The moment they entered the Twelfth Layer, all five of them became alert almost simultaneously.
The ground beneath their feet was a half-solidified crust of black rock. Dark red light seeped through its cracks, pulsing like blood vessels laid bare in the earth.
The air was as thick as a coating of hot oil, and every breath burned.
In the distance, magma flowed across the earth like the roots of a great tree. Its main channels stretched thousands of miles wide, with branches as dense as spiderwebs, dividing the land into countless shattered black islands.
There were no bridges between the islands. Only occasional surges of magma slapped against the edges of the rocky crust with dull gurgles.
A pale green halo lit up around Catherine, keeping the waves of heat at bay. The few strands of silver hair showing beneath her mask curled slightly in the intense heat.
O'Brien drew a deep breath, Fire Element divine power circulating through his body. His sharp, focused gaze swept across the network of magma below. In an environment so rich in fire elements, his strength was not suppressed but enhanced.
"Be careful," O'Brien spoke first. His voice was quiet, yet it echoed briefly over the vast lava world. "The last time we came here, we nearly all died."
The green mask turned slightly toward him. Catherine's voice was as gentle as ever, but a little heavier. "I remember. Three thousand years ago, the Gatekeeper of the Twelfth Layer was a Volcano Giant who had only just become a Middle God.
"Back then, O'Brien and I worked together. He attacked, and I supported him. Only that way did we spend ten years safely on this floor."
Three thousand years ago, Cesar had still been a Saint, roaming the Yulan Continent, while Dylan had