The journey to Flame Mountain was long and tiring. The heat increased with every step, and the ash-laden wind stung the skin like hot needles. With every breath, Eren and Lilin felt the air grow heavier, as if the mountain were testing their resolve before reaching its summit.
On the fourth day of the climb, the massive crater appeared before them, billowing columns of smoke and fire, while lava burned deep within. The volcano's roar echoed like the beating of an ancient heart boiling beneath the rocks.
Eren stood watching the crater, the wind swirling anxiously around him, while Lilin felt an unfamiliar fire within her, pulsing in rhythm with the volcano's heat.
Lilin said in a low voice, "This place... the fire here is different, as if it's alive."
Eren replied, observing the fissures of the glowing rocks, "This is where the fire began, and this is where the ash may end."
As they approached the edge of the crater to search for the inner gate, three figures suddenly emerged from the smoke, wearing black cloaks that slowly drifted around them. Dark gray threads emerged from their bodies, as if ash were pulsing from their hearts.
One of them opened his red eyes and said, "You are the heirs of Wind and Fire... We didn't expect you to arrive so soon."
Eren braced himself, and lightning winds enveloped his body, while Leylin ignited the golden flame in her hand and said, "Who are you?"
The other replied, his voice tinged with the screech of ash: "We are the First Guardians of the Ashes, created from the remnants of the ash after the fall of the Shadow Lord, to prevent any intruder from entering the Heart of Fire before the Greater Ash Lord awakens."
A strong wind blew, pushing the ash into the air, as the first Guardian raised his hand, releasing columns of black ash mixed with dark fire around him. These swirled into long whips that swiftly attacked Eren.
Eren dodged the first strike, unleashing a burst of lightning wind to cut through the Ashes' whips. However, they quickly healed, and he realized that this power wasn't just fire, but carried the remnants of the Ashes' black spirit.
On the other side, the second Guardian attacked Leylin with a thick black flame. Leylin ignited her volcanic red fire and repelled the attack. However, she felt a strange weight in the fire facing her, as if it were trying to absorb her energy.
The second Guardian said in a hollow voice, "The fire of the Ash Lord resides within us, and you will not be able to overcome it unless you accept the fire in its entirety."
Leylin stepped back, but concentrated the flames in her hand until they glowed a golden-red color. She fired them at the Guardian, catching fire around his body. However, they didn't burn him, instead, they enveloped him in a bright light that revealed his face for a moment.
At that moment, Leylin saw a flash of pain and hope in his eyes, before his face went rigid again.
Eren shouted, "Leylin, we have to end this quickly!"
Eren gathered the lightning wind around his body, forming a glowing green shield, while unleashing a powerful wind strike that split the ash trying to attack him. He charged at the first guard, his face unwavering, his eyes determined to end this threat.
At the same time, Leylin closed her eyes and summoned all the volcanic fire within her body, mingling with her golden flames. She unleashed a broad blast that struck the second guard, pushing him back to the edge of the crater.
The third guard opened his hands and released a thick black ash cloud that covered the sky. But this wasn't an attack; instead, it formed in the air into burning words:
The Ash Lord is awakening. You will not stop him.
Eren exclaimed:
We may not be able to stop him now, but we will be ready.
With those words, Eren and Leylin fired their final blows, meeting in the ash and scorching it, scattering light into the thick smoke before the ash vanished into thin air, and the guards disappeared in the glow of the remaining fire.
Silence fell for a few seconds, before the fire and wind subsided. Behind the dissipating ash, a massive stone entrance appeared, carved into the crater wall. Surmounted by ancient fire symbols, a heavy warmth rose from within, a promise of impending danger.
Lylin looked at Eren and said, "This is the gate."
Eren nodded and said, "This is where we will learn how to stop the Great Ash Lord."
They exchanged a silent glance before walking together toward the gate, opening the way to the heart of the fire, where they would face the secrets yet to be revealed by the fire and wind.