Aishwarya lay sprawled across the ground.
Her entire body trembled as tears streamed uncontrollably from her burning eyes. Every breath she took carried the sharp sting of ammonia, setting her nose and throat ablaze.
She coughed violently.
"Cough... Cough..."
The irritation refused to fade.
Nearby, Kamali watched with a satisfied smile.
"You fool."
She slowly walked toward Aishwarya.
"Now you finally understand the difference between us."
Aishwarya gritted her teeth.
Her eyes burned so badly that she could barely keep them open.
Kamali crossed her arms.
"I'd love to keep watching you struggle."
A cruel smile spread across her face.
"But I can't waste any more time."
She looked toward the direction where the other battles were taking place.
"I still have to defeat your friends."
"And once I'm done with you..."
"...I'll make them suffer just like this."
Those words instantly ignited something inside Aishwarya.
Her trembling body steadied.
"You..."
She slowly stood despite the pain.
"...How dare you..."
Kamali raised her right hand.
Yellow Prāṇa gathered around her palm.
"Then disappear."
"HCL Gas Splash!"
A stream of corrosive yellow gas shot toward Aishwarya at incredible speed.
Aishwarya immediately thrust both hands forward.
"Fire Apex!"
A massive wall of blazing fire erupted before her.
BOOOOM!
The yellow gas struck the wall of flames instead of Aishwarya.
The attack was completely blocked.
Kamali's eyes widened.
"What?"
Then—
Aishwarya burst through the top of the blazing wall.
She descended like a meteor.
"Flaming Wing!"
Her burning kick crashed downward.
Kamali barely managed to leap backward.
The flaming kick struck the earth instead.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath the impact.
Kamali slid backward, breathing heavily.
"...Impossible."
She stared at Aishwarya.
"How are you seeing properly?"
"Your eyes should still be burning."
Aishwarya silently pointed behind her.
Kamali turned.
A narrow stream flowed quietly through the forest.
Crystal-clear water trickled between smooth stones.
Realization struck immediately.
"...A canal."
Aishwarya nodded.
"I washed my eyes while you were too busy laughing."
Kamali clicked her tongue.
"You really are lucky."
Aishwarya smiled confidently.
"I guess luck is on my side today."
Kamali narrowed her eyes.
"No."
Aishwarya shook her head.
"It wasn't just luck."
"You became overconfident."
"You thought your victory was guaranteed."
Her smile faded.
"And while you were mocking me..."
"...you stopped paying attention."
Kamali gritted her teeth.
Aishwarya sighed.
"I also made the same mistake earlier."
"I underestimated you."
She slowly took her fighting stance again.
"But..."
Determination filled her eyes.
"I won't let my guard down again."
Kamali smiled.
"We'll see."
Both women exploded forward simultaneously.
Aishwarya coated her left fist with blazing fire.
Kamali calmly raised her hand.
"CO₂ Dome."
A pale cloud instantly expanded around her.
The surrounding air became heavy.
The invisible dome spread across the battlefield.
Without hesitation—
Aishwarya inhaled deeply.
Then held her breath.
She rushed straight inside.
The flames around her fist disappeared the moment she entered.
She didn't hesitate.
Her left punch shot toward Kamali.
Kamali blocked it with her own left arm.
Their injured right hands remained motionless.
Neither of them could use them anymore.
Aishwarya immediately followed with a spinning kick.
Kamali narrowly dodged.
The two women began exchanging blows using only their left hands and legs.
Punch.
Block.
Kick.
Counter.
Elbow.
Sweep.
Every movement became faster than before.
Neither fighter was willing to give an inch.
As they continued clashing—
A thought crossed Aishwarya's mind.
"This isn't a battle of strength anymore..."
She blocked another strike.
"It's a battle of endurance."
She carefully observed Kamali.
Then she noticed something.
Kamali wasn't breathing either.
Her chest remained perfectly still.
"I knew it."
