Selina's POV
The second gate manifested as a brutal war of territory.
Inside my marrow, the newly formed gold ember pulsed with a greedy, expanding heat. It sought to claim the complete vessel, rushing through my veins with the terrifying arrogance of a newborn sun. The Phoenix core demanded absolute supremacy over the bloodline, pushing outward to consume every trace of the magic already residing within my ribs.
Then, the gold fire struck the sapphire current of the Harbour Nexus.
The reaction proved catastrophic. The ancient, glacial memory of the northern sea rose up to defend its domain. A massive, internal collision of opposing forces erupted within my chest. Fire met water, creating a violent, expanding shockwave of high-pressure steam that threatened to rupture my organs from th
