The Warden crashed into him like a avalanche, and suddenly they were grappling at close range. Claws raked across Alex's torso, opening wounds that his uniform couldn't prevent. Teeth snapped inches from his throat. The creature's weight pressed down on him, and even with his enhanced strength, he was losing the contest.
But Alex didn't need to win a grappling match.
He pressed both palms against the Warden's chest, directly over the gaping wound, and poured fire into the cavity. Not external flames that could be resisted or endured, but internal burning that ignited the creature from the inside out.
The Warden's roar became a shriek as its organs caught fire. It thrashed, trying to pull away, but Alex held on with desperate strength. The flames spread through the creature's chest cavity, following blood vessels and essence channels, turning the Warden's own body into fuel.
**[Time Remaining: 29 seconds]**
