The air still smelled like burnt ozone and cracked pavement. Static clung to the atmosphere, the final echoes of Kain’s battle ringing in the distance. But here — here the fight was far from over.

  Haley moved like a streak of rose gold lightning, the swirling clouds beneath her feet pushing her through the shattered remains of the town. The Gilded Maw followed close, her golden armor gleaming with an unsettling brilliance even in the dusty light.

  “You run,” Maw called out, her voice lilting, almost amused. “But where to, little dragon? You think you’ll find shelter in this graveyard?”

  Haley’s grin barely hid the burn of her lungs. “Nah,” she shot back, twisting mid-air to avoid the spear of gilded light that Maw hurled her way. “I’m just making sure you get your steps in. Gotta stay spry if you’re gonna keep that whole ‘queen of ruin’ aesthetic going.”

  The spear embedded itself into the cracked earth, sending shards of stone skyward. Maw didn’t flinch. Her golden gaze locked onto Haley with cold amusement. “And yet, I don’t see fear in you,” she mused. “Why is that? Have you convinced yourself that you and your little sparky friend are untouchable?”

  Haley’s eyes flicked toward the distant rusted rails, the skeletal remains of an old freight train looming ahead. Perfect. She’d led them right where she wanted.

  “You talk like Rico’s the boogeyman,” Haley shot back, her voice steady despite the ache creeping into her limbs. “But I’ve seen men like him before. Loud. Dangerous. And eventually? Dead.”

  The Gilded Maw’s laugh was like a chime, low and knowing. “Oh, sweet girl. Men like him? There’s no one like Rico.” Her eyes gleamed as she strode forward, the dust around her swirling unnaturally. “They don’t call him La Sombra for nothing.”

  Haley’s heart skipped. La Sombra. The Shadow. It wasn’t just a name — it was a brand. A legend whispered in low tones by those who dealt in blood and secrets. If Rico was really La Sombra he had earned that title with ruthless efficiency, slipping through the cracks of law and morality like smoke. If Maw was throwing it around, it wasn’t just a threat. It was real.

  Still, Haley didn’t flinch. She couldn’t.

  “Yeah? Cute nickname,” she said, twisting through the air once more. The train yard was closer now. Almost there. “But if he’s half as scary as you make him sound, why’s he so desperate to keep tabs on one guy?”

  The Gilded Maw’s smirk sharpened. “Because he knows what I know. That your little ‘partner’ isn’t just a thorn in his side — he’s a problem.” She traced a delicate finger along the edge of her gilded spear. “And problems? Rico solves them.”

  The words slithered under Haley’s skin, but she didn’t let it show. She couldn’t.

  “Funny,” she said, her voice light, “I was thinking the same about you.”

  And with that, Haley twisted sharply, her wings flaring wide as she kicked off the air and soared over the rusted husk of the train. The Gilded Maw followed, her spear glinting like a shard of sunlight as it arced toward Haley’s back.

  But this time, Haley was ready.

  With a snap of her claws, the clouds beneath her shifted, sending a rush of turbulent wind that twisted the spear’s path just enough for it to miss. The weapon embedded itself in the train car, sending a shower of sparks through the air. Haley landed on the roof, her grin feral.

  “Final stop the scrapyard,” she said, her golden eyes flashing. “Let’s see how well gold holds up against rust.”

  The Gilded Maw’s lips curled. “Oh, darling,” she purred, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I’m not the one who should be worried.”

  The clouds churned above, thickening with a deep violet hue. Sparks of rose gold lightning flickered within, illuminating the darkening sky like veins of fire. Haley hovered mid-air, the wind howling around her as her claws wove through the air, bending the storm to her will. The old train yard groaned under the growing pressure — rusted beams creaked, loose metal screeched as it rattled beneath the biting wind.

  Then came the rain.

  Fat, heavy droplets plunged from the sky like molten silver, hissing as they struck the corroded iron below. But this wasn’t just water. It was a storm steeped in Haley’s power — the air thick with moisture, saturating the atmosphere with a force that clung to every exposed surface. The droplets sizzled as they seeped into the cracks of metal, accelerating the creeping rust. Haley grinned. This was her domain now.

