Ye left the safe room and spawned back in the Chamber of Flames, the intense heat immediately engulfing him. The smell of burning wood and sulfur filled the air. As sweat dripped down his face, he thought about Joyce, her lifeless body left behind in the safe room. But now, there was nothing to hold him back from hunting down Taro. A fierce determination burned within him, as fiery as the chamber itself.

Ye carefully traversed the treacherous terrain, dodging fireballs and avoiding lava pools. The sweltering heat, while oppressive, only fueled his will to confront Taro and put an end to his wicked schemes. He could feel his resolve hardening, the same way the molten lava around him would cool and solidify into rock.

As he continued the journey through the Chamber of Flames, he encountered numerous obstacles and challenges. He scaled towering walls of volcanic rock, narrowly avoiding being engulfed in flames. He leaped across chasms filled with rivers of molten lava, feeling the heat singe the hairs on his arms.

Ye’s heart raced as he battled through hordes of fire elementals, their bodies formed from the very flames that threatened to consume him. Their power was immense, but he refused to be deterred. With each defeated foe, his confidence grew, and his determination to find Taro only intensified.

Time lost all meaning as Ye ventured deeper into the chamber, the relentless heat and constant danger blurring the line between reality and delusion. Yet, somehow, he knew he was getting closer to Taro. He could feel it in the air, the intensity of the flames around him, and the growing sense of dread that weighed heavily on his chest.

And then, just when he thought he couldn't go any further, he stumbled upon a massive chamber.

As he walked into the chamber, he suddenly felt a powerful surge of energy. It felt as though the air was charged with a formidable force. He focused his senses and detected not one, but three powerful life forms. Curiosity piqued, he cautiously moved closer, wondering what he would find.

The Heavenly Retribution System chimed in, informing him that there were three power levels north of 500 nearby. He felt a shiver run down his spine; his own power level was only at 375. The difference in strength was immense, and he knew that he would have to be extremely cautious in an approach.

As Ye edged closer, the powerful auras became clearer, and he saw two familiar faces: Kurogane and Taro. His heart raced at the sight of them, but what truly caught his attention was the third figure, a well-built and battle-hardened looking man. He seemed to be holding his own against Kurogane's aggression, while Taro lay back, observing the situation with an air of arrogance.

As Ye observed the scene unfolding before him, he quickly deduced that the man must have been the final combatant to be punished with the Serpent's Coil. Fate had brought them all together in this fiery Chamber of Flames.

Kurogane, in his relentless aggression, pushed the man towards the wall of flames, forcing him to fight for his life. The man swung his sword at Kurogane, but just as Kurogane prepared to retaliate, Taro intervened.

"Stand down, Kurogane," Taro commanded, his voice firm and authoritative. He looked around, sensing Ye’s presence. "I'll fight him barehanded. It seems we have an audience."

With that, Taro stepped forward, engaging the man in combat without any weapons. The man swung his sword at Taro, but Taro effortlessly dodged each attack, displaying an agility and speed that left him in awe. As he moved, Ye realized that his power level must have been at least 700. It was clear that Taro was in a league of his own, and yet, Ye could tell he was still holding back.

The fight continued, with Taro evading every attack the man threw at him. It was a mesmerizing display, and Ye couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at Taro's incredible power. But then, something changed.

Taro suddenly stopped, a look of boredom crossing his face. He turned towards Ye and declared, "Watch what I have in store for you, Ye!"

At that moment, Ye Chen knew that Taro had been aware of his presence all along. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Whatever he had planned, he was certain it would be a brutal and challenging test of his abilities.

Taro's eyes glinted with a cold and calculating menace as he prepared to unleash the Vortex of Annihilation. Ye watched in horrified fascination as his power level skyrocketed, soaring past 1,000. Taro's entire presence seemed to change, becoming an embodiment of absolute destruction.

He began by lifting his hands, fingers spread wide. A whirlwind of energy started to form between his palms, swirling and pulsating with dark, malevolent power. The air grew heavy, and Ye could feel the oppressive force emanating from the vortex.

As the energy continued to build, Taro's body seemed to transform, his muscles becoming more defined and his movements even more fluid and powerful. His eyes gleamed, as if he were a predator about to strike down its prey.

With a swift and decisive motion, Taro hurled the vortex towards the man, who seemed to realize his impending doom a moment too late. The whirlwind engulfed him, its dark tendrils wrapping around his body and tearing into his flesh with ruthless efficiency.

Ye watched in horror as the man's screams were drowned out by the howling winds of the vortex. His body was shredded to pieces, the once proud and powerful warrior reduced to nothing more than a bloody, unrecognizable mess. The vortex then dissipated as quickly as it had formed, leaving no trace of its victim behind.

Ye felt a cold shiver run down his body as he witnessed Taro's devastating power. The Vortex of Annihilation was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and it was clear that Taro was a force to be reckoned with. If he were to face him in combat, he would need to muster every ounce of strength and skill to stand even the slightest chance of survival.

The man's mutilated corpse lay on the ground, a testament to the sheer brutality of Taro's Vortex of Annihilation. Blood and gore were strewn about, painting a grisly scene.

Taro casually laughed, seemingly unaffected by the carnage he had just wrought. Turning to Kurogane, he asked, "Was that impressive enough for you?"

Kurogane didn't respond, his eyes locked on the gruesome sight before him. Ye could see that even he was disturbed by Taro's display of power.

His disgust for Taro's actions reached a boiling point, and he could no longer stand idly by. It was time to confront them. Stepping out from the shadows, Ye steeled himself and prepared to face Kurogane and Taro.

As Ye emerged, Taro's laughter ceased, and Taro’s eyes locked onto his. A sinister grin spread across his face, and Ye could see the thrill of a new challenge dancing in his eyes.

But he was not afraid.

With determination burning in his heart, over matched by over 600 Power Levels, Ye prepared for the battle that was about to unfold.