Chapter 11: Arch of Ash

Torv "Ash" Kren stood before the stone arch, the Core Ember blazing in his hand as the cavern trembled in the Ashen Reach. His machete glowed crimson—Ash Runner Sense: Lv. 3, Ember Step sparked—Core Unleash: Lv. 9 roared, strength surging fierce, ash swirling thick around his glowing skin. His gray coat hung in scraps, blood crusting, flint-gray eyes fixed on the ember-shard pulsing red within the arch—Lysa clutched his arm—her scarred hand shaking—voice breaking, "Stop," green eyes pleading—cavern walls pulsed—red light flared—sand crunched—air burned—Core's voice boomed—"Take it"—power swelled—machete blazed—Torv's hand burned—arch loomed—stone groaned—ember-storm raged—Lysa pulled—"You'll die…"—Torv's chest tightened—touch or run—raiders' howls grew—sleds roared—stone cracked—Core pulsed—"Now"—Torv stepped—Lysa's grip slipped—"No…"—his hand stretched—heat seared—fingers grazed—red light drowned—system flared—Core Unleash: Lv. 10—strength spiked—machete blazed wild—ash hardened—skin glowed bright—cavern quaked—arch cracked—shard pulsed—power slammed—Torv's breath hitched—vision blurred—Core fused—hand locked—red surged—walls shattered—Lysa screamed—"Torv!"—sand sprayed—ember-glow spiked—strength quintupled—machete flared—Torv slashed—stone split—arch crumbled—shard sank—Core burned—"Ours"—Torv's voice growled—unhis—power ruled—Lysa staggered—"You're… gone…"—cavern shook—ceiling cracked—sand poured—raiders burst—twenty strong—ember-axes swinging—dogs snarling—Torv spun—machete blazed—slashed—two fell—blood sprayed—spears thrust—Torv dodged—Ember Step—sand smoked—hacked—throat opened—five down—raiders charged—axes swung—Torv parried—machete flared—chest split—raider dropped—dogs lunged—Torv leaped—slashed mid-air—three fell—riders roared—"He's it!"—Torv slashed—axe snapped—raider crumpled—ten left—Core pulsed—"More"—power surged—machete blazed—Torv hacked—four down—raiders tightened—spears arced—Torv dodged—slashed—dog split—rider fell—Lysa's fire sparked—weak—dagger scorched—raider burned—Torv slashed—throat split—five left—raiders roared—lead charged—ember-axe swung—Torv parried—machete clashed—shock rang—raider reeled—Torv hacked—blood soaked—three down—Core burned—"Deeper"—cavern rumbled—sand sank—red light pulsed—walls cracked—stone pit yawned—below—Torv's chest heaved—raiders charged—two left—machete flared—slashed—dog fell—rider down—last roared—axe swung—Torv dodged—Ember Step—machete sank—raider hit sand—silence fell—Lysa coughed—"It's… eating…"—Core pulsed—whisper thundered—"Down"—Torv's hand burned—power surged—pit loomed—sand smoked—raiders dead—new rumbles rose—louder—sleds echoed—walls trembled—Lysa's voice faded—"You're… lost…"—Core flared—"Drop"—Torv's machete blazed—sand swirled—pit pulled—ember-storm raged—sleds roared—stone cracked—Torv grabbed Lysa—leaped—pit dropped—dark rushed—raiders howled—dogs charged—fall or fight.