They had finally arrived at the Great Kingdom of Fire.
The walls were built from black volcanic stone that pulsed with faint heat, and in the sky, whirlpools of flame danced as if they were alive.
The gates opened before them.
At the entrance stood a towering man with hair red as burning embers and a metallic armor that looked as if it had been forged from the heart of the sun itself.
"Welcome to my kingdom!"
His voice was deep and thunderous—like the roar of a fire dragon.
This was the King of Fire: Lord Infernus.
From the very first moment, Infernus was drawn to Rin's aura.
He saw a calm young man… but there was something behind those eyes—something that felt as if fire itself lived inside them.
Infernus welcomed them into his kingdom as honored guests.
They sat together, talked, and exchanged stories.
Rio soon realized that Infernus was a man of integrity—brave, honorable, and someone who despised injustice.
Respect began to grow between them.
And that respect soon turned into a genuine friendship.
One day, while they were in the training grounds…
Infernus smiled, flames flickering in his eyes.
"I heard you can control the element of fire… but you barely use it. Why?"
Rio answered calmly.
"I don't know… I just imagine it and release it. Most of the time I'm not strong enough to guide it or control it properly."
Infernus burst into laughter.
"Hah! Then how about a duel? Fire against fire! No other abilities—just flames and that fiery sword of yours."
Rio glanced at his sword.
Kagutsuchi.
"…Alright."
Everyone gathered in a massive volcanic arena.
The ground was cracked black stone, rivers of magma flowing along its sides.
The heat was unbearable.
Except for them.
Infernus raised his hand—and flames surged like a raging tide from the sky.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Seventh Flame Spell: Crimson Dragon Pillar!"
The fire gathered, forming a massive dragon of blazing flames.
Its roar set the sky ablaze.
And Rio?
He didn't say a word.
He simply… imagined.
In an instant, black flames mixed with crimson erupted around him, rising from beneath his feet like a living creature.
Rio spoke quietly.
"…Burst."
A spear-shaped wave of fire shot forward.
It collided with the dragon—
And both exploded in the sky like crimson stars.
The two advanced toward each other.
Kagutsuchi ignited, its flames stretching behind Rio like the tail of a blazing meteor.
Every clash between them split the ground apart, melted stone, and sent magma flying into the sky.
Infernus unleashed spell after spell.
"Solar Cannon!"
"Magma Rain!"
"Explosion Cry!"
But Rio spoke nothing.
He simply raised his hand—
And released fire that looked like a blazing laser beam, piercing through the air and leaving a burning scar across the sky itself.
At last, the two stood there.
Breathing heavily.
But smiling.
The outcome of the battle was clear.
Infernus had won.
His control and mastery over flame were far superior.
Infernus exhaled slowly.
"Your flames are incredibly powerful… but they need direction. Most of your attacks drifted away or vanished midway."
Rio looked at his hand.
"…."
He sighed softly.
"Yes… I know they're weak right now."
Infernus shook his head.
"Your flames are not weak at all. With some training… you'll surpass me in the future."
They both laughed.
Their fists collided in a friendly bump.
Infernus spoke firmly.
"If anything ever happens… call my name, and I'll burn the world for you."
Rio smiled faintly.
"I will."
Under the moonlight, they all sat together.
Rio, Rin, Yui, and Infernus.
They ate, talked, and laughed.
But beneath that peace…
They all knew a storm was coming.
And the next storm…
Would not be extinguished by fire alone.
That evening, after the legendary fire battle, Rio and Infernus sat together drinking fire tea.
(Yes—even the tea in this kingdom was hot as hell.)
Suddenly, Infernus's expression changed.
He spoke quietly.
"There's something… I haven't told you yet."
Yui tilted her head.
"Oh no… is it some dark secret?"
Infernus gave a crooked smile.
"Something like that… It's about a dragon."
Silence fell.
Rin's cold gaze sharpened.
"Go on."
Infernus explained that deep within the ancient western forest—among the ruins of forgotten tribes—slept a massive dragon named Kravak.
An ancient fire dragon.
A creature thousands of years old.
Its flames were said to be powerful enough to melt the sky itself.
Infernus spoke grimly.
"In the past… we lost thousands of warriors trying to stop it. It rarely moves… but it spreads a curse of flames. All the monsters around it have gone mad."
"They attack anyone like beasts… and now they're heading toward us."
