Iyak cracked his knuckles, bent his knees, and slipped into a boxing stance. His eyes narrowed as he muttered under his breath, barely louder than a whisper,

  "Let’s see if all those boxing classes from my last life actually paid off. My trainer always said—‘Use it when your life depends on it.’ Welp… it sure does now."

  Hunter scoffed, flames flickering around his fists. His voice was deep, mocking, and rough as gravel.

  "You’re standing there without magic, throwing fists like it's a street fight? You either got a death wish… or you’re the dumbest samba I’ve ever seen."

  Iyak froze.

  "Wait, hold up… what the hell is a samba? First that tree guy called me a twizzler, now this?"

  He squinted. "Is everyone in this forest just trying to insult me with food names?"

  Before he could finish his complaint, Hunter’s flaming fist cracked him square in the jaw. The impact flung Iyak back, dragging his face across the dirt like a human mop.

  "Hey!!" Iyak yelled mid-slide, wiping the blood from his lip. "At least let me finish my sentence, egghead!"

  Hunter cracked his knuckles and marched forward like a tank on fire.

  "I don’t need your nonsense. You talk too much. Why do you talk so much?!"

  Iyak staggered up, brushing dirt from his face.

  "Comes from the same place you're gonna eat when I put your teeth in it!"

  Enraged, Hunter lunged with a flurry of fiery punches. Iyak weaved through them, ducking, sidestepping, barely escaping each blow.

  "Missed. Missed again. Oooh, that was close. You’re gonna need more practice, Fire Fists. You punch like you’re swatting flies!"

  That jab hit a nerve. Hunter roared and threw a wild right hook—but Iyak spun, dodged, and answered with a clean roundhouse kick to Hunter’s jaw.

  The hit was solid. Hunter stumbled and dropped to one knee. He gave a sinister grin, wiping blood from his lip.

  "That’s new. I’ve never seen a move like that before."

  Iyak smirked, thinking:

  "Yeah, that’s because it’s from Earth, moron. Bet you don’t even have UFC here."

  Hunter stood again, slamming his fists together. Flames erupted around his arms like angry dragons.

  "Flame Strength!" he shouted.

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  His forearms ignited in roaring fire, heat radiating like a furnace.

  Iyak's eyes widened.

  "Whoa whoa whoa! Timeout! What is this—Mortal Kombat DLC?! You’re not seriously planning to punch me with fire! Are you insane?! Do you know how flammable I am right now?!"

  But Hunter didn’t wait. He rushed in, swinging his fiery fists like a berserker. Iyak dodged the first few, but the heat was unbearable. Even near-misses left burn marks on his clothes and skin.

  "Ow! Hot! HOT! Okay, who even fights like this?! Who punches with LITERAL FLAMES?!"

  Hunter grinned, relentless. "Save your breath. You’ll be ashes in seconds."

  He threw a powerful punch straight at Iyak’s face. Iyak had no choice—he countered, punching fist-to-fist to deflect the blow.

  The result? A searing pain shot through Iyak’s hand like lightning.

  "AAAAHH! Oh, great! Now I’m extra crispy! You should come with a warning label!"

  He staggered back, clutching his hand, smoke rising from his knuckles. Hunter raised his fist for the final blow—

  But then—

  THWACK!!

  A massive log smacked against Hunter’s arm from the side. He turned with a growl, eyes blazing.

  There stood Lioris, holding the remains of a broken tree branch like a baseball bat, looking sheepish.

  "Hey…" Lioris said with a nervous smile. "So, uh… I know you’re busy turning people into rotisserie chickens, but could you not?"

  Hunter’s rage flared even more. His attention shifted. Iyak, gasping for breath, grinned.

  "Perfect timing, Lioris. I was about to become forest BBQ."

  Lioris gave a thumbs up. "Yeah, well, next time don’t taunt the guy with fire fists. Just a thought!"

  Hunter, fuming, turned toward Lioris—only to realize too late that Iyak was already charging in from behind.

