[Ignis City] by WALKER and Koyomi - Blue Strokes:

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Volcanoes. They are heralded as a wonder of nature, and also a deadly force to be reckoned with. Their earth, infused and enriched by lava, makes plants thrive, but this dangerous liquid also stops any hope for a living habitat. 

Well, usually this would be the case.

Unknown to most of the world, there is all but one tribe that can sustain itself even amidst that hellish landscape. And not even the dangerous, yet rich volcanic soil. This tribe hides deep within the volcano itself, down under the guzzling lava from the mountaintop.

Take a long, good look at this cavern. Its arch is taller and sturdier than most constructions you’d normally see. You are correct if you guess this is a sign of an artificial structure. This right here is the entrance to this mysterious tribe, who’s only known as the fabled “Children of the Fire God”. 

No one really knows who or what this “Fire God” the tribe worships actually is. And today, we will finally unveil the hidden truth.

… Did you hear that? A faint voice from within the cave. Come. Let us venture forward.

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And there it is. Just look at that absolutely majestic scenery. Hidden deep within the cavern lies this massive, massive town. This spectacle surely is something else. Who would have thought that there would actually be a sky here? A real, blue sky just like any other! And this is the inside of a cave! In a volcano, too!

That's practically impossible. But this isn't some kind of magic trick, either.

After all, if you think about it, a volcano’s top is similar to a well. Looking up from the bottom, the sky would certainly be visible. But I expected it to be smaller, more… imprisoned. While this vast, absolutely breathtaking sky says otherwise.

No, literally. Look, there it is. A steam cloud that says “otherwise” over a chimney.

That right there brings us to the main attraction of this town. It all operates on steam. If you come down here, you can immediately smell the fresh air. It is unbelievably clean. While on the surface, the rise of coals has turned the industrial revolution into a horrid destruction of the environment, down here, with the volcano’s natural heat, this tribe has managed to gather the full power of steam.

Check out the general surroundings. The buildings, specifically. 

*Clang* *Clang*

Listen to that metallic sound. Makes you feel like a kid in a toy shop, don’t you think?

But yes, these buildings are completely made from steel and iron compounds. They have a wonderful charm as if they were made by the hands of man for some other purpose than that of sheltering life. The ironwork is most elaborate indeed, with great domes and spires like those of old Gothic cathedrals

And this makes perfect sense too - a volcano is also a natural forge. Iron and other mineral chunks are formed from the pressure and heat this fiery mountain brings, so, it would only be natural that its people use them to their fullest potential. However, steam makes iron pipes and chimneys rust very quickly, so it’s still a mystery how they could preserve items like this. Hopefully, at the end of our journey, we will see to the bottom of it.

The town looks to be laid out on an east-west axis. It has four main roads leading north, south, east, and west; all of which lead to the central square, where a town’s hall-lookalike building resides. Most of these streets are covered by a thick layer of ash and gravel. The eruptions must have taken a heavy toll on these people…

Huh? Animals, you ask? There doesn’t seem to be any nearby?

Of course, this is easy to understand, since this is still the inside of a volcano, as hard to believe as it is. The people here might be exceptional cases, but animals are certainly not. Though, one has to wonder how these people actually adapted to this environment. Do they develop special skin and sweat glands? Do they cover themselves in special protective clothing? Perhaps steam power might be an option here?

Whatever the case may be, right now, it's time to get down to business. And since this place is almost entirely made of metal, it seems likely that this is where we will find the answer to our quest.

*Clack*

Oh? What’s this? What an… odd contraption. It’s cylindrical, and yet it has these… legs. Four of them, to be exact. No head, though. And this body… It looks like solid steel. How intriguing. And these… bottles? To its sides, too. Judging by how there’s faint smoke around this machine, this has to be steam-powered as well. 

Oh. The contraption stops and falls over. How odd. It must have ceased to function, but how exactly it functions remains a mystery… Does it have anything to do with this small slot?

