The Element withing: chaos heir

Snow crunched beneath Jin's boots as he pressed deeper into the frozen wilderness. The air grew colder, sharp as daggers against his skin. Despite the numbing chill, he pushed forward, his thoughts fixed on one goal—the Infernalis Fruit.

Legends spoke of its fiery core, said to ignite the mana within those who consumed it. A single fruit could transform a novice into a master, but its allure came with danger. Jin had heard whispers that the fruit only grew in cursed lands, guarded by beasts that thrived in death and frost.

He glanced at the empty trails behind him. It was strange. Not a single footprint—no sign of the Flareborn Clan or the Snow Wolves-Escort. For groups that had rushed into the mountains ahead of him, their absence felt wrong.

"Did something happen to them?" Jin muttered.

He shook off the thought and trudged forward. The path twisted, narrow and treacherous. Sharp rocks jutted out from the ground like teeth. Each step felt heavier, as though the mountain itself tried to keep him away.

Then he felt it—a low hum beneath his feet.

Jin stopped, gripping the chain at his side. The hum grew louder, almost like a heartbeat, until the ground began to tremble. He barely had time to move before the first beast emerged.

The Frostfang Brontusk—Level 4 Beast.

Jin's breath hitched. Towering over him, the Brontusk was a wall of fur and ice. Its frozen tusks gleamed like blades, each one longer than Jin was tall. The beast's eyes burned with a pale, icy glow, and steam hissed from its nostrils as it stomped forward.

Before Jin could react, another beast stepped into view.

The Ice Crystal Boar—Level 4 Beast.

Its jagged, crystalline spikes shimmered in the dim light, reflecting the snow like shards of glass. Smaller than the Brontusk but faster, the boar's blood-red eyes locked onto Jin. It pawed the ground, ready to charge.

Jin clenched his jaw. Two Level 4 Beasts—both dangerous and unpredictable. He'd faced beasts before, but this was different. One wrong move, and it would be over.

The beasts roared at each other and charged. The ground quaked as tusks and crystal spikes collided, shattering ice and rock. Jin ducked behind a boulder, watching as the monsters clashed.

But his hiding spot didn't last long. The Brontusk's massive form slammed into the boulder, knocking it aside. Jin leaped back just in time to avoid being crushed.

"No more running," he said, pulling out his chain.

The fight began.

Jin dodged the Brontusk's tusks and rolled aside as the Boar lunged. He countered with swift strikes, wrapping his chain around their limbs and pulling with all his strength. The beasts fought fiercely, but Jin refused to back down. Blood stained the snow as the battle raged, each strike pushing him closer to the edge of exhaustion.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the Frostfang Brontusk collapsed with a thunderous crash. The Ice Crystal Boar fell soon after, its spikes shattered and broken. Jin dropped to his knees, gasping for air.

But before he could celebrate, a sound broke through the silence.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Jin's head snapped toward the source.

It wasn't a sound made by man or beast. It was sharp, melodic—like chimes echoing through the mountains. His eyes widened.

The Infernalis Fruit.

Heart pounding, he forced himself to his feet. The sound pulled him deeper into the forest, where the snow thinned, replaced by scorched earth and twisted trees. The air grew hotter, steam rising in thin wisps around him.

And then he saw it.

A single tree stood at the center of a clearing, its bark blackened and cracked, as though scorched by fire. At its base, glowing faintly, was the Infernalis Fruit.

It was no larger than a man's fist, but it radiated heat and light. Its skin pulsed, veins of molten gold running through its surface. The fruit seemed alive, and Jin couldn't tear his eyes away.

"So… this is it," he whispered, stepping closer.

But before he could reach it, the ground shifted beneath his feet.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the clearing.

Jin spun around just in time to see another beast emerging from the shadows—a Level 5 Firefang Drake.

Its scales shimmered like molten lava, and flames danced along its back. The heat it radiated made the air shimmer. Its eyes locked onto Jin, and in that moment, he knew this beast wasn't like the others.

It wasn't guarding the Infernalis Fruit.

It was drawn to it—just like him.

Jin clenched his fists, the weight of his exhaustion threatening to pull him down. But he refused to give in.

He tightened his grip on the chain, stepping between the fruit and the beast.

"You're not taking it," he growled.

The Firefang Drake roared, flames erupting from its mouth. Jin braced himself. He wasn't sure how he would win, but one thing was clear—this fight was far from over.