After nine relentless hours of travel, Tempest finally reached the mouth of a canyon so vast it seemed to swallow the horizon.
She had not dared to teleport directly—distance was one reason, but caution was the greater. To arrive unprepared in hostile territory was to invite death before even glimpsing the enemy.
She drifted into the abyss. The deeper she descended, the more the light surrendered to shadow. Darkness pressed in like a living thing, but her Phoenix Eye pierced it effortlessly, unveiling every jagged wall and hidden crevice.
At a certain depth, a strange pressure coiled around her mind, squeezing thought and spirit alike. Instead of fear, curiosity flared.
Tempest angled toward a wedge of stone jutting from the canyon wall, a sanctuary carved by nature's hand.
This place will do she murmured, settling cross-legged upon the cold rock. A perfect crucible for my mind.
Mental cultivation was the most arduous path known to mortals, a ladder of spirit that rose from beginner, mid, high, master, intermediate, apothecary, beast, monarch, and finally transcending level.
Hours bled into a full day as she wrestled with the invisible chains of thought, until at last her spirit surged free—she had broken through to the high level. A feat few mortals ever tasted.
Renewed, she pressed deeper into the canyon. The air grew hotter, shimmering with waves of unseen fire.
she found a flat expanse encircled by rivers of magma, a lake of molten fury. Only a lone boulder jutted upward, a precarious island in the inferno. Tempest alighted upon it, her expression grim yet tinged with a smile sharp as steel.
This won't be easy she whispered, then added with a chilling grin, but I like it that way
The magma stirred. A voice, deep and ancient, reverberated through the molten lake:
What is a mere mortal doing in Star Terra…?
Another voice, feminine and mocking, followed:
Perhaps she seeks our treasure, daring to claim what is not hers…
From the magma rose a colossal black dragon head, eyes glowing blood-red, three horns crowning its skull.
Curiosity kills mortals, hissed a second head, emerald eyes gleaming beneath twin horns.
At least we have entertainment, purred a third, her single horn glinting as violet eyes locked onto Tempest.
Or perhaps she seeks power, rumbled a fourth, its dark blue eyes cold as the abyss.
Then silence fell as two more heads emerged, their presence crushing the air itself. The canyon trembled. Pressure slammed into Tempest,which would make any cultivate drop dead on the spot but she resisted without a sweat
The dragons did not move, yet their existence alone was a weapon—an ocean of killing intent drowning every breath, whispering that resistance was folly.
Finally, one head spoke, its scales gleaming gold instead of black, its voice resonant with authority:
I am Aurelion, leader of the Destroyer Titan.
Tempest's mind reeled. Until now she had assumed the heads belonged to one body, but the golden scales shattered that certainty. Confusion gnawed at her, yet she held her ground, her Eyes blazing defiantly.
The golden head lowered, its gaze piercing her soul.
Mortal… what do I call you?
The once quiet carven suddenly resounded a laughter that was mocking and cruel with a hint of lunacy.
Interesting....laughing at a face of danger the dragon head with emerald green eyes purred excitedly
Tempest gazed at them
Tempest dragonblood she answered calmly
Hmmm..dragonblood.. aurelion muttered its deep voice resounded around the carven
Does it sound familiar? Tempest questioned with eagerness hinted in her voice
Never heard of it... Aurelion answered without a thought then added you won't live anyway
Tempest removed her mask a cruel and menacing smile etched on her face
I was supposed to be telling you that. Your titan cores will be pleasing to my mental cultivation
Tempest said as she drew out her deathblade. The pressure from the sword alone shook the whole carven causing an earthquake
The six dragon heads trembled slightly. The pressure from the blade made them tremble all over
How can a mere mortal acquire such an overbearing weapon! You mustn't survive aurelion roared summoning a huge black whirl of power.
Tempest hauled the large sword over her shoulder as she casually watched the display as if it were a movie and not a battle
The other dragon heads, sensing no attack from tempest, began drawing out their own ball of fire