The force of his ascent scattered lava in every direction. Ash and sparks spiraled upward in his wake as he cut through the smoke-filled sky, heading toward a place few beings could perceive.
His destination was Ikenga's realm.
A boundary hidden from ordinary sight. A domain so concealed that most did not even know it existed, let alone where it lay. Only those with the right awareness or the right connection could find the path to it.
Red disappeared into the distant haze.
Silence settled over the volcano once more.
Ember stood still for a moment longer, watching the sky where Red had vanished. Then, without ceremony, he let his hammer fall from his hand.
It struck the volcanic stone with a thunderous impact, shaking the summit and sending cracks spidering outward.
Ember turned and walked toward the crater.
As he moved, his clothes fell away, burned by proximity and discarded without care. The heat intensified with each step, yet his pace remained steady.
Then he dove.
