Max shifted half a step, and the palm missed.
Dragonheart immediately swept toward Valeris's shoulder, and he reacted quickly enough to form a green shield.
Clang!
The shield shattered, and Valeris was driven backward.
His expression turned serious, because that first exchange had already taught him something important. Max was fast, far too fast.
Valeris raised his strength at once. The green patterns beneath the arena spread wider, and then countless spiritual plants erupted from the ground. Vines, branches, thorns, and leaf-shaped blades all came at Max together, and for a moment it looked as though the entire arena had turned into a living forest.
Max stood at the center of it with a calm expression, since he had no intention of dragging the fight out.
The Emotion Severing Path spread from his body, and the whole atmosphere shifted.
Dragonheart moved, and a single sword light crossed the arena.
