The air trembled.
The jungle illusion twisted under Huntress's roar — a sound that shook bones and hearts alike.
Sai stood firm, steam rising from his shoulders, eyes glowing with molten fury. He cracked his neck.
"Round two, stripes. Let's make it count."
Huntress smirked, tail slicing through the air.
"Still standing, flame boy? You don't know when to quit."
Sai grinned, fire coiling around his fists.
"Quit? Nah. I'm just heating up."
She lunged — claws flashing. Sai met her mid-charge, the impact sending waves of heat through the forest. Trees split. The ground hissed.
She swung her tail — Sai ducked, planted a knee in her gut, then uppercut her through a branch.
From above, Huntress landed on all fours, wiping blood from her mouth.
"You've grown strong... but not strong enough."
She vanished.
A streak of silver blurred through the smoke — and Amal barely had time to raise an arm before the claws raked her shoulder.
Blood sprayed. Amal winced but stayed standing.
"You call that a scratch? I've had cats worse than you."
Sai's flame flared in anger — but Amal grabbed his wrist.
"Don't lose your head, flame boy. Let's burn smart."
Her Ash swirled — twisting, alive, responding to her will like never before. She understood it now — the emotion, the rhythm. The ash wasn't dead dust. It was memory. It was her.
She snapped her fingers, the ash spiraling into the form of a massive serpent. Its eyes glowed red, mirroring her fury.
Sai chuckled.
> "Now that's what I call ash-mazing."
"Shut up and throw me," Amal shot back.
Sai grinned wide. "Gladly."
He grabbed her hand — spun once — and launched her skyward. Amal soared, trailing ash like wings.
"This one's for Tai!" she yelled.
The ash serpent dove from above, jaws wide — biting down on Huntress and slamming her into the dirt.
The jungle shook.
Huntress screamed, her claws glowing silver, and with one brutal motion, she burst free. She moved faster than sight — landing a crushing blow to Sai's spine.
The crack echoed. Sai dropped to his knees, choking on air.
"Sai!" Amal screamed, eyes wide.
Huntress turned, bleeding and furious.
"You think pain makes you strong. But pain only feeds me."
Sai, gasping, still smiled.
"Then choke on this heat."
His flames burst — golden and red, mixing with Amal's black ash. The two energies intertwined, twisting like lovers dancing in chaos.
Amal whispered,
"Let's show her what pain really creates."
They thrust their powers together — Flame and Ash Fusion: Oblivion Bloom.
The blast erupted — a storm of burning petals, ash, and light. It swallowed Huntress whole.
When it cleared, she was on her knees — skin scorched, fur burned away, eyes wild with disbelief.
>"You… you actually hurt me…" she hissed.
Sai limped forward, smoke rising off his back.
"Guess even tigers can get… burned out."
Amal cracked a grin, clutching her wounded shoulder.
"And ashes always sticks around."
Huntress's body fell limp — not dead, but broken, breathing shallow. The illusionary jungle started to crumble.
As the world around them faded, Sai collapsed. Amal caught him, trembling but smiling.
"Told you we'd win."
Sai chuckled weakly.
"Next time… you're doing the heavy lifting."
"Sure," Amal said softly. "Next time."