I crouched low, my palms pressed against the ground, arms crossed, back arched, and my tail flicking in eager anticipation.

  Fire stirred within me, a roaring inferno clamoring for release. In an instant, my latest Ultimate Skill, [Spectral Arms: Twin Claws], ignited. That's when the twin ribbons of spectral fire spiraled up from my fingertips, wrapping around my arms, solidifying at my wrists before erupting into vicious claws that pulsed with phantom flames.

  Jalkra let out a low whistle. "Are you sure you want to take that pose?" I saw the flicker of wariness behind his grin, though he'd never admit it. "You look like a wild beast."

  A wild beast. Maybe I was.

  "Perhaps I am," I said, though the voice that came out of me felt distant and raw. The moment immediately overtook thought. I lunged.

  My claws cut through the air, fast and sure, aimed straight for his chest. For a second, I thought I had him, but he moved with a speed that defied his bulk. The bastard was faster than he looked. He dodged and countered in the same breath, a chopping strike coming for my shoulder.

  I twisted midair as my instincts screamed. My foot clipped his chin, barely a glancing blow, yet his hand found its mark. It crashed into my arm like a hammer, and pain shot through me.

  "A beast? Hardly." He scoffed, stepping back with infuriating ease. "You're too 'human' for that."

  I landed in a crouch, my claws digging into the dry earth. My breath came hard. A damn unbearable ache radiating from my arm. "And you're too arrogant for your own good."

  Despite the agony of it all, I rolled as I constructed another disc of flame, throwing it toward him. He weaved; I sprang once more, before he caught it.

  My feet ignited into talons as I aimed a kick at his bare chest. It should've landed. But Jalkra caught my leg with unnerving ease, his fingers tightening around my ankle like iron shackles. With a roar, he yanked me closer as I spun—his grip crushing, not quite breaking—as he hurled me meters into the air like I weighed nothing at all.

  The world spun. I flipped midair, forcing my body to right itself, and landed hard on my feet. Momentum dragged me backward, claws gouging deep furrows into the barren ground as the earth crumbled beneath me. My hair whipped across my face in wild strands as the wind howled around us.

  And there he was—approaching, steady and calm. A dark shadow against the blood-red sky.

  I pushed off the earth again, rage simmering as I launched myself at him. I didn't even think as something new sparked in my mind. Something strange, yet familiar.

  Without my command, my hair began to move, coiling like springs. The strands twisted, contorted, pulling themselves into a shape I recognized from long ago: twin-tails. They hadn't taken that form since I left my old world. Now, the very ends transformed into clenched fists. My heart pounded. Before I could even think through the absurdity, they struck out in tandem.

  I was attacking with my hair now, unleashing a flurry of rapid hair-fists that hammered toward Jalkra from every angle.

  His face flashed with a puzzled, almost alarmed, expression. But it vanished quickly, swallowed by his usual calm. He recovered, sidestepping my attacks with that same frustrating grace. His guards, his counters—too damn good. Too clean.

  I recognized it.

  Despite being a monster of Zeldritzon, his movements spoke volumes of something else. The stance, the footwork, even the execution—none of it was primal. None of it was wild. It reminded me of something... from before. From Earth.

  Martial arts, of course it was, but not just any kind. Mixed disciplines, rooted in modern combat styles I'd studied in my old world: Oriental combat, mixed martial arts, military-grade skill. The muscle memory of watching it flooded back. It was disconcerting.

  The worst part was that he hadn't even moved from his position. It should have been intimidating. And it was. But there was also… something else. Something I could use.

  I understood something crucial.

  He was quick—quicker than me—but my speed wasn't just in raw maneuvering. I was faster elsewhere. In movement. I wasn't staying still. I was circling him constantly, punching and slashing, my form flickering in and out of his line of sight. He couldn't chase—not effectively. Or maybe he wouldn't. Couldn't? Either way, that was my advantage.

  So I pressed it. Unwilling to back down.

  Every punch I threw crackled in the air, charged with the electricity of our clashing forces. Yet somehow, he kept knocking me back without even touching me. Just the sweep of an arm, the twist of a hip, and pain would shoot through my body.

  It was like he didn't want to make direct contact. Still, the pain came—blossoming, burning, all too real.

