Once the fireball was on its trajectory, Kisha closed the partition of weapons, reestablishing their turtle-like defense in an instant.
She felt the pulse of energy around them shift, the air thick with anticipation as they braced for the impact.
The fireball collided with the shadowy figure, erupting in a dazzling explosion of light and heat that momentarily pushed back the mist.
For a heartbeat, everything was illuminated, revealing the figure’s outline more clearly—a stark contrast to the encroaching shadow of the mist.
"Ah!!! FUCK!"
"Eh?!"
"Eh?!!!"
Duke and Kisha’s eyes widened in shock as the fireball illuminated the area, momentarily dispersing the mist and revealing Rose’s face in stark detail.
The sudden brightness seemed to catch her off guard, and they watched as the flames engulfed her.
With a startled cry, she tumbled to the ground, rolling frantically while unleashing a torrent of curses.
"FUCK!!! I thought I was in heaven! Why am I in hell?! FUCK YOU, GOD!" Rose shouted, her voice filled with raw emotion that echoed through the clearing.
Kisha and Duke exchanged wide-eyed glances, stunned by the unexpected display of vulnerability from the usually composed leader.
It was a stark contrast to the Rose they had known, who often kept her emotions tightly in check.
As the leader of her group, she had cultivated an image of strength and poise, commanding respect from her followers.
Kisha had rarely seen her let loose like this, aside from the occasional teasing banter. To hear Rose’s unfiltered outrage was both shocking and oddly amusing.
"Is she really swearing at God?" Kisha whispered to Duke, struggling to stifle a laugh despite the tension of the moment.
Duke chuckled softly but quickly stifled it, realizing the urgency of the situation.
They both knew they had made a grave mistake by attacking her without fully assessing the transformation she had undergone.
"Water!" Kisha shouted, the heat from the fireball had intensified, and Rose was still on the ground, struggling against the flames licking at her skin.
Kisha’s mind raced as she realized they needed to act fast.
Before she could even finish her thought, Duke seemed to sense her urgency.
Without hesitation, he conjured a few ice spears above Rose’s head, their crystalline forms shimmering ominously in the dim light and flickering fire.
The air crackled with energy as he focused, a determined look etched on his face.
With a swift motion, he melted the ice spears using his fire ability, releasing a cascade of water that fell like a gentle rain onto Rose.
The cool droplets splashed against her, extinguishing the flames that threatened to consume her.
"Rose!" Kisha called out, her voice laced with worry as she approached the rolling figure. "Are you okay?!"
Duke followed closely, his brow furrowed. "We didn’t mean to hurt you!" he added, as he watched Kisha help Rose up in her feet.
As they reached her, Rose finally stopped rolling, propping herself up on her elbows and glaring at them with a mix of irritation and disbelief.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" she spat, panting heavily. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I thought I had died and been sent to heaven, only to find myself in hell!" Rose exclaimed, her eyes glistening with a mixture of frustration and relief.
She looked up at the two who had almost set her ablaze, her gaze filled with indignation. "You both nearly scared me to death!"
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