The Runic Alchemist

[The center of the living Lava zone, Veltrax's POV]

Veltrax, the Ancient Fire Demon, high in the red sky above, looked at the hordes of monsters moving around with unnatural urgency. Something was happening that had disturbed the weaklings.

It had been countless years since he had emerged from that abyssal darkness. Veltrax remembered it like yesterday. They were lost, all their minds corrupt and filled with rage. All they knew was how to kill anyone who entered their territory, how to protect the invaluable chrysalis. But their lord, the Divine One, had saved them. Gave them a better life, a purpose—something to call their own.. but the best and most important to Veltrax—Peace.

The peace of mind that could not be achieved even after killing thousands of intruders was given to Veltrax with just one touch from the Divine One.

Now it was their turn to serve.

The Divine One was losing essence each day, trapped in those cursed bindings. They only had to do one job—otherwise, Veltrax and all Lords were free to do whatever they wanted: never letting any intruder come close to the Divine One's palace.

It may be that just the infighting of the mindless grunts had reached the point that it disturbed the whole ecosystem, but Veltrax believed in always being thorough. He raised one hand and chanted a few words in an unintelligible language. Soon, a massive, scorching pillar of flame shot out into the sky, brightening the already red clouds even more fiercely.

It was a signal for all the Lords to gather. It may have been just a problem in the North, the region he was given to protect and rule, but others needed to know about the anomaly before he went out and dealt with it.

Veltrax sat atop his obsidian throne and waited for the others to come. Soon, a distant massive figure—a towering golem forged from cursed metals and living magma—could be seen walking toward his region. That was T'korran, protector of the Southern region.

To the side, another towering figure covered in pitch-black fur could be seen taking long strides—a massive gorilla like beast with tribal fire runes seared into his skin, radiating heat waves as he moved. That was Droquar, protector of the Eastern region.

Suddenly, the darker half-broken ruins where his obsidian throne sat were broken out of their peaceful silence with maniacal, teasing laughter. In the next second, a figure cloaked in dancing flames—humanoid, but barely stable—her body shifting between human and flame, walked out of a dark portal crackling with red energy bolts.

"Veltrax, are you annoying us again with your paranoid calls? What was that you told us last time? A human like me had crossed into the Thousand Lake Zone?" She laughed in her annoying high-pitched tone again, making Veltrax grit his teeth. She was the second-worst thing he hated whenever a meeting was called. She continued after mocking him,

"You do realize I am the only human alive in this whole world? Those bastard local animals can't even use five basic elements.. But I understand you, Veltrax, baby. You feel alone, in this depressing obsidian ruin, sitting around all day. Don't worry. If you want the warmth of a woman, this Zenthari will make you feel special.."

Veltrax made a face that revealed all his disgust—disgust that a thousand words would fail to describe. What warmth could a being like her possibly give, who couldn't even keep her form stable for thirty seconds? Humans were always filthy beings full of lust and greed. What would they know of true companionship?

"You don't have to come this time. I will go do this alone. You three stay here and look after the North region side for a while when I am gone." Veltrax got straight to the point, not wanting to engage in another banter with her about humans and demons.

Soon, the other two Lords walked near his ruins. The intense heat from T'korran's magma body was making even Veltrax and Zenthari uncomfortable. They were all experts of the fire element and volcanic lava zones were their home—still, T'korran's cursed flames were something completely different.

A booming voice echoed as a massive, rune-covered axe got buried in the dark land outside Veltrax's ruins. "What is it this time, Veltrax?"

It was the tribal leader, Droquar. T'korran made a gurgling sound; he too seemed to be annoyed at having made the journey once again in less than six months. Veltrax did not waste any time and informed them about the anomaly and his decision to go alone to find the cause.

When he finished, He expected Zenthari to mock him again or Droquar to question whether he was really that nervous about such a simple thing, but none of them said anything. They even seemed to be thinking about the situation.

"What?" Veltrax asked at last.

"Now that you mention it, my region is also showing the same anomaly.." Zenthari said.

"Mine too.." Droquar's booming voice followed.

T'korran also nodded, drops of lava splashing around.

Veltrax's brows furrowed. This could not be a coincidence. He said, "You all stay alert. I will go see what is causing all this. Maybe even inform King Sulthar.."

All three flinched at hearing the last line. Sulthar, the Dragon King, was not someone any of them wanted to stand in front of. Veltrax both feared and envied the position Sulthar was in. He was the one closest to the Divine One, basking in His Highness's presence, always protecting. Veltrax would never voice it out loud, but it was his one true ambition—to become stronger than the Dragon King and take his position as the Divine One's most beloved child.

"Why don't you just go first and see what it is? If it's important, we'll tell him. Otherwise, wasting the King's time seems like a bad idea.." Zenthari said. The other three nodded.

Cowards. All of them.

But.. Well, there was truth in it too. Veltrax nodded, then stretched his two hands outward and shot into the air. Ethereal red wings materialized under his arms as Veltrax soared through the sky, following the hurried monsters running wildly.