The ground didn't stop shaking.
It deepened—like something beneath the battlefield had awakened.
The creature straightened, its burning flesh fully restored, as if Pooja's flames had been nothing more than a brief inconvenience. Its hollow eyes locked onto her, unblinking.
Then—
It vanished.
"Where—?!" Raghav started.
A loud crack split the air.
The creature reappeared right behind Pooja.
But—
She was already gone.
A burst of flames marked her previous position as she reappeared several meters away, sliding back slightly, her eyes now sharper.
"…Fast," she murmured.
"Not just fast," Isha said, already moving. "It's reading you."
The creature turned again, its head tilting unnaturally.
As if confirming that statement.
Then it lunged once more.
This time—
Isha stepped in.
A surge of water spiraled around her arm, condensing into a sharp, pressurized stream. She thrust forward, the water slicing across the creature's path, forcing it to shift mid-motion.
It didn't stop.
But it adjusted.
Barely.
Enough.
"See?" Isha said calmly, landing beside Pooja. "It adapts."
Pooja's flames flared higher.
"…Good."
Isha glanced at her. "That's not a good thing."
Pooja didn't reply.
Instead, she stepped forward again.
The air around her heated rapidly, the ground beneath her feet beginning to crack from the rising temperature.
"Everyone back," Isha ordered.
No one argued this time.
Raghav and Imran immediately retreated, dragging the others with them. No one wanted to be anywhere near Pooja when she looked like this.
"…She's serious now," Imran whispered.
Raghav nodded quickly. "She was serious before?!"
---
Pooja raised both hands.
This time—
The flames didn't erupt outward.
They condensed.
Tighter.
Hotter.
Denser.
A sphere of blazing fire formed around her palm, pulsing like a miniature sun.
Even Isha took a step back.
"…Don't overdo it," she warned.
Pooja smirked faintly.
"Too late."
---
The creature attacked again.
But this time—
Pooja didn't wait.
She moved first.
Faster than before.
A streak of fire shot across the battlefield as she closed the distance instantly, her blazing sphere slamming directly into the creature's chest.
"BOOOOM!!"
The explosion was massive.
Heat and light swallowed everything.
The shockwave pushed even Isha back a few steps, forcing her to brace herself.
For a moment—
There was nothing but fire.
---
Then—
The flames cleared.
---
The creature stood there.
Half its body completely gone.
Burned to ash.
---
But—
It was regenerating.
Again.
---
Slower this time.
But still—
Recovering.
---
Pooja tilted her head slightly.
"…So that's your limit."
Her voice wasn't annoyed.
It was interested.
---
Isha stepped beside her again.
"…It's not dying," she said. "We need another approach."
Pooja didn't look at her.
"…No."
Another wave of flames ignited around her.
Stronger than before.
"He's just not dead yet."
---
Isha's expression hardened slightly.
"…Pooja."
For a brief moment—
Pooja's flames flickered.
Then—
Stabilized.
---
"…Fine," she said.
Finally turning toward Isha.
"You handle the control."
"I'll handle the damage."
---
Isha nodded once.
"Good."
---
The creature roared.
Fully regenerated now.
Stronger.
Faster.
More aggressive.
---
But this time—
They were ready.
---
Isha raised her hand.
Water surged from the ground, forming multiple streams that wrapped around the creature's limbs, tightening instantly.
The creature struggled—
But for a moment—
It was held.
---
"Now!" Isha shouted.
---
Pooja didn't hesitate.
She stepped forward—
And this time—
She didn't hold back at all.
---
The flames around her erupted violently, spiraling upward into a massive inferno that dwarfed everything before.
The temperature spiked instantly.
The air itself seemed to burn.
---
Raghav's voice trembled in the distance. "…She's going to kill all of us too…"
Imran nodded. "…Just… stay far away…"
---
Pooja raised her hand slowly.
The inferno condensed.
Focused.
Sharpened.
---
Her eyes locked onto the creature.
No excitement now.
Only intent.
---
"Let's see you regenerate from this."
---
She brought her hand down.
---
And the world—
Exploded into fire.
---
To be continued… 🔥