  I was really starting to feel it. The strain. The mounting panic curling beneath my ribs. My lungs burned, my focus fraying as I got caught in one of his traps. He baited me—made me overcommit with a wide swing—and I took it, foolishly. I was inside the storm now, trapped in a barrage of jabs that never seemed to land but somehow still hurt like hell. It felt like being inside the eye of a hurricane made of fists. Unseen, untouchable, but devastating all the same.

  I needed out. Now.

  That's when I felt it. it. A subtle pulse. Faint but undeniable. My fingers twitched with recognition.

  It was tied to him. The touch. I had almost forgotten. I had etched it onto Jalkra's shoulder during a brief moment of contact earlier, a hidden glyph that now pulsed and called back to me.

  An explosive promise, waiting to be fulfilled.

  Now. Now was the moment.

  I locked my focus on that point, willing the mark to detonate. It answered.

  The explosion burst forth in a sudden flash and a concussive wave that split the air. Jalkra didn't stagger, of course he didn't. But the flicker in his eyes—that moment of shock—was all I needed. He hadn't seen that coming. Good.

  I seized the moment. My hair snapped like a whip, catching him cleanly under the chin with a rising strike. His head jerked back. I saw him drop low, bracing himself for the next hit, muscles coiling as he grounded himself. Perfect.

  I grinned and poured everything I had into my claws. All of my strength, my focus, my fury. I lunged, slashing hard at his neck.

  Steel. That's what it felt like: striking tempered steel. He deflected the blow with his forearm, and the shock traveled up through my bones, jarring every nerve in my body. But I didn't stop.

  "Is that all you've got, Kinaera?" he finally said, and thrust his palm toward me.

  I ducked low, slipping beneath it, but the force still clipped me. It rattled through my skull like thunder. I clenched my teeth, swallowed the pain, and drove forward.

  "No."

  I lashed out again with my other hand, claws raking in a vicious arc. He blocked, but this time, I didn't retreat. I kept going, driving my slashes into his arms, his chest, again and again. I didn't care if he blocked every one. I would keep committing till he bled.

  Our eyes locked. There was something flickering in his gaze now. Not anger. Not fear. But an eerie amusement.

  "Hey," he said, too casually, "want to see what [Chaos Fire] looks like?"

  A chill ran down my spine as a strange sense of déjà vu gripped me. But there was no time to process it. Jalkra raised his hands, and a burst of crimson flames erupted from his palms, engulfing us both in a searing inferno. The air hissed, the world turned to fire, the heat unbearable, but I stood my ground. I would not back down. Not to him.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Then his hand was on me.

  I gasped when his fingers closed around my chin, lifting my face to his. The other pressed against my heart. "Nice," his voice was low, nearly a whisper against the roar of the flames. "If you can handle this magnitude… how about this?"

  I blinked in surprise as I felt the sensation of his hand trailing lower. A warmth spread across my face, creeping up like a slow tide, leaving me acutely aware of the heat pooling in my stomach.

  "Jalkra… What the hell are you doing?" I tried jabbing my horns into his eyes, but his horns locked against mine.

  "You're cute when you blush," he said. "But don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

  It happened too quickly—one of the most painful experiences of my life. A pillar of fire shot from his fist through my abdomen and out my back, scorching my insides. I felt as if my organs were melting. It was a burning agony that threatened to consume me.

  I screamed, and for a moment, the world went black.

  Then I came back, blinking against the pain. I felt my body slump, and I staggered, barely able to keep upright. The air was heavy with smoke and ash, and I could taste it on my tongue.

  My vision blurred, but I could still make out the shape of Jalkra standing before me. He reached out and grabbed me by the throat, his fingers digging into my flesh. I tried to struggle, but I was too weak. My body felt heavy, and I could feel my consciousness slipping away.

  "Don't fight it, KiAera… Mina. Just let go." His voice was a low rumble, but there was a gentleness to it that I hadn't expected.

  I opened my mouth to protest, but all that came out was a choked gasp as he squeezed tighter. Black spots danced across my vision, and my limbs grew limp. I felt myself being lifted, the ground disappearing from beneath my feet.

  "Shh," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear.

  "Leave my sister alone, bully!" I heard the shout long before I witnessed the orange egg with reptilian legs launching itself across the field, slamming into Jalkra with tremendous force.

  Liozel. His eggshell shattered in its entirety, revealing the creature within.

  Jalkra's eyes flashed with immense pain as a resounding crack echoed throughout the area. It seemed he had never been hit by something so massive, so destructive. I smiled.

