Deep within the Purgatory Sulfur Plane, at the foot of that enormous active volcano, the Flame Lord's massive lava body once again became entangled in battle with Benjamin's small figure.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Only violent collisions and the explosive crackling of fire elements remained in the air. Benjamin moved like a black phantom, weaving around the Flame Lord.
More than a year had passed since Benjamin had officially begun cultivating the Body Tempering Method. During that time, he had come to spar with this Flame Lord at regular intervals.
The Flame Lord's offensive remained unceasing—molten boulders, scorching claws, even searing fire breath spewed from its mouth. Attacks from every range, far, mid, and close, surrounded Benjamin with overwhelming force.
Yet after such a long period of training, Benjamin was no longer as "fragile" as before. Even such terrifying attacks could no longer pose a fatal threat to him.
He clenched his fist and drove an uppercut, carrying spiraling force, heavily into the Flame Lord's chin of solidified lava.
The Flame Lord's enormous body was jolted backward by that pure force. The scorched earth beneath its feet split apart with a tremendous crack.
Benjamin seized the chance to leap up, driving his knee forward and bringing his elbow down. Every attack landed precisely on the Flame Lord's joints or weak points in its energy circulation.
The Flame Lord let out an ear-splitting roar. The flames around its body surged violently, swallowing Benjamin whole.
Yet when the flames dispersed, Benjamin was still standing where he had been, completely unharmed. His robes had been reduced to ashes, revealing skin reddened by the blazing heat.
But it was only reddened. Once the flames had passed, Benjamin's skin returned to normal at a visible rate.
Even some wounds left from earlier battles with the Flame