Chapter 196: The Volcanic Core

As Echo and Li Wei make their way through the horde of ember - creatures, the ground beneath their feet begins to tremble violently. Molten lava spurts from cracks in the earth, creating fiery obstacles in their path. The Ember Overlord, realizing their intent, lets out a thunderous bellow and sends a wave of scorching wind that threatens to blow them off their feet.​Echo's peace drum beats faster, the rhythm echoing through the chaos. Each strike creates a shockwave of harmonious energy that repels the approaching lava, while Li Wei uses his charge to carve out a path through the swirling embers. The musical constellations above shine brighter, their light guiding the way and providing a cool counterbalance to the searing heat.​Just as they near the base of the volcano, a massive ember - dragon emerges from the flames. Its body is as long as a river, with wings that stir up cyclones of fire. The dragon opens its jaws wide, and a stream of molten lava shoots towards them. Li Wei quickly forms a dome of energy, but the intense heat causes it to crack and splinter.​Echo remembers the "Cooling Crescendo" technique they used against the Flame Maestros. She starts playing a complex, yet soothing melody, imbuing it with the power of the constellations. The air around them begins to cool, and the lava stream slows down, solidifying mid - air. Taking advantage of the moment, Li Wei sends a concentrated blast of purple energy at the dragon's weak underbelly.​The ember - dragon lets out a pained roar and swoops down, its claws extended. Echo and Li Wei dive to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. They continue to play their duet, their music growing in intensity. The dragon, confused by the harmonious sound, begins to falter in its attacks.​With a final, powerful chord, Echo and Li Wei manage to defeat the ember - dragon. Its massive body crashes to the ground, creating a crater that fills with cooling lava. But they have no time to rest. The Ember Overlord, enraged by the loss of its minion, summons even more powerful creatures—a legion of ember - knights on flaming steeds, their lances glowing with infernal energy.​The knights charge towards them, their war cries echoing through the dimension. Echo and Li Wei stand back - to - back, their instruments at the ready. Echo's drum creates a defensive barrier of sound waves, while Li Wei's charge emits a continuous stream of energy, cutting through the ranks of the approaching knights.​As they fight, they notice that the volcano is rumbling more violently. The pulsating red light at its core is growing brighter, indicating that the Ember Overlord is desperate and drawing even more power. "We're running out of time!" Li Wei shouts.​Echo nods, her face determined. They increase the tempo of their music, pouring all their remaining strength into it. The musical constellations above respond, showering them with a deluge of cool, celestial energy. With this new - found power, they break through the last line of defense and reach the entrance to the volcano.​Inside, the heat is almost unbearable. Rivers of lava flow along the walls, and the air is thick with toxic fumes. But at the center of the volcanic chamber lies the source of the Ember Overlord's power—a large, pulsating crystal, surrounded by a whirlwind of flames.​As they approach the crystal, the Ember Overlord's voice booms through the chamber. "You think you can reach my power source? You'll have to go through me first!" And with that, the Overlord's massive hand crashes through the roof of the chamber, reaching down to crush them.