Omniphage of Apathy

The following morning, rain fell in relentless sheets.

The sky, which was now a mass of swirling gray, seemed intent on drowning everything below. Vastarael stood at the base of the volcanic mountain, its dark, craggy slopes looming over him. The air carried the metallic tang of sulfur, the ground beneath his boots slick with rainwater mixed with ash and dirt.

Chainless stood beside him, her onyx eyes fixed on the steep incline before them. The rain plastered her brown hair to her face, rivulets of water streaming down her bloodstained armor that she stole from the guards she killed as she escaped. She didn't flinch or shiver.

The main path to the mountain was visible in the distance. It was wide, winding trail that disappeared into the clouds above.

But... it was crawling with soldiers.

A confrontation was inevitable if they went that way and while he was confident they could obliterate the opposition, he wasn't interested in wasting precious time.

"We're going up," Vastarael said, his voice cutting through the drumming rain.

Chainless tilted her head slightly, her gaze shifting to the jagged rock face before them. Her chains materialized almost instinctively, coiling around her.

Without waiting for a response, Vastarael stepped forward. The volcanic slope was nearly vertical in some places, the blackened stone offering little in the way of natural handholds. But Vastarael wasn't concerned.

He reached out with his essence and sharp, crystalline spikes erupted from the rock, creating sturdy grips for his hands and feet. With ease, he began his ascent, the rain sliding off his body as if repelled by an invisible shield.

The essence barrier he had crafted shimmered faintly around him that kept him completely dry despite the downpour. It was as if the rain didn't dare touch him, droplets splitting apart and evaporating before they could even make contact.

Chainless followed closely behind, her chains shooting out and latching onto higher points of the rock face. She swung herself upward, the metallic links clinking faintly against the stone. Her movements were efficient, almost mechanical, as if she had done this countless times before.

"Not bad," Vastarael muttered, glancing back at her. She didn't respond, her focus entirely on the climb.

The higher they went, the fiercer the rain seemed to grow. The wind howled around them, tearing at their forms and threatening to send them plummeting. But Vastarael remained unfazed. His hands gripped the sapphire spikes with the ease of someone climbing a ladder, his muscles barely straining.

To him, this was nothing. Rock climbing wasn't a challenge. It was a minor inconvenience at best. He could feel the volcanic stone crumble slightly under his weight but his sapphire spikes always held firm, creating a seamless path upward.

Chainless wasn't as lucky. The rain made the rock slippery and more than once, her chains slipped from their holds, sending her swinging dangerously. Each time, she corrected herself with remarkable agility, her chains finding new anchors before she could fall too far.

"Need a hand?" Vastarael called over his shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. It was amusing seeing her try and correct her mistakes.

Chainless didn't reply, but her glare was sharp enough to speak for her.

"Suit yourself," he said with a smirk, continuing his steady climb.

The mountain's incline grew even steeper as they ascended, the volcanic rock slick with rain and mud. Steam hissed from hidden fissures in the stone, the heat from the dormant volcano mixing with the cold rain to create an eerie mist that swirled around them.

They reached a particularly treacherous section where the rock face jutted out in an overhang, leaving no natural way forward. Vastarael paused, assessing the situation.

"This could be interesting," he mused, tapping his chin.

Chainless, without hesitation, sent her chains flying upward. They wrapped around a distant outcrop with a metallic snap. She launched herself into the air, swinging gracefully past the overhang and landing on the other side with a quiet thud.

"Impressive," Vastarael admitted. "But watch this."

He placed his hand against the rock and concentrated. Sapphire essence surged from his palm, forming a narrow bridge that extended outward and curved over the overhang. He stepped onto it without hesitation, walking as if on solid ground. The bridge sparkled in the rain, droplets cascading off its surface like tiny waterfalls.

When he reached the other side, Chainless was already waiting for him, her expression as stoic as ever.

"You know, you could at least act a little impressed. It's not every day you see something like that."

Her only response was a faint whisper, too soft for him to catch.

"Still not talking, huh? Fine. Not the first time I'm dealing with silent women anyways."

