A blade through the heart

Riven strode through the teleport gate, the shimmering mana barrier parting as he stepped onto the Fire Mana-Dense Island. The transition was instant—heat pressed against his skin like a living force, thick and smothering, the air saturated with volatile fire mana. The sky overhead burned in shades of ember-red and molten gold, casting the jagged volcanic terrain in an ominous glow.

He barely spared a glance at the entry checkpoint, where a bored-looking attendant manned the station. Instead of gold, Riven pulled a handful of high-tier mana beast cores from his inventory and tossed them onto the counter.

The attendant's fatigue evaporated in an instant, his eyes widening as he scrambled to gather the mana beast cores. "Ah—yes! More than enough. Please, watch yourself—the Infernal Beasts have been unusually aggressive lately."

Riven didn't acknowledge him, already striding past without a second glance.