  The force of the impact sent me sprawling, freeing me from his grasp, but it took him a moment to realize that the creature had inflicted serious damage, his body still reeling from the blow.

  Finally, he managed to steady himself, his gaze darting to where the creature had struck him—a deep, jagged gash ran across his chest, particles spilling from the wound. He hissed, his hand hovering over the injury.

  "That little shit... That actually hurt," he said, his voice tinged with annoyance. Then, his expression shifted, and I saw something else flash across his features—something I couldn't quite place.

  Liozel darted in front of me. My heart throbbed. It was a strange but doting feeling as I witnessed the bipedal kitten-Rex stand small yet protective before me. "What have you done to my big sis? You better leave her alone, or I will get mad!" he shouted.

  "Your big sister?" Jalkra raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by the creature's display of aggression. "That's quite bold of you."

  Liozel bristled, puffing out his chest. "I'm not kidding! I'll bite your legs off if you don't stop bullying her!"

  Jalkra smirked, clenching his wound. "Really now? You think you can take me?"

  Liozel let out a shrill roar, his fangs bared.

  "Jalkra, that boy," Nyx, that darn bat monster, had appeared next to Jalkra and began to speak, "isn't he her grandchild—?"

  A far more powerful, boisterous roar reverberated across the field, interrupting her, as the air around us cracked like shattering glass. A portal appeared behind Jalkra and Nyx, revealing a shadowed silhouette. The enormous figure stepped out of the portal, emerging from the abyss.

  "I smell the damn fiend," it bellowed. "I knew he was here. He's mine!"

  Creature: Archliorex

  — Species: Liorex

  — Faux Nym: [Dominus]

  — Title: "Tyrant of the Vulcans", "Usurper"

  — Sobriquet: "Lion Tyrannosaurus Rex"

  — Evolution Stage: [Dominant]

  — Variance: [Alpha]

  — APU: [3,149,000] Particle Units

  — Attributes: [Spatial], [Deino], [Fire]

  — Faction: [Aggressor], [Predator], [Chief]

  It was an enormous, red T-Rex with a golden horn and a mane. I recognized him immediately and my arms swept up Liozel despite the excruciating pain lashing my body. "You should have stayed at the Nest with the others!" I cried out.

  "I came to help you, big sis! Let me go!" Liozel protested.

  The tyrannical T-Rex's eyes widened as he took in the scene. He looked from Liozel to me, then back to Liozel again.

  "Finally. I found you," Dominus's voice rumbled, his gaze fixed on Liozel. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

  Liozel let out a gasp, his eyes widening in fear. "It's him," he whispered, his voice trembling. "It's that scary guy."

  Dominus took a step toward us, his claws digging into the ground. "You can't run from me forever, little kit! You're coming back with me, whether you like it or not."

  I hugged Liozel closer to me protectively, my body aching from the effort. "He's not going anywhere with you," I said, my voice wavering slightly. "He's staying here with me."

  Dominus laughed, his eyes glinting with malice. "Is that so? And what exactly are you going to do about it?"

  My jaw clenched. I felt the energy thrumming through my veins, and I knew that I wasn't going to back down. I wasn't going to let him take Liozel away. I wasn't going to let him hurt him.

  "I'm going to stop you."

  Jalkra stepped in front of us, startling me. "Dominus. You've entered my territory. Leave immediately or face my wrath."

  "And you are?" Dominus glared at him.

  "Jalkra," his tone was firm, commanding. "Do not forget that you are currently on the domain of my clan."

  Dominus snorted. "I don't care who you are. I'm here for that brat, and I'm not leaving without him."

  Jalkra lidded his eyes.

  "Maybe so," Jalkra said, his gaze flickering to me for a moment before returning to Dominus. "But that doesn't mean I'll let you interfere with what's mine."

  "Yours?" A vein snapped on Dominus's forehead. "That brat belongs to me!"

  "Enough!" I yelled, my voice echoing across the battlefield. "Liozel isn't going anywhere with you. He's staying here with me."

  "You?" Dominus let out a mocking laugh. "And what exactly do you think you can do to stop me?"

  "I already told you," I said, my tone cold and hard. "I will kill you."

  Dominus's laughter grew louder. "Kill me? You really are a foolish girl. You're nothing compared to me!" He let out a roar of rage, his fangs bared. "I'll make you regret those words, you little brats!"

