CHAPTER 218: LIMITBREAK

Then I tilted my head slightly, exposing my neck. "Here it is."

I tapped two fingers against my skin, each touch deliberate. "Go on," I said, meeting her glare. "Try to cut it."

She trembled, her eyes locked on my exposed neck, her grip tightening and loosening on the hilt as her breath came in uneven bursts.

"Do it," I said quietly. "What’s stopping you? Go on."

Her breathing grew heavier, her shoulders rising and falling with each sharp inhale. I waited, unmoving, letting the silence stretch between us until it became unbearable.

When she still didn’t move, I shook my head slowly, my voice dripping with disappointment. "Pathetic," I said. "Are you really that weak? No wonder your father never mentioned your name. I doubt he even knew you existed."

"Shut up!" she screamed, swinging the blade with all the strength she could muster.

But again, the weapon stopped midair, the force of the invisible barrier throwing it off course. The impact made her lose her grip, and the blade clattered to the ground beside her.

Zivra dropped to her knees, her small frame shaking as frustration and helplessness consumed her.

I straightened, looking down at her.

I leaned closer, keeping my voice low enough for only her to hear. "You almost scrambled my brain earlier," I said quietly. "Do it again, and you might actually stand a chance."

She shook her head, her voice trembling. "I... I can’t."

"Is that so?" I straightened, my tone flattening. "Then die, then."

I lifted my hand toward the sky, and [Flame Orb] came to life. A sphere of blazing fire burst into existence above my palm, its glow flooding the clearing in violent shades of orange and red. The air thickened immediately, the heat radiating from it warping the space around us.

The orb grew larger, pulsing with each second, the flames inside it swirling like a living storm. The oxygen in the air burned thin, and even the strongest of the goblins began to tremble, the pressure forcing them to their knees.

"Isn’t this a bit of overkill?" Ariel asked lazily, her tails flicking behind her as she watched the fire twist and roar above us. Her tone made it clear she was more entertained than concerned.

I didn’t answer. My focus stayed on Zivra, who was staring up at the inferno, her face pale under the flickering light.

At first, my intention had only been to show her the gap between us—to remind her what real strength looked like. But now, seeing her frozen there, I wanted more than that. I wanted to push her, to force that power buried inside her to the surface. I wanted her to fight back.

According to Talia, she could only use that ability once before it completely drained her—hardly ideal for someone who claimed to want strength. That limitation didn’t sit right with me. I wanted it broken.

I wanted her strong enough to challenge me someday, strong enough to give me a reason to keep pushing forward. That was the real reason I was being forceful. It wasn’t cruelty—it was necessity.

Zivra stood frozen, her breaths shallow and uneven as she stared up at the roaring flame above me. The determination that had once burned in her eyes was gone, replaced by fear and exhaustion.

The heat rolling off the orb made the air ripple, stinging her skin until she instinctively shielded herself with her arms. Sweat rolled down her face, her trembling form illuminated by the inferno’s light.

"You can still stop me," I said, my voice calm but carrying over the hum of burning air.

Her head lifted slightly, confusion flashing across her face.

"Just use your skill again," I told her, nodding toward the glowing orb. "Do it before this hits you."

"I can’t," she said, her voice breaking. Then she turned her gaze downward, shoulders trembling. "I’m weak."

"Are you truly weak?" I asked, my tone sharp enough to cut through her despair. She lifted her head slowly, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the flames.

"Is that what you really think?" I pressed, taking a step closer. She didn’t answer. She only stared, frozen between fear and defiance.

"Then... die," I said flatly, lowering my hand and beginning to bring the burning orb down.

That was when it hit me—an instant, piercing sting behind my eyes.

It wasn’t physical; it was something deeper, crawling into my mind like a hot needle.

I stopped, a small grin tugging at my lips as the pain sharpened. "Yes," I muttered under my breath, dismissing the flame orb with a flick of my wrist. The fire dissolved into embers, scattering into the air.

I couldn’t help the grin that spread wider across my face. She was doing it again—pushing past her limit, using her ability even though she wasn’t supposed to.

Finally.

"I knew you could do it," I said, a hint of excitement in my voice.

But the look she gave me wasn’t one of struggle or triumph—it was cold, detached, and then it shifted into something else. Regret.

A sharp pain spiked through my head before I could react, the pressure doubling until it felt like my skull was being pried open from the inside. "Crap," I hissed, stumbling back, clutching the side of my head. The world tilted slightly, my vision pulsing with each throb.

Getting her to push past her limit had seemed like a good idea a few seconds ago. But now, with that pain tearing through my mind, I realized how stupid that was. I had pushed a girl who wanted me dead to break her restraint—and now she was using that power against me. Brilliant.

Lucky for me, it didn’t last long.

Just as Zivra began to steady herself, her expression shifted. The light in her eyes dimmed, her focus slipping away as her body went slack. She swayed for a moment before collapsing, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

She was out cold.

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