Chapter 219: Flames

The motorcycle bounced violently as Amon guided it along the broken road winding through the jungle.

Behind him, Sidney clung to his waist with both arms, pressing herself against his back as the motorcycle jumped over another uneven patch of ground.

"BIG BROTHER! WHY THE HELL ARE WE TAKING THIS ROAD?"

Amon chuckled, leaning forward as he steered around a fallen branch. "Because this is the only way to get there!"

"THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU WARN ME THAT THE ROAD WOULD BE LIKE THIS?"

"I thought the experience would be good for you!"

"GOOD FOR ME?"

Amon chuckled at her dramatic complaints while maintaining his grip on the handlebars.

The road was certainly terrible, but he had ridden through worse conditions before, and the motorcycle’s reinforced frame handled the rough terrain surprisingly well.

"Relax. We’re almost there."

Sidney tightened her grip around his waist as the motorcycle climbed a particularly steep section of the road.

She buried her face against his back when the front wheel lifted slightly over a large rock.

Fortunately, Amon hadn’t been exaggerating about their destination being close.

A few seconds later, the jungle began to thin, revealing a rocky clearing surrounded by towering trees and patches of dry grass.

Beyond the clearing stood a large cave entrance carved into the side of a dark mountain.

Amon slowed the motorcycle before parking it beside a large boulder. "We’re here."

Sidney immediately released him and climbed off the bike, her legs wobbling slightly as she regained her balance.

Amon removed his helmet and glanced at her.

Sidney wore a fitted black jacket over a light-colored shirt, paired with dark trousers and sturdy boots suitable for walking across rough terrain.

She had tied her hair into a ponytail, although several loose strands had escaped during the ride.

Despite her complaints, she seemed excited now that they had finally arrived.

Amon looked toward the cave and nodded to himself. "This is it."

He had contacted Richard before leaving and asked him to find a suitable dungeon where Sidney could awaken safely.

Considering Sidney’s natural fire affinity, it was an excellent place to begin her training.

’Since it’s a fire-type dungeon, there’s a good chance we’ll find some useful fire-related items.’

Amon intended to clear the dungeon himself while allowing Sidney to gain experience by observing his movements and learning the basics of combat.

If they found suitable weapons, cultivation materials, or other valuable items, he could use his rebate system to obtain even better rewards by investing in Sidney.

’...This might turn out to be a profitable trip.’

Sidney, meanwhile, was looking around the clearing with growing confusion.

"Daddy, why are we the only people here? I thought dungeons attracted adventurers."

Amon slipped his helmet into the motorcycle’s storage compartment before walking toward the cave.

"Because this is practically a private dungeon belonging to the Adventurer Bureau. Ordinary adventurers can’t simply wander inside whenever they want."

Sidney hurried after him, her earlier fear of the road already forgotten. "Wait, how did you get permission to use it?"

Amon glanced over his shoulder with a smug smile. "I have my connections."

"Nice!"

She hopped along beside him.

After a few moments, Sidney tilted her head and asked the question she had apparently been thinking about throughout their journey. "What do you think my potential will be?"

Amon considered her question briefly before shrugging.

"It doesn’t really matter. I’ll spoil you with high-grade items until you’re strong enough to stand on your own."

Sidney stared at him for a moment before placing a hand against her chest. "Aww, how romantic~."

Amon gave her a blank look and continued walking without answering.

"You could at least pretend to be embarrassed."

"Hell nah."

Their conversation continued until they reached the cave entrance, where a strange white veil covered the opening.

It resembled a thin curtain of mist suspended vertically in the air.

Amon stopped in front of it and examined the barrier for a moment.

Amon extended his hand toward Sidney. "Come on."

She happily took his hand.

Amon drew a deep breath and looked at the white veil. "Maximum effort."

He stepped forward, pulling Sidney along with him.

The moment they crossed the barrier, the temperature rose sharply.

A wave of scorching air struck their faces, forcing Amon to shield his eyes as he adjusted to the sudden change.

The dungeon stretched across a vast volcanic landscape filled with blackened rocks, deep cracks, and enormous stone formations.

Thick clouds of smoke drifted across the distant ceiling.

Amon slowly lowered his hand and surveyed the surroundings. "Well, this is a pretty hardcore dungeon."

Amon turned toward Sidney, who was standing beside him with her eyes closed as she took several deep breaths.

"Are you alright?"

She opened her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Actually, I feel... at home."

Amon stared at her.

’...At home?’

He glanced at the surrounding lava flows before looking back at her.

He decided not to press her about it yet.

"Well, that’s convenient. Most people would be sweating buckets by now."

Sidney giggled, then looked around the dungeon with renewed interest.

Amon rolled his shoulders and flexed his fingers before turning toward the path leading deeper into the volcanic landscape.

"It’ll take a little time for the Universal System to appear and complete your awakening process, so we’ll keep moving until something happens."

He popped his knuckles, then began walking forward with a confident expression.

"I will take care of the monsters."

Sidney followed closely behind, watching him with admiration.

They hadn’t walked very far when a series of low growls echoed from behind a cluster of black rocks.

Amon immediately stopped and raised one hand, signaling Sidney to remain behind him.

Four dog-like monsters emerged from the shadows, their bodies covered in dark, hardened scales that resembled cooled volcanic stone.

Their eyes fixed on the two intruders, and the largest creature lowered its head before charging toward them.

Amon sighed. "Looks like our first lesson has arrived."

The monsters spread out as they approached, attempting to surround Amon and Sidney from different directions.

Amon calmly raised his hand.

A metallic chain shot from his spatial bracelet.

The Chains of Hell unfurled through the air, moving with a precision that ordinary weapons couldn’t match.

The first monster leaped toward Amon’s throat, but the chain wrapped around its neck before it could reach him.

Amon pulled sharply, dragging the creature sideways into the path of another beast, and the two collided with a heavy crash that sent loose stones scattering across the ground.

Before either could recover, the chain tightened around their bodies.

Amon twisted his wrist, and the links constricted with enough force to crush their hardened scales.

The monsters struggled briefly before their movements stopped, their bodies collapsing onto the blackened ground.

The remaining two attacked from opposite directions.

Amon stepped sideways to avoid the first creature’s jaws, then redirected the chain toward its legs and pulled them out from beneath it.

The beast crashed onto its side, exposing its neck, and Amon finished it with a sharp strike.

The final monster hesitated when it saw its companions lying motionless.

That hesitation was enough.

Amon flicked his wrist, and the chain shot forward, wrapped around the creature’s torso, and dragged it across the ground before slamming it against a nearby rock formation.

The impact broke several scales along its side, and the monster stopped moving moments later.

Amon recalled the chain into his bracelet and turned toward Sidney.

"That was your first lesson. Always pay attention to your surroundings, and never let multiple enemies surround you unless you have a plan to deal with them."

Sidney nodded eagerly, trying to memorize every movement he had made.

Amon continued explaining how to judge an opponent’s movements, maintain distance, and look for openings instead of attacking blindly.

However, halfway through his explanation, Sidney suddenly called out to him.

"Big Brother..."

Amon turned toward her, noticing that her voice sounded different from before.

"What happened?"

Sidney stood motionless, staring at her hands with a confused expression.

Her breathing had become uneven, and a strange reddish glow was spreading across her skin.

"I... don’t feel very good."

Amon immediately stepped toward her, his expression becoming serious.

"Sidney? What’s wrong? Are you feeling dizzy? Does your body hurt anywhere?"

She tried to answer, but before she could say another word, flames suddenly erupted across her entire body.

Amon’s eyes widened. "SIDNEY!"