A False Triumph

Ezra saw Shirley from the corner of his eye, crouched behind a bush, giving him a subtle signal. His heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. Then, in a blink, his body shimmered and vanished from sight.

It was time to distract the abomination.

"Hey, you stupid bull!" Ezra called out, immediately cringing at his own words. Not exactly his most creative insult.

The abomination didn't react, its monstrous head tilting ever so slightly, as if unimpressed by the feeble attempt at provocation.

Ezra scowled. "Oh, come on. That usually works."

Frustrated, he snatched up a nearby rock. With a flick of his wrist, he ignited it, flames curling around the surface, pulsing with heat. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across his face. He could feel the energy thrumming beneath his fingertips, the warmth surging through his veins.

Taking careful aim, Ezra hurled the burning rock with all his strength. The projectile streaked through the air, a fiery arc slicing through the unnatural stillness of the battlefield.

In a blink, the bird-like monster materialized before the abomination, its massive wings unfurling in a desperate attempt to shield its master. The searing rock struck true, colliding with its outstretched talons. A piercing shriek tore through the air as the flames burned through its flesh, charring bone and sinew.

The creature recoiled, its movements frantic as it thrashed, trying to shake off the searing pain. Smoke curled from the smoldering wound, the acrid scent of burnt feathers thick in the air. But even as it screeched in agony, its body moved on instinct, its predatory gaze snapping back to Ezra with a murderous intent.

The abomination remained motionless behind it, watching in eerie silence. Unfazed.

Calculating.

The bird-like creature surged forward, its talons slicing through the air with lethal precision. Its hollow, dark eyes bore into everything around it, devoid of emotion, a predator that knew nothing but destruction.

With each step it took, ice crept along the ground, spreading in jagged patterns, consuming the earth beneath it.

The very air around it chilled, turning thick with frost, the temperature dropping sharply with every beat of its massive wings. Crystalline shards of ice formed in its wake, glittering like deadly daggers as they shattered upon impact.

Ezra's grip tightened around the stick in his hand, his knuckles turning white. With a sharp exhale, he willed his flames to life, igniting the wood in an instant. The fire crackled violently, licking up the length of the makeshift weapon, its searing heat casting flickering shadows across his face.

A slow, determined smirk tugged at his lips. "Seems I didn't burn you enough last time," he muttered, his voice laced with dark amusement. His lavender eyes gleamed as he shifted his stance. "I won't make the same mistake again."

Ezra tightened his grip. He needed a strategy . A direct attack would not work. Then an idea struck him . He new with speed he wasn't able to match it neither with strength of technique . 

Instead of dodging the next dive, he ran toward it. The beast lunged, expecting him to evade, but at the last second, Ezra twisted, leaping onto its back and plunging his stick encased with flames between its feathers.

A burst of black blood sprayed into the air as the monster screeched in fury, flailing violently to shake him off.

He drove it in deeper with all his strength until the creature went limp, its body slumping forward.

"That was easier than I thought," he muttered, though a hint of suspicion lingered in his tone.

The corpse fell before him as the wind howled, its echoes carrying through the desolate battlefield. For now, it was just him and the abomination.

His head throbbed, his limbs felt like lead, and his vision was streaked with blood. His clothes were torn, his body battered—but still, he stood tall.