The moment the word fell, Aelric vanished. Not through speed. Through folded space. One moment he stood across the battlefield.
The next, his figure appeared above Max's left side, his palm already coming down with a green-gold seal forming at its center. The seal was made from life force and spatial law, and the moment it appeared, the air around Max tightened, as if an invisible cage had closed around him.
"Evercrest Life-Sealing Palm."
Aelric's voice came from above, calm and cold. The palm descended.
But Max didn't step back. His eyes sharpened. The Dimensional Sovereign Body activated silently. The cage around him twisted.
Then Max raised Dragonheart and slashed upward. A black sword light cut through the sealed air, meeting Aelric's palm seal head on.
Boom!
The first collision exploded across the battlefield. Green-gold light and black sword aura spread out in every direction, striking the arena boundary hard enough to make the runes flash violently.
