The ninja finally reached the Irikanmo volcano. Before them stood a gigantic mountain of black stone, its slopes covered in cracks from which the red glow of molten lava seeped. The air around them shimmered with heat, and thick black smoke billowed from the crater, veiling the sky.
But there was a problem—the smoke was growing denser, and a deep rumbling echoed from the depths of the volcano.
- This is bad, isn't it?
Jay asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Cole, carefully observing the volcano, replied.
- It means it's going to erupt soon.
Master Wu studied the slopes intently. "We must act quickly. If the volcano fully awakens, we won't stand a chance."
The ninja moved forward, heading toward the grand entrance at the very heart of the volcano. Towering before them stood massive gates—black as obsidian, with thin glowing red veins running through them, like molten metal. They appeared ancient, covered in mysterious symbols that flickered dimly in the lava's light.
***
Inside the volcano, a sea of lava stretched before them, boiling and glowing a fiery red. The lava flows nearly covered the entire ground, leaving only narrow stone ledges to step on. Each footstep echoed like an explosion, as their feet touched the scorching rock above this hellish sea of molten fire.
Before them stood a temple—grand and awe-inspiring, as if it had risen from the very heart of the volcano. Its walls were made of red, white, and black stone, interwoven into an intricate yet harmonious pattern. Along the sides of the enormous passageway, seven colossal pillars stood tall, each adorned with the image of a dragon.
The first pillar bore a red dragon, embodying the element of fire. Its form radiated burning energy, and its eyes glowed like flames ready to break free.
The second pillar featured a green dragon, symbolizing wind. Its outline appeared light and ethereal, as if it was dissolving into the air, swirling invisible currents around itself.
The third pillar depicted a black dragon, representing earth. Its form was massive and unshakable, like the very ground that supports everything. It stood firm, resembling an unmovable mountain.
The fourth pillar displayed a golden dragon, symbolizing the golden power and energy. Its eyes shone with intense light that burst from its body, representing limitless strength and the ability to change the world.
The fifth pillar held a dark blue dragon, embodying lightning. Its presence was sharp and incredibly fast, as if it could instantly illuminate the night sky with its cutting bolts.
The sixth pillar depicted a sky-blue dragon, representing water. Its appearance was calm and fluid, like a river flowing in its course—capable of bringing both peace and raging storms.
The seventh pillar bore the image of a white dragon, symbolizing ice. Its form was reserved and cold, like a solid glacier that yields to no force of nature. Its glow was pale, like a frosty shimmer dispersing through the frozen air.
The temple had no doors. Its entrance was a massive archway stretching from the floor to the ceiling, allowing beams of moonlight to shine through the upper openings, illuminating everything inside. This was not just an ordinary temple—it looked like a sanctuary meant for something far greater than mere visitors.
- Is it just me, or is this...?
Jay began, gazing at the temple.
- The elemental clans' dragons.
Zane finished, glancing at the enormous pillars.
- Exactly.
Master Wu confirmed, calmly observing the temple.
- The Fire Katana is inside the temple?
Niya asked, looking at Master Wu with uncertainty.
- And how are we supposed to get there? Across these rocks?
Kai questioned, eyeing the narrow stone ledges leading forward.
- What, are you scared?
Elis asked sarcastically, almost catching his gaze as she lightly punched his shoulder.
- Me?!
Kai raised his brows in surprise.
- Of course not! Watch this!
With a cocky grin, he boldly stepped to the edge of the stone platform and leaped onto the next rock a bit further ahead.
- Kai! Be careful! We don't know what could happen!
Master Wu warned, watching his movements with concern.
- Don't worry, Sensei. Fools don't drown.
Elis smirked.
- I can hear you!
Kai shouted back at her.
Cole held out his palm, and Elis gave him a high-five as he began,
- Outplayed...
- And destroyed.
Elis finished with a grin.
- Eh-eh-eh!
Jay laughed, watching their banter.
- Enough already!
Niya sighed impatiently.
- We need to move before the volcano erupts.
Zane noted, glancing at the increasingly menacing volcano.
- Then let's go!
Kai yelled, leaping onto the next rock ahead.
The ninja continued their journey across the stones above the lava lake. With each step, the darkness deepened, and the volcano seemed to be preparing for an explosion. Leading the way were Kai, Cole, and Elis, carefully stepping from one stone to the next. Behind them followed Jay, Niya, and Zane, keeping a safe distance and scanning their surroundings. Master Wu, gathering his thoughts, walked at the back, keeping watch over the group.
Suddenly, the volcano began to tremble, shaking the stones beneath their feet. The lava below bubbled like a massive, boiling river, and thick smoke rose into the air, shrouding everything around them.
- What is that?!
Cole shouted, squinting through the haze.
