The spear pierced through muscle and exoskeleton.
It sank deep into the weak point.
Inferno's body lurched, one leg buckling from the sudden loss of support.
"Got you," Ben growled.
He wrenched the spear sideways.
Tendons tore and the wound widened with a harsh crack.
Inferno's balance faltered, but before it could fully collapse, its six burning eyes flared with fury.
The flames coating its body surged outward.
They wrapped around Ben's embedded spear like a living thing.
FWOOOM.
Heat exploded in all directions.
Ben was forced to pull his weapon back before the flames could melt through it.
He jumped away, arms raised to shield himself as the inferno raged in front of him.
Inferno's breathing turned ragged.
Its injured leg trembled, but it refused to fall.
It lifted its gaze.
The anger in its eyes shifted into something more dangerous.
Amusement.
Then it grinned.
The air around them ignited.
Ben did not hesitate.
