Final Life Online-Chapter 243: Sun Island XIII

Puddle floated up beside Rhys.

"I help too! Water magic good for ice, right?"

"Just don’t freeze yourself," Rhys said.

Together they rushed in.

Rhys used Swift Cut, slashing across the golem’s arm. Sharp lines of ice cracked apart.

Puddle fired Water Jet at the golem’s legs, melting patches into slush.

The monster roared again, angry now.

It raised both arms—ice gathering above its head.

Sophia’s eyes widened.

"It’s going to drop the ceiling!"

Sharp spikes of ice began to fall from above.

"Everyone, under the pillars!" Rhys ordered.

They sprinted for cover as the spikes rained down—

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Lyra dove behind a pillar, breathing hard.

"This thing isn’t playing around!"

When the attack stopped, Rhys stepped out again.

"Focus on the core," he said. "Break that and it’s done!"

Caria cracked her knuckles.

"Now we’re talking."

Rhys charged.

Puddle followed, shouting, "Snow boss go down!"

Rhys leaped, sword glowing with magic.

He aimed straight for the crystal heart in the monster’s chest.

SLASH!

A huge crack spread across the golem’s torso.

Sophia fired another blast of warm light.

Lyra and Caria both struck its legs at the same time.

The ice guardian shook, wobbling—

Then, with one final roar, it shattered into a storm of icy shards.

SHHHH-CRACK!

Snow drifted down like gentle falling feathers.

Rhys lowered his sword and exhaled.

"That’s another trial done."

Puddle cheered loudly.

"Cold monster defeated! Warm hugs now!"

Lyra laughed.

"Yeah, I could use one."

Aqua tugged Rhys’s sleeve again.

"The next shard... should be just ahead."

Caria stretched.

"Good. Because the fire room is next, and I’m not freezing again."

Together, the group stepped forward, deeper into the frozen chamber—

toward the glowing blue shard waiting at the center.

Rhys reached out and picked up the glowing blue shard. It pulsed gently in his hand, warm despite the icy surroundings.

"Got it," he said. "Two down, one to go."

Sophia looked around the chamber.

"The way ahead should lead to the fire trial. We’ll need to be careful—probably lava, flames, or fire monsters."

Lyra stretched and adjusted her gear.

"Finally. Something that isn’t freezing cold. I can handle heat better than frost."

Caria smirked.

"Good. Let’s hope it’s not too hot to make me melt."

Puddle floated above Rhys’s shoulder, bouncing slightly.

"Puddle ready for fire too! Maybe puddle make steam!!"

Aria checked the glowing hall ahead.

"The red hallway is glowing already. That must be the fire path. Stay alert—these trials get harder each time."

Rhys nodded and led the team forward.

"Alright. Blue shard secured. Let’s finish this gauntlet and get the final shard. Everyone, stay together and watch each other’s backs."

The group moved into the red hallway. The air immediately became warmer, the stone walls glowing faintly red. Small heat waves rose from the floor, and flickering shadows suggested flames ahead.

Caria wiped sweat from her forehead.

"Okay... yeah, it’s hot. But nothing we can’t handle."

Lyra frowned.

"Just... don’t stand in one spot too long."

Sophia tightened her grip on her staff.

"Fire monsters or traps—we’ll need to move fast."

Puddle puffed her cheeks.

"Hot hot! Puddle... maybe splash water if too hot!"

Rhys took a deep breath and stepped forward, leading the way.

"The fire trial starts now. Let’s get the next shard."

The team moved cautiously down the hall, ready for whatever the Sun Temple would throw at them next.

The hallway opened into a massive chamber. Lava flowed in shallow streams across the floor, glowing bright orange. Giant stone pillars rose from the molten ground, and the ceiling dripped with molten rock.

Caria stepped carefully.

"Alright... this is hot. Don’t slip on lava, don’t fall in—easy, right?"

Lyra glanced around. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Traps, fire monsters... this place is screaming trouble."

A low rumble echoed through the chamber. The lava shifted, bubbling violently, and from it rose a huge creature—its body made of molten rock, eyes glowing like embers.

Rhys tightened his grip on his sword.

"That must be the fire guardian."

Puddle floated beside him, shivering slightly despite the heat.

"Hot monster! Puddle... maybe ice... maybe water... maybe... shoot fire back?!"

Sophia frowned.

"Don’t think water alone will work on that. We’ll need strategy. Everyone, watch for its attacks and stay spread out."

The molten creature raised a massive arm, hurling a wave of lava toward them.

Rhys shouted,

"Move! Use the pillars for cover!"

The team dodged behind stone pillars as the lava wave splashed harmlessly against them.

Lyra dashed forward, striking the creature’s leg with her blades. Sparks flew, but it barely slowed down.

Caria followed up with a spinning axe throw, hitting the creature’s arm. The molten rock cracked slightly.

Puddle fired Water Jet at the base of the lava streams, cooling patches of molten rock into steam.

"Pew! Puddle help!"

Aria used her wind magic to blow steam away and confuse the creature’s vision.

Rhys leaped onto a nearby pillar.

"Focus on its core! Once we break that, it’s over!"

Sophia froze the creature’s feet with ice magic, slowing its movements.

Together, the team launched a coordinated assault—Lyra and Caria striking limbs, Aria controlling wind, Puddle using water, Sophia freezing key spots, and Rhys charging straight for the glowing core.

The molten guardian roared and swung wildly, but it was too slow now. Rhys plunged his sword into the glowing core, channeling all his energy.

BOOOOM!

The fire guardian exploded into a shower of molten sparks and steam. Lava sizzled as the heat subsided, leaving a pile of cooled, broken rock.

Caria wiped sweat from her face.

"Phew! That’s what I call a workout."

Lyra laughed.

"Finally, some normal temperature for a change."

Puddle floated up excitedly.

"Fire monster down! Puddle... safe!"

Sophia examined the center of the chamber. A glowing red shard rested on a stone pedestal.

Rhys picked it up.

"Two shards done. One left—the shiny white-gold one."

Aria looked toward the final hallway.

"Looks like the light trial awaits. Let’s finish this gauntlet."

The team moved toward the last path, ready for the final challenge.