The impact tore through muscle and exoskeleton, the spear burying itself deep into the weak point. Inferno's body lurched, one of its legs buckling under the sudden loss of stability.
"Gotcha." Ben growled.
He wrenched the spear sideways, ripping through tendons, the wound widening with a sickening crack. Inferno's balance faltered, but before it could collapse completely—its six burning eyes flared with fury.
The flames coating its body surged outward, wrapping around Ben's embedded spear like a living entity.
FWOOOM!
Heat exploded in all directions, forcing Ben to retract his weapon before the flames could melt through it. He leaped backward, arms raised defensively as the inferno raged before him.
Inferno's breathing was ragged, its injured leg trembling, but it refused to fall.
Instead, it lifted its gaze—anger giving way to something far more dangerous. Amusement. And then—it grinned.
The air around them ignited.
