"Acheeew, acheeew, acheeew!" The sharp sound of sneezing echoed through the air.

The members of the Pincer Gang, still stunned from moments earlier, all glanced down to see Ava twitching as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Damn it, why is there so much dust in the air? It's making my now sensitive nose tingle like fire." She muttered, rubbing her nose and rising slowly, though still sitting on the dusty floor.

"Leader Ava!" The men surrounding her all shouted in unison, but she barely acknowledged them.

Her gaze flickered briefly toward them, she offered a small, confident smile, then turned her attention back to the distance where Max stood alone.

The demon lay sprawled across the ground, struggling to push himself up after being blasted away.

'Max Ashwell. I still don't know who he really is, except for the fact that he's a dragon—and somehow, he turned me into one too.'

She paused for a moment, her eyes twinkling.

'I wonder what this means for me. Oh well, there's no use overthinking it.' Ava sighed inwardly as she straightened herself, dusting off her clothes.

Her wings unfurled with a sharp snap, lightning dancing across the membrane, casting jagged shadows across the ground.

'As long as you help me take revenge, I'm good.

After that… I'll fulfill our clan's duty: to serve the dragons. For now, I need an opening, a chance to strike.'

"Why, why, why, why?!" Clint roared, his voice shaking with rage.

He rose slowly, teeth grinding against each other with a harsh click, eyes locked on Max.

The dragon stood calmly, arms crossed, observing the demon's furious display with quiet amusement.

"Just stay still so I can kill you!" Clint thundered.

The ground beneath his feet trembled violently, cracking slightly under his weight.

In the twinkle of an eye, he bolted forward like a streak of lightning, appearing directly in front of Max, who remained unmoved, arms still folded.

"AHHHH!" Clint bellowed, swinging his massive fist with such force that the air around him quivered.

But Max did not flinch.

He merely tilted his head slightly, letting the punch slice through empty space harmlessly.

The demon did not relent.

Without pause, he swung his other fist with equal ferocity.

Once again, Max barely moved, avoiding the blow effortlessly.

From that moment, the battle became a blur of motion.

Clint flailed and struck relentlessly, fists flying in rapid succession, but Max only dodged, ducked, or tilted his head. Each attack met the same precise evasion.

'Ha… has he suddenly become faster? But how?' Clint panicked inwardly.

No matter what he tried, the dragon effortlessly avoided each strike.

Frustration and fear twisted his features, teeth gritted as he prepared for a final, desperate assault.

He swung his left hand upward in a brutal uppercut, aiming to catch Max off guard.

The dragon sidestepped smoothly, maintaining his composure.

Clint's smirk widened.

He coiled his singular wing around his second fist, swinging it with deadly precision.

The added leverage from his wing amplified the strike, increasing its speed and power. The fist was now mere inches from Max's face.

Max remained calm, his gaze unwavering.

He extended his hands, catching the fist firmly in his palm.

A violent gust of wind exploded outward, sweeping across the battlefield.

For the first time, the dragon was moved slightly backwards, his feet skidding on the cracked ground. Even he blinked in surprise at the sudden impact.

"Eat this one too," Max callously said as he swung his fist with all his might into the demon's torso, driving it deep and knocking the wind from its lungs.

Clint coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he reeled backward.

"Hey Jim, duck!" Max shouted.

Without hesitation, Jim dropped down, narrowly avoiding the chaos, while Max gripped the demon's arm.

Muscles bulging, he threw Clint with immense force.

The demon shot backward, breaking the sound barrier in a streak of blinding motion.

Jim's heart pounded in his chest as he ducked instinctively again, eyes wide with fear.

Clint's body tore through the building Jim had been relaxing on just moments ago, dust and debris raining down as the structure crumbled.

The demon didn't stop there, smashing into another wall, tumbling and bouncing violently across the distance, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

"This fight has dragged on long enough. Ava, now it's time for your revenge," Max ordered, his voice cold yet commanding.

Suddenly, wings burst from his back, powerful and steady like the rhythmic beat of a drum.

With a swift flap, he shot into the air, streaking past the shattered building where he had hurled Clint.

Clint coughed, blood speckling his lips, struggling to rise.

His eyes widened as he looked up and saw Max hovering above him, a towering figure of deadly intent.

"Why don't you just kill me if you're so strong? Huh?" Clint laughed loudly, wiping the blood from his lips.

"Let me answer that for you—because I'm too strong for you to kill."

"Too strong for me to kill? Ha!" Max chuckled, shaking his head.

"I was waiting for her to be ready." His hand shot forward, pointing, and Clint spun around, instinctively bracing himself.

When the dust cleared, Ava stood there, her mouth opening impossibly wide.

Lightning crackled inside her jaws, a bright, pulsating glow emanating from her throat.

'Shoot!' Clint thought, panic flashing across his face.

"Go for the head. That's how you finish it," Max ordered, a confident smirk crossing his lips.

BANG!

An ear-piercing explosion erupted as a massive ball of lightning burst from Ava's mouth, hurtling straight for the demon's skull.

Instinctively, he raised his bony-winged arm in front of his face, barely managing to shield himself from the destructive blast.

Sparks flew as the ball slammed into the armored guard, the impact sending shockwaves through the air.

Another deafening bang followed, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

Clint skidded across the cracked and shattered earth, teeth grate, desperately trying to block the relentless lightning attack that refused to wane.

"Oh, come on. Why are you so stubborn?" Max chuckled from above, amusement in his voice.

"Alright, let's speed this up a little." He opened his mouth wider than physically possible, the heat of his aura radiating as he prepared for his next move.

[Flame Breath Activated]

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