It’s not much, but this is our first clue. Now, let's take a closer look at this contraption…

*Clack* *Clack*

Look! Up in the air! There’s another one! 

This one doesn’t have any legs though. From the looks of it, this one has a pair of wings. But just look at the way they flap! Such detailed movements are almost identical to real birds!

… Wait.

Of course. It all makes sense now. No animals can survive in this harsh land, so the locals here must have created these machines to replicate them! These designs are truly revolutionary! It can bring automation on the surface to a whole new level! If only we can find out how they work…

*Thump*

Footsteps, it seems. Look over there. It’s a local.

No, not yet. We might not know if they’re hostile or not. We should just observe them from afar for now.

It is a surprise to see an actual native. However, he… how to say this… doesn’t look too much like someone you’d imagine hailing from a mystical volcanic tribe.

His clothes, for instance, are mostly leather, complete with boots (and there seems to be this… spike-thing attached to the heel), a vest jacket, gloves, and a belt. This fine gentleman, in particular, wears a large-rim hat and a scarf along his neck. Disregarding the Texan look, how would this kind of wardrobe fit in this climate? Could it be that this costume is in fact some sort of protective gear? One that allows him to stay cool even when exposed to the heat? 

His face is as red as a tomato, though. It seems like whatever function that outfit provides, it doesn’t really help him regulate his body temperature.

He looks like he’s petting one of those gadgets. So the hypothesis was true after all! They made these machines to replace animals! This small four-legged one must be modeled after a dog, while the flying one is surely a bird! Now, it would be amazing if we could see something like a cow or a horse…

*Honk*

What a stroke of luck! That must be the horse replacement… wait, uh… Doesn’t it look… kind of like a car?

Cars are still quite a rare sight on the surface, but that design is undoubtedly that of a car. That wide, rectangular space enough to fit many people at once. Those doors with handles on the sides. And they even have curved slots for wheels! This thing doesn’t even have wheels! It has legs! Really, really long legs, by the way, but still legs! 

And those two things sticking out from its back… Those are probably its engines! Wow! Just look at how it moves! It may not look the part, but those movements are definitely horse-like!

Sweet heavens, the people on the car-horse thing! They have guns! All of them, guns in their hands! But that man doesn’t look scared at all! How can he remain calm in this life-or-death situation?

Wait! He’s reaching for the leather box on his belt! It's natural for Texans, of course! Everyone has guns there!

Hold on… wait, no, that’s not a gun. Are those… cards? They look like they’re made out of… cardboard. And then there are all these holes in them, too…

Yes! Yes, I understand everything now! Amazing! Truly amazing! Those are punch cards! You know, that trend of artificial intelligence going about! I can’t believe this secluded place has developed a technological civilization advanced enough for punch cards!

OHHHH! The slots on the animals! They’re meant for the punch cards! These people have actually done it! The ultimate goal for our surface world to achieve - the creation of artificial life - they’ve done it!

Well, technically speaking, they’re not actual lifeforms. The punch cards can only allow them to follow specific sequences of orders. But this is still a revolutionary discovery!

But… what is the man doing with those punch cards? Is he going to command the animals with the punch cards to stop the armed men? Does he have punch cards specifically for this situation? Because if that’s the case, then…

Oh… He just… throws out the cards… and punches them in the face. Well, he’s doing a pretty darn good job though! Look at that uppercut! The side punch! Straight! C’mon, knock their socks off! Woo!

But things are getting a bit too violent, it seems. Teeth are already flying, not to mention all the liquids. The man looks like he’s satisfied too. 

Uh, the man is… he’s laughing?!

Well, that can be taken as a good sign.

Wait… is he…

Is he looking at us?

Oh no oh no oh god oh the Queen above I don’t wanna die I don’t wanna die–

“Quick, take this camera and get away from this place as fast as possible. If you see my wife and children on the surface, tell them I–”

*flick*