SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES-Chapter 179: How To Burn A Feline

Aramith didn't change his expression or respond to her words.

Mozrael's fingers were still locked with His. She hadn't even noticed she was holding on too tightly until his hand shifted slightly in hers.

"I heard you're really attached to him, and you know what?" Elira said gently, almost as if she cared for them."That's sweet. Maybe troublesome, but still sweet."

The skeletal leopard prowled in a slow circle beside her, and every step it made resounded on the floor as bone came against stone. Its eye sockets burned with predation, and its ribs rose and fell, as if it were still made of flesh and could breathe normally.

Elira placed a hand lightly on its skull, stilling it. It purred softly, the sound rattling with a strange sound.

"We shouldn't be unprofessional about this," she continued. "Two against two turns chaotic. I don't enjoy chaos unless I'm the one causing it. And I'm sure you remember how well I can do that."

She lifted her gaze to Aramith.

" I know you want to ask me something. I can see it in your eyes." She glanced at Mozrael, then turned back to Aramith. "You and I… we'll talk. Or even fight if you're desperate to prove something. Same thing, really."

Then her eyes slid to Mozrael.

"And let the girl entertain my pet."

Mozrael stiffened.

She did not miss that word.

Girl.

She said it as if she didn't know her name, which left a bitter taste in Mozrael's mouth. But she wasn't the stronger one here. She couldn't do anything to Elira.

Aramith stepped forward slightly, positioning himself in front of her. "If that thing touches her—"

"Oh, it certainly will," Elira replied cheerfully. "That's the point."

He felt Mozrael's grip tighten again. She was afraid once again, remembering how overpowering her first beast was.

I couldn't even move. She looked at the Leopard, and a chill ran down her spine. Her eyes traced its form, starting from the sharp ivory fangs, to the rest of its teeth that were ready to clamp down on her.

She noticed how its bones were thick in its legs to enable it to move with power and speed.

Looking at its paws, she noticed the long, arched claws and subconsciously rubbed her neck, imagining the worst.

As if noticing her gaze, it lifted its tail, waving it lazily. And that was when she noticed how jagged and sharp the tail bones were.

"Are you afraid?" Elira asked.

Mozrael tried to look confident, but failed to.

Elira smirked. "Don't worry, I can assure you this one is not like my lizard. It's at most at Platinum."

Aramith shifted back a little. "She doesn't have a reason to lie about its strength. She's confident," he said to Mozrael.

Mozrael wanted to doubt Elira, but she understood Aramith's words clearly. Elira didn't have any reason to lie about the creature's strength.

She calmed herself down. If that's its strength, then I can do this. I should do it. For Aramith's—

"Mozrael," Aramith murmured without turning to her."You don't have to do this. Let me handle it."

Mozrael shook her head, resolution burning behind her blue eyes. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"I can do it."

Aramith didn't fight her, just agreeing to let her handle it.

"You should be careful...If it becomes too much, call me. I'll reach you."

Mozrael understood the meaning behind his words and knew he was looking out for her, but she hated that he was seeing her for her weakness. She remembered when he was struggling to advance.

When I was stronger than him, he wanted to get to my level. Now...I'm too weak to stand by his side.

She spoke quietly. "I won't need to call you."

He glanced at her over his shoulder. Her eyes held an emotion he couldn't quite place.

She was burning with her fear of failing, her bruised pride, and jealousy.

He gave a small nod, approving her request. Mozrael stepped away from him.

That single motion drew Elira's attention. "Good. I was hoping you weren't the type to hide behind him. I would have been disappointed."

Mozrael said nothing. The air around her suddenly became hotter as faint blue tongues of flame traced along her fingertips.

The feline lowered its massive frame, bones creaking as its spine curved in a perfect predator's arch, ready to attack.

Elira took out a small bell.

Aramith recognized it immediately as the same bell she used to control the lizard in their first encounter.

"Now then," Elira said lightly, taking several steps back.

She raised the bell to her face, then—

Clink!

The sound it made wasn't intimidating or loud, but it echoed in the echoless room.

The moment the sound stopped, the leopard growled, then launched itself forward, crossing the distance in a blink, its claws aimed straight for Mozrael's throat.

