Piper stood with clenched fists, her eyes narrowed in fiery annoyance.
"Let me through. Now. Don't test me," she said, voice low and sharp.
Clara tilted her head with a soft smile. "Hey, relax, sweetheart. No need to snap. I just asked a question. You answer, and I let you both go. Simple, no?"
She gave a playful wink.
Piper didn't even reply. With a swift motion, she fired a sharp stream of water from her palm.
Clara didn't flinch. She extended one hand, and the water dispersed harmlessly against her open palm.
"Darling, I'm a healer," she said sweetly. "Water? That's sacred to me."
Piper's eyes widened. "Who the hell are you? How strong are you?"
Clara smiled again. "I may look like some naked forest nymph, but I'm no pushover. You're not the only one who's a little divine."
Piper groaned. "Fine. I'll tell you. I'm not in the mood to fight."
She took a breath.
"Me and Mortis came here to visit my sister's grave. I needed something she left behind. That's it. Satisfied?"
Clara's expression shifted. "Your sister?"
Her voice softened.
"I'm… sorry to hear she passed. But I'm gonna have to come with you. That area is sensitive. It belongs to the locals around here."
Mortis blinked. "Locals? You mean people actually live in this dump?"
Clara laughed. "Yes, sweetie. About a hundred of them. It's peaceful, full of nature, and honestly, the view's not bad. But I still don't get why you buried your sister here. Without telling me."
Piper stiffened. "Why does that matter? It was five years ago. Let it go."
Clara's smile faded. "Liar."
Her voice grew colder.
"You just can't stop lying, can you?"
She stepped forward.
"I've been around for over two hundred years, honey. I built the very temple you're walking on. I know every inch of this place. Every prayer. Every whisper. And I know when someone's feeding me a fairy tale."
Clara's eyes narrowed.
"You didn't bury your sister here. You came to absorb her power. Because you feel weak. Am I right?"
Piper's hands trembled. Her body tensed.
"That's not true!" she yelled, and launched a blast of water.
Clara dashed straight into the wave. It split around her like fog. She walked through it without blinking, then stopped inches from Piper's chest.
She placed her palm gently on Piper's stomach.
"Shh."
Clara closed her eyes. Piper froze. A warm hum spread through her core.
"I can feel you," Clara whispered.
"Anger. Arrogance. Lust. And… love."
She opened her eyes and smiled.
"Wow. Deep down, you actually know how to love. Good for you."
Without warning, Clara leaned in and kissed Piper on the cheek.
Piper stumbled back, eyes wide. "We barely even know each other! What's wrong with you?"
Clara giggled. "I just told you, didn't I? I know your heart better than you do."
Piper crossed her arms. "Okay, great. You exposed my whole damn personality. You proud of yourself, Miss Naked Goddess? What now?"
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"What I want is simple. Don't take the energy from your sister's grave. That power is tainted. It's born of envy, desire, and darkness."
She touched Piper's hand gently.
"And you? You're full of desire too. But not the evil kind. You're bursting with passion. You're sexy as hell. And deep inside, you just want to be loved."
Piper blinked. Her defenses faltered.
"Sexy, huh? You really think that about me?"
Clara smiled with mischief. "Totally, princess. You deserve love. Real love. Tell me, is there someone you've been thinking about?"
Piper blushed furiously. "You don't understand…"
She looked up, eyes dreamy. In her mind, she saw Kuina. Ginger hair flowing. Black lipstick. That smug, fearless smile as she blew her a kiss.
Piper sighed in her heart. Oh Kuina… you absolute goddess. What are you doing to me?
Clara burst out laughing. "Oh my god, you're so in love!"
Even Mortis chuckled.
"Shut up! I'm not—" Piper tried to protest, cheeks redder than lava.
Elsewhere… inside the Fire Kingdom
Boom.
The ground quaked.
Kuina's eyes widened. "Mira?! What the hell?"
Mira was already in motion, fist slamming straight into Michael's jaw. A second later, a fire-powered kick sent him flying into a pillar.
Michael growled, blood on his lip.
"It's time you admitted the truth, Mira! You're a pathetic slut! A disgrace of a sister! You killed our parents!"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Mira screamed, unleashing a thick wall of fire.
Michael blocked it just in time, staggering.
Kuina stood to the side, unsure.
The system's alert rang in her mind. Wait for the right timing to intervene. Mission failure in 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Kuina gritted her teeth. "Screw off, system. Let her handle him."
Fists flew. Fire flared. The battlefield lit up in an orange storm as Mira and Michael exchanged attacks. Mira moved with overwhelming speed and control, her movements fluid yet ruthless.
Michael, desperate, landed a solid kick to her chest. She slid back, brushing ash from her lips.
"Little bro," she said with a grin. "You fight like a broken man. You're not a challenge."
She cracked her neck.
"But tell you what. Let's play a game. You go all out. I won't even strike back. Just defense. Deal?"
Michael snarled. "You're joking, right? Fine. You asked for it."
He roared.
Yellow flames exploded around him, his body glowing like molten steel. His eyes turned yellow. Hair flared up like sunfire. A massive axe formed in his hand.
"Say hello to… YELLOW BLOOM!"
Mira blinked once. Then she burst out laughing.
"Wow. You're still such a loser, Mikey. Bring it on."
Michael rushed forward, a blur of heat and fury. He swung the axe wildly. Mira danced around him, letting the edge graze her hair, laughing the whole time.
He landed a punch. She grunted.
She punched back. He coughed blood.
She grinned. "Nice hit."
He smirked, stepping back.
"Now I'll end this."
Michael lifted his axe to the sky.
"YELLOW FINISHER!"
A roaring, golden blast of fire shot toward Mira like a cannon. Kuina's eyes widened.
"Mira, move!"
She lunged, slicing the blast with her sword. The fire scattered, exploding into embers.
She turned around.
Mira was gone.
Michael narrowed his eyes. "Where—"
"Behind you."
Mira's voice whispered at his ear. Her hand was on his shoulder.
He screamed, spinning and slashing. She vanished again.
"Stop running!"
He launched attack after attack, each one wild and angry. Mira kept teleporting, each movement leaving a trail of fire across the battlefield.
"You're not that strong!" he shouted. "Where did you learn these tricks?"
Mira's voice echoed.
"I've never even used 100% of my power, Mikey."
Kuina's jaw dropped.
Wait… she didn't go all out against me? But… she barely touched me. Her attacks were so weak… I actually thought I had the upper hand. She let me undress her. And all this time, she was holding back?
Mira looked down at Kuina with a grin.
Then she turned to Michael.
"Time for the truth."
She closed her eyes. Her body began to glow. The flames around her intensified. Her outfit burned away in a blaze of heat. Her skin glowed with an otherworldly radiance. Crimson and gold light exploded around her. Blue crystal-like spikes grew from her shoulders. Her hair rose, floating, alive.
Her eyes opened.
Solid red.
Kuina stared at the system screen. It blinked in confusion.
ERROR
She dropped her sword.
"Mira… you unbelievable bitch. You really held back on me?"
Mira let the silence hang.
Then, with a powerful, echoing voice, she screamed.
A ring of flames burst from her body.
Every curve, every line of her form shimmered with heat and power.
She pointed at Michael, who was frozen in place, sweating.
Mira smiled.
"The Goddess of Fire. Nice to finally meet you."
To be continued