Chef in the Apocalypse

Under the relentless wrath of a fiery volcano, the surroundings were a relentless testament to the power of nature. Heat hung heavy in the air, suffocating like a smothering blanket. Lava flowed in meandering streams, a fiery serpent of molten rock that cut through the scorched earth. Plumes of acrid smoke billowed into the sky, their dark tendrils snaking upwards, as if trying to escape the relentless heat that oppressed this land.

Amidst this inferno, a fierce battle raged. A group of men and women, clad in rugged gear and sweat-soaked clothes, faced off against a colossal lava slug. This grotesque creature, standing at least ten meters tall, was a grotesque amalgamation of hardened magma and molten lava.

Its body was a dark, obsidian black, pockmarked with fiery red cracks that oozed with molten lava. Enormous, bulging eyes, red as burning coals, protruded from its grotesque face. Rows of sharp, obsidian spikes adorned its back, like a crown atop its fluid form.

Standing on the periphery, a man draped in a crimson robe defied the oppressive heat. His skin, a deep shade of bronze, bore no trace of sweat. A sly, almost mocking smile graced his features, and his hair, a striking crimson, spiked upward in a natural defiance of the elements.

He watched on as the battle continued, tapping on his wooden staff which he used as a makeshift cane. After a few more moments watching on, he murmured, "It’s about time we finish this."

As the man in the crimson robe lifted his wooden staff, the air around him seemed to tremble in anticipation. His chanting was like an ancient melody, a weaving of words that summoned power from the very depths of the earth. The mana gathered above his staff, a swirling vortex of energy that resonated with the volcanic fury of the surroundings.

His gaze remained locked on the colossal lava slug, his intent nothing short of lethal. In those moments, it was as if the very world held its breath.

Then, with a final, decisive motion, he pushed his staff forward. The collected mana erupted, morphing into dark crimson flames that danced upon the staff like malevolent spirits. It was a fire born of both magic and rage, a harbinger of destruction.

The torrent of flames surged forward, a searing inferno unleashed upon the lava slug. It struck the monstrous creature with the fury of a blazing meteor, engulfing it in roaring, dark red flames. The earth trembled beneath the cataclysmic impact, and the very air seemed to scream in protest.

The man’s sly grin returned as he watched the horrifying spectacle unfold. The lava slug writhed and convulsed within the unrelenting blaze, its obsidian form crumbling and melting. The acrid stench of burning rock and sulfurous fumes filled the air as the creature howled in agony, its monstrous roars echoing in the inferno.

With a voice barely above a whisper, he uttered a single word. "Burn."

Seeing the excruciating demise of the lava slug, the men and women who were embroiled in the earlier fight did not have much of a reaction. They merely took a few steps back, making sure to avoid the deep crimson flames that were eating away at the now lifeless corpse of the monster.

[Congratulations, you have cleared the Gastropod Volcano dungeon]

[Teleportation will commence in 01:00 minutes]

The man in the crimson robe walked over to the corpse, watching the crimson flames continue to eat away at the body. With a wave of his hand the vicious flames receded, crumbling into motes of light which dispersed evenly.

"Clean up the drops before we’re teleported out." The man said, his tone authoritative.

"Yes Leader." the men and women said in unison, dispersing throughout the battlefield with practiced movements. It was clear that this was not their first time clearing the dungeon.

One man stayed behind, taking his place to the left of the man in the crimson robes. He was of average height and wore a tight fitted dark robe with a hood that covered most of his features.

"Flame Caster, how many times have you cleared this dungeon now?" The man asked, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. However there was a hint of callousness hidden behind the words, as if he had no regard for anyone.

"None of your business Shadow. The only reason I let you tag along was because of our agreement." The man called Flame Caster retorted disparagingly.

"Hmph." Shadow grunted, showing his displeasure at the response he received. Were it not for the fact that he feared the penalty for killing another human, he would have no qualms with assassinating the bastard beside him. Whether he could succeed or not was another matter altogether.

"When are we meeting up with #1 and #6?" Choosing to ignore the rude response, Shadow asked. The sooner he completed his job, the sooner he could distance himself from the crimson robed lunatic beside him.

Flame Caster turned his head slightly, a look of annoyance creeping onto his features. His green eyes seemed to bore holes into the hooded figure, not bothering to mask the dislike he felt towards the other party.

"Next week. You’ll know more details eventually." He said simply, before turning around and walking away. In truth, he did not trust Shadow as far as he could throw him. The Assassin was ranked #3 on the supporters list, one rank above himself.

Because he was a supporter, he also had access to the supporter chat function, meaning that there was a chance he could contact his current target and warn them in advance. Therefore he chose to keep the details a mystery, for as long as possible without raising suspicion.

Shadow watched Flame Caster walk away, exposing his back towards him. His fingers twitched and reached for his dagger by his waist out of habit, wanting nothing more than to put an end to the smug bastard in front of him. Yet reason eventually won out, forcing him to let out a small sigh of annoyance.

[Teleportation will commence in 00:00 minutes]

[Teleportation commencing]