Rio stood calmly.
"Just tell me what you want."
Infernus looked at him seriously.
"To be honest… I was planning to go defeat it today myself. But I want to end this… with you."
Yui turned to Rin.
"Rin…?! It's a dragon from your own race!"
Rin replied coldly.
"And what do you want me to do? Betray you all for a dragon I don't even know just because it's the same species as me?"
Yui looked at him.
"Yes… kind of."
Rin sighed.
"That's foolish."
The next day, Rio and Infernus set out.
Behind them, Rin and Yui watched from a distance.
Yui puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"Hmph… why are they the only ones fighting? I can fight too!"
Rin sat on a tree branch, sipping hot tea.
"Let's enjoy some peace and quiet. Ah… the weather here is quite pleasant."
Yui thought to herself:
It's a burning dark forest, monsters are screaming everywhere like it's a battlefield… where exactly is the peace in that?
Meanwhile…
Rio and Infernus entered the forest.
The silence was heavier than lead.
The air was thick with ash.
Suddenly—
The ground trembled.
From the shadows emerged Kravak.
A massive charred body.
Eyes burning with infernal fire.
Wings wide enough to cover the sky.
Its roar alone nearly tore the forest apart.
Infernus spoke roughly.
"Let's go… and ignite history."
The battle began.
Flames exploded between sky and earth.
Rio wielded Kagutsuchi and opened his domain.
Infernus unleashed his most powerful spells.
Together—
They were a raging inferno moving like a crimson storm.
With a combined strike, Infernus launched a flaming spear powerful enough to pierce mountains like cloth, while Rio rained down countless burning arrows.
But a dragon that had lived for thousands of years…
Was not so easily defeated.
From within the clouds of smoke and dust—
Kravak emerged completely unharmed.
Not a single scratch.
Rio froze in terror and stepped back.
Infernus stood his ground without fear.
But Rio forced himself forward.
He spread his wings and shot past Infernus with blinding speed—like a fired bullet.
Rio spoke calmly.
"Activate."
His right eye turned violet, dark purple energy radiating from it.
Then he said quietly—
"Three hundred times."
The dragon raised its arm to strike him—
But suddenly—
A crushing gravitational pressure slammed down on it.
Three hundred times its own weight.
Kravak tried to stand.
It couldn't.
Rio looked toward Infernus.
Blood flowed from his eye, and the white of it had turned red from the strain of his Hazuki Eye.
"Now, Infernus."
Infernus understood instantly.
Rio could no longer endure the power of his eye.
This was a signal to finish it quickly.
Infernus didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward, leaping high into the sky.
Then he raised his hand.
Pure flames formed a bow in his grasp.
He fired a single arrow.
It descended toward Kravak like the blazing tail of a meteor.
The arrow pierced straight through the dragon's body.
Kravak screamed.
The forest trembled.
Then it fell.
But they didn't stop there.
Every monster in the burning forest…
Every creature that threatened the peace…
Was erased.
Completely.
Nothing remained but ashes.
And silence.
The four returned to the capital.
They sat around a table—laughing, drinking, talking.
Yui sighed.
"Honestly… I didn't expect you two to burn down an entire forest. You're insane!"
Rin calmly continued eating.
"The forest insulted peace."
Infernus laughed loudly.
"This young man thinks like a general."
Rio spoke quietly.
"I don't mind burning something… if it threatens my family."
Yui raised an eyebrow.
"You mean Infernus?"
Rio replied simply.
"…Yes."
Infernus blinked in surprise.
"Huh? Since when did I join your team?"
Rio answered.
"We need more people in our group."
Infernus shook his head.
"No need. I'm sure Yui will replace me in the future. She's strong… and beautiful."
Yui blushed instantly.
Rin said coldly:
"The temperature is rising… is something wrong?"
Yui exploded in anger.
"You talk like a robot, Rin!"
Rin replied without emotion.
"…Better than being a screaming fairy."
Everyone burst into laughter.
End of the Day
That day…
Wasn't just about a dragon burning.
It was about laughter born from the middle of flames…
And a friendship forged in the heart of hell.
For a moment, they forgot the world.
Forgot that they carried powers capable of crushing entire kingdoms.
For a brief moment—
They were simply four friends laughing in the night…
Under a warm sky of fire, comfort, and affection.
To be continued…