  But The Gilded Maw wasn’t impressed.

  From within the swirling storm, a glint of gold flashed like a beacon. The spear came first — tearing through the sheets of rain like a bolt of sunlight, defying the storm’s relentless push. Then came the woman herself, her golden armor gleaming with a brilliance that refused to dull.

  “Don’t you know,” she called, her voice slicing through the chaos like a blade, “Gold doesn’t rust!”

  The words hit just as hard as the force behind her charge. Maw barreled forward, spear raised high, the golden runes etched along its shaft flaring with power. Haley barely had time to react before the strike came — a thunderous arc aimed straight at her chest.

  Haley twisted, the wind at her back snapping into a powerful gust that shoved her sideways just in time. The spear scraped past her, the energy trailing in its wake sending sparks dancing through the rain. But Maw didn’t relent. She pivoted on the air, her momentum unbroken as she drove forward.

  Haley’s clouds surged in response, the wind coiling around her like a protective veil. She slashed her claws outward, sending tendrils of storm-touched wind careening toward Maw. They collided with the golden warrior, the pressure of the gale biting against her armor — but she stood firm, her spear spinning effortlessly to deflect the assault.

  “Cute tricks,” Maw sneered, closing the distance with unnatural speed. “But storms burn out. Gold endures.”

  The words dripped with mockery, but Haley didn’t bite. Instead, she darted upward, a flash of pink lightning streaking across the sky. The Gilded Maw followed, her golden form a blinding contrast against the dark storm clouds.

  Haley twisted in midair, her tail whipping through the mist, sending droplets scattering like shattered glass. The air crackled as she summoned another burst of wind, the gust driving down like a hammer to force Maw toward the ground. But the gilded warrior barely flinched. With a single, powerful thrust of her spear, she cut through the blast, her runes glowing brighter with each pulse of resistance.

  Then, she struck.

  The spear shot forward with a crack of force, and this time, Haley wasn’t fast enough. The blunt end of the weapon slammed into her side, sending a shockwave through her ribs. Pain flared, and for a moment, the storm wavered.

  “Gotcha,” Maw hissed, twisting the spear and knocking Haley backward.

  The clouds beneath Haley flickered, struggling to hold her aloft. She gritted her teeth, her wings beating furiously as she steadied herself. But even as she rose, Maw was already advancing — relentless, gleaming, untouchable.

  “You think you’ve found your strength,” Maw continued, her voice steady, almost conversational now. “You think allying yourself with that thing will change your fate.”

  Haley spat, ignoring the ache in her side. “Funny. I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

  Maw smirked. “You didn’t have to. Rico’s already given it.” She twirled her spear, the golden runes humming. “He sees everything. Knows everything. And you? You’re nothing but a loose end.”

  Haley’s claws clenched. She could feel the weight of Maw’s words trying to coil around her, digging in like barbed wire. But she shook it off.

  “Loose ends,” she echoed, her voice laced with venom. “They’re harder to cut than you think.”

  Maw’s grin only widened. “Not when you know where to slice.”

  With a roar, the Gilded Maw lunged once more, her spear trailing gold and fury. Haley’s storm answered in kind, the winds surging to meet her. But even as the tempest roared around them, the fight had shifted — not just in power,

  With a surge of speed, she closed the distance, her glaive gleaming as she struck. Haley barely had time to leap back, the weapon slashing through the rain-soaked air. Sparks danced from where it met the stone beneath her feet.

  Haley landed in a crouch, her breath steady despite the tension twisting through her. The storm swirled around her, the air itself pulsing to her call. But she wasn’t going to hold back anymore.

  She stood tall, her eyes narrowing as her body shifted. The faint glow of her scales shimmered beneath the rain, and in a flash of movement, her form began to change. Golden antlers curled above her head, her mane of pink fur cascading down her back. Her limbs lengthened, the human shape melding with the dragon. She didn’t fully transform—no, this was deliberate. A balanced form. One made for battle.

  Her feet planted firmly in a low, tiger-like stance, claws flexing. The wind surged around her, twisting into spiraling gusts that obeyed her every move.

