Not just any attack.
Not just a random attempt.
This was an assassination strike.
Aimed directly at Max's heart.
Sharp. Precise. Deadly.
The force behind it carried intent—the kind of madness that came only from someone who lived to kill.
Then—
BANG!
A devastating explosion erupted the moment the sword clashed against its target.
A shockwave of raw energy blasted outward, sending dust, debris, and shattered stone flying in all directions.
The entire garden trembled, cracks spiderwebbing across the ground as the sheer force of impact tore through the battlefield.
Visibility vanished.
A cloud of thick dust swallowed everything, obscuring the scene entirely.
Aelric, standing at a distance, narrowed his eyes.
With a flick of his fingers, his golden arsenal of weapons spun into motion, slicing through the air like blades of divine judgment.
They swirled and dispersed the dust, revealing the aftermath of the attack.
And when the cloud cleared—
