Vadim PoV
Fire flared out of the cut on Bulgae's muscular back, spitting black sparks and scalding ichor against my armor, melting parts of it.
Bulgae laughed before flicking me into the lake waters. They scorched my skin, but my Abysmal healing kept the blistered flesh knitting together as fast as the scalding water stripped it away.
I breached the churning surface with a hard thrust of my mismatched wings, coughing out a mouthful of scalding water.
Across the fractured basin, Bulgae stood tall in the steam. A smirk played on his lips. He thought that just because Aventine broke, I was out of the fight.
He raised his fiery sabers, the twin edges roaring with primordial heat, his fluffy tail swaying arrogantly. "Enjoyed your bath, calf? Now let's see if that broken stick can keep your head on your shoulders!"
I didn't answer. I hovered three feet over the boiling lake bed, steam rising in violent ribbons around my boots.
