Chapter 165: Inferno Within

Thelma’s Perspective Faced with the monstrous pine tree, we were forced to acknowledge a daunting truth: we lacked the tools for immediate destruction. Bombs or oil would have been ideal, but our makeshift arsenal consisted only of lighters and small alcohol blocks. These were futile against such an ancient and imposing foe. I turned to Dorothy. “Do you know any fire incantations?” “A lot. What kind do you need?” she replied, her tone calm but serious. I described the requirements: the fire had to be powerful enough to burn through the tree’s thick bark, but not so intense that it risked igniting the forest around us. Any wildfire in this dense maze would be impossible to escape. “It would help if we had divinity to amplify the spell’s power,” I admitted. Divine energy could counteract the tree’s dark magic, speeding up its destruction. Dorothy shook her head. “Without belief in a deity, I can’t summon divinity. But don’t worry—I can create a fire strong enough for t