Just Extra

Minerva returned to Naviga and said, "Navi, there's a cave inside the crater. The universal essence and fire elemental energy are much stronger there, so it's highly likely the Violet Inferno Flower is inside that cave." Naviga nodded in agreement. Minerva then called out, "Aunt Minasa, could you give an ice talisman to Naviga?"

Minasa appeared before them, taking a talisman from her space ring and handing it to Naviga and Minerva. She looked at them and cautioned, "Be careful. The Molten Cobra guards the Violet Inferno Flower. It's at the peak of the 1st Core Essence Realm, so you'll need to be very cautious. There are also poisonous insects in the area."

Both nodded firmly, acknowledging her warning. Minasa gave them a final glance before vanishing into the shadows.

After attaching the ice talismans to their bodies, Minerva and Naviga walked to the crater's edge and affixed flying talismans. They descended toward the cave, which was located on the side of the lava crater. The heat radiating from the lava was overwhelming, but the ice talismans shielded them, allowing them to endure the intensity.

Once they landed at the cave's entrance, they stepped inside. The cave was dark, but the fiery glow of the lava outside provided enough illumination to navigate. As they advanced, the universal essence in the air grew stronger, as though something deep within the cave was pulling it toward itself.

They moved cautiously, their senses on high alert. Suddenly, a red millipede appeared in their path. It was two feet tall, with a body covered in red, armor-like skin and countless legs. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them before it charged forward with the speed of a train.

Minerva and Naviga were prepared. Minerva stepped forward to engage the creature, while Naviga kept watch for any other potential threats. The red millipede was a fire-poison insect, known for its ability to burrow through the earth and launch surprise attacks.

The millipede lunged at Minerva, its head aiming to bite her. Minerva raised her sword and slashed at it, meeting its attack head-on. The clash pushed both Minerva and the millipede back, momentarily halting its advance. The creature opened its mouth and spat a stream of fire poison at her, but Minerva activated her Phoenix Guard Defensive Art. A fiery shield materialized in front of her, absorbing the attack.

Though the millipede was a Phase Core Realm monster, the same level as Minerva, she remained confident in her ability to handle it. Without hesitation, she unleashed her Blazing Sun Slash Art: Flame Vortex Slash. Flames engulfed her sword as she swung it, creating a fiery tornado that raced toward the millipede.

The millipede attempted to dodge, but its massive body was too slow. The fire vortex struck it directly, eliciting a screeching cry of pain. Although its red armor-like skin was singed and slightly burned, the damage wasn't fatal. The creature, though injured, remained a formidable opponent.

The red millipede let out a piercing shriek, its armour-like skin singed by Minerva's fiery attack. Yet, it did not flinch. Instead, its body shuddered before shedding a layer of its outer shell, revealing a fresh, undamaged exoskeleton beneath. The creature's regeneration was astonishingly swift – far too rapid for a normal fire-poison insect of its level.

Minerva narrowed her eyes. "This one's different. It has a mutated core."

Naviga, who had been standing on guard, scrutinized the millipede. The universal essence in the cave was unusually dense, and the presence of Voidpetal Soil meant many creatures here had likely absorbed its properties. That would explain why this millipede was stronger than its usual kind.

But there was no time for analysis. The millipede let out a low, clicking noise before its body split into two identical forms. The second body was slightly translucent, its presence flickering like an illusion – a temporary clone.

Minerva frowned. "Annoying."

Naviga moved beside her, hand gripping her sword. "Miss, I'll handle the clone."

Minerva didn't hesitate. "Be quick." The real millipede lunged at Minerva again, while its clone rushed toward Naviga. The air rippled as Naviga activated Phantom Moon Step, her figure blurring out of sight. The clone's attack struck only empty space. In the next moment, Naviga reappeared behind it, her sword already moving.

Lunar Edge Sword Art – Moon Fang!

Her blade glowed silver as it sliced cleanly through the clone's body. The illusion shattered like broken glass, dispersing into nothing.

At the same time, Minerva faced the real millipede. The moment it lunged, she countered with a fiery arc of her sword.