She shot aside, barely skimming the ground as bone scraped through the space her head had just occupied. The impact of the beast's landing cracked the stone beneath it.

Mozrael rolled, sprang to her feet, and flung her hand forward.

Blue flames shot from her palm. She wasn't going for any theatrics.

The flames were very bright and concentrated; if any of them were sweating, their sweat would instantly turn to vapor.

The leopard was preparing to attack once again, but as the flames approached it, it twisted skillfully, allowing the flames to wash over its ribcage.

The bones blackened and two cracked, but they reformed almost instantly, knitting themselves back together with an eerie, grinding sound.

Her eyes widened.

"It regenerates," she muttered.

The beast did not hesitate. Its tail, made of interlocked vertebrae, split apart and snapped toward her like a chain.

Mozrael leapt backward as the tail slammed into the ground where her legs had been. Another segment broke off and shot at her side.

She raised her arm, and a curved wall of blue fire burst into existence, incinerating the bone midair. The smell of scorched calcium filled the chamber.

From across the room, Aramith's gaze never left her.

He took an unconscious step forward once, then stopped himself.

She's fine. She's not going to lose. He reminded himself.

The leopard charged again, then jumped to the wall. It ran sideways, then, when it was close enough, it lunged at her, jaws opening wider than normal

Its skull widened as two more rows of pointed bones formed within its jaws, thicker and sharper.

Mozrael was distracted for a fraction of a second before quickly sliding to the side, but she barely made it, and its teeth grazed her arm.

It was just a slight contact, but it managed to leave a mark six inches long, causing blood to well.

For such a small cut that wasn't even deep, it stung a ton. Mozrael clenched her jaws, forcing herself to ignore the pain.

"Mozrael!" Aramith's voice cut through the chamber. His voice didn't sound panicked or tense. Instead, he just sounded like he was scolding her, which annoyed her.

I'm not weak!

Her flames surged violently.

"Watch your own opponent!" she snapped back and slammed both hands into the ground.

A ring of blue fire erupted outward, engulfing the creature.

It was trapped and wouldn't get out without losing much.

The ground beneath it hardened and cracked. The flames constricted, creeping closer to it. Mozrael felt confident now and pushed more.

It hissed at her, then roared, forcing itself to move.

With a growl, it burst free, but parts of its frame had tongues of fire licking them.

It exploded in a cloud of bone ash, then repaired itself.

Mozrael clenched her fist, and the flames went out.

Elira watched with genuine fascination.

"Those flames really are stunning," she murmured, walking over to stand next to Aramith. "You've kept something quite special close to you."

Her eyes shifted to him now.

"And you...have gotten very interesting. Which is why so many want you."

The leopard lunged again.

Mozrael met it head-on this time. At the last moment, just before entering its gaping jaws, she leapt over its skull, preparing to attack the middle vertebrae of its spine as she passed overhead, but this was still a cat, and cats have impossible instincts and reflexes.

It twisted itself and gaped its jaws at her, claws raised to grab her as well.

Elira smiled a satisfied smile, and Aramith clenched a fist, but refused to move.

With a second to spare, Mozrael quickly sprouted fiery dragon wings and shot up, unleashing blue flames straight into its jaws.

Elira was stunned to see this, partly intrigued by the manipulation of flames to form dragon wings.

The beast crashed into the floor, gagging and hissing as bone dust scraped off other parts to put out the fire.

Hovering away from it, her eyes were blazing. The nape of her neck glowed faintly with blue flames.

Across the chamber, Aramith frowned upon noticing the small glow.

She wasn't going to lose, but he hoped she wouldn't have to use it.

With Mozrael's victory confirmed, he finally turned his attention to Elira.

She was already watching him.

Smiling.

" I waited because you were distracted. Are you done making sure your precious one is safe?" she asked. "Because now, I also have something I want to know. But don't worry. I'll answer your questions first."

Aramith could already guess what she wanted to ask him. "You said you were sent to capture me." His voice was flat. "By who?"

She sighed. "Obvious question."

She observed his gaze, intrigued at how he lacked any form of fear.

"You're very confident for someone standing across from someone at the Crystal Gate."