They entered Llahala.
The land changed the moment their feet crossed the border. The ground beneath them was dry and cracked, as if all life had been burned away centuries ago. Heat pressed down from every direction, heavy and suffocating, crawling against their skin. Even the air shimmered, faint embers drifting like fireflies trapped in a nightmare.
Eris stumbled after only a few steps, her breath hitching. She clutched her chest and bent forward.
"I—I can't breathe properly…" she coughed.
Liza was at her side instantly, gripping her arm to steady her.
"Yes," she said, her voice tense. "This is the air of Llahala. It rejects those who don't belong here."
Eris swallowed, forcing herself upright.
"So even breathing is trying to kill us…"
Ahead of them, Marcos stood unmoved. The heat didn't seem to affect him at all. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"Let's move," he said calmly. "The castle is this way."
Liza glanced at him, surprised.
"You know the direction?"
"Yes."
Nothing more followed. No explanation.
After a brief pause, they continued walking, deeper into the land of fire.
The Unnatural Silence
Time passed.
Too much time.
There were no roars.
No shifting shadows.
No demons.
Only the sound of their footsteps and the distant rumbling beneath the scorched earth.
Liza slowed, her hand tightening around her weapon.
"This isn't right," she said. "Why hasn't a single demon attacked us?"
Eris nodded, unease creeping into her expression.
"You're right… this place should be crawling with them."
Sara scanned the wasteland, her eyes sharp, never lingering in one place for long.
"Very strange."
Marcos didn't slow.
"Don't worry. Just keep moving."
Sara hesitated, studying his back—then her expression softened. She stepped closer to him.
"Okay," she said quietly. "Let's go."
Behind them, Eris leaned toward Liza and whispered,
"She's acting different. Normally she'd be yelling at him for being careless."
Liza frowned.
"…You're right."
Eris narrowed her eyes.
"Do you think something happened between Sara and Marcos?"
"Don't say foolish things," Liza muttered.
"But look at her," Eris insisted. "She looks… happy."
"This isn't the time," Liza snapped under her breath. "Just walk."
Eris sighed.
"…Okay."
Nightfall in Llahala
When night arrived, the land didn't grow darker.
The red glow only deepened, casting long, distorted shadows across the wasteland.
They stopped to rest, forming a small camp in the open.
"Two people will sleep," Marcos said. "Two will guard."
Liza nodded.
"Alright."
"I'll stay awake with Marcos," Sara said quickly. "Eris and Liza should sleep first."
Eris exchanged a glance with Liza, then nodded.
"…Okay."
Soon, Liza and Eris lay down, trying to rest despite the heat and the faint vibrations beneath the ground.
Sara approached Marcos.
"Do you want some water?"
"No."
"Okay."
She sat beside him in silence, watching the flames reflect in his eyes.
"Marcos…" she said softly.
No response.
She blinked.
"…He fell asleep?"
Eris's voice suddenly whispered far louder than it should have,
"What?! He fell asleep?!"
Sara nearly jumped.
"Why are you two still awake?!"
Eris opened her mouth.
"Did you lo—"
"We just couldn't sleep," Liza interrupted sharply, shooting Eris a warning look.
"Y-Yes," Eris added quickly.
Sara laughed awkwardly.
"Oh…"
Liza shook her head.
"I didn't expect him to sleep so carelessly."
"He hasn't slept for three days," Sara said quietly.
Eris's eyes widened.
"How do you know that?"
Sara froze for a split second.
"Ah… I just do."
Liza studied her, then sighed.
"Sara, you should sleep too."
"…Okay."
Before leaving, Sara gently placed her hand on Marcos's head, patting it once—softly, carefully—then lay down.
Eris immediately grabbed Liza's arm.
"See?" she whispered. "There is something between them."
"Just shut up," Liza muttered. "And guard."
Morning came quickly.
They resumed walking.
After few hours.
"How long until we reach it?" Eris asked.
Marcos stopped.
"…We already have."
They looked up.
Before them stood a massive castle of blackened stone, rising like a wound carved into the land itself. Rivers of lava flowed through channels along its walls, and the air around it pulsed with overwhelming pressure.
The Demon King's castle.
Marcos stepped forward.
"Let's go."
And without hesitation—
They walked toward their fate.