THE HEART BENEATH THE RAGE

He reminded himself that Erick always found a way, no matter the odds. Using the levitating debris, he devised a plan to attack. He targeted the largest chunks of the house, knowing they would pack a stronger punch. With a calculated leap, he used his full weight to launch them at her.

But Fury was quick to catch on, and with a monstrous shockwave, she scattered everything, sending Erick crashing into a wall, blood spurting from his mouth as the impact cracked his ribs. Dazed but determined, he pushed the rock off him and tried to move, but Fury was already upon him, a fiery fist aimed directly at his skull. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, and slipped under her arm to get behind her.

As he moved, he realized his bulletproof suit was on fire. The flames were inextinguishable, and the suit was the last barrier between him and certain death. But Erick didn't run; he launched himself at her with renewed ferocity. "I promised my brother I'd hold you here. If this is how I die, then I'm taking you with me!" he roared, then shouted, "Five percent!"

Fury paused, puzzled. "What's five percent?" she demanded. "The brainpower I'm using to kill you," he said with a grim smile. "I have to hand it to you, your bravery is insane," she remarked, her voice tinged with respect. "You have no idea," Erick replied. "It's a shame I have to kill you," she said, a trace of sorrow in her voice. "You could date me instead," he suggested, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "Over my dead body," she hissed. "As you wish," Erick countered, charging at her. They collided with explosive force, Fury launching her attacks with supernatural speed, Erick countering with every ounce of strength and skill he had.

Fury, though powerful, was not a trained fighter; Erick, on the other hand, was a seasoned military officer with years of combat experience. Every movement was calculated, every punch delivered with precision.

Fury struck first, her fists blazing with heat, but Erick was faster. He ducked under her blow and countered with a punch that connected with her left cheek, the impact sending her staggering to one knee. But before he could follow up, she backhanded him in the stomach, lifting him off the ground with the sheer force of her blow. Erick flew across the room, smashing into a wall and crumpling to the floor. He coughed up blood but forced himself to stand.

Fury was already on him again, her right hand cocked back for a devastating punch. Erick rolled out of the way at the last second, ending up behind her once more. He grabbed her wrist and used the momentum to swing her around, launching himself off the wall with a powerful kick aimed at her face.

She turned just in time to block, but the force of his kick still knocked her off balance. Erick didn't let up; he kicked her in the throat, momentarily cutting off her air supply. She gasped, struggling to breathe, but before she could recover, Erick delivered a spinning kick to her left cheek, sending her crashing into the wall. But Fury wasn't done.

She pushed herself off the ground with a roar, her eyes blazing with lava as she generated flames from her back, propelling herself forward like a rocket. Erick barely had time to react; she tackled him to the ground, pinning him under her weight. "You just won't die, will you?" she screamed in rage. "Just die!"

Erick struggled beneath her, the heat searing his flesh. His suit was now fully engulfed in flames, and he could feel his skin burning beneath it. He gritted his teeth and, with a surge of adrenaline, heaved her off him. He ripped off the burning suit and hurled it aside, standing there in his scorched clothes, his body covered in fresh burns. He was at his limit, but he wasn't going to give up.

Fury floated above him, her flames incinerating everything in their path. "Show yourself, you coward!" she screamed, burning every wall around her. "Show me that smug face of yours just one more time!"

Erick, hidden behind the crumbling walls, stayed silent. He could barely breathe, the room thick with dust and smoke, but he remained calm, waiting for the right moment to strike. "You think I'm a monster," Fury continued, her voice filled with bitterness. "I've been abused my entire life. How could you understand? You're a hero! Your people killed so many of us without a shred of remorse, and now that you're helpless, you want to talk to me about morals?"

Erick remained hidden, his mind racing as he plotted his next move. Fury's flames grew even more violent, her anger fuelling the inferno. "Where was your morality when you helped your friend kill John? Where was your morality when you watched him kill Patrick? Where is your morality now, when you encourage him to kill Julius?" she screamed, her flames now a swirling vortex of destruction. Erick knew this was his last chance. He had to act, and he had to act now.

She roared at him to reveal himself one more time, accusing him of hiding behind a facade of confidence. Erick knew he had no choice but to expose himself, as the flames were closing in on his hiding spot. Slowly, he emerged, limping from the numerous injuries she had inflicted. "My confidence is not stupidity," he said, glaring at her with determination. "Oh, yeah? How about now?" Fury spat, pointing her right hand at him and unleashing a torrent of flames.

Without hesitation, Erick aimed his gun at the chandelier's chain, shooting it cleanly. The massive chandelier fell with a deafening crash, landing squarely on her and sending her sprawling to the ground. "See?" Erick said, his voice strained but triumphant. "You bastard! You will die for this!" Fury screamed, her rage unbridled.

She charged at him with murderous intent. Despite the severe pain and exhaustion, Erick stood his ground, even as she delivered a vicious punch to his gut, sending him rolling across the floor. She leapt high into the air, aiming to crush his head with a stomp. Erick managed to roll away just in time, but he was too weak and vulnerable to rise quickly. Fury's follow-up kick to his stomach sent him flying into a wall, leaving him gasping for breath.

Erick struggled to stand, battered and cornered. His body was battered, and all he could do was shield his head with his arms as Fury pounded him mercilessly. "Die! Die!" she yelled with each strike. Erick endured blow after blow, his strength waning as he could no longer hold his arms up. A final clean punch to his right cheek left him facing the opposite direction.

That was when Fury noticed something was amiss. She looked down at her hands, confusion and concern etched on her face. "What's happening to me?" she asked, bewildered. "Your anger was fueled by your own depression," Erick replied through clenched teeth. "By screaming your heart out and unleashing all that rage, you've weakened yourself."

Fury's confusion deepened, her shock evident. "You knew it from the start?", "I never walk into a fight without knowing the outcome," Erick said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Just like I told my brother, I am the stronger monster." In an instant, Fury's rage subsided, and she reverted to her normal self.

She stood naked, her body glistening with sweat, her long, damp hair obscuring her breasts. Despite her vulnerability, she seemed unbothered by her state of undress in front of Erick. "Looks like I get to own you after all," Erick said, his voice softening. "I am not a monster," she replied, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head in denial. "Elianna, you are not a monster," Erick said gently. "For the record, you're a lot hotter as a human." For the first time, Elianna smiled sincerely.