Ares hit the ground hard, his body rolling across the scorched stone. His exoskeleton sizzled, the outer layer blackened from the intense heat. The blast hadn’t struck him directly, but it was close enough—his body felt like it was cooking from the inside.

  He gasped, his lungs burning as he sucked in the tainted air. Every breath felt like inhaling molten glass. His left arm throbbed—cracks spiderwebbed along his hardened outer layer, exposing raw, blistered flesh underneath.

  The world tilted. His vision blurred, flickering between the glow of the cavern and the system’s glitching warnings.

  System: [CRITICAL CONDITION DETECTED]

  [Exoskeletal damage: Outer layer compromised]

  [Internal temperature rising]

  [Oxygen depletion increasing]

  [Mobility reduced]

  Ares groaned, forcing himself to move. His body disagreed, every nerve screaming in protest. He pressed his good arm against the ground, trying to push himself up—only to slip on the slick layer of sweat and blood pooling beneath him.

  The monster watched.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  It didn’t attack immediately, as if assessing him. The cavern pulsed with heat, embers swirling in the air like dying fireflies. It knew it had the advantage—and it was in no rush to finish him off.

  Think.

  Ares swallowed the bile rising in his throat. The system's fragmented analysis still echoed in his mind.

  System: [FLAMMABLE GASES DETECTED]

  [Composition: Carbon monoxide, methane, trace sulfur compounds]

  [Internal storage sacs present]

  [Combustion triggered by Aetheric discharge…]

  [Potential Aetheric amplification detected…]

  Aetheric amplification?

  Ares' mind raced despite the pain. That meant the fire wasn’t just from the gas—it was being enhanced by the monster’s Aetheric gland. If it was simply burning stored chemicals, the flames wouldn’t be this intense, this persistent. That explained why the fire didn’t just flash and disappear—it clung to surfaces, spreading unnaturally before finally dying down.

  It’s not just breathing fire—it’s weaponizing it.

  A sharp cough wracked his body. His lungs felt tight—the air was thinning. The carbon monoxide levels were still rising. Even if the fire didn’t kill him, he’d pass out if he stayed here much longer.

  MOVE, ARES.

  Gritting his teeth, he rolled onto his side, pushing off the ground with his good arm. His burned limb throbbed, pain exploding like white-hot needles through his nerves. His exoskeleton creaked, small flakes crumbling away where the fire had weakened it.

  The monster snorted, its molten eyes narrowing. It took a step forward, its glowing throat pulsating with light.

  Ares' blood ran cold. It’s already preparing another blast.

  He staggered back, but his legs were too weak.

  A sharp hiss filled the cavern as the beast inhaled—deeply. Its chest expanded, the fiery fissures along its body flaring to life. Heat waves distorted the air, shimmering like the surface of boiling water.

  Ares’ heart pounded. He couldn’t take another blast. If it fired again—

  A flash of red light illuminated the cavern.

  Then, the beast exhaled.

  Fire erupted.