Chapter 5

Author note: Chapters are going to start coming out daily + extra chapter for every 50 stones given

Inferno barely registered the fist flying toward him before it connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling. The impact left his head spinning and his vision blurred. The remnants of the town lay in smoldering ruins around him, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke and ash. He forced himself to focus, pushing through the dizziness to rise to his feet.

Before him stood his attacker, a formidable figure radiating raw power. The man was tall and muscular, with a chiseled physique that suggested years of intense training. His skin was a deep bronze, glistening with sweat under the early morning light. He wore a sleeveless black combat vest, revealing arms covered in intricate tattoos that seemed to pulse with energy. His piercing blue eyes burned with intensity, and his bald head gleamed as the first rays of sunlight touched it. Everything about him exuded strength and determination.

"Who are you?" Inferno demanded, his voice rough with a mix of pain and anger. He assumed a defensive stance, ready for whatever came next.

"They call me Titan," the man replied, his voice a low rumble that matched his imposing presence. "I'm here to stop you."

Without waiting for a response, Titan lunged at Inferno with incredible speed. Inferno barely managed to raise his arms in time to block the incoming punch, but the sheer force of the blow still sent him skidding backward. Titan's movements were a blur, his fists flying with precision and power. Inferno countered with a swift uppercut, his fist engulfed in flames, but Titan deflected it with ease.

Titan's strength was unlike anything Inferno had faced before. Each punch felt like a hammer blow, and his defense was nearly impenetrable. Inferno summoned his pyrokinetic powers, enveloping his body in a blazing aura. The intense heat radiated off him in waves, scorching the ground beneath his feet. With a roar, he unleashed a torrent of fire, forcing Titan to leap back.

But Titan was relentless. He moved with fluid grace, weaving through the flames and closing the distance between them in an instant. He lashed out with a powerful right hook that Inferno barely managed to deflect. The force of the punch sent a shockwave through the air, and Inferno felt his bones rattle. Titan followed up with a knee to the ribs, driving the air from Inferno's lungs.

"You think you're strong?" Titan growled, his voice filled with scorn. "You're nothing but a monster, a freak."

Inferno's anger flared, and he snarled in response. "I am Inferno!" he roared, flames erupting from his body in a fiery explosion. The force of the blast sent Titan skidding backward, but he quickly regained his footing, his expression grim and resolute.

"You can call yourself whatever you want," Titan said, his voice steady. "But I'm here to stop you, no matter what it takes."

Inferno's eyes narrowed as he prepared for another assault. He could feel the strain of the battle wearing on him, but he refused to back down. He summoned every ounce of his power, the flames around him intensifying to a blinding brilliance. With a roar, he charged at Titan, his fists blazing with fire.

Titan met his charge head-on, his own fists raised in a defensive stance. The two clashed with a force that shook the ground, their punches and kicks a blur of motion. Inferno's fiery strikes seared Titan's skin, leaving blackened scorch marks, but Titan's iron resolve and sheer physical strength allowed him to withstand the onslaught. He countered with devastating blows that rocked Inferno to his core, each punch driving him closer to the edge of exhaustion.

Their fight took them through the ruins of the town, each impact sending debris flying and creating craters in the ground. Inferno's flames lit up the early morning sky, casting an eerie glow over the devastation. Despite the pain and fatigue, Inferno pressed on, driven by a primal rage and a burning need to prove himself.

Titan fought with a calm, methodical precision. He blocked Inferno's fiery attacks with practiced ease, countering with punches and kicks that struck with unerring accuracy. His experience and training were evident in every move, and it was clear he had faced powerful opponents before.

As the battle raged on, Inferno's flames began to wane, his energy reserves dwindling. He knew he had to end this soon or risk being overwhelmed. Summoning the last of his strength, he gathered a massive ball of fire in his hands, the heat so intense it scorched the ground beneath him. With a roar, he hurled the blazing sphere at Titan, hoping to end the fight in one decisive blow.

Titan's eyes widened as the fiery projectile hurtled toward him. He braced himself, crossing his arms in front of him to absorb the impact. The explosion rocked the ground, sending a shockwave of heat and light through the air. When the smoke cleared, Titan was still standing, his clothes singed and his skin blistered, but his resolve unbroken.

Inferno's heart sank as he realized his most powerful attack had failed. He staggered back, gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion. Titan advanced on him, his eyes cold and determined.

"It's over," Titan said, his voice filled with finality. "You can't win."

Inferno shook his head, refusing to give in. He raised his fists, flames flickering weakly around them. "I'll never stop fighting," he growled. "Not until my last breath."

Titan sighed, a look of pity crossing his face. "Then I'll make this quick," he said.

With a burst of speed, Titan closed the distance between them. Inferno tried to defend himself, but his movements were sluggish, his body too drained to react in time. Titan's fist connected with his jaw in a bone-crunching punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Inferno lay there, gasping for breath, his vision swimming. He could feel the darkness closing in, his strength slipping away. Titan stood over him, his expression unreadable.

"Stay down," Titan said, his voice cold. "It's over."

But Inferno refused to surrender. With a supreme effort, he pushed himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily. "Not... yet," he panted, flames flickering weakly around him.

Titan shook his head. "You're a stubborn one," he muttered. "But this ends now."

He raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow. Inferno braced himself, knowing he was too weak to block or dodge. But just before Titan's fist could connect, a sudden burst of energy surged through Inferno's body. Flames erupted from his skin, more intense than ever before, and he felt a renewed strength coursing through his veins.