Master Wu raised a hand, trying to stop them. But before he could warn them, darkness fell upon them all. They felt the ground slip from under their control, and in an instant, their eyes were plunged into complete darkness—even though they were still physically in the same place.
- What's happening?
Niya asked, feeling an unnatural sense of fear creeping over her.
Suddenly, terrifying images appeared before them. Massive monsters and horrifying creatures emerged from the darkness, throwing them into panic. It felt as if each of them was facing their worst nightmare.
- It's an illusion!
Zane exclaimed, though his voice sounded distorted, as if lost in the confusion.
- Be careful!
Master Wu warned.
- These are the temple's illusions—they're trying to break you!
Elis grabbed Kai's hand and simultaneously reached for Cole's when a massive predatory bird appeared above her, circling menacingly. Everyone could feel their hearts pounding from fear. But each of them tried to gather their strength and not let the illusion take control.
- Don't believe it!
Jay called out, steeling himself.
- It's just an illusion. Focus on reality!
The illusion lashed out at the ninja, surrounding them with chaotic and terrifying images. Each of them struggled to fight back against these nightmarish figures, but their strikes passed right through them, as if they were mere mist. No one could touch or harm what stood before them.
Kai, Cole, and Elis tried to break free from the illusion, but their attacks left no mark. Niya and Zane attempted to use their elemental abilities, but they had no effect. Jay and Master Wu also found themselves unable to influence what was happening.
Master Wu took a deep breath and assumed a combat stance. His movements were fluid yet precise, each step deliberate. He began to spin, gradually gaining momentum. His arms moved in perfect harmony with his body, creating a flow of energy that surged from beneath his feet.
The air around them started to swirl into a spiral, lifting dust and creating a sense of raging power. This current of energy swept through the illusion, dissipating it like a shadow under bright light. The distorted images flickered and vanished, leaving behind only emptiness.
The ninja stood still, breathing heavily. Wu slowly stopped spinning and straightened, carefully surveying the space where the illusions had just been.
The ninja watched him, still in awe of what they had just witnessed.
- So that's what you're going to teach us...
Niya murmured, glancing from Wu to where the illusion had been.
- And you could do that this whole time?!
Jay exclaimed, still unable to believe his eyes.
- No words... just emotions...
Cole added, shaking his head.
Wu only smiled slightly and looked ahead.
- Let's go. We need to keep moving forward.
He said.
Without further hesitation, the ninja jumped onto the next stones, pressing on toward the temple.
***
The ninjas entered the temple, and a magnificent space opened before them. Inside, it seemed even larger than from the outside. Tall stone walls were covered with ancient inscriptions and paintings depicting an epic battle between light and darkness. The floor was smooth, as if polished by centuries, and the pillars, adorned with carvings, stretched upwards, supporting the massive ceiling.
At the very center of the temple, on an elevated pedestal, stood the Fire Katana. Its blade shimmered with a crimson glow, radiating a faint heat, as if a real fire was smoldering within it.
Kai ran up to the pedestal, paying no attention to the others, and grabbed the katana.
- I think...
He began, raising the sword.
Suddenly, the blade lit up with a bright red light, as if responding to his touch. A wave of hot energy spread through the temple, making the air around it tremble.
- This is mine!
Kai exclaimed confidently, staring in fascination at the weapon in his hands.
- Of course it is.
Elis said, walking toward the walls covered in inscriptions and paintings.
Zane carefully examined the images and then turned to Master Wu.
- Sensei, what does it say here?
Hearing this, all the ninjas curiously approached the walls, trying to decipher the mysterious symbols and drawings.
On the ancient walls of the temple, words were carved in an old language, and next to them were depictions of majestic dragons. The inscriptions glowed faintly, as if absorbing the energy of the temple. Master Wu looked closely at the text and began to read:
- Before the First Golden Master created the world, the Great Dragons already existed. They were the embodiment of pure elemental power, each governing their element, maintaining balance in chaos. When the world began to take shape, they became its guardians, protecting the elements from devastation and destruction.
Further on, seven dragons were carved, each symbolizing one of the elements:
— The Red Dragon – Fire,
— The Green Dragon – Wind,
— The Black Dragon – Earth,
— The Golden Dragon – Golden Power,
— The Dark Blue Dragon – Lightning,
— The Light Blue Dragon – Water,
— The White Dragon – Ice.
Wu continued reading as the ninjas listened intently:
- Among all the dragons, one was known as the bearer of...
The text abruptly ended, leaving only eroded symbols and broken stone fragments.
- The bearer of what?
Cole muttered, trying to make out the lost words.
- There must be something important here...
Niya added, running her hand over the ancient stone.
At the end of the inscription, only one phrase remained readable:
- When the wind rises above the flame, the path will open...
- What does that mean?
Jay asked, puzzled, looking at the others.
- It's a clue... but to what?
Master Wu mused, continuing to examine the inscriptions.
- What?! Wind above the flame?!
Kai exclaimed indignantly, clenching his new katana.
- Yes, that's exactly what it says!
Cole replied, pointing to the inscription on the wall.
- Now is not the time for this, you two!
Zane intervened with a sigh.
The ninjas read the last line again, trying to grasp its meaning.
- Sensei, does this mean that next we...
Niya began, thoughtfully gazing at the ancient text.
- Yes, next we head for the Sword of Winds... to the Temple of the Celestial Eye.
Master Wu confirmed.
- The Temple of the Celestial Eye?! That place?
Elis asked in surprise.
- Yes... do you know something about it?
Master Wu asked.
- Not exactly, but in the village of Sorai, there's something like a legend about this temple.
Elis explained.
- What legend?
Jay asked.
- The legend says that after the fierce battle of light and darkness, when each clan became separate, elemental entities appeared in the Temple of the Celestial Eye. But...
Elis hesitated.
- But what?
Cole asked.
- No one has ever seen this temple, and in fact, no one knows if it really exists. That's why people have long forgotten about it.
Elis finished explaining.
- Sensei, are you sure this temple exists?
Niya asked.
- Yes, I personally visited it with my father.
Master Wu replied.
- And the reason no one has found it is that my father never revealed its true location to anyone.
- Then let's go before the volcano erupts!
Kai said impatiently, stepping forward.
***
And just as Kai spoke, the volcano began to shake, the ground beneath them trembled, and a deep rumble echoed from within its depths. Smoke and ash rose into the air, darkening the sky, while the lava boiled more and more violently.
- This is not a good sign! We must hurry!
Master Wu said, glancing around.
Jumping from stone to stone, the ninjas began moving toward the temple exit, feeling the air grow hotter as the volcano gained strength.
The tremors became stronger with each passing second. The lava, which had once bubbled quietly, now surged upward, flooding more and more of the rocky terrain and creating a deadly threat for all. Ash and smoke filled the air, making it harder to breathe. Each leap was risky—stones beneath their feet were heating up, and even the very surface of the lava seemed to blaze with fury.
Molten lava poured with a deafening roar, its fiery tendrils nearly licking the stones they leaped across. Bright flashes of lightning illuminated the space around them, while the searing streams of lava radiated unbearable heat. The rocks beneath their feet became slippery, demanding full concentration to avoid slipping and falling into the scorching abyss.
Overcome with fear, the ninjas rushed forward, dodging burning stones and skillfully leaping over the dangerous obstacles appearing in their path. Every jump felt like their last chance to escape inevitable doom.
- Faster!!!
Jay shouted, his voice cutting through the volcano's rumbling.
- We're trying!!
Zane shouted back, leaping forward and struggling to balance on the narrow stones.
Suddenly, Kai, full of adrenaline and desperate to reach the exit, lost his balance. His feet slipped on a slick rock, and in a terrifying moment, he saw the lava river below him boil and surge upward in scalding waves.
- Kai, I got you!
Elis yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him back so he could regain his footing.
- That was close...
Kai muttered, breathing heavily, his heart pounding.
- Elis, do you have him?!
Cole asked, pausing for a moment to glance back at them.
- Yeah!!
Elis called back with a grin, though her voice carried a hint of strain.
- If it weren't for me, you'd already be part of that lava.
She said proudly, still holding Kai's hand.
- If you two don't hurry up, you'll BOTH become part of the lava!
Jay shouted, already sprinting out of the volcano, pushing himself to outrun the approaching lava.
- Run!
Zane urged, pushing everyone forward as the lava began rising even faster.
The ninjas picked up their pace as the molten wave drew ever closer to their heels.
***
The ninjas, finally emerging from the volcano, turned to see the ground behind them shaking violently. From the crater, scorching lava burst forth, tearing through everything in its path. Massive chunks of rock shot through the air like enormous projectiles, while the volcano spewed its terrifying flames. The lava, like a living creature, poured from the volcano's mouth, engulfing everything—stones, trees, and anything else unfortunate enough to be in its way.
- We're lucky we got out in time!
Jay exclaimed, watching the destruction from a safe distance.
- This isn't just an eruption... This is a true inferno!
Zane said, astonished by the sheer power of the elements.
- Quickly, we need to move farther away!
Master Wu ordered, pointing to the area where the lava was gaining even more strength.
The ninjas hurried away from the volcano before its full explosive force could reach them. The raw power of nature unfolded before their eyes.
And so, after escaping the volcano, the ninjas set off in search of the last Golden Weapon—the Sword of Winds. Gathering together, they began their journey toward the Temple of the Celestial Eye, where, according to legend, the sword was hidden.