can't we just live peacefully and sip tea in a cabin... Hiks."

Zeo only responded with a sideways glance before continuing the journey.

In the distance, the sky churned. Red and golden light clashed within the clouds—a sign that the surging energy was no ordinary force.

And at the foot of that mountain... something had happened.

Zeo and Ravyn arrived at the volcano's lower slopes, trekking through narrow paths between volcanic rocks and scorched trees. The sharp scent of sulfur stung their noses, and the air felt heavy, thick with magical aura.

They hid behind a large boulder under a withered tree, its edges charred. From there, the battlefield lay clearly before them.

"Are those... orc troops?" Ravyn whispered, holding her breath.

Ahead, at the base of the volcano, hundreds of dark green-skinned, muscular beastkin orcs advanced. Brutal in appearance, they wore heavy, spiked metal armor, wielding giant axes and dark iron shields. They marched in tight ranks, their steps crushing everything beneath them.

At the center stood a towering figure with a wild boar head and upward-curving tusks. His eyes glowed red, and his dark armor looked forged in the fires of hell.

"Jakovi..." Ravyn whispered.

"You know him?" Zeo asked.

"Hmm, he's pretty infamous in this forbidden forest, Master."

In the distance, among the flaming stone ruins, the Elder Ifrit stood tall. His eyes burned with fury. Steam poured from his pores, and the ground around him cracked.

"You're insane, Jakovi!" the Elder shouted, his voice echoing across the slope. "You blew up the forbidden cave! Do you even know the danger you've unleashed?!"

Jakovi snorted. His voice was deep and harsh.

"That's exactly why I did it! That thing in there—it doesn't belong to your kind! You have no right to keep it, Zelalehm!"

He raised his hand high. Immediately, the orc troops advanced, their heavy boots scorching the earth.

Even more shocking, new figures emerged from the mist.

"Water Djinns..." Elder Zelalehm muttered, surprised.

Humanoid djinn beastkin resembling amphibians, with frog-like heads and skin, appeared behind the orcs. They leapt between the ranks and unleashed powerful water jets toward the Ifrit troops.

Water versus fire.

Wave after wave of water struck the Ifrit formations, extinguishing their flames and severely weakening their magic. The Ifrit, usually invincible on their fiery turf, were now pushed back by a coordinated assault from their natural enemies.

"This is bad," Zelalehm said softly. "Our troops could lose."

Ravyn and Zeo observed, eyes sharp. But they remained hidden—their mission was not to interfere, but to watch. They realized just how essential it was to have a capable army in the future.

The Ifrit troops looked overwhelmed. Pushed back in their own domain.

Suddenly—

BOOOMMMM!!!

Another explosion erupted from the cave's depths. But this time, it wasn't from the enemy.

A blinding red light shot into the sky from the chaotic village. From it emerged a graceful figure, standing atop a calm flow of magma as if it were solid ground.

She wore no armor like the soldiers but a long red robe shimmering like molten metal. Her long hair flowed like fire, and her eyes—golden-red—blazed brightly.

"That..." Ravyn swallowed. "...the Queen of the Ifrit."

All the Ifrit troops instantly kneeled. They bowed deeply, welcoming her with reverence.

The Ifrit Queen simply raised her hand, and without a word, the earth trembled. The sound of magma roared. Lava surged from the ground, forming a terrifying wave of heat.

"Special Skill: Magma Wave."

WUUUSSHHH!!!

A magma wave swept toward the orc and frog troops, incinerating everything in its path. Some orcs were flung back; the water djinns summoned massive barriers to shield themselves. But the attack's heat far exceeded their expectations.

The enemy alliance retreated hundreds of meters. Their formation shattered.

Jakovi stood firm, grinding his teeth. His tusks jutted out, and dark aura seeped from his body.

"Hahaha, so you show yourself, Valzhara. Unfortunately... you won't stop us!"

Jakovi drew his weapon: a massive hammer that shook the area. His troops re-formed ranks behind him.

In the distance, hidden behind scorched trees, Zeo narrowed his eyes.

"A great battle is about to unfold..."

Ravyn crouched low, clearly frightened.

"Master... we're not joining this fight, right?"

Zeo simply murmured, "Not yet."