Chapter 70: Into the Infernal Orchard

The journey from the Forge of the Flamebringer to the Infernal Orchard was one fraught with danger and uncertainty. As they descended from the volcanic mountain, the landscape began to shift from scorched earth and rivers of lava to a surreal, twisted forest bathed in perpetual red light. The air grew thick with the scent of sulfur and something else—a sharp, tangy fragrance that Victor instinctively recognized as the scent of the Emberfruit.

The Infernal Orchard was a place of legend, known to few and ventured by even fewer. It was said to be a garden where flames grew in place of leaves, and the fruits that thrived there could ignite or heal, depending on how they were handled.

Victor's heart pounded as he led the group forward. The medallion given by the Flamebringer rested against his chest, pulsing with warmth, as if reacting to the environment around them.