Before Hoteye could react, she launched herself forward, closing the gap in a blink. He swung at her—a wide, powerful strike—but she wasn't there. A flicker of white darted past his vision, then—impact. A sharp, precise strike landed against his ribs, not with brute force but with pinpoint accuracy. Hoteye staggered, his breath hitching from the unexpected pain. "Tch..." He rubbed his side, his amusement waning. "That's annoying." The ground beneath Carla trembled. She felt the shift before it happened and moved before the attack could form. As stone spires shot upward, she twisted through them, using the debris to rebound into a rapid counterattack. Her movements were unpredictable, erratic—but not wild. Every step, every dodge, every strike was intentional. Hoteye growled as another strike connected—this time to his shoulder. His arm numbed for a moment, his reaction slower than before. He was powerful, relentless, but Carla was wearing him down, chipping away at his foundation with every well-placed blow. He roared, forcing the battlefield to convulse beneath them. Carla felt the next attack before it even came. But this time, her body was a fraction too slow. The ground exploded beneath her. A column of earth struck her side, launching her across the battlefield. She hit the dirt hard, rolling, coughing as pain flared through her ribs. Her vision blurred for a second—just a second, but it was enough. Hoteye loomed over her, raising his hand. The earth trembled in response. "You fought well," he admitted. "But this is where it ends." Carla grit her teeth, trying to move, but her body was sluggish, the impact slowing her down just enough. She was too slow— A blur of blue streaked across the battlefield. Hoteye's eyes widened as a gust of wind slammed into him, forcing him to retreat a few steps. Before he could react, Carla was gone, whisked away from danger. Wendy skidded to a halt a few meters away, lowering Carla gently to the ground next to Naruto, who remained feverish and still. "Wendy...?" Carla's voice was faint, her vision blurred as she stared up at her friend. "But you were... taken..." "No time for that now." Wendy placed a hand on Carla's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You've done enough. Rest. I'll handle this." Carla tried to protest, but exhaustion overtook her, and her consciousness faded. Wendy straightened, turning to face Hoteye. Her breath was labored, her limbs screamed in protest, and she knew she was running low on magic. But none of that mattered. She wasn't going to let him hurt anyone else. Hoteye narrowed his eyes as he studied Wendy, his expression shifting from surprise to suspicion. "You…?" His voice carried genuine bewilderment. "H-how did you escape?" He took a step forward, his tone darkening. "What about Jellal?! Our Master had you in his grasp. There's no way you should be standing here right now." Wendy remained silent, her breath steady despite her exhaustion. The weight of Naruto on her back had slowed her, and her magic reserves were dangerously low, but she refused to show weakness. Hoteye clicked his tongue, irritation flashing across his face. "Hmph. No matter." His lips curled into a smirk. "I'll just take you back myself." He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "You're more valuable than you thought, little girl. Master Brain will be pleased to have you returned." Wendy did not bother, she was aware of what was her purpose to them, she kept her mouth The ground beneath Wendy trembled as Hoteye flexed his fingers, preparing to strike. Despite the fatigue pulling at her limbs, she took a deliberate step forward. Her stance shifted, her feet planting firmly into the ground in a way that felt different from before—more disciplined, more precise. She raised her arms, palms open, fingers slightly curled as she positioned herself into the stance Naruto had drilled into her: the Gentle Fist. Hoteye raised an eyebrow at the change. "Oh? That's new. But it won't make a difference." Wendy panted heavily, her chest rising and falling as she stared down her opponent. Her legs trembled slightly, exhaustion creeping into every fiber of her being. She had maybe 40% of her magic left—barely enough to keep fighting—but Hoteye looked worse for wear too. Carla had pushed him to his limits, proving just how much stronger she had become. But even so, Wendy knew she was at a disadvantage. Her hands clenched into fists before opening again, fingers loose but controlled. She had to win. Not just for herself, but for Carla, for Naruto, for everyone. Flashback - Training with Naruto The forest clearing echoed with the rhythmic shuffle of feet against dirt, the sound of breathless exertion, and the occasional sharp crack of impact. Wendy and Carla, both in their human forms, circled each other, sweat glistening on their skin as they traded strikes. Naruto stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching with an intensity that felt almost unnatural compared to his usual goofy demeanor. His sharp blue eyes tracked every movement, every shift in weight, every wasted motion. Alright, cut it." His voice was firm, cutting through the tension. Wendy lowered her arms, gasping for breath. "What… what is it?" Carla rolled her shoulders, shaking out her wrists. "We were getting into a rhythm." Naruto exhaled, stepping forward. "Yeah, and that's the problem. You're too reactive, moving on instinct without a structure. That works against someone sloppy, but against a real fighter? Instinct alone gets you put down." Carla's ears twitched as she frowned. "So what, we're supposed to ignore our instincts?" Naruto grinned, shaking his head. "Nah, you're supposed to refine them." He raised a finger, pointing first at Wendy. "You fight like you're second-guessing yourself. You hesitate. You rely on dodging when you could end the fight in one clean move."
————————
If you Want to read more?
The next 20+ chapters are already live on my Patreon!
Don't fall behind—others are already ahead! 👀
👉 Visit patreon.com/Your_fiction
Note:-
(If the link doesn't open, just search "Your_fiction Patreon" on Google Chrome.)
Please Comment your thought 🗣️