Ethan's brow furrowed, a flicker of disbelief flashing through his eyes. He hadn't expected it—this toad, which looked so ordinary at first glance, wielded a staggering level of power.
But he didn't freeze. His breath steadied in an instant as he sprang backward, shifting into a new defensive stance. With a swift motion, he summoned another energy sphere into his palm and hurled it straight at the creature.
"Boom!"
The explosion cracked through the air like a thunderclap. The two forces collided again, unleashing a shockwave that roared like a storm tearing through the sky.
Lightning above seemed to answer the call, lashing down onto the surrounding cliffs. The entire volcanic crater trembled violently—fissures split the ground, dust billowed up in choking clouds, and shards of rock scattered like shrapnel.
