Universe's End

"Because that's cool as shit," Rory said with a grin.

"Men," Zoey rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, you know that's cool as hell," Rory said, jabbing a finger at her.

"Uh-huh. Sure."

Rory stopped in his tracks, staring at her flatly until Zoey sighed.

"Fine, yes, it actually is sort of cool. A flying fortress and all that. Just didn't know it was possible."

"Oh, it's not, or not really," Rory sighed. "It's a dream for now—still a lot of stuff that needs to go into it. For example, at best, I could probably do a floating fortress, but not a real flying one. There are still a few snaggles in the plan, which is why it's a future plan."

"Uh-huh," Zoey said as the two continued their trek up the mountain. "Flying fortresses aside, what do you suppose this mountain lord of whatever is going to be like?"

"Mean?" Rory guessed, pointing at a nearby monster that had gotten a little too brave, as a dagger suddenly spun through the air and chased it away.

"I don't mean attitude," Zoey sighed. "The Queen looked like a pliosaur from hell. So, what do you suppose the one at the top looks like?"

"Maybe one of your favorite Wyrms," Rory chuckled as Zoey scowled.

"Don't call that sort of evil down on us," Zoey muttered as they continued their way up.

"Yeah, well, we'll know soon enough."

'Soon enough' ended up being quite soon as the two, being impatient, decided to race the rest of the way to the top of the volcano. Pushing past even the last rung of the mountain, where all the monsters were level seventy-eight or seventy-nine, the crest of the mountain seemed to change in what remained of the climb. The ash that rained down at all times stopped being inert grey and now looked like embers still blazing away, even the ground softer beneath their feet, as if the intense heat had softened the very earth.

The natural aura of the environment pressing down on them had risen to a fever pitch, something tier sevens, outside of Zoey alone, would have been unable to withstand without serious protective precautions.

Clearing the rim of the volcano's top, the two paused to take in the sight. It was almost like a bog, except instead of swampy water and mud, it was magma, glossy black spires, and coral trees pulsating with lava-infused venation networks.

In the very center, there was a bubbling magma lake that seemed to radiate excess power, the 'shore' surrounding it in a constant state of melting and resolidifying.

"Five bucks says it's waiting in there to make a dramatic entrance." Zoey snorted after a moment.

"Oh, come on."

"What?"

"Like I'd take that bet, we both know that's exactly what is going to happen."

"You could have pretended at least," Zoey muttered.

"Could have, but that would mean humoring you, and now, why would I do that?" Rory laughed as he slid down the side of the volcano's rim.

"You're an ass, you know that?" Zoey called out as she slid down after him.

"You've only said that to me a million times," Rory shook his head, reaching the bottom and deftly hopping onto a black stone spire sticking out of the magma, leapfrogging across before reaching solid terrain.

Relatively solid terrain.

Zoey followed after him, and the two made their way through the hostile terrain. Outside of the absence of any other monsters, the worst thing about the environment was really the environment itself. Zoey was unfazed, but she had enough durability to withstand the pressure of a tier-ten environment for at least a few minutes.

Reaching the magma lake that was all but certain to contain their destined foe, the two waited, Rory with his arms crossed and Zoey with her hands on her hips.

And waited.

And waited..

"Alright, enough," Zoey said, growing tired. "This asshole is playing with us."

"Maybe there is some sort of condition that needs to be met firs- oh whoa whoa!"

Dodging out of the way, Rory was barely in time as Zoey swung her shiny black fist down into the magma. Like a meteor hitting an ocean, a wave of magma rose and swept out as Rory felt the impact of the strike disperse through the magma.

The good news was that Zoey had been correct in her assumption that she could draw out their target.

The bad news was that Zoey was entirely correct in her assumption that she could draw out their target.

For a moment, Rory was reminded of the Khan of Blue Lightning as a massive creature tore out from the magma, thrashing its head about and bellowing in anger.

"Insolence!"

As Rory stared at the monster, he couldn't help the smirk spreading across his face as he glanced at Zoey, who was glaring with evil intent at the beast.

"So…. Thoughts?" Rory asked, already knowing her answer.

"Death. Only death." Zoey seethed.

And for good reason.