Smoke hung over the battlefield.
The ground still hissed where molten cracks cut through the stone. The air reeked of ash and burned fur — one of Kabir's wolves lay lifeless at the edge of a fissure, its body already turning to dust. The others paced anxiously, whining, their hackles raised.
Neel leaned against a jagged wall, chest heaving, sparks crawling over his arms without rhythm. Every breath felt heavier, like the storm itself was dragging him deeper. His ribs ached where the beast's chain had struck him, each inhale sharp.
Leela knelt beside him, her palms glowing soft blue. The coolness seeped into his chest, numbing the pain. "Don't move. You're bleeding inside."
He managed a strained smile. "When am I not?"
Her eyes flashed with anger. "This isn't a joke, Neel. That thing nearly broke you in half. You can't keep throwing yourself at it without control."
The whisper sneered inside him. "She coddles you, Vessel. She fears what you are. Why fight her concern? Break free, and you'll never need her pity again."
Neel clenched his fists, sparks sparking violently. He didn't answer.
–––
A harsh laugh cut through the smoke.
Kabir stood tall on a broken ridge, his panther prowling at his side. His wolves circled close, their eyes glowing faint in the ash-light. His grin was wide, delighted.
"Beautiful," Kabir said. "Glorious. I haven't seen such chaos since the warlords fought over the eastern passes. And you—" his finger jabbed toward Neel, "—you shine brightest in the storm."
Neel glared up at him, too drained to rise. "You think this is a game?"
Kabir tilted his head. "Everything is a game. Survive, win, feed, kill. You either make the rules… or you follow them. Right now, Vessel, you don't look much like the one making them."
–––
Shanaya stirred.
She had collapsed earlier, her flames gone, her body trembling. Now she rose slowly, staggering to her feet. Her eyes glowed faint crimson, her veins pulsing with a dim light.
Her voice was hoarse, but defiant. "Don't… tell me what I can't handle."
Flames ignited in her hands, unstable and red-tinged. She stared at the place where the Beast of Ash had sunk back into the fissure, her lips curling into something between awe and hunger.
Leela's heart dropped. She stepped forward quickly, staff glowing. "Shanaya, stop. That thing is inside you. Every time you feed it, it feeds you back — worse, stronger, hungrier."
Shanaya's gaze snapped to her, furious. "You think you understand me? You, who hides behind healing and pity? I was born to burn. If the Beast wants fire, I'll give it everything."
Her flames flared, licking high into the air.
–––
Neel pushed himself upright, sparks crackling around him. "Shanaya."
She froze, eyes locking on him. For a moment, the glow in her veins pulsed in rhythm with the sparks across his skin.
Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. "You're just like me, Neel. You think you're any different? The storm eats you alive every day. At least I don't lie about wanting it."
The words hit harder than the chain strike.
The whisper purred. "She sees you. She understands. She will be the flame beside your storm. Together, you will burn all chains."
Neel swallowed hard, his storm surging dangerously.
–––
Kabir's laugh rang out again, sharp and delighted. "Ah, beautiful! Fire and storm at each other's throats, and the healer caught in the middle. This is what the Wastes do — they strip you down, until only hunger is left."
Leela spun on him, her voice fierce. "And you enjoy it?"
He smirked. "Of course. Because when the storm finally breaks…" His eyes glittered. "…I'll be the one left standing."
–––
The ground trembled.
All eyes turned toward the fissure. The molten cracks pulsed, red light flaring brighter. The Beast of Ash had not left. It was still there, waiting, growing.
Shanaya's flames surged higher, her face lit with hunger. Neel's sparks burned violent white, his storm answering the call.
Leela's grip tightened on her staff, her voice breaking. "This isn't just about fighting anymore. It's about who you become."
The fissure roared, molten chains snapping upward like whips. The second round was about to begin.
–––
The fissure split wide.
Molten chains surged upward, wrapping around shattered pillars, dragging the Beast of Ash from its prison once more. Its scaled body gleamed with liquid fire, obsidian plates glowing along the seams. With every step it took, the ground beneath them warped, stone softening into bubbling glass.
Shanaya stepped forward, her flames blazing crimson, her body trembling as though some invisible tether bound her to the beast. Her voice cracked but rang with manic hunger. "It's calling me. I can feel it. I can become it."
Leela's staff flared, blue light spilling across the rocks. She planted herself between Shanaya and the beast. "No, Shanaya. That thing isn't calling you. It's consuming you."
Shanaya snarled, her fire flaring higher. For the first time, her flames were hotter than her words.
–––
The beast roared.
Chains lashed outward, tearing through the ground. Kabir's wolves darted aside, yelping as molten spray hissed across their fur. His panther crouched low, snarling, eyes locked on the beast's glowing mask.
Kabir's laugh rang out, wild and delighted. "Ah, perfect! A real fight! Storm, fire, chains, all at once — let's see who survives."
He leapt down from his perch, whistling sharply. His wolves lunged for the beast's legs, the panther leaping onto a chain, claws tearing sparks from obsidian links.
The beast swung its tail, smashing the wolves aside. Two burst into smoke instantly. Kabir only grinned wider. "Good. The weak cull themselves."
–––
Neel's storm screamed inside him, lightning snapping across the battlefield. His chest burned with each breath, his ribs still aching from the last fight, but he forced himself forward.
The whisper thundered in his head. "Vessel, stop resisting! This chain is yours to command! Wrap it, break it, become it! You were born for this!"
Neel gritted his teeth, raising his hands. Lightning coiled into a massive arc, striking one of the beast's chains mid-swing. The blast shattered links into shards of glowing stone, sparks scattering across the battlefield.
The beast shrieked, its molten eyes blazing brighter. It swung again, faster, chains whipping like vipers.
–––
Shanaya leapt into the air, her flames spiraling into a blazing spear. She hurled it into the beast's chest, the explosion lighting the entire ridge. For a moment, the crimson runes across its body flared violently — and Shanaya's veins burned brighter in response.
She gasped, dropping to one knee, her fire flickering. But her lips curved into a wild grin. "Do you see?! It feeds me too. We're one. Me and the Beast."
Leela's voice cracked, desperate. "No, Shanaya! Every strike you give it, it takes more of you back!"
But Shanaya's laughter drowned her out.
–––
The beast lunged. Its massive claws slammed into the ground, the shockwave toppling Neel and Leela both. Chains whipped around them, snapping toward their throats.
Leela thrust her staff upward, a dome of water flashing into existence. The chains struck it, steam erupting, cracks forming immediately. She bit back a cry, pouring everything into holding it.
"Neel!" she shouted, her voice straining. "Now!"
Neel roared, lightning erupting from his palms. The storm cracked through the dome, fusing with Leela's barrier. The chains shattered, the blast tearing across the battlefield.
The beast staggered back, molten cracks spreading across its chest.
–––
Shanaya stood again, swaying, her flames redder than ever. She looked at Neel through the haze, her expression unreadable. Then she whispered, almost reverently, "You could've destroyed it already. Why won't you take what's yours?"
Neel's jaw clenched. "Because I don't want to lose myself."
Her eyes glowed crimson. "Then you'll never win."
–––
The beast shrieked again, molten fire spraying from its mask, chains rattling louder than thunder. The ground split wider, the ruins sinking further into molten depths.
Neel's sparks flared wildly, Shanaya's flames burned unstable, Kabir's laughter echoed, and Leela's barrier wavered under the weight of it all.
The second confrontation had only just begun — and already, the cracks between them were wider than ever.
–––