Chapter 7: Clash of Fire and Ice

As Koga and Colonel Johnston engaged in their intense battle, the clash between their opposing elements intensified. Koga, utilizing his mastery over ice, began by launching two massive icicles at Colonel Johnston, aiming to catch him off guard. However, the Colonel remained unfazed, effortlessly extinguishing the icy projectiles with a simple snap of his fingers, summoning flames that consumed them with ease.Undeterred, Koga continued his assault, bombarding Colonel Johnston with a flurry of smaller icicles. But once again, the Colonel's barrier of fire shielded him from the ice, melting it before it could get close. Realizing that his soft attacks were ineffective, Koga decided to escalate his next move."Frozen Prison!" Koga utilized the surrounding ice particles to conjure an ice cage around Colonel Johnston. However, the barrier of fire caused the cage to melt, causing a thick mist that enveloped the area. Colonel Johnston realizing his vision has been obscured radiated intense heat, dispersing the mist with his flames. To his surprise, Koga had vanished from sight.Unbeknownst to Colonel Johnston, Koga had launched himself into the air. He then creates a massive block of ice hurtling it down towards the Colonel. Lt. Campos, ever vigilant, shouted a warning, "Above you!" Colonel Johnston glanced up, realizing the impending danger, but with no time to dodge, the block of ice crashed into him. Koga landed on the ground after the attack.However, the respite was short-lived as the block of ice suddenly became engulfed in towering flames, shattering into pieces. Colonel Johnston emerged from the blast with a few scratches, his determination burning brighter. "I'm impressed. It's been a long time since I've had such a good fight," he remarked.He then proceeds to tighten his gloves as tiny rings of flames encircle his fingers. As the flame circles his pointer finger and thumb he snaps in the direction of Koga launching a large amount of spiral flames in his direction.Koga managed to evade the attack, but he found himself surrounded by small fireballs. Colonel Johnston seized the opportunity, grinning as he said, "Gotcha, fireflies net." Another snap of his finger caused the fireballs to converge on Koga. A massive explosion ensued.Yet when the smoke cleared, Koga stood unharmed, as all the fireballs had been frozen just before it could harm him.Breathing a sigh of relief, Koga stated, "Phew, that was close, Colonel. I could've been seriously hurt." Colonel Johnston smiled, acknowledging Koga's resilience. "Not bad," he responded. Both fighters continued their fierce exchange, neither gaining a clear advantage. Meanwhile, Lt. Campos stayed close to Riley, growing increasingly annoyed by his smug demeanor. Irritated, she confronted him, saying, "You seem to be enjoying yourself." Riley chuckled in response, reveling in the rare spectacle of two titans clashing. "Well, of course. It's not every day you witness a battle of this magnitude," he retorted.As the fight gradually subsided, both Koga and Colonel Johnston found themselves breathing heavily, realizing the showdown was nearing its end. They tore off their tattered clothing, seeking greater maneuverability. Koga took a step forward, unleashing a relentless barrage of ice erupting from the ground toward Colonel Johnston. However, the Colonel countered by snapping his fingers, obliterating the ice in his path. Undeterred, Koga extended his frozen hand toward the ground, saying, "Ice Pillars!" Pillars of ice erupted successively, aiming directly at Colonel Johnston.Unfazed, Colonel Johnston declared, "You'll have to do better than that." He effortlessly dodged the incoming ice pillars, preparing to snap his fingers once more. "Snapshot!" With a swift motion, he released five fireballs, scattering them toward Koga. The fireballs quickly approached as Koga smiled and exhaled, releasing a chilling breath. "Give me a break, Colonel. You're not even trying." Standing tall and confident, Koga raised his hand once again, slamming it onto the ground. "Frozen Tundra!" A colossal expanse of ice surged forth from the ground, swiftly obliterating the fireballs and dramatically altering the city's landscape.Surprised, Colonel Johnston yelled, "Are you mad?" Koga laughed, his determination unwavering. "I told you I'm here to eliminate that man, and that means I won't hold back. You should consider doing the same." Stepping onto the vast tundra of ice, Koga launched more ice pillars toward Colonel Johnston.Colonel Johnston struggled to dodge the relentless assault, attempting to eliminate the remaining pillars with his snapshot technique. However, the sheer volume overwhelmed him, and one of the pillars made contact. Disappointed, Koga remarked, "Is that all you've got? I expected more from the so-called Prodigy."Colonel Johnston slowly stood back up, acknowledging he underestimated Koga. Flames began engulfing his injured body, burning even hotter than before, almost transforming him into a living inferno. "I underestimated you, Koga, but now I'm ending it," he declared, readying himself for a final assault. "Fire Fist!" Numerous condensed flames swirled around his fist.Meanwhile, Koga remained composed. "I suppose we're going all out now," he stated, freezing the area around him as the temperature plummeted to extreme levels. "Absolute Zero, Revised." Koga channeled all the frigid energy into his hand, forming it into a formidable fist of ice.Both Koga and Colonel Johnston powered themselves to the limit, sprinting toward each other. With Colonel Johnston attacking with a fist ablaze and Koga retaliating with his frozen fist, their fists collided, resulting in a cataclysmic explosion.Lt. Campos, overwhelmed with concern, couldn't contain her fear any longer. "JOHN!" she screamed, her voice echoing across the battlefield.