Ares threw himself to the side as the firestorm roared toward him. Heat slammed into his body like a solid wall, his exposed skin blistering instantly. Even though he wasn’t directly in the blast zone, the sheer intensity sucked the oxygen from the air, leaving his lungs burning with every shallow breath.

  System: [Oxygen depletion reaching critical levels]

  [Atmospheric composition unstable]

  [Respiratory failure imminent]

  He barely registered the warning. His instincts screamed danger—his body barely responding as he crashed onto the rough, uneven rock. The fire engulfed the space where he had been standing moments ago, licking at the cavern walls and scorching the stone black.

  Ares hit the ground hard, his already battered body shuddering with pain. His left arm was useless—the burned exoskeleton peeling away, exposing raw flesh beneath. His right arm wasn’t faring much better. Every nerve in his body was on fire, and his breaths were coming short and ragged.

  He needed to act now—or he was dead.

  The monster's glowing throat dimmed, signaling the end of its fiery exhalation. The heat in the air was still unbearable, but the monster had spent its attack, giving Ares a small window.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  His mind worked through the pain, piecing together the last fragments of the system’s warning.

  The fire isn’t just from the gases—it’s Aetheric-enhanced.

  That meant the monster was using its Aetheric Gland to generate an additional energy burst, making the fire burn hotter and longer than normal combustion. If Ares could find a way to interrupt that process—

  His vision blurred, the edges darkening. He was running out of air.

  No time for perfect plans. Just act.

  Using his good arm, he grabbed a fist-sized rock from the ground and forced himself to his feet. His legs trembled, but he willed them to move.

  The monster's head snapped toward him, molten eyes narrowing. It was preparing to attack again.

  Ares didn’t hesitate.

  With every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he hurled the rock—not at the monster’s head, but at its throat.

  CRACK!

  The impact was direct—hitting the glowing sac at the base of its neck. The monster reeled back, a strangled hiss escaping its maw. It hadn’t been expecting that.

  Ares didn’t stop to watch. He ran.

  His lungs burned. His muscles screamed. The cave around him was an oven, the heat threatening to pull him into unconsciousness. But he kept moving, forcing his battered legs forward.

  Behind him, the monster let out a furious screech.

  Ares didn’t look back. He couldn’t afford to.

  He had seconds before it recovered.

  Then, a sound cut through the haze of pain and heat—

  A low, guttural inhale.

  It was preparing another blast.

  Ares’ eyes widened. Too fast. He hadn’t bought enough time.

  A blinding glow filled the cavern behind him. The monster wasn’t going to miss this time.

  Then—

  System: [WARNING: PRESSURE BUILDUP DETECTED IN TARGET]

  [Internal combustion exceeding normal thresholds]

  [Structural integrity compromised]

  Ares’ heart skipped a beat. It’s unstable.

  The rock—he must have damaged something inside its combustion system. If he was right—

  Then he didn’t need to run.

  He needed to end it.

  Summoning the last of his strength, Ares spun around. The monster had its jaws wide open, fire swirling within its throat.

  Ares ignored the fear. Ignored the pain. Ignored the fact that this might kill him.

  He lunged forward.

  His hand shot out—straight into the glowing sac at the base of its throat.

  A wet, horrible squelch.

  Then—

  Everything exploded.