Chapter 152.1 - Don't Escape

'A trap!' 

Irina's flames surged outward as she blasted the incoming vial, her instincts guiding her actions faster than her reasoning could catch up. The glass shattered mid-air with a sharp crack, releasing a pressurized burst of dense, swirling gas. 

The arena filled with the substance instantly, a strange pressure assaulting her eyes and lungs. Irina recoiled, coughing as the gas clouded her vision. Her mind raced, cursing her decision to act on instinct rather than taking a moment to assess the vial. In the chaos of battle, judgment was often a luxury she couldn't afford, but this time, it had cost her. 

'Damn it—what is this stuff?!' 

The pressure around her eyes grew unbearable for a fleeting second before her flames flared defensively, dispersing the gas slightly. But the damage was already done. Her vision blurred, her balance wavered, and for that split second, she was vulnerable.