  The Gilded Maw’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Oh? Now you’re showing some teeth. Good.” She spun her glaive effortlessly, the rain sliding from its surface like oil. “Let’s see if they’re sharp enough.”

  They clashed.

  Maw’s strikes came hard and fast, the weight of her weapon threatening to crush through even Haley’s enhanced form. But Haley flowed with the storm, twisting and weaving, her movements unpredictable. A swipe of her claw sent a gust of wind slamming into Maw, forcing the golden warrior back. The next moment, Haley followed—slashing, kicking, and sending droplets of water slicing through the air like blades.

  The ground beneath them cracked from the force of their battle.

  “You’re holding your own,” Maw mused mid-strike, her tone almost conversational. “But tell me, Haley, how well do you really know your partner?”

  Haley growled, blocking the glaive with a powerful swipe of her claw. “You’re gonna have to try harder than that.”

  “Oh, I intend to.” Maw’s grin sharpened. “See, my partner and I? We like to do our research. And wouldn’t you know it—there’s not a damn thing on your little lightning rod.”

  The words slithered through the air, venomous. Haley’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t falter.

  Maw leaned in, her voice lowering as if savoring the tension. “Seth, was it? Cute name. Except it’s fake. Nothing in the records. No past. No connections. Just a ghost who showed up out of nowhere. And ghosts, well… they tend to haunt people like you.”

  Haley’s tail flicked, sending a blast of wind that knocked Maw back a step. But even as the storm roared louder, Maw’s voice remained clear.

  “Whatever he’s told you, it’s a lie,” she sneered. “And with Rico’s reach? It won’t be long before you that lie gets you killed.”

  The rain poured harder. Lightning streaked across the sky. But for the first time, the storm wasn’t the loudest thing in the air. It was the echo of Maw’s words.

  The Gilded Maw’s grin widened as the storm raged around them, the golden gleam of her armor now slick with rain. But something had shifted — a subtle ripple in the air, like a chord struck just off-key.

  Haley felt it. The storm still howled to her call, the rain and wind thrashing without mercy. Yet, Maw no longer seemed hindered. Her movements became unnaturally fluid, her steps too quick, too precise. Every strike from her glaive landed closer. Every dodge just narrowly evaded Haley’s claws.

  Then came the first flicker.

  A shadow of Maw darted left — no, right. Another leapt from behind. Haley spun, claws slashing through empty air. Each time, she struck nothing but mist.

  “Not quick enough,” Maw taunted, her voice echoing, impossible to pinpoint. “But that’s the trouble with storms, isn’t it? All that noise. All that chaos. Makes it hard to see what’s real.”

  Haley growled, baring her teeth. “Illusions.”

  “Perception,” Maw corrected, her voice dripping with amusement. “And right now? Yours is failing you.”

  Without warning, a flash of gold streaked through the rain. Haley dodged, but a sharp sting lanced across her arm. She hissed, stumbling back. Her gaze snapped down — a thin knife, its edge gleaming with dark, viscous poison.

  The Gilded Maw emerged from the haze, another knife already in hand. “Snake venom,” she said casually, twirling the blade. “Fast-acting. Painful. But not lethal. At least, not yet.”

  Haley didn’t flinch. “You really think that’s gonna slow me down?”

  “Oh, I know it will.” Maw’s smile curled, her golden eyes narrowing. “ And that’s all I need.”

  The storm howled, but this time Haley barely noticed. Her eyes stayed locked on Maw — except, she wasn’t just seeing Maw. The illusions twisted, fragments of gold weaving in and out of the rain like reflections in shattered glass. Dozens of her. Some close. Some far. All of them taunting.

  Haley’s claws flexed, her chest heaving as she steadied her breathing. Focus. The air doesn’t lie. She pushed outward with her senses, feeling the flow of the wind, the pull of the rain. But even the storm felt… distorted. Warped.

  Maw’s voice rang out once more. “I wonder how long you’ll keep this up. Fighting for him. Fighting with him.” She circled like a predator, her forms flickering in and out of the mist. “You must have asked yourself, why doesn’t he talk about his past? Why no stories? No roots?”

