the burning future

Chapter 5 – The Burning Future

The wind howled around the battlefield, sharp with frost and smoke. The rooftop had turned into a wasteland of shattered ice, melted pools, and scorched stone. Cracks webbed across the floor, and the distant skyline shimmered with the glow of magical energy.

Elira stood at the center, her body slightly hunched as steam rose from her skin. Her breath was ragged now, cheeks flushed not from embarrassment — but exhaustion.

She had released 50% of her power.

And yet… she still couldn't land a hit on Lee Hwan.

"You're faster," she admitted, her voice tinged with both annoyance and admiration.

Lee stood a few meters away, his body lightly scratched but far from exhausted. His eyes glowed with golden flame — alive with premonition.

"I can see it all," he said calmly, stepping forward.

Elira clenched her fists, her aura bursting around her like a frozen blizzard. "So that's your plan? You're making me spend stamina while you dance around my strikes."

Lee smirked slightly. "It's working, isn't it?"

Elira let out a dry chuckle. "Tch… clever. Annoying. But clever."

Her knees trembled slightly, not from fear — but from sheer fatigue. She had launched hundreds of attacks in the last ten minutes. Ice shards, blades, falcons, spears, blizzards — all of them perfect in form and lethal in force.

And yet, none of them touched him.

Why?

Because now, Lee Hwan wasn't just seeing 5 seconds into the future anymore.

He was seeing 7.

Seven seconds… enough to witness an entire exchange, dodge, counter, and reposition with eerie perfection.

Elira's brows furrowed. "When did you go from a rookie to someone who can dance between Monarch-level attacks?"

Lee didn't answer. Instead, he flared his aura — a blazing gold fire spiraled around him like a dragon awakening.

"Flame Burst!" he shouted, launching forward with the speed of a comet.

The blast struck Elira square in the chest.

She flew back, slamming into the ice wall she herself had created. The crack of impact echoed through the city skyline. For a moment, everything stood still.

Steam hissed as flame met frost.

Elira stood, coughing lightly, her hair slightly singed at the ends.

"Not bad…" she muttered. "That one actually… stung."

Lee didn't chase. He was calm, controlled.

"You're strong, Elira. Stronger than I expected," he said. "But strength alone won't beat me."

Her eyes narrowed. "You think you've already won?"

"No," Lee replied. "But I'm getting closer with every second."

Elira inhaled deeply, then exhaled — and for the first time, her body wavered.

Her stamina was dropping fast. Even with Monarch of Ice's vessel strength, using 50% of her power in full force for this long was costing her.

She looked at him again.

He didn't even look tired.

"Your stamina… how?"

Lee shrugged. "I trained with Ember Lords. I fought on the 10th Floor. I know how to pace a battle now."

Elira looked away for a second, biting her lip.

Then she smiled.

"You've gotten so cool, it's actually pissing me off."

Lee blinked. "...Huh?"

She charged again, blades of ice forming mid-air. But her speed had slowed. Her strikes were still elegant, but they didn't have the same edge.

Lee dodged again. And again. Watching her two moves ahead.

Now 8 seconds into the future.

He was adapting. Evolving.

Elira swung low. Lee leapt.

She aimed a frost javelin — Lee ducked. He circled, got behind her.

Boom!

Another burst of flame hit her back. She stumbled forward, coughing.

Elira collapsed onto one knee, ice forming at her feet to keep her balanced.

"You're... ridiculous," she breathed, sweating. "How long... have you been seeing 8 seconds ahead?"

Lee's expression softened.

"Since I started taking you seriously."

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Then let me show you what it means to take me seriously."

She stood up, her body glowing with ice monarch aura again — though shakier now, clearly pushing limits.

Lee's eyes narrowed. "Elira, you're exhausting yourself."

"And you're still hiding something, aren't you?" she asked, smiling faintly. "I know you, Lee. You've been holding something back since this fight began."

Lee was quiet for a moment.

Then, flames roared around his arm.

"You're right."

Elira's eyes widened.

"True Flame Dragon Form."

The aura of a massive dragon coiled around Lee, his body blazing with a golden-red radiance.

Elira braced herself, even as her knees wobbled.

"I knew it," she whispered.

The air split as Lee vanished and appeared just a meter before her, flames spiraling like a sun collapsing into a spear.

"Let's end this."