The sandworm let out a shrieking roar—so loud it trembled the dunes, rattled the bones.
Lucas didn't flinch.
His sword pointed downward, one hand raised slowly, palm facing the beast. Heat began to swirl around him—dry air curling into flames. The sand beneath his feet sizzled.
"Heavenly Flame Art…" he whispered.
A symbol appeared in front of his palm—a rune of fire, ancient and flowing with power.
"Fourth Form—Infernal Chain."
Pillars of flame burst from the ground like spears, encircling the sandworm. The flames lashed forward like living serpents, trying to bind the creature's massive, armored body. The worm thrashed, tearing free, spitting chunks of acidic saliva that hissed into the dunes.
Lucas leapt into the air, dodging with fluid motion—his sword slicing downward, trailing fire in its wake.
The blade cleaved through a layer of carapace—molten sparks flying—before he landed and skidded across the sand.
Alaric watched from a distance, breath held, hands trembling. So this is real power…
The worm retaliated—lunging—its entire mass crashing down toward Lucas like a collapsing mountain.
"Heavenly Flame Art,First form Ember's Path"
A burst of fire enveloped Lucas's sword,with a slash,he deflected the blow. The sand melted into glass beneath his feet.
But it wasn't enough. The beast was too large, too wild. Even with flame arts, Lucas was being pushed back.
Blood trickled down his brow.
"Tch… persistent thing."
He gritted his teeth, stepped back, and lowered his stance.
"Heavenly Flame Art,First form Ember's Path"
He spun once—his sword trailing a burning arc.
Then the flames curved in mid-air, forming a blade of fire that sliced clean through the worm's neck. The beast gave one final thrash, a scream of death, before collapsing with a thunderous crash—half its body still writhing as the flames consumed it.
Silence returned to the desert. The heat remained.
Lucas sheathed his blade.