  Immediately, his following shout shot forth with such intensity that it created a shockwave that blasted outward and sent everyone flying backward. The sheer force of the blow left me feeling as though my bones had been shattered, and my head was spinning.

  Dominus's eyes were ablaze with fury as he looked down at us with utter contempt. "Now die!" he roared, lunging at us with incredible speed, his claws extended and ready to tear us apart.

  A strange aura instantly swirled around Jalkra—similar to what I had witnessed when facing Tilz, but more defined. Suddenly, his movements became far more fluid than anything I had ever seen from him before. Quicker than thought, his foot slipped against Dominus's own. The raging tyrannosaurus flipped over our heads and crashed into the ground.

  I couldn't believe what I was seeing—Jalkra had actually managed to knock Dominus off balance! I glanced at Liozel, and I knew we both felt the same sense of disbelief and awe.

  Dominus stood up, his tail whipping in agitation. "You bastard!" He growled. "How dare you interfere with my hunt!"

  "Ah, it's true. You lack Domaistral," Jalkra said, back facing us.

  "Nyx, Gamuikaze. Take them away," Jalkra's aura surged around him once more. "Get as many of the troops away from this outpost as possible. I'll do what I can to subdue him."

  Gamuikaze, the whirling weasel monster, emerged from a vortex, while Nyx materialized from a pool of shadows, with Tilz grasping the Nexperbax triplets in his arms—Nex draped over his shoulders.

  "Let me fight too!" Tilz yelled, struggling against Nyx's grip. "I can't sit here and watch you fight while I do nothing!"

  "Tilz," Nyx said, her voice gentle but firm, "this is not your battle to fight. This is Jalkra's duty."

  "But I'm supposed to protect what we've—!"

  "You've been dismissed, warrior," Jalkra interrupted, his tone harsh and final. "Now get out of my sight."

  Tilz fell silent, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He turned away without another word. "Nyx… Gamuikaze, take everyone into the skies. Do not let them land until I give the order."

  I saw Gamuikaze and Nyx nod before disappearing into swirling vortexes, taking all those who were still left at the outpost with them—myself included. The only ones who remained behind—below—were Jalkra and Dominus. Their forms shrinking rapidly as we rose higher into the crimson sky.

  As we ascended, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at what had just happened. It seemed impossible—a minotaur Oni versus a T-Rex—and yet here they were, engaged in what appeared to be a deadly struggle. I glanced at Liozel and noticed that he was trembling.

  My hand stroke the back of his neck. "It's alright, Lio. We'll be fine."

  "Will he?" Liozel asked, his voice trembling. "He's so big and scary..."

  I looked back down at the scene unfolding below us and felt a surge of fear as well. Jalkra was strong, of course, but Dominus was something else entirely. If he managed to defeat Jalkra, there would be no stopping him. Yet, when I glanced from Liozel and back, I found that Dominus had vanished from where he had loomed.

  "Where the hell do you think you're going?!" My heart raced as I whipped around to the voice and spotted Dominus's clawed hand tearing through a rift. It grasped around Liozel and me as we struggled against the grip. The Nexperbax triplets shrieked in fear as they clung to Tilz.

  "Liozel!" I yelled, struggling against the powerful grip.

  The air crackled with electricity as Dominus pulled us toward the rift.

  "Big sis!" Liozel screamed, his body trembling. "GO AWAY!" The roar that erupted from his throat crashed into Dominus's chest, and another portal cracked open, engulfing everyone in the vicinity.

  Just as soon as the blinding light came, the grip vanished as wind whipped around me.

  I gasped as I felt the air rush past me. A greenish sky was seen above me. I looked around frantically, trying to figure out where I was, but everything seemed to be spinning. Without a second thought, I curled myself around Liozel as I noticed we were plunging toward a volcano.

  The lava below rose upward like a tidal wave. It shot into the sky, but I was swift in creating a dome that quickly became molten rock around us. We rolled and slid across the cracked earth. Finally, we came to a halt. My wound screamed at me.

  "Big sis," Liozel murmured weakly. "I'm so sorry."

  I hugged him closer to me. "It's okay, Lio. You did what you had to do." I kissed the top of his head. My gaze flickered across the environment we had found ourselves in. This was no longer Jalkra's turf, and it seemed unlikely to have been DreaGoth. "Where are we?"

  "You're in my domain, girl. My world." The deep, feminine voice echoed through the magma field around us. "Welcome to Vulkanzhar."