The forest trembled under a presence that wasn't meant to be natural. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, carrying the scent of burning iron and something darker.
Akira's black flames licked along her arms, barely restrained. Every step sent sparks skittering across the dirt. Her chest burned, a reminder that this power wasn't without a price.
Tamaki stayed close, silent and alert. He knew she could handle almost anything, but this… this was different.
From the treeline, a massive shadow moved. Not one, but several—or maybe one that could split itself into many. The golden eyes glowed, reflecting the black flame's light. The predator from before was far larger, hungrier, and smarter.
"Everyone stay sharp," Akira ordered. Her voice was calm, deadly. "No hero moves. We strike together."
Kairos' hands trembled slightly as he gripped his blade. "You think… we can survive that?"
She glanced at him, crimson eyes narrowed. "We don't have a choice."
The First Strike
Without warning, one of the predator's forms lunged, faster than even Akira could track. She twisted, releasing a torrent of black flame that scorched the earth where it passed.
Her crew barely avoided the attack. The forest echoed with the sounds of snapping trees and clashing energy.
Akira's body pulsed with the energy, her flames burning hotter with each second. Every movement she made sent shockwaves across the clearing. The predator adapted quickly, splitting and converging in ways that made her head spin.
"Focus on its forms!" she shouted. "Do not let it surround us!"
Tamaki and Kairos moved like shadows, striking with precise timing, while the rest of the crew tried to support from a distance. But each form Akira destroyed seemed to vanish and reappear somewhere else.
The Cost of Power
Akira's vision blurred as she pushed the black flames harder. Every strike drained more of her stamina. Her chest ached; sweat mixed with ash on her skin.
"I can't keep this up for long!" she yelled, spinning through a flurry of attacks, fists sparking with black lightning.
One form lunged directly at her heart. Instinctively, she dodged—but too slowly. The claw grazed her side, burning through flesh and energy alike. Pain lanced through her, threatening to make her collapse.
Tamaki's hand shot out, catching her shoulder. "You're burning out! Stop!"
Akira shook him off, voice raw. "Not yet! I need to finish this!"
The Turning Point
She focused. All the pain, fear, and rage concentrated into a single strike. Black flames swirled around her fist, forming a concentrated sphere of molten energy.
With a roar, she slammed it into the largest form of the predator. The impact shook the forest. Trees cracked, the earth split, and the remaining forms screamed as they disintegrated.
For a moment, silence. The predator's golden eyes blinked once… then disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing but scorched ground.
Akira fell to her knees, black flames sputtering out, leaving her panting and trembling. The crew gathered around cautiously, awe and fear in equal measure.
Kairos stepped closer. "You… you survived it."
Tamaki gave a slow, approving nod. "Barely. But you did it. And they saw what you're capable of."
The New Threat
Akira's gaze swept the treeline. She could feel it: the predator wasn't gone. Not really. Something far greater was waiting, watching. And this time, it wasn't just testing her—it was planning.
Her crew shivered, unsure if they were more afraid of the forest, the predator, or her.
Akira rose slowly, black flames now barely flickering. "We move forward. No hesitation. No mercy. The hunt isn't over."
And from the shadows above, unseen eyes glowed brighter than before.
Cliffhanger for Chapter 84:
The larger predator begins its true assault, testing both Akira's full power and the crew's loyalty. Stakes rise—can her team survive her black flames and the predator's cunning?