Adam's smirk widened as he watched Derek advance, the Solarian commander's axe blazing with crimson aura. "So you're leading royal knights now? Impressive promotion." He tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "But I don't see your dungeon party with you. Did they not make it?"
Derek's jaw tightened, the axe in his hands pulsing with angry light. "A monster's mouth is just as rotten as the rest of its species, isn't it?"
He moved.
Speed enhancement skill—Adam recognized it immediately. Derek blurred forward, his axe already mid-swing, the blade trailing crimson energy. Adam's scaled forearm shot up, Monarch's Aegis flaring as metal met scale.
CLANG—BOOM!
The impact was heavier than Adam anticipated. His feet slid back, carving furrows in the frozen ground. Derek pressed the advantage, his axe suddenly heavier—not physically larger, but the force behind each blow multiplied. Skill-enhanced weight manipulation.
