Max remained still.
The middle-aged man stared at him with a grave expression. "That is why the heavens reject it. That is why ancient forces sealed records of it. That is why sword lineages that discovered fragments of this path either destroyed them or buried them in forbidden grounds. Emotion Severing Path can become one of the strongest severing forces in existence, but it can also create a swordsman who is no longer truly alive. A blade without attachment. A will without warmth. A being who can sever worlds without hatred, without joy, without regret, and without stopping."
He lifted his sword slightly.
"When such a person appears, the cosmos itself treats him as a calamity."
Max looked at him and asked, "Did that happen to you?"
The middle-aged man's expression did not change, but the silence after the question was enough of an answer.
After a long time, he said, "Almost."
Max's eyes narrowed slightly.
