Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

As they climbed away from Ao Qin’s damaged stronghold, following Captain Zhen through winding paths carved into the mountainside. The Steam vents hissed from cracks in the rock, releasing superheated vapor that could cook flesh in seconds if it touched someone’s skin.

"Stay close," Captain Zhen warned. "The ground here can give way without warning, and falling into a thermal pocket is not a pleasant way to die."

Grim adjusted the heat-resistant gear Shen Yue had provided, grateful for the protection it provided. The armor was crafted from some kind of treated coral that asrobed some of the heat, but it couldn’t completely shield him from the oppressive temperature that surrounded them on all sides.

Lin moved beside him. Since learning the truth about Shen Lao being her real father, she had spoken little, her ice magic flickering unpredictably around her hands as her emotions warred beneath the surface.

"Princess," Captain Zhen said gently as they paused at an overlook, "perhaps you should rest. The journey ahead will require your full attention."

"I’m fine," Lin replied curtly, but Grim could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her jaw clenched when she thought no one was looking.

Below them, the volcanic landscape spread out in a panorama of fire and stone. Rivers of molten rock carved glowing channels through the mountainside, creating a network of burning arteries. The sight was both beautiful and terrifying—nature at its most raw and powerful.

"The rebels chose their territory well," Captain Zhen observed, pointing toward distant fortifications that seemed to grow directly from the volcanic rock. "Any attacking force would have to cross multiple lava rivers while under constant bombardment from elevated positions."

"How do we get past them?" Grim asked, studying the tactical situation with growing concern.

"We don’t go past them," Captain Zhen replied. "We go through them."

He led them down a steep path that wound closer to one of the major lava rivers, the heat becoming almost unbearable despite the protective gear. As they approached what appeared to be an impassable barrier of molten rock, Captain Zhen pointed to a formation that Grim had initially mistaken for a natural stone bridge.

"The Ember Crossing," Captain Zhen explained. "One of the few places where the lava flow is stable enough to traverse. But it requires careful timing and..." he glanced meaningfully at Lin, "special abilities."

The lava river below them was a torrent of liquid fire, easily fifty feet wide and flowing with the force of a mountain waterfall. The heat rising from its surface was so intense that Grim could feel his skin burning even through the protective armor. Occasional gouts of molten rock erupted from the river, sending glowing projectiles arcing through the air like deadly fireworks.

"The rebels patrol this area regularly," Captain Zhen continued, "but they rely on the natural barriers to deter most intruders. They won’t expect anyone to attempt crossing during daylight hours."

"Because it’s suicide," Grim observed, watching another eruption send molten debris showering down around them.

"Not if you have the right protection," Captain Zhen said, looking expectantly at Lin.

Lin stared at the lava flow, her expression distant. "Ice barriers won’t hold against that kind of heat," she said automatically.

"Not barriers," Captain Zhen corrected. "Containment. A bubble of super-cooled air, constantly renewed. It’s an advanced technique, but given your bloodline..."

"I can do it," Lin said quietly, though her voice lacked its usual confidence.

She moved closer to the edge of the lava flow, ice beginning to crystallize around her hands. But instead of the controlled, elegant magic Grim was accustomed to seeing, her power flickered and sparked, responding to her emotional turmoil.

"Lin," Grim said carefully, "maybe we should—"

"I said I can do it," she snapped, ice erupting from her in a sudden burst that sent frozen shards clattering across the volcanic rock.

Captain Zhen stepped back, his expression showing both concern and professional assessment. "Princess, if you’re not ready—"

"I’m ready," Lin insisted, but even as she spoke, another uncontrolled surge of ice magic escaped her, this one forming jagged spears that jutted from the ground at odd angles.

Grim could see the internal struggle written across her face. Everything she had believed about her identity, her family, her place in the world, had been shattered by Shen Lao’s revelations. The disciplined princess who had always been in perfect control of herself and her abilities was gone, replaced by someone trying to hold together the pieces of her fractured self.

"Take your time," he said gently. "We’re not in that much of a hurry."

"Yes, we are," Lin replied, her voice tight with suppressed emotion. "Every moment we delay, Jiaolong gets further ahead. Every second we waste here is another chance for him to corrupt the West Sea."

She raised her hands again, and this time the ice magic that flowed from them was more controlled. A bubble of crystalline energy began to form around them, large enough to encompass all three travelers and filled with air that was cool compared to the volcanic heat outside.

"Impressive," Captain Zhen murmured as the bubble solidified. freёnovelkiss.com

The ice bubble was beautiful in its complexity—the walls were thick enough to provide protection, but clear enough to see straight through it, and the internal atmosphere was perfectly comfortable despite the hellish environment surrounding them.

"It won’t hold for long," Lin warned as she guided the bubble toward the lava river. "The thermal stress is enormous. We’ll have perhaps ten minutes before the sphere begins to fail."

They descended toward the molten river, the bubble carrying them like a soap bubble on an impossibly hot breeze. Up close, the lava flow was even more intimidating—a torrent of liquid rock carrying chunks of semi-solid material that glowed like fallen stars.

"The current is stronger than it looks," Captain Zhen observed as they began to cross. "We’ll need to angle upstream to account for the drift."

Lin nodded, her concentration absolute as she maintained the bubble’s integrity while simultaneously steering it across the deadly river. Sweat beaded on her forehead despite the cool air inside their protection, and Grim could see the strain the technique was placing on her.

They were halfway across when the first eruption occurred.

A massive geyser of molten rock erupted from the lava flow directly ahead of them, sending a fountain of liquid fire fifty feet into the air. Most of it fell back into the river, but several large clumps of semi-solid magma arced through the air in their direction.

"Lin!" Captain Zhen called out in warning.

But Lin was lost in her own thoughts, her eyes unfocused as she wrestled with the emotional turmoil that Shen Lao’s revelation had created. The carefully maintained bubble wavered as her concentration faltered, and she didn’t see the basketball-sized chunk of molten rock that was falling directly toward her face.