Oh Hunter My Hunter

The once wondrous and luminous forest, glowing with colour and beauty, was now reduced to soot and ash. Flames raged, consuming all the beautiful flowers, on the ground, the buds of light in the sky, and the great trees and fungi now all lay to rest. Only one source of light remained, belonging to man and god.

The man's flames burned fiercely as the Plant of Life glared down in hatred at the two who had ruined its perfect world, built upon the blood of men. This was meant to be its celebration, yet they had turned its grand festival to ruin. Holding the ashes of its once-beautiful domain, it let the ashes fall, watching as the land lay desolate and scorched while the man and god laughed wickedly.

Flames surged as the man of fire grew taller and much larger, his form expanding into a wild inferno. He became a titanic manifestation of the Lord of Flames in all his destructive glory. Unlike his past, incomplete self, here he stood near his full power, a god of fire and devastation.

"This strength is truly remarkable. I have a good host," the flame god said, mused with satisfaction. His flames darkened, revealing a jagged, wicked grin like that of a jack-o'-lantern. His titanic, humanoid form burned with unrestrained energy as his fiery hair blazed wildly. He stretched back, letting his arms back as he revelled in his newfound freedom to unleash chaos once more.

The Lord of Flames raised his arms, but roots lashed out, seeking to bind him. Serpentine trees coiled around his body, tightening their grip as the Plant of Life wielded its branch-like arms like whips, striking him with relentless fury. Yet, the Lord of Flames only laughed. His light flared so intensely and in an instant, he vanished from sight.

And then he reappeared, his fist to his side and like a rocket, it shot upwards, colliding with the colossal plant, sending it hurtling through the wooden dome above. But the Lord of Flames was not done, not even close. He soared after his opponent, seizing the plant god and dragging it past the sky, beyond Earth, into the vast void of space.

"If only I had more time... but he's only human, after all," the Lord of Flames murmured. He burned ferociously around the struggling plant. Though outmatched, the Plant of Life showed no fear, no pain. It was fire, a plant's natural enemy and it chose to fight valiantly.

Despite being grievously overpowered, the plant fought on, reaching for the Lord of Flames, who merely allowed it to grasp him before burning its makeshift limbs root by root, and stem by stem.

The flames intensified; the Lord of Flames had no intention of showing mercy. His only goal was to utterly humiliate his opponent. Each of his strikes, fueled by firepower, landed with devastating force. Newton's second law was put on display as speed and mass were used to unleash devastating force. The plant's gnarled wooden armour, as strong as diamond, shattered under the relentless assault. The god of flames treated his foe like a mere punching bag, laughing maniacally. He was the Lord of Fire and Flames, and he would make the world tremble.

On Earth, the remaining humans watched the battle unfold in the space above. It was a moment of history, a testament to what their world had become. People fled in vain, seeking sanctuary from divine wrath, but none existed. The gods despised and abandoned humanity. Nightmares roamed freely across the land, but some found salvation in another world, a hidden refuge where beings of all kinds sought shelter from the wrath of these cosmic deities.

The Plant of Life, mustering all its power, grew even larger. It compressed its wooden form, strengthening itself as it seized the Lord of Flames once more. They clashed in the vastness of space, each growing to titanic proportions. They were world-destroyers, their battle an apocalyptic force. Had they fought on Earth, their wrath would have erased entire continents. But here, in the boundless void, they could unleash destruction without restraint.

Life struggled against fire, engulfing the Lord of Flames in bark and roots, smothering him within its grasp. Yet the god only grew stronger, laughing as he burned through his restraints. He held the Plant of Life tightly, preventing escape as his flames raged uncontrollably. They fought with unrelenting ferocity, creation and destruction locked in an eternal struggle. The plant's emboldened limbs gnawed at the fire, trying desperately to reach the human at the core. But it was futile. The Lord of Flames' hands found their mark, gripping the plant god's head, seeking to crush and incinerate it.

Tobi, deep within, felt his body reaching its limits. He knew the truth; he could not endure much longer. So he surrendered fully to the Lord of Flames, risking his own body so the lord would win.

The god of fire seared with intense heat, compressing his flames to an extreme density. Then, with the Plant of Life still in his grasp, he pushed himself far from Earth into the deep void. His flames, which had consumed half his titanic form, condensed against his skin until at last, he reached his limit.

An explosion cataclysmic wrung devestation. A supernova erupted in the cosmos, its brilliance visible from Earth. Half the planet was illuminated by the divine cataclysm, a spectacle of unimaginable devastation and destruction. The gods' battle had reached its climax.

When the light faded, the Plant of Life had been reduced to a mere speck, cast adrift into the infinite universe. The Lord of Flames reverted to his regular form, floating alone in the void. He turned his gaze to his once-host Tobi, now half-burnt, his skin ashen black, undoubtedly lifeless.

"You were truly remarkable for a human... But even you couldn't survive this," the Lord of Flames muttered. Yet, his eyes widened in shock. Against all odds, against all reason, the man was still alive.

The god of flames let out a deep, resounding laugh at the sheer absurdity of this human who should, by all logic, be dead but wasn't.

"Very well, then, hunter. I will grant you a barrier and send you back to Earth. You are truly extraordinary," the god declared. "But if we meet again, I will incinerate you. Not out of hate but because you are the only man who has earned my respect and if you win, then so be it."

With a final laugh, the god fulfilled his promise. He cast the half-charred Tobi back toward Earth, his face concealed by a mask, his body shrouded in a cloak. and covered in a warm flame, which kept his body safe from the frigid space. Powerless once more, he drifted through space, breathing still, a testament to his defiance to Fate itself.