The Scorching Summit

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Megumi shook her head. "Hunters are just one type. You'd be surprised how awful humans can be to each other when laws don't tie people down. Thankfully, most places aren't that brutal these days."

"Hm, then I suppose humans and monsters aren't that different in some aspects." Jack commented.

The group soon reached the end of the tunnel, which was sealed by an ancient door that Jack moved by tracing his finger along the ancient runes in a certain pattern. The runes glowed a bright blue before slowly rising to reveal the plains:
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"This part of the summit is full of fire Deimos who don't take kindly to humans," Jack said to Megumi, who was busy fanning herself with her hand. "So please be careful. Once we follow the path up to the summit, it will become much cooler and we can find the Obsidian valley. But I think it will be harder for you to breathe since the air gets a little thin." ​

"If they're anything like Asuza, then I don't think I should feel too worried..." Megumi joked, not looking forward to trekking further up.​

"Is she a fire Deimos too? I thought humans weren't that keen on getting along with Deimos that much."​

"Meh, depends on where you go I guess, but she's definitely got the aggression of a fire demon. She's a fire witch." Megumi replied.​

"A witch.... a Paradican?" Jack asked.​

"Yeah, but she never talks about it with me. I don't think she likes being from there."​
 
"Paradican... so she's from Paradise... the land of magic?" She asked Megumi. She made sure to be weary when traveling through this part. Monsters were one thing, but Deimos is a bit a step above the average Monster in terms of strength and abilities. “Are you from Paradice as well, or Empire State, Megumi? You don’t seem to be a witch or a mage.” 

Lava Girl stared at her attire. “Though, it’s been a while since I see a mage around in this place.”
 
"Me? Er, I'm not from either of those places. I was born in the Desolate Lands. But my village was overrun with monsters and raiders, so I don't have a home to come back to there." Megumi tugged at her clothes out of slight embarrassment. "Paradicans dress kinda fancy, since they have all those casinos. But these are my work clothes. I'd have better ones if Asuza didn't spend my money buying so much frilly goth crap! I'm also too dumb to learn magic, so I've just adapted my own style of using my life energy."

"Desolate Lands... it sounds..." Jack trailed off.

"Totally lame! I mean, there's no laws, no government, monsters all over the place, and gross radiation stuff that probably makes you grow an extra head or something. And everyone's poor and grumpy and could kill ya for a biscuit." Megumi complained. "Well, I'm still poor, but at least nobody will steal my stuff while I'm asleep. I just have to worry about having a mean witch for a roommate."
 
“Desolate Lands… the lawless land…” Lava Girl shivered the thought that people can do whatever they want, whenever they want without any form of consequences. She felt sympathy that she was in the situation. “Well, hopefully we can find those minerals and give that to your friend! I am sure she is having a blast right about now. Who knows, she’d engage in a group herself!”
 
"If anything, I'd be more worried about anyone that's stuck with her. She's a handful," Megumi laughed. 

Suddenly, Jack held out a hand to signal for them to stop. "We have company."

Megumi blinked. "Huh?"

"Hah?! If it ain't Jack Marrow! What made you come out yer cave, ya old bag of bones!?" 

Out from the lava spumes walked out a skeleton similar to Jack, but his bones were as dark as the ashes covering the ground all around them. He wore charred robes that hung loosely off his frame, grasping onto some kind of staff as a small herd of black sheep with flaming wool followed behind him. Several of them left his side and approached the girls, mostly gathering around Lava Girl and bleating at her.

"Skeletornelius," Marrow greeted. "I'm just showing some youngsters around. Out to get Obsidian, they say."

"Hmph! Good luck with that," Skeletornelius said. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Especially with a human, those things tend to roast up here. The summit isn't even safe for most of us anymore... not since a bunch calling themselves the Flaris Tribe showed up."
 
Lava Girl sweated a bit when the several sheep let out a small cry at her, though she tried, or, attempt, to pet them. She raised an eyebrow when Skeletornelius spoke a tribe. “Flaris Tribe?”
 
"Doesn't sound familiar." Jack chimed in.

"Aye," Skeletornelius said. "They're a bunch that are driving the monsters off the summit to harvest the obsidian. Built a temple up there for something..." He scratched his chin as the sheep continued being cuddly with Lava Girl. "But I can't tell if they're humans or monsters... Perhaps they're Deimos? The armor doesn't give anything away. I only know that they ain't from here. Probably worship some kind of fire diety."

"Obsidian's just a pretty rock. It isn't that special is it?" Megumi was curious. "Either way, I didn't spend all day in this sweltering heat just to leave all because a bunch of dorks are hoggin some rocks for themselves."
 
“Deimos…” Lava-Girl said. “They do have a master of arts in Anti-Magic… but I figure something like that would be too hot for them to handle.” Lava Girl turns to Megumi. “I don’t think there’s anything special about the rock itself, but if they are humans, they will always find ways to put value on it in order to increase their monies…” 

She turns to Skeletornelius. "Are they dangerous?"
 
Megumi wasn't sure what to make of the situation, since the circumstances seemed too unfamiliar to think of a plan. She looked on with a confused expression.

"I left before they got the chance to 'convince' me to leave. But..." Skeletornelius paused in thought, having remembered something. "When they were running us out off the summit, I caught a glimpse of a few. One was a big looking oaf with a large hammer. Probably could smash in a few pillars if he wanted. There was a smaller one with him, fully armored. Those two stuck out to me, but I don't think they're leaders... look more like the heavy-arm enforcers of the tribe."

"No instruments then? Maybe they're monsters too." Megumi guessed.

"Possibly. Maybe they could be Hunters, but with stuffy armor like that, I doubt they're humans... Either way, they're outsiders that don't intend on letting the locals live peacefully."

"We could check it out for you then. I've been looking for a fight anyway!" Megumi offers.
 
Lava Girl sweated a bit. “W-well let’s make sure that this isn’t some misunderstanding! They could be monsters looking for a home to settle in…” Lava Girl was concerned that the group composed of those in heavy armor. The only one with something like that is usually the Clan of the Swords… but considering the heat, they are definitely monsters. 

“In agreement with Megumi, we should at least check it out since we’re going that way anyways… they might prove an obstacle in our way.”
 
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