Shadows of Ascension

44. The roar of the volcano

As Aiden and Luca battled against the relentless onslaught of monsters within the volcano's fiery depths, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been gnawing at him. He could sense a strange shift in the air, a subtle increase in temperature that set his nerves on edge.

"Hey, Luca," Aiden called out amidst the chaos of battle, his voice tinged with concern. "Is it just me, or is it getting hotter in here?"

Luca spared him a brief glance before returning his focus to the fray, his expression grim. "Yes," he replied tersely, his sword slicing through the air as he dispatched a particularly formidable foe. "The volcano... it's about to erupt."

Aiden's eyes widened in alarm at Luca's words, his mind racing with thoughts of impending danger. "We should leave," he urged, his voice urgent as he parried another monster's attack. "Now."

But Luca shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes as he continued to fend off their assailants. "No," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We wait."

Confusion flickered across Aiden's features as he watched Luca's actions, unsure of what his friend was planning. "Wait for what?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration as he struck out at another monster.

A sly grin tugged at the corners of Luca's lips as he glanced up at the towering walls of the volcano. "You'll see," he replied cryptically, his focus unwavering as he prepared for what was to come.

And then, as if on cue, the ground began to tremble beneath their feet, the rumble growing louder with each passing moment. Aiden's eyes widened in horror as he realized what was happening.

"Luca, we can't stay here," he exclaimed, moving to grab his friend and pull him to safety.

But before he could act, a massive monster lunged towards them, its claws outstretched and gleaming in the fiery light. Without hesitation, Luca stepped forward to intercept the attack, his sword flashing as he blocked the creature's blow.

"Here it comes," Luca muttered, his voice barely audible over the deafening roar of the erupting volcano.

And then, with a deafening roar, the volcano erupted in a spectacular display of fire and ash, engulfing everything in its path. Caught in the midst of the chaos, Aiden and Luca braced themselves against the onslaught, their resolve unyielding as they faced the fury of nature's wrath.