[Name: Igaris Vance (Igor Calamity)]
[Power Rank: Elite -1]
[Abilities: Undead Recovery, Basic Blademastery, Six Directional Sense]
[Innate Ability: Infinite Acquisition (God)]
As Igaris soared through the sky on the back of the Griffin, he checked his status once again.
He had finally become an Elite-rank powerhouse.
He was now confident enough to go head-to-head with a beginner-level Summoner.
However, when it came to leader figures like Blaze, he still had a few stages to go.
Back to the present: After flying for 1–2 hours straight, following the directions on the map, a structure on the ground finally caught his eye.
Below, the building sprawled across the landscape, and a volcano-like atmosphere dominated the area.
Yes—this was the Sun God's Shrine, a place of extreme heat where magma and bright flames occasionally burst forth.
But as he came closer, it became clear that it wasn't exactly a volcano.
It was more like a temple perched atop a high mountain, accessible by a long stairway carved from rock.
He could already see many people climbing the stairs, trying to reach the top.
Igaris wasn't sure what awaited above, but he couldn't fly directly over it—heatwaves and some kind of energy field prevented aerial access.
So he ordered his Griffin to land on one of the resting platforms along the stairway.
As soon as he did, a few disgruntled voices reached his ears.
"Tsk... some people really have it too easy."
"Sigh, why couldn't I get a flying beast like that?"
"Haha... why don't we steal it from him?"
"Hmph. Take a closer look. That's a wind-elemental Griffin. You're just a beginner. It can blast you apart with a single snort."
"Then why don't you go and snatch it for us, Owen? We're friends, aren't we?"
"Shut up! This daddy doesn't have a death wish."
Igaris glanced at the group with a strange look, then began climbing the stairs with the Griffin following behind.
But the group trailed him closely.
"Hey, little brother, wait up! We can go together!" shouted Owen, the one with a constant smile.
"Why should I, when you're just planning to steal my beast?" Igaris replied flatly, not even turning back.
Owen shot his friends an annoyed glare. "Great. He heard everything, you loudmouths. Now we're in trouble if those people find out."
"Relax, Owen. He's just a kid. How's he going to stop us from being extorted anyway? I say we just give the Fire Spirits what they want. Then everything will be fine," said a dark-skinned guy with a shrug.
"You fool! That means we'll leave empty-handed!" Owen snapped.
"It's not like we find dozens of Fire Spirits every day," another chimed in, jokingly.
"Bastard, it still counts! They're hard to catch," Owen growled.
Igaris was silently listening to their exchange. Despite their chatter, he picked up valuable information.
So, there were Fire Spirits at the top.
That was all he needed to know for now. He kept climbing, more alert than before.
Whatever awaited above, he had to be cautious.
Upon arriving at the top, Igaris panted slightly from exhaustion.
He turned to look back and saw the Joker group still had a long way to go before reaching him.
"Wait for us, little bro."
But Igaris had no intention of wasting time.
He looked ahead and saw a crowd gathered at the summit.
Most appeared to be older Summoners, though a few from the younger generation like him were also present.
Together, they formed a wall of people, blocking his view of what lay ahead.
Yet, he could already feel a faint pressure grazing his skin.
He pressed forward and peeked through the crowd to see what was happening.
A wave of scorching air hit Igaris's face the moment he pushed through the crowd.
The summit opened into a wide, broken plain of black stone and deep crimson cracks. Rivers of magma flowed sluggishly beneath shattered ground, casting an eerie glow into the air. The sky shimmered with heat distortion, and every breath felt like inhaling fire.
Fire Spirits danced across the molten terrain, their forms flickering like living embers—some glided over the lava streams, others burst in and out of the cracks, leaving trails of cinders in their wake.
They were beautiful and wild, radiating power and heat.
Dozens of Summoners lined the edge of the safe zone, staring, planning, hesitating.
Some attempted to step forward, only to recoil when waves of blistering heat surged up. One man summoned a stone platform and tried to cross, but the moment he got too close, his construct crumbled from the intense pressure and magical instability near the lava.
Even high-ranked Summoners struggled to maintain their composure.
This wasn't any Shrine—it was a trial by fire.
And only those with the right resistance, strategy, or insane courage could make it across.
Igaris squinted, watching the Spirits flit and spiral above the magma. Each one pulsed with pure energy—energy he instinctively knew he could acquire.
But the real question was: how?
The Undead wouldn't be of any help here—their weakness to fire was obvious, and this place reeked of heat and danger.
But with so many eyes watching, Igaris couldn't risk summoning her in the open.
Instead, he closed his eyes and reached out with his thoughts, hoping the bond would connect.
"Fufufu... So you want my help catching those measly fire spirits?" Her voice rang mockingly through his mind.
"Yes," Igaris replied through gritted teeth, already growing irritated with her mocking tone.
Sometimes, he thought she was less of an Undead Queen and more like a Succubus Queen in disguise.
Thankfully, Evernight sensed she had teased enough for now.
"Alright, my Liege. Listen closely..."
What followed were whispered secrets, knowledge lost to time and unknown to the common summoner. As she spoke, Igaris's eyes slowly lit up with realization and excitement.
Thanks to her, this hunt was about to become much easier.
"But I'll need to be careful," he thought, casting a wary glance at the nearby summoners. "Too many prying eyes here. If I'm not careful, I'll attract trouble."
With that, he slipped away toward the far edge of the area, where fewer people stood. Shadows and heat danced together there—just enough cover for what he had in mind.