  Haley snarled. “Shut up.”

  “But that’s the thing about ghosts,” Maw continued, her voice almost lilting now. “They slip through the cracks. And Kain? Or Seth? Whatever he’s calling himself — he’s already slipping through yours.”

  Haley lunged. Her claws slashed through the nearest figure, but the illusion shattered like smoke. Another knife sliced past her shoulder, the poison biting into her skin. She spun, panting, as more reflections of Maw danced around her.

  “I could tell you what we know,” Maw teased, the grin in her voice unmistakable. “But you won’t believe me. Not yet.”

  The illusions blurred. For a moment, the real Maw stepped through, her eyes gleaming with malice. But this time, she didn’t charge. Her body twisted, the golden armor warping and shifting. The elegant lines of her form melted away, replaced by something far more serpentine. Her legs disappeared, the illusion falling as a gleaming, emerald-scaled tail slithered beneath her. Coils coiled and uncoiled, the powerful muscles rippling through the rainwater pooling at their feet.

  “You’ll see soon enough.”

  With a sudden lash, her tail struck. Haley barely had time to brace. The force slammed into her side, sending her crashing through the rain. She hit the ground hard, the muddy street splintering beneath her.

  But as she pushed herself up, her golden eyes burned with a new resolve. The rain clung to her, her mane plastered against her face, but there was no hesitation now.

  “You talk too much,” Haley spat, her voice low, steady.

  The storm around her surged once more, the clouds swirling tighter. And in that moment, as Maw’s laughter echoed through the tempest, Haley shifted her stance. The dragon within her roared.

  This fight was far from over.

  The howling storm began to falter, the once furious winds thinning as the torrential downpour slowed to a misty drizzle. The air grew heavy, dense with moisture, and the scattered clouds above twisted and swirled. But they weren’t dissipating — they were moving.

  Haley stood tall, her golden eyes locked on The Gilded Maw as the serpent-like figure slithered closer, her tail cutting through the waterlogged earth. But instead of lashing out, Haley smiled. It wasn’t the grin of someone cornered. No. It was the grin of someone getting ideas.

  “Oh, honey,” Haley purred, shaking the water from her mane of pink hair. “You really thought I was gonna let all this beautiful weather go to waste?”

  The Gilded Maw’s eyes narrowed, her amusement flickering beneath suspicion.

  Haley lifted her hands, palms open. The remaining storm clouds above answered the call, tendrils of mist and vapor spiraling down toward her. They wrapped around her fingers like silk, twisting and condensing, the soft gray hue sharpening into a more solid, gleaming form. The shape elongated, narrowing to a pristine edge — a slender oxtail, its blade shimmering like polished silver, yet still shifting like smoke. The cloudy tendrils swirled along the weapon’s surface, leaving faint wisps in their wake.

  “A Girls gotta have cute things,” Haley quipped, spinning the blade with a flourish. “Cloudsteel— light as air, sharp as a comeback.”

  But she wasn’t done.

  With her other hand, Haley reached toward the rain pooling around her feet. Droplets trembled, then surged upward, spiraling together in a twisting current. She guided them with practiced ease, the water obeying her whim as it gathered into a jagged shard. The temperature around it plummeted, frost cracking through its gleaming surface. In moments, the liquid stilled — a flawless twin ice Oxtail gleaming with a bluish-white sheen.

  “And this?” Haley tilted her head, inspecting the icy weapon as frost curled from its edge. “Let’s call it Crystal Chill. Cool name, huh?” She winked. “Pun intended.”

  Maw’s tail twitched, the gold of her armor reflecting the faint mist in the air. “Cheap tricks.”

  Haley grinned, raising both blades in a loose but deliberate stance. “Oh, sweetie. You wish.”

  The winds stirred once more, but this time they didn’t rage wildly. They obeyed her. Twisting and coiling, they wrapped around Haley’s legs, forming gleaming currents of condensed air. Like woven silk, the wind molded into sleek boots that shimmered faintly, their shape sleek and ethereal. From the sides, small wing-like protrusions emerged, their translucent feathers flaring with every breeze.

