[Chapter 304. Molten Core]

The moment he stepped out of the Labyrinth, not only did the sight of the adventurers surprise him, but a System Notification also appeared, informing him that he had successfully cleared the Tidal Terrace and the Howling Caverns dungeons.

`Did the Carrier clear two dungeons while I was inside the Labyrinth? It has to be... If it can clear dungeons and gather the loot automatically, then this will ease my time problem by quite a lot.`

The thought raced through his mind as he absorbed the implications. His creation had acted autonomously, securing valuable resources while he trained his companions. A faint smile touched his lips—this unexpected development could solve his pressing time shortage.

He approached the armored adventurers, their conversation dying out as they noticed his presence. Their eyes widened in recognition of the legendary Lord who had built this city and equipped them with their gear. They bowed deeply, their movements stiff in their unfamiliar armor.

"My Lord," their leader stammered. "We were just reviewing our strategy for—"

"No need," Searanox cut him off, his tone dismissing the matter. "Continue your training. Report your progress after you're finished."

Without waiting for a response, he turned away, already focused on his next objective. He summoned three of his Intermediate Travel drones from their storage. The metallic constructs materialized in the air with a soft hum, their surfaces reflecting the atrium's dim light. He and his companions mounted the drones and flew out of the hall under the surprised gazes of the Awakened, who watched with jaws agape as their benefactor lifted into the air.

They flew over the wall and headed northeast, the landscape below transforming from the dark stone of Androxis to rolling hills dotted with clusters of trees. The wind whipped through Searanox's hair as they gained altitude, the city shrinking behind them. Iris sat behind him, holding onto him more tightly than necessary as she always did. Her arms were wrapped securely around his torso, her head pressed against his back as she savored the proximity. Her fur tickled his neck where it escaped her armor, and he could feel the rapid beat of her heart against him.

After an hour or so of flying, they reached the first dungeon on their list. Below them stood the glowing portal that led into the Molten Core. They landed directly in front of the dungeon and walked right in. The change in temperature was staggering; a blistering heat washed over them before it was partially suppressed by the magic of their rings. Still, the sudden warmth made sweat instantly bead on their skin despite the protective enchantments.

`I might not have thought this through... The boss is a fucking tank that I barely killed last time. And now I have to fight it while protecting the four of them—`

His mind raced through scenarios, each ending in potential disaster. He could already see Vanessa stumbling on the uneven rock, Carmen caught in an unexpected blast, Sarah misjudging a teleport, and Lana freezing at a critical moment.

`Then again, I can leave them behind in the tunnels while Iris and I fight the dragon. They'd have to fight the respawning Salamanders near the caldera entrance, but they should be able to handle three of them by themselves.`

He glanced back at his companions, noting their reactions to the oppressive heat. Carmen adjusted her armor and staff, her face set with determination. Vanessa examined her tome with narrowed eyes, already calculating how many spell matrices she would need. Sarah stretched languidly, her movements fluid even on the treacherous ground. Lana gripped her shield, her knuckles white but her expression defiant.

His gaze settled on Iris. She had already summoned her massive Zweihänder, the turquoise glow of its blade casting eerie shadows across her fierce features. She met his eyes with silent understanding, her loyalty unwavering even as she assessed the deadly challenge ahead.

"Stay close," he commanded, his voice cutting through the low rumble of the mountain's core. "This place will test everything you've learned."

As they descended into the volcanic tunnels, the heat intensified with each step. Glowing magma pools bubbled in deep chasms to their sides, casting ruddy light across jagged walls that seemed to pulse with an inner life. The air shimmered with heat distortion, making distances difficult to judge. Far ahead, they could hear the deep, resonant roar of something stirring in the mountain.

Searanox's mind calculated the odds with cold precision, the heat of the volcanic tunnels seeping through his suit as he formulated his plan. Each of his companions represented both an asset and a potential liability in the hostile environment of the Molten Core. His eyes swept over the four women, noting their varying levels of preparedness and the subtle tells of nervousness beneath their brave facades.

"Alright, listen," he finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "I want you four to hang back and prioritize your own survival. I don't have the time to look after you in battle." His words struck them with unexpected force.

Iris perked up as he motioned toward the four women, her silver eyes bright with anticipation. The turquoise light of her Zweihänder cast shifting patterns across the obsidian walls as she shifted her weight, the weapon seeming almost eager in her hands. "And me?"

"You will aid me in the front," he replied, his gaze locking with hers in a moment of silent communication. The connection between them was palpable, an unspoken understanding that transcended words. "Since we are here for the experience only, we will go straight toward the boss and leave all the side chambers alone."

His decision was strategic, calculated to maximize their gains while minimizing unnecessary risks. Every moment spent clearing side chambers was a moment not spent gaining the valuable experience they needed.

Searanox walked forward, his armored boots crunching on the coarse volcanic rock with each deliberate step. As he moved, he summoned a specific set of drones that wouldn't aggressively cut into his TP reserves. The air around him shimmered as the metallic constructs materialized into existence.

At the sight of the low drone count, Iris stepped closer. Her silver eyes reflected the dim glow of the distant magma pools as she asked in a low whisper that barely registered above the mountain's rumble, "Why are you summoning so few?"

"I have my reasons. Currently, this is all I can sustain without taxing myself. But since you are here, there shouldn't be any problem." His tone was measured, betraying none of the calculations running through his mind regarding resource allocation and the necessity of maintaining reserves for the inevitable boss fight.

Iris beamed when she heard that he relied on her so much, the expression lighting up her wolf-like features with pure, unadulterated pride. Her grip tightened slightly on the hilt of her Zweihänder, the turquoise energy pulsing in response to her heightened emotions.

They made their way through the tunnel of cooled molten rock, the walls seemingly alive with the heat that radiated from deep within the mountain's core. Before they had progressed more than several meters, they ran into the first group of Magma Turtles. The creatures hunkered near the tunnel walls, their blackened shells glowing with fissures of orange light that pulsed like slow heartbeats. Their orange eyes tracked the party's movement with reptilian indifference.

Iris brought her Zweihänder up before Searanox could even give an order, the massive blade seeming to hum with anticipation as she angled it toward the nearest turtle. Her muscles coiled, and in a blur of motion, she dashed toward them, her armored feet barely making a sound on the volcanic rock.

His drones took up their usual positions before he noticed that this wouldn't do, as Iris was now exposed in the front. The tactical disadvantage was immediate and glaring—his standard formation was designed to protect the summoner, not accommodate a charging frontline companion. He swiftly redirected his units. They drew closer, their mechanical forms gleaming in the tunnel's ruddy light, cutting off the half-dozen Magma Turtles and boxing them in behind a multilayered barrier.

With the turtles split up into three smaller groups, he was certain the fight would easily go their way. That was, until Iris brought her blade down on them in a devastating blow that seemed to split the very air. The strike shattered the scales of the lead turtle's head before cutting right through it with a sound like cracking stone combined with tearing metal. The turtle's orange light flickered and died as its massive body slumped to the ground, molten blood seeping from the clean wound.

`Since when is she this strong?`

The question echoed in Searanox's mind with urgent intensity, even as he and his combat drones opened fire on the remaining turtles next to her.