Chapter 349 Flame Valley
Kosor nodded in agreement, "Indeed, let us proceed to Flame Valley without delay."
Bidding farewell to the old blacksmith, the two set off towards Flame Valley. As they drew nearer, the heat intensified, warping the very air around them.
Kosor wiped the beads of sweat forming on his brow, grumbling, "Goodness, we\'re not even there yet, and it\'s already sweltering! What will it be like within the valley?"
Enzo too felt the oppressive heat but jested, "Just think of it as a steam bath, a free opportunity to perspire and shed a few pounds."
At last, they arrived at the entrance of Flame Valley, where a vivid crimson landscape unfolded before them. Molten lava surged rhythmically at the valley\'s base, occasionally erupting in towering columns of flame, creating an awe-inspiring yet terrifying spectacle.
Kosor swallowed hard, "My word, it looks perilous enough as it is! Where are those Fire Elves? I don\'t see them anywhere."
No sooner had he spoken than several fiery little sprites darted out from behind the rocks, swirling around Enzo and Kosor, chattering animatedly as if warning them to keep their distance.
Enzo attempted to communicate, "Little sprites, we have come to seek the Special Spark for urgent purposes. Might you grant us this favor?"
The Fire Elves paid no heed to his words. One of them shrieked in response, "Human, the Special Spark is a precious treasure of the valley. You cannot expect it to be given so easily. Be wise and leave at once, or we shall not hesitate to show you our wrath!"
Kosor\'s displeasure was palpable as he exclaimed, "Hey, if talking nicely isn\'t working, then we\'ll have to resort to force!" With that, he swung his great sword towards the Fire Elf.
The Fire Elf, agile and nimble, effortlessly evaded Kosor\'s strike, retaliating with a jet of flame. Kosor quickly leaped back, narrowly escaping as the fire grazed his garment.
Observing this, Enzo swiftly formed hand signs, harnessing elemental energy to conjure a protective shield before himself and Kosor. "Kosor, be cautious! These Fire Elves are formidable. We must devise a strategy."
While dodging the relentless attacks of the Fire Elf, Kosor shouted, "They keep darting about, making it difficult to land a hit! We need to find a way to trap them."
A spark of inspiration struck Enzo. "I\'ll attempt to construct a cage from earth elements to ensnare them. Then you can strike!"
Kosor nodded eagerly, "Yes, go for it!"
Focusing intently, Enzo clapped his hands against the ground, causing several sturdy stone pillars to rise and rapidly form a cage around the Fire Elves. Caught off guard, a few of them were ensnared within, flailing desperately and emitting frantic cries.
Seizing the opportunity, Kosor charged forth, delivering several blows to the Fire Elf trapped inside the cage. Though the flames dimmed slightly upon impact, it continued to resist fiercely.
The remaining Fire Elves, infuriated by the capture of their comrades, coalesced into a larger entity. The formidable Fire Elf, with a sweeping motion, summoned a vast wall of fire that surged menacingly towards Enzo and Kosor.
Enzo shouted,"Watch out! This is intense!" The two swiftly dove aside, the fiery wall whizzing past them and incinerating a large stone behind.
Kosor\'s eyes widened in alarm. "Goodness, if we get burned, we\'ll end up as skewers! We must quickly devise a way to counter this move."
Enzo gazed at the massive Fire Elf and suddenly exclaimed, "It\'s formed by the fusion of those smaller Fire Elves. Perhaps if we disperse it, it will revert to its original form. Let\'s concentrate our attacks!"
The duo coordinated their efforts once more, with Enzo channeling an abundance of elemental energy to launch a barrage of energy beams at the colossal Fire Elf. Meanwhile, Kosor seized the opportunity while the creature was distracted by the onslaught and charged forward, delivering a powerful swing of his great sword.
After a fierce struggle, the great Fire Elf could no longer withstand the assault. With a resounding "boom", it shattered into several smaller Fire Elves, their flames flickering feebly, indicating their exhaustion. .net
Enzo panted heavily, "Ha! They\'re finished! Let\'s hurry and find the Special Spark."
The two scoured the valley until they finally stumbled upon the Special Spark emitting an otherworldly glow beside a lava pool. The heat radiating from it was intense, making the approach feel as though their skin would sear.
Kosor frowned, "That fire seed looks dangerously hot. How do we handle it?"
Enzo pondered for a moment, "I\'ll try wrapping it in elemental energy. Perhaps that will insulate it from the heat."
With utmost caution, Enzo extended his hand, releasing elemental energy to gently envelop the Special Spark. He swiftly transferred it into a specially designed container, hastily sealing the lid.
Kosor chuckled, "Hey, we actually managed to secure it! Now we can return to forge our weapons."
