The intense heat from Liam's flames mixed with the cold rain, creating a thick cloud of steam that rose from the alleyway. The air was now charged with two conflicting forces—Billy's crackling lightning and Liam's searing flames. Every drop of rain that fell in Liam's vicinity evaporated instantly, leaving a dry circle around him in an otherwise waterlogged battlefield.
Billy, still confident in his power, sneered at the sight of Liam. His lightning eyes glinted with amusement, though a hint of caution now flickered behind them. He had knocked Liam out earlier, sure, but things had changed. With the artifact disabled, Liam's fiery soul essence had returned, and he was not the same helpless kid who had fallen before.
