Henry edged closer to the shore of the island, the blackened sand sizzling under the heat. Orimo's eyes gleamed with excitement, a grin spreading across his face.
Orimo: "This… this is perfect!"
Auransa: "Yeah."
Ryuki: "Let's jump onto the shore."
Orimo leapt first, landing smoothly on the scorching ground. The others followed, touching down right beside him.
Orimo: "Good!"
Ryuki: "Everything's fine… but why is the shore black?"
Auransa: "Yeah, and it's scorching hot. Steam rising from the ground… we can't go further without caution."
Orimo ripped a strip from his shirt, tying it around their noses.
Orimo: "Cover your noses. The gas and heat will make you dizzy if we don't."
Ryuki: "Smart thinking."
Auransa: "That's our captain."
The trio pressed deeper into the island. The air shimmered from the heat. A river of molten lava flowed ahead, glowing crimson, and a strange, blackened body floated atop it, swimming unnaturally.
Orimo (eyes widening): "Wh-what the…"
Ryuki: "Who… could do this?"
Auransa: "Look around. So many… bodies. This… this was a massacre."
Ryuki: "And not long ago."
Orimo: "Move forward. We find whoever's responsible and settle this."
Auransa (grinning): "Roger that."
Orimo (thinking): I'm… too late. Too late for them… but not too late for justice.
The trio advanced, shadows flickering in the heat haze, as the lava hissed like a living thing, warning them of the dangers ahead.