  Hunter’s eyes blazed like molten lava as he turned to Lioris. Flames licked his arms, dancing wildly with rage. Lioris, holding the broken log like a twig, froze.

  "Okay..." he muttered, taking a cautious step back. "Maybe smacking the fire guy with a stick wasn’t peak intelligence. Noted."

  But before Hunter could reduce him to ash, a voice rang out—

  "HEY, FIRE-FACE!"

  Hunter looked up just in time to see Iyak hurtling through the air like a human missile.

  "Guess what else I learned in boxing class!"

  His foot smashed into the back of Hunter’s skull with a solid THWACK, sending the fire mage stumbling forward like a drunk dragon on roller skates. He hit the ground with a thud, flames flickering wildly around him.

  Hunter snarled and rolled to his feet, spinning back with eyes full of vengeance.

  Iyak landed beside Lioris, panting heavily, his burnt hand trembling.

  Lioris looked at him, half impressed, half horrified. "Master… are you okay?"

  Iyak grinned, face smeared with dirt, blood, and pride.

  "If a rusty old toaster can still work, then yeah, I’m more than okay."

  Hunter let out a growl that sounded part human, part beast. His eyes widened, pupils burning red as he hissed,

  "I’m done playing games with you freaks. Now… burn!"

  Flames burst from his skin like geysers, wrapping his entire body in fire. He roared—

  "FLAME DISINTEGRATION!"

  But—nothing happened.

  The fire blinked out. Snuffed. Gone like someone turned off the gas stove.

  Hunter froze. Eyes wild. "What... what the hell?! Where’s my magic?! WHAT DID YOU DO, YOU LITTLE BASTARD?!"

  Iyak blinked innocently, still panting. "Oh yeah… forgot to mention. Everything in this fight’s been fire, fists, and fury, but you forgot one tiny rule..."

  He pointed toward Lioris, who was standing silently, eyes glowing faint silver.

  "Never. Look. A Lamia in the eyes."

  Lioris gave a small, sad smile. "My special skill... ‘Gaze Curse.’ If you meet my eyes, even for a second, your magic is mine to break."

  Hunter staggered back, clutching his chest. His breath turned ragged, his knees buckling.

  "You... cursed me?" he wheezed. "You think this means you've won?! I’ll destroy all of you!"

  His shaking hand reached into his jacket. Iyak tensed. "What’s he doing now?"

  Lioris whispered, "He's using... a full portion. It heals, cancels all curses, boosts strength. It’s... it’s the last resort."

  Iyak’s eyes widened. "Then why the hell are we still here?! RUN!"

  But it was too late. Hunter stood again—stronger. Recovered. His veins glowed faintly blue, like lightning under skin. The fire returned, hotter and sharper than before. His voice was demonic.

  "I’m not leaving here alone. If I fall—" he pointed at Lioris, his voice cruel, "—I’m taking that snake girl with me. Maybe I’ll make her scream before I die."

  That did it. Iyak’s face shifted. The jokes vanished. His eyes darkened, the fury behind them no longer playful.

  "You don’t get to say that," Iyak said coldly. "You really don’t."

  Hunter charged, bellowing, fists glowing like molten steel. The ground trembled beneath his feet. Iyak stood still, watching. Waiting. Then—

  Hunter's punch never landed.

  Just inches away, a sudden burst of blue air spun around his head like a cyclone. Hunter's body froze. His eyes rolled back. And like a puppet with cut strings—

  —he collapsed, unconscious.

  Lioris lowered her hand. A soft wind still circled her palm.

  "A secondary curse," she whispered. "One I save for monsters."

  Iyak exhaled, shoulders slumping. "Damn… that was close. Too close."

  He looked at Lioris. Her eyes were blank, her expression unreadable.

  "You okay?" he asked softly.

  She nodded, but said nothing. The wind rustled her hair as silence settled over them.

  Then Iyak muttered, "Next time I say ‘let’s fight someone with fire fists,’ please slap me.”