Engulfed in Black Flames

The man stood in the dimly lit lab, a smirk playing on his face as he surveyed the group of escapees, all beaten down and under his control. Beside him loomed the monstrous beast, its mana thrumming with a dark, oppressive aura. Aqua's black eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, his heart sinking. His friends and the city guards lay on the cold stone floor, bruised and bloodied, their bodies unmoving. Ron and the guards were the worst off, unconscious and gravely injured. The man standing above them radiated power—Aqua could sense it clearly. His mana was immense, easily surpassing Aqua's own, likely at the sixth-circle level. The monster, still under his command, emanated its own terrifying energy.

Without hesitation, Aqua teleported all of his friends from the clutches of the enemy, bringing them behind him and away from danger. The man raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Aqua's use of Blink magic.

"You can use that annoying magic of the Empress, like that girl," the man drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "What was it called again...? Ah, yes... Blink or something."

Claire's voice broke through, laced with urgency and fear. "Run, Aqua! This is too much for you!"

But Aqua stood firm, determination etched into his every movement. He couldn't leave them behind—not like this. Gritting his teeth, he infused Darkness with his mana, altering its form. Flames erupted from the blade, black fire consuming the weapon and flickering with an ominous glow. The heat radiating from the sword warped the air around him. Without another word, Aqua charged toward the monster, his blade burning with destructive intent.

The man, unimpressed, turned his attention to Morbid, who lay unconscious on the floor. Watching Aqua's fight with amused indifference, he kicked Morbid's limp body. "Wake up, madman," he ordered, his voice sharp and impatient. When Morbid didn't stir, the man tried various methods—sprinkling water, slapping him, and even prodding him with mana. Finally, after several attempts, Morbid's eyes fluttered open.

Meanwhile, the battle raged on. Aqua teleported around the monster with blinding speed, striking it repeatedly from different angles. Each blow of Darkness, infused with black fire, scorched the beast's flesh. The flames roared higher with every strike, yet the monster's regenerative abilities kept it from being fully consumed. Aqua gritted his teeth, pushing more mana into his attacks, his exhaustion mounting with each passing second. The monster roared, its guttural cries shaking the walls of the lab, but it pressed forward, undeterred by the searing pain.

The lab was a battlefield of destruction. The air was thick with smoke from Aqua's burning strikes. Shattered glass crunched beneath his boots, and strange fluids from broken containers hissed as they evaporated in the heat. The flickering light cast long, eerie shadows on the walls, amplifying the sense of chaos and dread.

As Aqua prepared another assault, Sylphia appeared beside him. Her translucent form shimmered with elegance and power, her emerald eyes locking onto his. "Form a temporary contract with me," she said, her voice resolute. "Together, we can burn it completely."

Aqua hesitated only for a moment. "Can I?" he asked, his voice carrying both hope and uncertainty.

Sylphia nodded, her expression calm yet determined. "Trust me," she said, initiating the process. Aqua felt a surge of energy as the contract formed, their mana intertwining. The pact was complete.

From a distance, Emilia and Claire watched in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. "He formed a contract with Sylphia..." Claire whispered, astonished.

Now empowered by the contract, Sylphia intensified the flames engulfing Darkness. The fire grew larger and brighter, its heat becoming almost unbearable. Aqua's strikes became even more ferocious, each one landing with devastating force. The monster roared in agony as the flames consumed it, its grotesque form finally reduced to ash.

Morbid, now fully conscious, stared at the scene in horror. His creation—his masterpiece—was destroyed before his eyes. Rage overtook him, and his face twisted into a mask of fury. "I'll unleash every monster in this lab on you!" he bellowed, ready to take action.

Before he could move, the man beside him raised a hand, silencing him with a disapproving glare. "I didn't wake you to kill them, madman," he said coldly, his voice cutting through Morbid's rage. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the aftermath of the battle.