Aishwarya smiled internally.
"She also has to hold her breath."
After all...
Carbon dioxide affected everyone.
Even its creator.
"But..."
Aishwarya frowned.
"This is her own technique."
"She's trained for this."
"I'm certain..."
"...she can hold her breath much longer than I can."
As the seconds passed—
Aishwarya's lungs began screaming for air.
Her movements became slower.
Every muscle demanded oxygen.
"If this continues..."
"...I'll lose."
Then—
A memory surfaced.
---
Few Weeks Ago...
In front of Ashram, Aishwarya sparred against another young woman.
The girl's face was hidden from view.
Only her graceful movements could be seen.
Aishwarya threw a powerful punch.
The senior effortlessly caught it.
Then—
She spun.
Using Aishwarya's own momentum, she slammed her onto the ground.
THUD!
"Ouch!"
Aishwarya rubbed her head.
"I almost hit you that time."
She looked up in frustration.
"So why did I still lose?"
The older girl smiled.
"Because..."
"I prepared a trap."
"A trap?"
Aishwarya blinked.
"What do you mean, Senior?"
The girl folded her arms.
"I deliberately created an opening."
She smiled knowingly.
"I knew you'd attack it with everything you had."
Aishwarya slowly understood.
"And while you focused on my fake weakness..."
"...you exposed your own."
She gently tapped Aishwarya's forehead.
"I simply attacked that opening."
Aishwarya's eyes sparkled.
"Amazing!"
She laughed.
"You're incredible!"
The senior chuckled.
"Remember this."
She pointed toward Aishwarya's chest.
"In close combat..."
"...your greatest weapon always lies on your opponent."
"Never forget that."
Aishwarya nodded enthusiastically.
"I won't!"
The senior stretched lazily.
"By the way..."
"I haven't met Master's new students yet."
"Oh."
Aishwarya smiled.
"They're still at college."
"We're leaving on a mission in two days, so they're busy finishing some work."
"A mission?"
The senior tilted her head.
"I'm leaving tomorrow too."
She smiled softly.
"I'll be gone for 1-2 months."
"I guess I'll have to meet them another time."
"You definitely will."
Aishwarya laughed.
"They're Grandpa's students after all."
The senior nodded.
"Then tell me."
She smiled curiously.
"What kind of mission are you three going on?"
Aishwarya's expression slowly turned serious.
"A mission..."
She clenched her fist.
"...of revenge."
The senior looked at her for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Stay alive."
"Yes..."
Aishwarya grinned.
"Senior Harshita."
---
The memory faded.
Back in the present—
Aishwarya could barely continue holding her breath.
Her vision blurred.
Kamali still looked composed.
"I'll outlast you."
Kamali suddenly launched a powerful kick toward Aishwarya's side.
Aishwarya could have dodged.
Instead—
She intentionally raised her arm to block.
BAM!
The impact sent her stumbling sideways.
She deliberately lost her balance.
Kamali's eyes lit up.
"An opening!"
Without hesitation—
She rushed forward and threw a decisive punch.
Exactly as Aishwarya expected.
A smile appeared on Aishwarya's face.
"Senior Harshita was right..."
She whispered.
"In close combat..."
"...my greatest weapon..."
At the very last instant—
She slipped past Kamali's punch.
"...is my opponent."
Kamali's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Aishwarya twisted her waist.
Gathering every remaining ounce of strength—
She drove her fist deep into Kamali's stomach.
BOOOOOOM!!
The impact echoed across the forest.
Kamali's eyes widened in shock.
She fell away.
The CO₂ Dome instantly collapsed.
Fresh air rushed back into the battlefield.
Aishwarya finally released the breath she had been holding.
"Haaah...!"
She fell to one knee, greedily filling her lungs with air.
Her chest rose and fell violently.
But despite her exhaustion...
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
The battle...
Had finally begun to turn in her favor.
TO BE CONTINUED…