The rest of the climb was just as grueling, the rain showing no signs of letting up. The wind grew colder as they neared the summit, the air thick with the sulfuric scent of the volcano. Vastarael noticed Chainless shivering slightly, though she tried to hide it.

"Here," he said, extending his essence barrier to encompass her as well. The shimmering sapphire layer enveloped her and the moment it did, the rain stopped touching her.

She glanced at him, her eyes betraying a flicker of surprise.

"You're welcome," Vastarael said with a grin, continuing his climb.

By the time they reached the top, the storm had intensified, lightning arcing across the sky in jagged streaks. Vastarael stood at the edge of the summit, looking out over the vast expanse of forest below. The path they had avoided was barely visible, but the faint glimmers of torches confirmed that the soldiers were still there, waiting for them.

Chainless stood beside him, silent as always, her chains coiled around her like a protective shroud.

"We made it," Vastarael said, his tone casual, as if they hadn't just scaled a volcanic mountain in the middle of a storm. He turned to her, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Told you it'd be easy."

Chainless didn't respond but this time, the faintest hint of a smile ghosted across her lips.

"Now then, where is the monster? Down below the vent?"

The summit of the volcano trembled slightly, a low growl resonating from deep within the vent. Vastarael stood at the edge, peering into the black abyss below. The air was thick with the acrid scent of sulfur and a strange metallic tang.

Vastarael sighed, his hand resting on the hilt of his glaive.

"The monster's down there, huh?" He muttered, his voice laced with mild annoyance. "Couldn't just meet us halfway, could it? Seriously, please don't be a lava monster."

Chainless stepped beside him, her eyes fixed on the glowing depths. She said nothing, her chains coiling around her.

"Well," Vastarael said, turning to her with a faint smirk, "we're diving. So uh... hold on tight, unless you're planning to take a scenic route down by yourself."

She tilted her head slightly. Then, without hesitation, she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her touch was cold, almost mechanical, but firm.

"Good," he said, sliding an arm around her waist to secure her. "Let's hope you don't get motion sick."

Without another word, Vastarael leaped into the vent, the roar of wind swallowing the sound of their descent. The blue glow grew brighter as they plunged deeper, the walls of the chasm rushing past them in a blur.

As they fell, Vastarael extended his free hand, summoning a sapphire-blue Solid Mystic circle in midair. The glowing construct appeared beneath them, catching their weight for a brief moment.

"Not bad. I kind of expected it not to hold," he said, glancing at Chainless.

Vastarael stepped off the mystic circle, letting it dissolve as they continued their descent. Another circle appeared moments later, halting their fall once again. It became a rhythm; plunge, summon, land, repeat. The sapphire circles shimmered brilliantly against the oppressive darkness, casting their own ethereal light.

As they neared the bottom, the source of the blue glow became clear. The lava at the base of the volcano wasn't the typical molten red. Instead, it was an intense, otherworldly blue. It was shocking for him to see blue lava.

The heat was immense, the air shimmering with waves of distortion, but neither Vastarael nor Chainless flinched.

Before they had jumped, Vastarael had inscribed Cold Runes onto both their skin. The intricate markings glowed faintly now, radiating a cooling aura that repelled the oppressive heat.

Vastarael landed gracefully on a jagged boulder protruding from the sea of blue lava, the mystic circles disappearing behind him. He released Chainless, who stepped lightly onto the rock beside him, her chains slithering around her.

"Not too bad, right? Cold Runes are a lifesaver."

He flexed his fingers, the runes on his arms pulsing faintly as they worked to maintain the cool barrier around them.

Chainless crouched slightly, her gaze darting around the cavern. The low growl they'd heard earlier was louder now, reverberating through the volcanic chamber.

"Now then, where is our dear monster friend?"

As if in answer, the lava ahead of them churned violently, sending waves of molten blue crashing against the rock. The glow intensified and a massive shape began to rise from the depths.

Vastarael sighed, his hand moving to the hilt of his glaive that he materialized.

"Of course. It couldn't just stay quiet, could it? And it's a lava monster too."

Chainless remained silent, her chains poised and ready, their edges gleaming in the eerie light.

"Stay close. This should be fun."