Jhaeros had faced many beasts in his lifetime—monsters lurking in the dense forests of Ilvaar territory, predators that relied on brute strength, cunning, or even magic to hunt.
But Nara was something else.
She wasn't just strong; she was a force of nature, raw power wrapped in the body of an unstoppable brawler. And right now, she was out of control.
The flames surrounding her flared as she moved, each step fueled by untamed aggression. Whatever hallucinogen had been used on her was warping her mind, making her see enemies where none existed.
And now she saw him.
Jhaeros felt her attention shift, felt the intensity of her burning gaze lock onto him. She let out a feral growl, her lips curling back to reveal her sharp teeth.
Velka let out a warning snarl in response, her fur bristling as she lowered her stance, ready to leap.
"Easy, Velka," Jhaeros murmured, raising a hand. "She's not in control."
Velka hesitated but didn't relax. Her loyalty to Jhaeros was absolute, but even she could sense the danger in facing Nara head-on.
Then, without warning—
Nara lunged.
Jhaeros reacted instantly. He sidestepped, moving with feline grace, but Nara's punch exploded against the ground where he had stood just a moment ago. The force of the impact cracked the earth, sending a shockwave outward, and flames surged in all directions.
The heat was suffocating, even for Jhaeros.
"Damn it, Nara!" he snapped, leaping onto a low-hanging tree branch just before the flames could consume him. His mind worked quickly—he needed to end this fight before she burned the entire forest down.
Nara moved like a demon possessed, her strikes wild but devastating. She didn't fight like a trained warrior right now—she fought like a berserker, every motion carrying the full weight of her overwhelming strength.
Jhaeros had two options: dodge or die.
He vaulted from branch to branch, keeping ahead of her furious swings. Velka darted alongside him, her keen instincts telling her not to engage directly.
But the forest was rapidly becoming a battlefield of fire.
Trees snapped under the sheer force of Nara's attacks. Flames devoured everything, turning what was once dense greenery into a smoldering wasteland.
Jhaeros landed on a rock just outside the burning zone and clenched his fists. He couldn't keep running forever. If this went on, Nara would burn herself out—but at what cost?
His ears twitched. He could still hear competitors retreating in the distance, trying to escape the wildfire. If he didn't stop her soon, there wouldn't be much of a tournament left.
Jhaeros took a deep breath. He had to bring her down.
A Calculated Strike
Jhaeros analyzed her movements. She wasn't thinking clearly—she was fighting by instinct alone.
If he wanted to stop her without hurting her permanently, he had to disrupt her balance and force her into submission.
First step: Control her movements.
Jhaeros reached into his belt and retrieved a coil of wire, enchanted for durability and flexibility. With a flick of his wrist, he launched it toward Nara's ankle.
It wrapped around her leg—but the moment she felt the restriction, she yanked with inhuman strength, snapping the wire like it was nothing.
Second step: Force a reaction.
Jhaeros clicked his tongue. Figures. He couldn't bind her with something so simple.
Instead, he changed tactics. He leaped forward, closing the gap between them before she could fully react. If he couldn't bind her, he'd have to go for a more direct approach.
Velka took that moment to strike. The dire-wolf lunged at Nara's blind spot, fangs flashing as she aimed for Nara's shoulder—not to kill, but to unbalance.
But even in her frenzied state, Nara was too fast.
She twisted mid-motion, grabbing Velka by the scruff of her neck and hurling her aside like a ragdoll.
Velka crashed into a boulder with a yelp, but she quickly rolled to her feet, shaking off the impact.
Third step: Precision.
Jhaeros used that moment to strike.
His legs coiled, muscles tensed, and then—
He moved.
Blurring forward in a burst of speed, he aimed directly for Nara's solar plexus, where he drove his palm with pinpoint accuracy.
The impact sent a controlled shockwave through her body—not enough to seriously injure, but enough to knock the wind out of her.
Nara staggered, her fiery aura flickering. Her breath hitched, and for the first time since her rampage began, she hesitated.
Jhaeros didn't let up.
He spun behind her, locking his arms around her in a chokehold.
"Sleep." His voice was calm, but firm.
She roared, trying to throw him off, but Jhaeros held tight, using his agility to keep her unbalanced. He applied pressure, cutting off just enough oxygen to make her drowsy but not cause lasting harm.
Nara struggled, flames still licking at her body.
But her movements were getting slower.
Her legs buckled.
And then—
She collapsed.
In the aftermath,
Jhaeros exhaled sharply, easing his grip as Nara's body slumped against the charred ground. Her flames dimmed, flickering before disappearing entirely.
Velka limped over, sniffing Nara cautiously before giving Jhaeros an approving huff.
He released a slow breath, shaking the tension from his arms.
Nara would wake up soon—probably with a headache, but at least the destruction had been contained.
Jhaeros stood, taking a moment to assess the damage. The once-thriving forest was now a wasteland of ash and embers.
This wasn't just the result of Nara's power.
He glanced down at her, frowning. Something had made her flames worse than usual. Even for a berserker, she had fought like she was possessed.
His ears twitched. That hallucinogen…
This hadn't been a simple trick to disorient her.
This had been a deliberate attempt to turn her into a living weapon.
Jhaeros' gaze darkened. Whoever had done this… had tried to use her as a means of mass destruction.
And if he had been just a little slower—
The entire battlefield might have burned to the ground.