With a roar, Inferno lashed out, his fists blazing with fire. Titan was taken aback by the sudden resurgence, and he staggered under the onslaught. Inferno pressed his advantage, driving Titan back with a relentless barrage of fiery punches and kicks.

But Titan was not so easily defeated. He recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing with determination. He parried Inferno's attacks with brutal efficiency, countering with powerful blows that rocked Inferno to his core. The two combatants were evenly matched, their fight a brutal, desperate struggle for dominance.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the ruins, Inferno and Titan fought on, neither willing to give an inch. The ground was scorched and littered with debris, the air filled with the acrid scent of smoke and sweat. Inferno's flames burned brightly, a testament to his unyielding spirit, while Titan's strength and resolve remained unbroken.

Their battle reached a fever pitch, each strike a testament to their determination and willpower. Inferno's body screamed in protest, every muscle and bone aching with exhaustion, but he refused to give in. Titan's expression was grim, his eyes locked on his opponent with unwavering focus.

In a final, desperate bid to end the fight, Inferno gathered the last of his strength, summoning a massive ball of fire in his hands. The heat was intense, the flames roaring with a ferocity that matched his inner turmoil. With a primal scream, he hurled the blazing sphere at Titan, hoping to end the battle once and for all.

Titan's eyes widened as the fiery projectile hurtled toward him. He braced himself, crossing his arms in front of him to absorb the impact. The explosion rocked the ground, sending a shockwave of heat and light through the air. When the smoke cleared, Titan was still standing, his clothes singed and his skin blistered, but his resolve unbroken.

Inferno's heart sank as he realized his most powerful attack had failed. He staggered back, gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion. Titan advanced on him, his eyes cold and determined.

"It's over," Titan said, his voice filled with finality. "You can't win."

Inferno shook his head, refusing to give in. He raised his fists, flames flickering weakly around them. "I'll never stop fighting," he growled. "Not until my last breath."

Titan sighed, a look of pity crossing his face. "Then I'll make this quick," he said.

With a burst of speed, Titan closed the distance between them. Inferno tried to defend himself, but his movements were sluggish, his body too drained to react in time. Titan's fist connected with his jaw in a bone-crunching punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Inferno lay there, gasping for breath, his vision swimming. He could feel the darkness closing in, his strength slipping away. Titan stood over him, his expression unreadable.

"Stay down," Titan said, his voice cold. "It's over."

But Inferno refused to surrender. With a supreme effort, he pushed himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily. "Not... yet," he panted, flames flickering weakly around him.

Titan shook his head. "You're a stubborn one," he muttered. "But this ends now."

He raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow. Inferno braced himself, knowing he was too weak to block or dodge. But just before Titan's fist could connect, a sudden burst of energy surged through Inferno's body. Flames erupted from his skin, more intense than ever before, and he felt a renewed strength coursing through his veins.

With a roar, Inferno lashed out, his fists blazing with fire. Titan was taken aback by the sudden resurgence, and he staggered under the onslaught. Inferno pressed his advantage, driving Titan back with a relentless barrage of fiery punches and kicks.

But Titan was not so easily defeated. He recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing with determination. He parried Inferno's attacks with brutal efficiency, countering with powerful blows that rocked Inferno to his core. The two combatants were evenly matched, their fight a brutal, desperate struggle for dominance.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the ruins, Inferno and Titan fought on, neither willing to give an inch. The ground was scorched and littered with debris, the air filled with the acrid scent of smoke and sweat. Inferno's flames burned brightly, a testament to his unyielding spirit, while Titan's strength and resolve remained unbroken.

Their battle reached a fever pitch, each strike a testament to their determination and willpower. Inferno's body screamed in protest, every muscle and bone aching with exhaustion, but he refused to give in. Titan's expression was grim, his eyes locked on his opponent with unwavering focus.

In a final, desperate bid to end the fight, Inferno gathered the last of his strength, summoning a massive ball of fire in his hands. The heat was intense, the flames roaring with a ferocity that matched his inner turmoil. With a primal scream, he hurled the blazing sphere at Titan, hoping to end the battle once and for all.

Titan's eyes widened as the fiery projectile hurtled toward him. He braced himself, crossing his arms in front of him to absorb the impact. The explosion rocked the ground, sending a shockwave of heat and light through the air. When the smoke cleared, Titan was still standing, his clothes singed and his skin blistered, but his resolve unbroken.

Inferno's heart sank as he realized his most powerful attack had failed. He staggered back, gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion. Titan advanced on him, his eyes cold and determined.

"It's over," Titan said, his voice filled with finality. "You can't win."

Inferno shook his head, refusing to give in. He raised his fists, flames flickering weakly around them. "I'll never stop fighting," he growled. "Not until my last breath."

Titan sighed, a look of pity crossing his face. "Then I'll make this quick," he said.

With a burst of speed, Titan closed the distance between them. Inferno tried to defend himself, but his movements were sluggish, his body too drained to react in time. Titan's fist connected with his jaw in a bone-crunching punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Inferno lay there, gasping for breath, his vision swimming. He could feel the darkness closing in, his strength slipping away. Titan stood over him, his expression unreadable.

"Stay down," Titan said, his voice cold. "It's over."

But Inferno refused to surrender. With a supreme effort, he pushed himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily. "Not... yet," he panted, flames flickering weakly around him.

Titan shook his head. "You're a stubborn one," he muttered. "But this ends now."

He raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow.