Chapter 11: Lava Ruler

Kael stood atop the ruins of the frost dragon's lair, his wings folding neatly behind him as he gazed at the quagoa king, Ralvok Ironhide. The trembling beast had been given a command, and failure was not an option.

"Your first task," Kael spoke, his voice resonating with an undeniable weight, "is to find the lava ruler."

Ralvok's ears twitched, his expression grim. "The lava ruler… truly a fearsome entity, even among the great beasts. It resides deep beneath the mountains, within the molten caves where no cold-blooded creature dares venture."

Kael merely gestured for him to continue.

"Unlike the frost dragon, the lava ruler thrives in its environment. The molten pools provide it with an endless supply of energy. It is said that its body is wreathed in flames hotter than dragon breath, and its hide is immune to all but the most devastating of attacks."

Kael smirked. "Good. That means it won't be a complete waste of my time."

Ralvok hesitated, glancing at his warriors before continuing. "But reaching it is no easy task. The tunnels leading to its domain are treacherous, filled with unstable caverns and creatures born from the very flames that sustain it. Even the frost dragons avoided that place, for their cold could not extinguish its inferno."

Kael's expression remained unreadable. "Then lead the way."

As the quagoa scouted ahead, Kael issued his second order. "Capture as many mobs as possible. Bring them back here."

Ralvok hesitated for only a second before bowing. "As you command, great one."

With that settled, Kael turned toward the path ahead. The deeper they traveled, the hotter the air became. What was once a frost-covered cave had gradually transformed into a hellish abyss.

The stone walls dripped with magma, glowing cracks splitting the floor. The tunnels themselves were unstable, with sudden bursts of steam and molten rock cascading from the ceilings.

Hamsuke, usually fearless, shifted uncomfortably beneath him. "M'lord… this place is most unwelcoming… even for a humble mount such as I."

Kael said nothing, but he could feel the change as well. His body had adapted to extreme conditions, but the air was thick, almost suffocating for anything less than an infernal beast.

As they moved deeper, they encountered their first obstacle—a creature born from the molten depths. A rock beast, its body resembling cooled lava, with molten veins running through its form. It moved slowly but radiated immense heat, and its massive arms crushed everything in its path.

Kael raised his hand, summoning a sky spear, but as he hurled it, the weapon melted mid-air, turning into steam before reaching its target.

"Hm," Kael muttered.

The environment itself was resisting him.

The rock beast swung its molten fist, but Kael teleported above it, landing on its back. He raised his hand.

"Thunder Dragon."

A massive serpentine bolt of lightning coiled around his arm before striking downward. The entire cave illuminated, the attack sending waves of electricity surging through the beast's molten core.

The creature roared, thrashing wildly, but it was useless. The attack pierced through its body, causing it to explode into molten fragments.

Hamsuke huffed. "M'lord's power remains unfathomable…"

Kael didn't respond, his gaze locked onto the massive chamber ahead.

At the center of a vast lava lake, a creature unlike any other awaited.

The lava ruler.

Its form was twisted and serpentine, wreathed in flames, its molten scales pulsing like liquid fire. Giant horns curled backward, and crimson eyes glowed like burning coals. Unlike the frost dragon, this creature was in its domain, and its strength would reflect that.

Kael stepped forward, his aura flaring. The lava ruler's fiery gaze locked onto him.

"You are neither dragon nor dwarf," it rumbled, its voice like the crackling of an inferno. "Yet you trespass into my domain. Have you come to beg for death?"

Kael smirked. "Something like that."

Without hesitation, the lava ruler unleashed a wave of molten fire, the heat alone enough to melt stone into liquid.

Kael teleported above it, avoiding the attack as he summoned a sky spear infused with half of his mana. He hurled it downward, but as it struck, the spear simply evaporated upon impact.

The lava ruler let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Your magic is worthless here, child of darkness."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?"

He summoned Thunder Dragon, but as the bolt surged forward, the creature simply absorbed the electricity into its molten body, dispersing it harmlessly.

Kael smirked. "Annoying, but not unexpected."

The lava ruler lunged, its massive form sending waves of molten rock in every direction. Kael dodged mid-air, but the heat alone sapped his stamina, something he had never experienced before.

His usual strategies were useless. He had to adapt.

He teleported onto a rock formation, his mind analyzing the beast. It was completely resistant to fire and lightning. But that meant…

A new sky spear formed in his hands, but this time, instead of throwing it, he compressed it—forcing the energy into a single concentrated point. The air around it distorted, the weapon vibrating violently.

Kael launched himself forward, closing the distance in a blink.

The lava ruler struck with its burning claws, but Kael twisted mid-air, dodging by mere inches. His spear found its mark—piercing directly into the creature's throat.

A deafening explosion followed.

For the first time, the lava ruler let out a pained roar, its entire body convulsing as cracks formed along its molten scales. Kael had forced its own body to turn against itself, the overwhelming force shattering its defenses.

With a final motion, he drove another spear into its skull, the attack collapsing the entire cavern around them.

Silence followed.

The ruler of the lava had fallen.

His exp had soared to 27,300.

He opened his status.

"Upgrade my level."

Leveling up to 41…

Leveling up to 42…

Leveling up to 43…

Leveling up to 44…

Leveling up to 45…

Each level consumed more exp, the cost increasing from 3,400, rising by 400 each time. By the time he reached level 45, only 6,300 exp remained.

This was the price of a high-race level up. Unlike humans, who had to split their levels into race and class, he could reach level 100 purely through his race alone. His growth was steep, but the results were unmatched.

His stamina had increased to 800, his mana to 2,500.

As he exited the cavern, he returned to the frost dragon's castle, sitting upon a throne of ice. Though he did not require rest, he found himself reflecting.

He had ascended quickly, his power growing beyond his expectations. But if he lost himself to it, he would become nothing more than a mindless demon.

For now, he had a duty—to oversee the quagoa.

Meanwhile, deep within the Forest of Tob, an elite adventurer team had arrived.

Blue Rose.

They moved cautiously, their leader surveying the silent terrain. "There's no sign of monsters."

One of the members frowned. "That's impossible. This place should be filled with undead and beasts."

Their captain's expression darkened. "No… it's not impossible. It's as if they left on their own."

The team fell into silence. If the monsters had fled, it could only mean one thing.

Something far more terrifying had taken their place.

[Kael Drakon - Status]

[Name]: Kael Drakon

[Race]: Demon God

[Level]: 45

[EXP]: 6300 (Can be used for Leveling or Lottery)

[Stamina]: 800

[Mana]: 2500 (Currently: 1,200 MP)

- Mana Recovery: 20% MP every 20 minutes

[Skills]:

1. Sky Spear

2. Teleport

3. Thunder Dragon

4. Voice of Dominion

[Passive Abilities]:

1. High-Level Magic Damage Reduction

2. High-Level Magic Damage Increase

3. Negative Status Immunity

4. Demon Wings

[Items]: gold....