The forest was silent for only a moment. Then, it erupted.
Flames burst from Milly's feet as her disguise dissolved in a storm of light. Silver turned to black and red, her golden eyes igniting like twin stars. The full force of her aura surged outward the unmistakable power of a dragon kin.
Across from her, the corrupted chimera hissed, its body a nightmare of twisted forms claws, horns, wings, and fangs that shimmered with unstable energy. Its breath oozed corruption into the air, and the very trees around it began to rot.
Milly took a breath and raised her hands, her flames coiling like serpents around her arms.
"All right, let's dance."
She charged first, a blur of heat and motion. Fire exploded with each strike she threw, each one clashing with the chimera's corrupted aura. The battle raged violently, sparks and shadows clashing in a storm that shook the forest floor.
The beast retaliated, slashing with its massive tail. Milly dodged barely, and retaliated with a fiery kick that sent it staggering back.
But it was smart.
And fast.
In a sudden burst of speed, the chimera lunged again. A distorted roar filled the air, followed by a blinding flash of dark energy.
Milly crossed her arms to defend but the impact sent her crashing through a line of trees. The world spun violently, and she hit the ground hard.
Before she could recover, the chimera was already on her. Its claws glowed with corrupted power, and when it struck, pain lanced through her entire body.
Her right side went numb her arm and leg completely unresponsive, the result of the corruption searing through her nerves. Sparks of crimson and black energy crawled across her skin like cracks in glass.
"Damn it!" she hissed, breathing heavily. Her body refused to move, but her eyes still burned with fire.
She pushed one hand forward, forcing the flames to gather in her palm.
"If that's how you want it…"
The air shifted.
Wind gathered around her, swirling faster and faster. Flames flickered into the current, forming a burning spiral that shook the ground beneath them. The corrupted creature recoiled, sensing the overwhelming pressure rising in front of it.
Milly's hair whipped wildly as the power reached its peak.
"Let's see you handle this… Flamedro Tonado!"
A blazing tornado erupted upward, scorching the earth and sky alike. The corrupted beast was caught in the inferno, its roar drowned by the roaring storm of fire.
The light consumed everything even the shadows screamed before vanishing.
And when it was over… nothing remained but glowing embers.
Milly knelt, her vision blurring, breathing ragged. Her body trembled, refusing to hold together any longer.
But despite the pain, she smiled faintly.
"So that's… what it looks like… when it's not held back…"
The tornado faded. The flames dimmed. And as her disguise returned - silver hair, blue eyes, calm expression. She collapsed gently onto the scorched ground, staring at the faint trails of smoke drifting toward the sky.
Her last thought before sleep:
Beautiful…
Then, silence.