Power surged through Sera, electrifying her senses with an intensity that made her gasp. The raw energy crackled within her, filling every fiber of her being with an overwhelming force. As the essence of Winter, no, Amaryllis, coursed through her veins, she felt a profound transformation taking hold.

Her fingers tingled as the sensation spread, first through her hands and then racing up her arms, seeping into her very core. I feel invincible.

The oppressive heat of Aermo's maw was quickly replaced by a frigid cold that radiated from deep within Sera's soul. The chill spread outward, driving away the clinging warmth, as if the very essence of winter was asserting its dominance over the infernal heat.

Sera could feel her body shifting, adapting to accommodate the power now flowing through her. Ice antlers sprouted from her forehead, their crystalline structure twisting and curling into a dazzling display of glimmering frost. The weight of them was unfamiliar, yet they felt right, as if they had always been a part of her.

Her usual black dress shimmered, the fabric rippling as it morphed into something entirely new. The dark material transformed into a pristine white, each fold and crease sparkling like fresh snow under the soft glow of moonlight. It was a dress fit for a queen of winter, resplendent and untouchable.

Around her, a blizzard began to swirl, the icy wind whipping through the air with a ferocity that matched the power coursing through her. Countless snowflakes manifested and gathered around her, forming a protective cocoon that both shielded and exalted her. It's time.

Sera forced herself out of Aermo's maw, moving with newfound strength. The beastkin’s massive form froze over almost instantly, the fire that had once fueled him now extinguished by the relentless cold. His body stiffened, the flames flickering and dying as his flesh turned to solid ice.

Sera stepped out of the frozen maw, her new form radiating an aura of icy authority that seemed to command the very elements around her. Her breath was visible in the frigid air as she dusted off her dress, sending a flurry of snowflakes cascading to the ground.

Vittorio staggered back, eyes wide with shock. "Impossible, how are you alive?"

Sera’s gaze locked onto him. The power surging through her amplified her voice, distorting it into something both resonant and eerie. "The answer to that question shouldn't be your concern at this moment."

Vittorio's form crackled ominously as purple flames erupted around him. With a guttural roar, he launched himself toward her with a wide open maw.

Sera remained perfectly still, not flinching in the slightest as Vittorio closed the distance. Despite only having this sort of power for the first time, she knew exactly how to use her abilities. It's a familiar feeling, just like when I played chess with Zoha.

With nothing more than a thought, she summoned a gargantuan icicle from the earth beneath them. The frozen spear shot upward and pierced through Vittorio's flaming body with a sickening crunch, the sheer force of it driving him upward and pinning him to the prison's ceiling.

Vittorio writhed against the icy spear, his once-powerful flames flickering wildly as he struggled in vain to break free. The purple fire that had once been so fierce now looked feeble, the cold of the ice sapping its strength with each passing moment. His eyes now reflected a growing desperation as he thrashed against the unyielding ice.

Sera watched his futile struggles with an expression of cold detachment, her gaze as unfeeling as the ice that held him captive. There was no pity in her eyes, not even the slightest sympathy.

"How utterly pathetic."

Vittorio's eyes blazed with unbridled fury, the flames within them flaring as he thrashed against his icy restraints. His fire roared to life, desperately attempting to melt the ice that held him captive, but the ice remained resolute, unyielding in the face of his frantic efforts. Each pulse of heat was met with an unforgiving cold, the frozen prison absorbing his flames without so much as a crack. "Release me!" he bellowed, his voice filled with rage and desperation.

Sera stepped closer, her presence emanating an almost palpable chill that seemed to suck the warmth from the very air. The cold radiated from her like an aura, the temperature plummeting as she approached. She stopped just short of him, her gaze as icy as the frozen spires around them. "No," she replied, her voice flat and unwavering, carrying the weight of finality.

With a mere clench of her fist, Sera commanded the gargantuan icicle piercing through Vittorio to shatter. The sound was deafening, a thunderous crack that echoed through the chamber as the ice exploded into a storm of jagged shards. Vittorio was torn free from the ceiling, plummeting to the ground below.

Before he could fully gather his bearings, Sera raised her hand and splayed her fingers splayed wide. The ground beneath Vittorio shuddered before a massive, black hand, encased in jagged ice armor, burst forth from the earth. The hand moved with terrifying speed, wrapping its fingers around Vittorio’s body.

Sera's eyes glinted with cold determination as she slowly clenched her hand into a fist. The black hand mirrored her action, tightening its grip around him with relentless force. Vittorio gasped, the pressure constricting his upper body, squeezing the breath from his lungs.

With a swift flick of her wrist, Sera released her hold. The black hand shattered into countless shards of ice, each one razor-sharp as it splintered into Vittorio’s flesh. The icy daggers embedded themselves deep, puncturing his skin and drawing fresh rivulets of blood that seeped from the myriad of wounds. Vittorio cried out as he slumped to the ground, strength draining away with each passing second.

Sera walked towards him with her very presence causing the air to grow even colder. Frost had now completely encased the ground, creeping forward towards Vittorio’s prone form as if seeking to claim him for the cold.

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Soon, she came to a stop directly in front of his head and looked down. "I know you've still got some fight left in you, get up."

Vittorio's body trembled as he tried to comply. He managed to lift himself slightly before collapsing again, the strength leaving his body.

Sera scoffed, lips curling into a bitter smile. "If that's how it's going to be, I'll help you rest for good."

Raising her hand once more, Sera summoned another icicle from the ground. It shot up with deadly precision, piercing through Vittorio and pinning him to the ceiling. Soon, the flames around him flickered and died as his form reverted to its human state.

With Vittorio dead, Sera let out a slow breath, her icy gaze shifting away from his lifeless form. The frigid air around her softened slightly as she turned her attention to Aermo, whose frozen form remained locked in a painful grimace. I should go and restore him now.