Enzo nodded in agreement, "Indeed, let\'s hurry back and avoid any further mishaps."
With the Special Spark in tow, the two proceeded cautiously on their journey home, wary not to extinguish the precious ember or invite any unforeseen accidents.
When they returned to the old blacksmith\'s abode, they found him patiently awaiting their arrival at the entrance. Upon seeing them return with the precious spark, a smile spread across his face."Ah, splendid! You\'ve truly managed to bring back the fire. Now we can forge our weapons. However, before we begin, there is something I must share with you."
Enzo and Kosor exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding creeping into their hearts. Enzo inquired, "Master, what is it? Please, do not keep us in suspense."
The old blacksmith sighed and replied, "I have just received word that the people from the Temple of Sloth have somehow learned of our endeavors to forge weapons. It appears they may be lying in wait along your return route, likely intending to seize our materials and creations. You must exercise caution."
At this revelation, Kosor erupted in fury, "These scoundrels truly are relentless! Just as we resolved one set of troubles, they reemerge to wreak havoc. Let me show them what happens when they provoke us!"
Enzo furrowed his brow and clenched his fists, stating, "They must be fearful of the formidable weapons we may forge, knowing it could spell doom for them during the reckoning. We cannot allow them to succeed."
The old blacksmith rose to his feet, saying, "Do not rush off just yet. I have a few items that may aid you in your confrontation. Follow me."
He led them into his workshop and retrieved several small magical artifacts from a cabinet, handing them over. "These items can provide you with protection in critical moments. Take them. They might prove invaluable."
Enzo accepted the artifacts with gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Master. We shall confront those wretches from the Temple of Sloth without delay."
The two bid farewell to the old blacksmith and set forth towards home. Along the way, they remained vigilant, and as they neared their dwelling, they discovered a throng gathered at the entrance—members of the Sloth Temple.
The leader of the Sloth Temple stood at the forefront, and upon spotting Enzo and Kosor, he sneered, "Hmph, Enzo, Kosor, you have finally returned. Hand over the materials and the Special Spark if you know what\'s good for you. We can negotiate our affairs, but if you refuse, don\'t expect an easy time today!"
Enzo shot him a furious glare and retorted, "The audacity of the Sloth Temple is astonishing! Time and again you provoke us. On what grounds do you think we would surrender our belongings? If you have the guts, come and take them!"
Kosor brandished his great sword and shouted, "You Sloth wretches shall taste our might today! Behold my blade!" With that, he charged towards the members of the Sloth Temple.
Seeing this, the Sloth Temple\'s followers hastily drew their weapons and surged forward, and in an instant, chaos erupted as both sides clashed.
As Enzo unleashed elemental attacks, he called out to the leader of the Sloth Temple, "You might as well save your breath! We shall never abandon our grievances against you. Your misdeeds will ultimately meet with justice!"
The Sloth Temple leader scoffed, "Hmph, in this world, the strong dictate the terms. Once we seize the materials and weapons, you shall have no chance to lodge complaints. Attack! Subdue them!"
In the midst of the fray, Kosor moved with the grace of a whirlwind, his great sword cleaving through foes with each swing, pushing back several adversaries at once. Yet, the sheer number of Sloth Temple\'s members posed a formidable barrier, making it difficult to break free from their encirclement.
Observing the unfolding situation, Enzo pondered that this stalemate could not continue. They needed a strategy to disrupt the enemy\'s action.Suddenly, he recalled the magical artifact bestowed by the old blacksmith, wondering if it could prove useful.
Enzo retrieved a magical item and hurled it towards the densely clustered enemies. Upon striking the ground, it emitted a blinding flash of light, causing the members of the Sloth Temple to squint and shield their eyes, creating chaos among them.
Observing this, Kosor burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Ha ha! Enzo, this contraption is quite effective! Let\'s throw a few more and send them scattering!"
The duo launched several magical items, leaving the Sloth Temple\'s forces in disarray and revealing a gap in their encirclement.
Seizing the opportunity, Enzo shouted, "Kosor, let\'s break through and retreat to our home, using the terrain to our advantage!"
Kosor nodded, and together they charged towards the opening in the encirclement. They successfully breached the enemy lines and raced homeward. The leader of the Sloth Temple, seeing this, bellowed, "Don\'t let them escape! Pursue them!"
As Enzo and Kosor reached their doorstep, they swiftly shut the door and fortified their defenses with the obstacles in their yard. Kosor gathered large stones to barricade the entrance, while Enzo set elemental traps around the perimeter.
The Sloth Temple\'s forces quickly caught up, beginning their assault on the door.
Enzo and Kosor braced themselves in the yard, prepared to confront the impending onslaught of their foes.