"It's resisting," Ash grunted, his voice tight with effort. He was not just pushing through energy; he was pushing against a will, a primal force. The air around his extended arm shimmered violently, ice crystals forming and instantly melting, battling the intense heat.
"Can you break through?" Maya yelled, her hand hovering over an arrow, ready to assist in any way she could.
Ash didn't answer. He closed his eyes, focusing entirely on the profound balance he had gained from the Heart of the Ember.
This was not about overpowering the Fire Titan; it was about imposing order, about using his refined Frost to calm the chaotic energies. He envisioned the swirling orange chaos before him, not as an enemy to be destroyed, but as a wild river to be channeled.
A moment passed, stretched thin by the immense elemental struggle. Then, the air around Ash's arm solidified.