  Haley took a single step, and the air answered. She lifted effortlessly, the winds beneath her surging in support. It wasn’t full flight — not yet — but it was close.

  She grinned down at Maw, her confidence practically radiating. “I call it Accesorizing. You know, because fighting’s one thing, but looking good while doing it?” Haley twirled her blades, the storm-charged Jian crackling faintly while the ice blade gleamed with biting frost. “That’s an art.”

  The Gilded Maw’s sneer deepened. “Enjoy your little toys. It won’t matter.”

  Haley smirked, adjusting her stance, her new weapons gleaming in the dim light. “We’ll see about that, Goldie.”

  The last remnants of the storm curled around Haley like mist, wisps of cloud still clinging to the air. The wind stirred the dust on the ground, but its fury had calmed — now it followed her command. In one hand, her cloud-forged dao gleamed with a swirling, silver mist, and in the other, the ice blade pulsed with a biting cold. The wind coiled around her feet, lifting her just slightly above the ground like a breeze refusing to let its master fall.

  The Gilded Maw, still regaining her balance from the last exchange, scowled. Her gold-plated armor was flecked with water droplets, the edges beginning to tarnish. Even with her illusions shifting in and out of existence, Haley’s clarity had cut through them. And now, with her newfound weapons and the storm at her back, it was clear who had the advantage.

  “Call me Longü,” Haley said with a smug grin, twirling the twin daos with practiced ease. “I’m all about making a statement.”

  The Gilded Maw’s eyes narrowed, her forked tongue flicking in agitation. “Style without substance. Typical.”

  “Oh, I’ve got plenty of both.” Haley’s feet barely touched the ground before she shot forward, the wind propelling her like a bolt from the sky.

  The battle reignited, but this time, it was different. Every movement Haley made was precise — a dance of water, wind, and raw power. The twin oxtail daos flowed in her hands, their curved edges catching the light as they clashed against The Gilded Maw’s glaive. The gilded metal screeched as ice bit into its edge, while the misty dao slipped through her defenses like a ghost.

  Haley moved faster than before, the wind boots giving her bursts of speed with each pivot and strike. The Gilded Maw lashed out with her tail, but Haley leapt over the attack, twisting mid-air as a gust carried her above her opponent. She landed with a slicing arc of her ice blade, forcing Maw to stumble back, her armor dented and frosted.

  “Getting a little sluggish, aren’t we?” Haley quipped, her grin sharp. “Maybe gold’s just not your color.”

  The Gilded Maw’s illusions flared in a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand. Dozens of copies flickered around Haley, each one mimicking the original with perfect precision. But Haley’s eyes remained focused. She didn’t need to guess — the breeze whispered the truth. The real Maw still had weight, displaced air, and a heartbeat that betrayed her position.

  “You’re not the only one who can read the air,” Haley said, vanishing in a blur of wind. The next instant, she reappeared behind the real Maw, her ice blade poised.

  The Gilded Maw spun, but too late. Haley’s dao carved a shallow arc across her plated shoulder, sending golden shards scattering. Maw hissed in frustration, her tail lashing blindly, but Haley was already gone — a flash of pink and silver twisting through the air.

  “You’ve been hissing a lot. Ever tried breathing fire?” Haley smirked, the glow of her golden eyes intensifying. The wind around her surged, the clouds gathering once more — but this time, not for a storm.

  With a deep inhale, Haley’s chest expanded, the swirling mist gathering at her core. The Gilded Maw’s eyes widened, the realization sinking in too late.

  “Here’s a pro tip,” Haley growled. “Gold melts.”

  She exhaled.

  A torrent of shimmering azure flames roared from her mouth, the dragon’s breath igniting the air with ferocious heat. The Gilded Maw’s armor glowed, the golden sheen warping as the intense heat engulfed her. The flames blasted her back, sending her crashing into the charred remains of a wooden cart.

  When the flames died down, the only sound was the crackle of embers. The Gilded Maw’s form slumped, her illusions flickering away like smoke.

  Haley wiped her mouth, the residual heat curling from her lips. “Thats what happens when you bring Fools Gold to a dragon's fight.”