.ೃ࿔*:･𝐱𝐥𝐢𝐯. i can feel the flames on my skin

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒— a deafening mix of clashing weapons, the roar of battle cries, and the thunderous boom of explosions tearing through the air. The familiar scent of scorched earth and burning metal filled Ingrid’s lungs as she navigated the devastation, her senses sharp and alert. Each breath felt like fire in her chest, matching the flames that flickered across her skin, feeding off the raw energy that pulsed within her.

Through the swirling dust and debris, she spotted him— Thanos. His massive frame loomed like an unmovable mountain in the distance, his presence commanding and menacing. Amidst the ruins of shattered hopes and desperate last stands, he stood, a figure of calm amidst the storm, surveying the battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze. When his eyes finally found hers, a slow, cruel smile curled at the corners of his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge she posed.

Ingrid’s heart raced as their eyes locked, a storm of emotions swirling within her— grief, rage, determination. She clenched her fists, the heat of her flames searing through her skin, threatening to burst forth in a blazing inferno.

Thanos made the first move, a blur of motion as his massive blade sliced through the air, aimed directly at her. The force behind it was terrifying, the very air screaming as the weapon cut through it. In a heartbeat, Ingrid summoned her flames, forming a barrier of fire that met the blade with a thunderous clash. The impact was like a shockwave, reverberating through her bones and forcing her back a few steps. But she didn’t fall. She couldn’t afford to.

She countered with a fierce stream of fire, the flames roaring as they surged toward him. But Thanos was unfazed. With a single, sweeping motion, he deflected the attack, the heat barely registering against his impenetrable skin. He closed the distance between them with terrifying speed, the ground trembling beneath his weight as he advanced.

Ingrid’s hands ignited once more, the flames coalescing into a sword of pure fire. The heat was intense, the blade flickering and crackling with the energy contained within it. Her grip tightened around the hilt as she squared off against the Mad Titan, her gaze steely and unwavering. When their weapons collided, sparks flew as metal met flame, the ground beneath them trembling from the sheer power of the blow.

“You’re a persistent one, aren’t you?” Thanos sneered, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver down Ingrid’s spine. His strength was overwhelming, each push against her blade forcing her to dig deep, to find the resolve to stand her ground.

Ingrid gritted her teeth, shoving aside Thanos’s taunting words and focusing on the fire raging within her. Every ounce of her energy, every flicker of determination, poured into the flaming sword in her hands. She refused to back down, even as the weight of Thanos’s blows threatened to crush her.

Each strike he delivered was a relentless barrage of power that shook her to her core. Ingrid met every hit with a desperate strength, her body straining under the force of each impact. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she silenced the pain, refusing to let it break her focus. Her sword moved in a blur of fiery light. But no matter how fast she moved, how fiercely she fought, Thanos countered every attack with ease.

His strikes were deliberate, each one aimed to wear her down, to chip away at her defenses until there was nothing left. Ingrid could feel the strain building in her body— the burn in her lungs as she gasped for breath, the tremble in her arms as they struggled to maintain the weight of her sword. She could sense the fatigue creeping in, threatening to overtake her.

But she couldn’t afford to slow down. Summoning all the power she could muster, Ingrid unleashed a powerful blast of fire, the flames exploding outwards in a fiery storm that engulfed Thanos. The heat was intense, making the air around them shimmer.

For a brief moment, she thought she had gained the upper hand. The flames licked at Thanos’s armor, singeing the edges, and the air was filled with the acrid scent of burning metal. But when the flames finally receded, Ingrid’s heart sank. Thanos emerged almost unscathed, his expression one of mild annoyance rather than pain.

Without warning, he surged forward with terrifying speed, moving faster than Ingrid had anticipated. Before she could react, his massive blade struck her side with the force of a wrecking ball. The impact was devastating, sending her flying through the air and crashing into a pile of rubble. Pain exploded in her side, sharp and unrelenting, radiating through her body like a wildfire out of control.

