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It was difficult to see through all the smoke.

Waves of heat pushed through the air as the flames grew ever higher, engulfing the expanse and roaring over the sounds of battle.

Loud as it was, however, it could not drown out the scream of anguish ripped from the throat of a figure falling to their knees beside another, nor could the smoke disguise the bright red blood that stained the cold stone floor.

But there was no time to linger here.

With a rage-filled scream, the figure by the body jumped forward. “This is YOUR FAULT! I’m going to fucking KILL YOU!”

Flashes of ethereal color strayed through the smoke like lightning in a thunder cloud, illuminating the silhouette of the fighter.

There was little air left in the room, consumed by the fire and replaced by the heat.

It was suffocating, but worse than that, it made it impossible to track the movements of battle.

The blaze ate away at the walls, and the roof creaked and groaned as it grew ever closer to falling.

Time was running out, and as black ash began to flood the room alongside the thick, choking smoke, what little visibility they still had was lost.

Watery eyes scanned the area, but it was hopeless. Sight was no help here anymore. Almost by sound alone was the room navigable. Grunts and groans betrayed the location of the two wrestling on the ground, and the battle drew closer to the end.

The roof continued to shift overhead. Bits of wood and plaster began to crumble and rain down upon the scene below, as the flames licked their way across the heavy beams that served as the final pillars keeping the place from collapsing.

Bloodied hands pushed hard against soot-stained arms. The flames burned all the brighter, fueled by the fury and wrath of the assailant, the figure on the ground choking on the heavy smoke as they fought to free themselves.

And as the roof overhead finally gave out and the flames surged violently towards them, bright light overtook all.