the first floor(8)

Dakota stood apart from the group, his crimson cloak fluttering in the heated breeze as the ground trembled beneath him. The five high-ranked Djinns before him loomed tall, their forms radiating with raw fire magic. Each Djinn bore a unique aura of power, their fiery bodies pulsating with a dangerous intensity. The air around them shimmered, the temperature rising with every step they took toward him.

Dakota: "So, five of you, huh? Guess this is going to be a little more interesting than I thought."

The Djinns growled, their glowing eyes locked onto Dakota. One carried a massive flaming war hammer, another wielded a shield and sword, and the remaining three emanated raw flames, relying solely on their elemental might.

Dakota extended his arm, and flames began to coil around him like serpents, his aura darkening and intensifying. His eyes glimmered with determination. This was no time to hold back.

Dakota: "Alright, let's see how you handle this."

Dakota closed his eyes, focusing on the fire within him. A deep, guttural chant echoed in his mind as his body began to change. His hair turned a brighter shade of fiery orange, glowing like molten lava. His skin shimmered with a faint golden hue, and the flames swirling around him erupted into a brilliant inferno.

His first stage of Flame Transformation was complete.

Dakota: "Time to turn up the heat."

The Djinns reacted immediately, roaring in defiance as they charged at him. The battle had begun.

The Djinn with the war hammer lunged forward, swinging its massive weapon with a speed that belied its size. The hammer slammed into the ground, creating a fiery shockwave that split the earth beneath Dakota's feet.

Dakota leapt into the air, flames bursting from his feet to propel him higher.

Dakota: "Too slow."

He retaliated with a barrage of flaming projectiles, each one exploding on impact. The Djinn roared in pain, its fiery body flickering under the onslaught.

As Dakota landed, he clenched his fists, summoning a massive fire lance. With a swift motion, he hurled it toward the Djinn, the weapon piercing straight through its chest. The creature let out a final roar before collapsing into a pile of embers.

Dakota: "One down."

The second Djinn, armed with a sword and shield, was more cautious. It approached slowly, its shield raised to block Dakota's attacks.

Dakota: "You think that shield is going to save you?"

He dashed forward, his speed enhanced by his transformation. Flames erupted from his fists as he struck the shield with a devastating punch. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, cracks forming on the shield's surface.

The Djinn swung its sword in retaliation, the blade glowing with fiery energy. Dakota dodged, the weapon slicing through the air just inches from his face.

Using the momentum, he slid under the Djinn's legs, flames trailing behind him. As he emerged on the other side, he unleashed a fiery spiral, the flames wrapping around the Djinn like a constricting serpent. The creature struggled, its shield and sword disintegrating under the heat.

With one final burst of energy, Dakota ignited the spiral, the flames consuming the Djinn entirely.

Dakota: "Two down. Let's keep this going.

The remaining three Djinns attacked in unison, their combined flames creating a massive inferno that bore down on Dakota like a tidal wave.

The remaining trio all started attacking him, hoping that he would be caught off guard, and the trio killing him while his off guard and overwhelm him.

Dakota: "Oh, you want to overwhelm me? Cute."

He raised both hands, summoning a wall of fire to counter the attack. The two forces collided, sending fiery sparks and embers flying in every direction.

The Djinns pressed forward, their combined strength pushing Dakota back. Sweat dripped down his brow as he gritted his teeth.

Dakota: "Guess it's time to go all out."

He slammed his fists together, the flames around him erupting into a massive vortex. The sheer force of his magic pushed the Djinns back, momentarily breaking their formation.

Dakota took advantage of the opening, targeting the first of the trio with a devastating punch. His fist, engulfed in flames, connected with the Djinn's core, shattering it instantly. The creature disintegrated into ash.

Dakota: "Three down."

The remaining two Djinns attacked simultaneously, their flames merging into a concentrated beam aimed directly at Dakota.

Dakota: "Not bad, but not good enough."

He sidestepped the beam, his movements a blur. Flames spiraled around his legs as he closed the distance, his speed catching the Djinns off guard.

With a swift motion, he summoned two flaming blades, one in each hand. He struck the fourth Djinn with a series of rapid slashes, each one cutting deeper into its fiery form. The creature let out a final cry before collapsing into embers.

Dakota: "Four."

The last Djinn roared in defiance, its flames flaring brighter than ever. It charged at Dakota, its fiery fists swinging with reckless abandon.

Dakota met the creature head-on, his flaming blades clashing against its fiery fists. The two combatants exchanged blows, the intensity of their battle causing the ground to quake.

Dakota: "You're tough, I'll give you that. But this ends now."

He leapt back, raising both hands above his head. Flames began to gather, forming a massive orb of pure fire. The orb grew larger and larger, its heat so intense that the air around it shimmered.

Dakota: "Infernal Burst!"

He hurled the orb at the Djinn, the massive projectile engulfing the creature in an explosion of flames. The ground shook as the Djinn let out one final roar, its body disintegrating into ash.

As the dust settled, Dakota stood alone amidst the charred remains of the battlefield. His transformation faded, his hair returning to its normal color as the flames around him dissipated.

Dakota: "Five down. Not bad for a warm-up."

He took a deep breath, his body weary but his spirit unbroken. The others would be waiting for him, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.