Andrey stood at the edge of the jagged cliff, the heat from the lava river below rising in waves that distorted the air. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana, but his mind was elsewhere, reaching for the familiar presence that had guided them through so many battles.

’System,’ he called silently. ’Can you hear me?’

Nothing. Not the usual chime, not the cheerful holographic screen, not even the faint pulse of the connection he had grown accustomed to.

He tried again. ’System. Status report.’

Silence.

Andrey’s expression tightened. He reached deeper, pushing past the surface layer of his consciousness, searching for any trace of the system’s presence. There was nothing. Just the oppressive weight of the demon’s domain pressing down on him.

His internal thoughts churned, ’This gate is different. It’s blocking the connection entirely. That’s never happened before. What kind of place did that demon drag us into?’

"Andrey!"

Hope’s voice cut through his thoughts. She was standing a few meters away, her greatsword planted in the volcanic rock, her golden eyes scanning the hellish landscape around them. Her armor was still scorched and dented, but she held herself with the practiced readiness of a seasoned warrior.

"This place..." Hope’s voice was low, controlled, but there was an edge to it. "I’ve been in S-rank gates before. The energy here feels similar. Dense. Oppressive. Like the gate itself is alive."

Andrey walked toward her, his boots crunching on the black obsidian. "It’s higher than S-rank."

Hope turned to look at him, her blue eyes sharp. "What do you mean?"

Andrey adjusted his glasses, though the gesture felt almost absurd in this burning wasteland. "S-rank gates have a certain... signature. The mana density, the way the environment warps around the core. I’ve studied enough reports to recognize the pattern." He gestured at the churning sky, the lava river, the towering cliffs of black rock. "This doesn’t fit. It’s too structured. Too controlled. This isn’t a natural gate. It’s a domain created by that demon specifically for this fight."

Hope was silent for a moment, processing. Then she nodded slowly. "That would explain why the monsters aren’t spawning randomly. He’s controlling everything here."

Andrey stepped past her, moving toward the edge of the cliff where the rock crumbled into the lava below. He could see platforms of obsidian jutting out from the cliffs at various heights, connected by narrow bridges of stone that looked like they could collapse at any moment.

Hope followed him, her greatsword scraping against the rock. She stopped beside him, looking out at the same landscape.

"Andrey," she said, her voice softer now. "You should climb onto my back."

Andrey turned to look at her. "What?"

Hope’s expression was serious, unembarrassed. "You’re a C-rank. I’m an S-rank. In a domain like this, the safest place for you is with me. I can protect you more easily if you’re not having to dodge and fight on your own."

Andrey shook his head, turning back to survey the terrain. "No."

Hope’s brow furrowed. "Andrey—"

"Hope." His voice was calm but firm. "I can fight. I’ve been fighting. I’m not going to become dead weight just because the environment changed."

Hope stepped in front of him, blocking his view. Her blue eyes met his, earnest and insistent. "This isn’t about pride, Andrey. This is about survival. That demon is beyond anything you’ve faced before. If you try to fight him head-on, he’ll kill you. And I won’t let that happen."

Andrey met her gaze steadily. "I understand the risk. But I’ve been in situations where I had to rely on others, and I’ve been in situations where I had to stand on my own. I’m still here because I learned when to do which." He placed a hand on her armored shoulder, gently moving her aside. "Right now, the best way I can help is by watching your back. Not hiding behind it."

Hope’s face went rigid, but she didn’t argue further. Instead, she looked out at the burning landscape, her expression hardening with determination.

"You’re stubborn," she muttered.

Andrey’s lips twitched. "I’ve been told."

They stood in silence for a moment, the heat pressing against them, the distant rumble of lava flowing below.

Then Andrey spoke again, his voice low and thoughtful.

"That demon... he didn’t attack us directly. He grabbed me, threatened me, but when you showed up, he backed off. He’s testing us. Probing our strengths and weaknesses."

Hope glanced at him. "You think he’s gathering information?"

Andrey nodded. "He’s a predator. And predators don’t hunt until they know they can win." He looked at her, his brown eyes serious behind his glasses. "He’s going to wear you down first. Separate you from me, maybe. Attack in waves. He wants you exhausted before he strikes."

Hope’s expression darkened. "That’s... a disturbing theory."

"It’s logical." Andrey turned to face her fully. "You’re the biggest threat to him in this domain. Your Valkyrie Mode, your skills, your experience, he can sense all of that. So he’ll try to weaken you before engaging directly."

Hope’s grip on her greatsword tightened. "Then we don’t give him the chance. We find him first."

Andrey shook his head. "No. We wait. We conserve our strength. Let him come to us."

Hope stared at him, her blue eyes searching his face. Then she let out a slow breath.

"That’s... a reasonable strategy."

Andrey allowed himself a small smile. "I’m full of reasonable strategies."

Suddenly there was movement in the lava.

Hope’s eyes narrowed as the creature hauled itself fully onto the obsidian platform. Molten rock dripped from its body, sizzling where it struck the stone. Its form was humanoid but bloated, translucent in places, revealing a core of churning liquid fire where its heart should have been. It had no face—just a smooth, featureless expanse that somehow conveyed hunger.

"Andrey," Hope said quietly, her greatsword rising, "it seems we can’t wait for the demon to come to us."

Andrey drew his katana, the blade gleaming in the hellish glow. "My strategy was too simple."

Hope glanced at him, a hint of a smile playing on her lips despite the circumstances. "Simple is good because it is easy to understand." She shifted her stance, golden light flaring along her blade. "Now let’s show this thing what simple looks like."

The faceless lava monster lunged.