The slaughter was already underway.
Facing a horde of Minotaurs, Tiona and Tione didn't hesitate for even a second—they went all in, fists and feet blazing.
Neither carried a weapon. They didn't need one. For Amazoness warriors like them, their bodies were more than enough.
Golden flames burst from their rings, surging wildly and propelling their movements to terrifying speed.
In an instant, two streaks of gold slammed into the oncoming Minotaur ranks.
BOOM!
The front line of monsters was instantly consumed—melting away under the power of the Sun Flame's radiance.
Tiona and Tione didn't have to coordinate. They never did. Years of fighting together had given them an instinctive rhythm—switching targets, covering each other's blind spots, striking in perfect sync without a word spoken.
They split, flanked, swapped enemies mid-charge, even used each other's momentum to amplify their attacks.
In barely three minutes, nearly two hundred Minotaurs lay defeated.
"That felt amazing!" Tiona cheered, her voice echoing across the field.
A strange warmth flowed through her body—an exhilarating rush that boosted her physical power beyond anything she'd ever felt. Movements that once strained her came effortlessly now. Her stamina barely dipped, and every punch, every kick landed harder than ever before.
Normally, fighting Minotaurs barehanded would've left her fists throbbing. Especially when there were this many.
But right now, she felt no pain, no exhaustion—only raw, unstoppable energy.
"This strength… it's insane."
Tione, ever the more analytical one, studied her own body's reaction. "We're fighting harder than usual, yet our stamina's barely dropping. Even our strikes are stronger."
Tsuna's calm voice carried through the dust. "That's the Activation of the Sun Flame. It enhances physical performance to the limit, minimizes fatigue, and gradually restores your stamina during battle. The longer you fight, the more efficient you become."
He lifted his hand slightly, and the air shifted. "Now, I'll boost the Minotaurs' defenses. You won't be able to one-shot them anymore. This time, try using the Storm Flame instead—the one meant purely for offense."
He continued, "You've only just awakened your Dying Will Flames. Controlling both at once isn't possible yet, so take it step by step. Don't rush it."
At his words, the sisters took a breath, the excitement in their eyes dimming into focus.
They let the golden light fade and instead ignited the crimson Storm Flames. The sensation changed immediately—gone was the steady warmth of the Sun, replaced by a violent surge that felt like a storm tearing through their veins.
The ground rumbled again—another group of Minotaurs appeared, though fewer than before.
Tiona and Tione adjusted their stance and charged forward—
—and promptly misjudged the strength of their steps.
THUD!
The earth cratered beneath them, both sisters sinking knee-deep into the ground. Their momentum died instantly, and they faceplanted in perfect unison.
"???"
"Pfft—"
Tsuna couldn't help it. He actually laughed out loud. "That's the Storm Flame for you. It's violent—meant to destroy everything in its path. The most destructive of all the Flames. That's why it's harder to control."
He gestured toward them, still smiling. "You can't coat your entire body with it like you did the Sun Flame. Not yet, anyway. For now, focus it into your hands first. Get used to striking with it. Once that's second nature, move to your legs. When you can switch between them freely, then—and only then—start using it to accelerate your movement."
He smirked. "By then, you should stop leaving craters every time you take a step."
Tiona pushed herself up, dirt smudging her cheek, and shot him a glare. "Next time, give us a heads-up first, Tsuna!"
He chuckled. "Normally, the Dying Will Flames wouldn't react that violently. But your Flames are unusually pure—that's why the effect's so extreme. It's rare. You two are special cases."
He tilted his head toward her sister. "Though honestly, Tione, you already experienced this once. How'd you fall for it again?"
Tsuna offered her a hand, helping her up with an amused look.
"I… it was instinct," Tione muttered, embarrassed.
She hadn't meant to. The moment she moved, her body had instinctively coated itself in power—just like when she used the Sun Flame. As for the earlier fall? She only remembered Tsuna catching her. Everything else had vanished from memory.
"Instinct, huh?" Tsuna said thoughtfully. "That's a hard habit to break."
Judging from both sisters' reactions, it was obvious this kind of full-body activation came automatically to them.
He made a mental note. He'd have to retrain that reflex out of them—and anyone else who learned the Dying Will Flames later—before letting them loose in combat again.
"Tione, Tiona," he said firmly. "For now, focus on getting used to the Storm Flame. Learn how to control its output. Once today's done, I'll help you fine-tune your control and set up specialized drills to help you adapt."
He stepped back, giving them space. "Alright. Real combat begins—now."
Tiona groaned, shaking off the dirt. "Man, this feels so weird."
"Get used to it, idiot," Tione shot back, rolling her eyes. "The fastest way to build habits is through battle. Or are you scared you'll lose to a few Minotaurs?"
"As if!" Tiona snapped, grinning as she spotted the next wave of monsters closing in. "How about we make it a contest?"
Tione smirked. "Fine by me. Just don't start crying when I win."
Their laughter echoed as twin torrents of crimson fire burst from their rings.
In the next heartbeat, the Amazon sisters shot forward again—fiery blurs streaking across the battlefield, ready to carve through the Minotaur horde once more.
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Note: 5 extra chapters if we get to top 20!
You can read up to chapter 170 on patreon.com/NiaXD.
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