She tumbled through the debris, her breath knocked out of her, but she refused to stay down. Gritting her teeth, Ingrid forced herself to roll to her feet, one hand instinctively clutching her ribs where the pain was most intense. Every movement sent a fresh wave of agony coursing through her, but she couldn’t allow herself to falter. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

She raised her hand and summoned a wall of fire between them, the flames roaring to life with a ferocity that mirrored her inner turmoil. But Thanos was undeterred. He walked through the fire as though it were nothing more than a slight inconvenience, his gaze fixed on her with unyielding determination.

Desperation clawed at Ingrid’s chest. She had to stop him, had to find a way to turn the tide. She lashed out with her sword, aiming for the vulnerable spot at his neck, hoping to catch him off guard. But Thanos was ready. With lightning reflexes, he caught her wrist in an iron grip, his hand clamping down with a pressure that was both terrifying and unstoppable.

Pain shot through Ingrid’s arm as she felt the bones in her wrist begin to crack under the pressure. She cried out, the sound torn from her throat as her sword extinguished in her grasp, the flames snuffed out. Thanos yanked her closer, his eyes boring into hers with a chilling intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

Ingrid gritted her teeth, forcing herself to focus, to push back the fear that clawed at her insides. She wouldn't let Thanos see it— wouldn't give him the satisfaction. With her free hand, she summoned a burst of fire, channeling every bit of remaining energy she had into the flames. They roared to life, fierce and wild, and she directed them straight into Thanos’s face.

The Mad Titan roared in anger, staggering back as the flames licked at his skin. The heat was intense, and for the first time, Ingrid saw a flicker of something in his eyes— pain, perhaps, or just annoyance. Either way, his grip on her wrist loosened, and she wasted no time. As soon as she was free, she lunged forward, her fist ablaze, and delivered a powerful, fiery punch to his jaw.

The impact was solid, and Thanos reeled, his massive form swaying for a brief moment. But he recovered quickly. His hand shot out, moving with terrifying speed, and before she could react, his fingers wrapped around her throat. The force lifted her off the ground, her feet dangling helplessly as his grip tightened. It was like being caught in a vice, the pressure crushing her windpipe, cutting off her air.

Ingrid’s vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges of her sight as the lack of oxygen began to take its toll. Panic flared in her chest, a desperate, primal fear as she felt herself slipping away. Summoning every last ounce of her strength, she focused all her power into one final, desperate attack. Her entire body erupted in flames, the heat so intense it scorched the ground beneath her.

For a brief, blinding moment, it seemed as though the fire would consume him. Thanos flinched, his hold on her wavering as the heat forced him to recoil. The firestorm engulfed him, and he let out a guttural growl, releasing her as he staggered back.

Ingrid fell to the ground in a heap, the sudden drop jarring her already battered body. She gasped for air, her lungs burning as she struggled to fill them, her chest heaving with the effort. The flames around her flickered weakly before extinguishing, leaving only the scent of scorched earth and singed air in their wake. Every part of her ached, her muscles trembling from the exertion.

She tried to push herself up, but her arms buckled under her, and she collapsed back onto the ground, the cold, hard earth pressing against her cheek. Her vision swam, the world around her a blur of shapes and colors, all melding together in a haze of exhaustion and pain. But even through the haze, she could make out the figure of Thanos, slowly approaching, his steps deliberate and measured.

A wave of dread washed over her, the realization that she had nothing left to give. This was it. She had fought with everything she had, and it hadn’t been enough. Her heart pounded in her chest, the sound of it echoing in her ears as she forced herself to keep her eyes open, to face the end with whatever dignity she had left.

But just as she thought it was over, movement caught her eye. It was subtle at first, a shadowy figure moving in the periphery of her vision. Ingrid squinted, trying to focus.

Ebony Maw, his pale, gaunt figure standing out against the backdrop of destruction. He was pointing urgently toward the horizon. “Sire!”