Blazing Sun Slash Art – Inferno Cleave! The burning slash carved through the millipede's side, forcing it to screech and thrash violently. Molten blood sprayed across the rocky floor, sizzling as it burned the stone. This time, its regeneration was slower – Minerva's fire energy had invaded its body, disrupting its recovery.

Naviga didn't waste time. With the clone gone, she dashed forward and thrust her sword straight toward the wounded creature's head.

Eclipse Thrust!

Her blade pierced its eye socket, sinking deep into its skull. The millipede spasmed once, then collapsed with a final, eerie chittering sound.

Silence settled in the cave. Minerva pulled her sword back and exhaled.

"Good timing."

Naviga flicked the blood off her blade. "It was weaker than I expected."

Minerva glanced at the corpse. "Its regeneration was strong, but not its actual defence. If it had reached the 2nd Phase Core Essence Realm, it would have been far worse."

Naviga nodded in agreement. The millipede was a problem mainly because of its rapid healing and cloning ability, but now that it was dead, they could move forward.

Minerva knelt beside the fallen beast, her fingers probing the wound Naviga had inflicted. She retrieved a fire-poison essence core, a vibrant crimson orb flickering with tiny flames. "This could prove useful later," she murmured, tucking it away in her space ring.

With the battle concluded, they ventured deeper into the cave. The heat intensified with each step, the air thick with universal essence. Soon, they reached a vast chamber. At its heart, perched atop a mound of blackened volcanic rock, lay their objective.

The Violet Inferno Flower. Its petals were a deep purple, radiating a faint, ember-like glow in the darkness. The surrounding air thrummed with energy, as if the flower were drawing in fire elements from the very volcano itself. The sight of such a rare treasure would have ignited envy in the heart of any alchemist or cultivator.

But Naviga and Minerva did not advance.

For between them and the flower lay the Molten Cobra.

Its scales shimmered with a blend of molten gold and obsidian black, its body coiled protectively around the flower. The snake was colossal – at least 15 metres long – and its fiery eyes locked onto them the moment they arrived. The cave trembled slightly as the cobra raised its head, revealing fangs dripping with glowing, lava-like venom.

Minerva let out a slow breath. "A peak 1st Core Essence Realm beast."

Naviga's grip on her sword tightened. "This will be more challenging than the millipede…"

The cobra hissed, and the cave seemed to grow even hotter.

There was no room for hesitation.

The Molten Cobra made the first move, its body coiling and uncoiling at lightning speed. Venom like lava shot from its fangs, creating a deadly arc of molten liquid that sizzled and burnt everything in its path.

Minerva reacted instantly. "Navi, dodge right!"

Naviga wasted no time. Her Phantom Moon Step kicked in, making her figure blur just as the venomous spray slammed against the cave wall. Where the liquid touched, the stone melted and bubbled, letting out toxic fumes.

"This venom's different," Naviga called out. "Not just poison, it's fire-based liquefaction."

Minerva's Amethyst Flame flared up around her sword. "Then we'll combat its fire with fire!"

The cobra's scales shifted, changing from molten gold to a deep obsidian black. It seemed to absorb heat from the surroundings, making the cave's air feel shaky.

Naviga realised what was happening. "Miss, it's condensing thermal energy. Be careful!"

The snake stretched out impossibly, turning into a living whip of molten energy. It struck like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for Minerva. But she was ready. Her Phoenix Guard Defensive Art materialised—a swirling shield of amethyst flames that blocked the cobra's strike.

The clash made a thunderous boom. Steam and fire erupted, momentarily obscuring their sight.

"Now, Navi!" Minerva yelled.

Naviga was already on the move. Her Eclipse Thrust sliced through the steam, aiming for the cobra's side. But this snake was no ordinary foe. Its scales rippled, forming a thermal barrier that deflected her strike.

The Molten Cobra struck back, its tail morphing into a whip of pure lava. It swept across the cave floor, creating a wave of molten devastation.

Minerva leapt, her sword drawing an arc of amethyst flame. "Blazing Sun Slash: Flame Vortex!"

The flame vortex collided with the lava wave, resulting in a dazzling explosion of fire and energy.

*****