Despite my relentless attacks, there was no end in sight. The battle dragged on, and I knew I had to do something different, but there was nothing that would give me the edge. We were perfectly matched, this purple lightning phoenix was like a mirror of myself, neither stronger nor weaker. Did that mean I had to surpass my own limits, rise to even greater heights in the heat of battle?
The thought was maddening, and unlikely, but it was the only choice I had left. I had to try. There was no other option. The fight had dragged on for so long, the endless cycle of attacking and regenerating, that my will was starting to falter. Perhaps this was a test, not just of strength but of my mental resolve. My energy was wearing thin, and I could feel the crushing weight of time running out. How much longer could I hold on?