But when she approached Aermo, a voice called out from behind her. "What do you think you're doing?"

Sera spun around, eyes wide in surprise. Standing before her was Amaryllis. The ethereal figure shimmered slightly, her presence almost surreal. Sera blinked a few times, trying to ascertain if she was hallucinating.

"Amaryllis? What are you doing here?"

The winter dryad shook her head slowly. "Relax, I am but a temporary illusion, here only because of the power I lent you. Soon, I will fade away as will the temporary strength you have gained."

Sera nodded, accepting the explanation. "Then why are you here? What is it you want to tell me?"

Amaryllis stepped closer. "I am here to prevent you from doing something stupid."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Like wasting your energy and time on allies. You are immortal. Allies come and go, but your power will always be with you. Relying on others will only lead to disappointment."

"That's a cynical view. Allies are important, even to the strongest individuals. No one can face everything alone, thinking as much is merely hubris." Sera retorted.

"Hubris? Though you've been bestowed with great knowledge since your creation, there is still much that you do not know. Do not taint yourself with weakness, not while you're striving for divinity."

"With all due respect, it sounds like you're giving me this advice less from a place of good reasoning and more due to a prior bad experience you had."

Amaryllis's icy gaze lingered on Sera, the silence between them heavy and frigid. Then, ever so slightly, the corners of her lips tightened, and she shook her head slowly. The sound of her exhale filled the space, a cloud of frost escaping her lips, curling and dissipating like a breath in the dead of winter. “You have no idea."

Sera's gaze drifted to Aermo, his form encased in a thick layer of frost, every strand of fur crystallized in a sheen of white. The ice clung to him, tracing the curves of his body, making him appear more like a statue.

She then turned back to Amaryllis. "Listen, I'm not going to die for him, but I’ll certainly try to keep those who work for me in a reasonable condition."

Amaryllis scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You’re being too idealistic."

"Why are you so intent on lecturing me about going at things alone?"

"Because, you and I are transcendent beings. We control magic unlike any other entity in this world. Depending on others will only hinder your true growth."

Sera’s gaze was unwavering as she replied, "True strength lies in understanding the value of making use of enemies and allies alike, there's nothing wrong with making things easier where possible."

Amaryllis chuckled, lips curving into a smile that never reached her eyes. "I've said enough," she murmured, the words slipping out like the last breath of a dying wind. "When you finally have an empire of your own, and your strength has ascended to divinity, that is when you will know I was always right."

Sera blinked, and in that brief moment, Amaryllis vanished, leaving behind only the cold space where she had stood. The chill that had clung to the air, started to dissipate as if it had been drawn away with the winter dryad’s departure.

The icy antlers atop Sera's head had begun to melt, each crystalline tip dissolving into droplets that traced winding paths down her face and neck. Her pristine white dress had dulled and darkened, the fabric shifting back into its familiar, inky black. She knew she had little time left before Amaryllis’s lingering magic dissipated completely. I should check on Aermo before the last of her power leaves me.

Sera’s gaze snapped to Aermo, whose form lay eerily still. She rushed to his side, dropping to her knees with a grace that belied her worry. Her hands hovered above his chest before she gently pressed them against him. The deep cold that had seeped into his body met her palms, numbing her fingers and sending a sharp ache through her senses.

Sera closed her eyes for a brief moment, focusing inward, seeking the faintest signs of life within Aermo. There, under the layers of frost, she sensed it: a faint, struggling heartbeat. It was weak, like a flickering candle on the verge of being snuffed out, but it was there. Good, I didn't expect a beastkin shifter to go out that easily.

When Sera opened her eyes, she drew on her own magic, feeling its familiar warmth pulse through her. The frost that clung to Aermo’s fur slowly melted, tiny rivulets forming as the ice relinquished its hold. She watched as the cold, brittle layer cracked and splintered, breaking apart in fragmented pieces that tumbled away to reveal the natural color of his fur beneath.

When the last of the frost dissolved, Sera pressed her hand more firmly against Aermo’s chest, feeling the faint, rhythmic beat of his heart beneath her palm. The skin under her touch was cold, lifeless, but she refused to let it stay that way.

A warm, greenish light began to blossom from her hands, spreading slowly but steadily into Aermo’s chest. The light pulsed gently, its glow soft and nurturing, like the first rays of sunlight breaking through the heavy clouds after a long winter. Sera channeled it with care, guiding the energy with precision.

As the light enveloped Aermo, his body responded to its touch. The greenish glow seemed to seep into his very being, and slowly, the massive limbs that had been warped by his transformation shrunk and receded as his form reverted to its original state. The harsh, bestial features that had overtaken his visage smoothed out, gradually turning back into the familiar contours of his beastkin self.

Sera leaned in closer, her eyes never leaving Aermo’s face as she watched the transformation take place. His eyes slowly blinked open, their hazy, unfocused gaze slowly sharpening until they settled on her face. Recognition flickered in his eyes, followed by a deep, weary breath as his body adjusted to movement once more. "Boss… I feel like I’ve been hit by a boulder. What happened?"

Sera slid her hands to support his back, helping him sit up. "You transformed and lost control. There was a battle, and you were frozen. I thawed you out and healed you as best as I could."

Aermo’s gaze drifted around the room, taking in the remnants of the battle: the shattered ice, the lingering traces of magic, and the still form of Vittorio pinned to the ceiling. "Is that… Vito?"

Sera’s eyes followed his to Vittorio’s lifeless body. "He's dead, I killed him."

Aermo nodded slowly, his mind still reeling as he processed everything that had transpired. The weight of it all settled heavily on his shoulders. "I uh… thanks, Boss."

Sera nodded in return, her tone distant but cordial. "It's fine, I did only what I had to do."