Fuck

The imposing woman's body radiating raw power let out a primal scream as she launched herself from another direction at Atticus, attempting surprise him.

Her fists crackled with energy as she threw a punch that could shatter even the strongest materials. "I'll tear you apart!"

However, Atticus simply blurred and met her attack head on, his blade clashing against her fist in a shower of sparks.

The force of the impact cracked the floor beneath them, but Atticus didn't flinch. He twisted his body, redirecting her momentum and sending her crashing into a nearby wall.

"Erion, now!" Lucy's voice echoed in their minds, its urgency clear.

A figure suddenly appeared behind Atticus, causing his gaze to immediately narrow. 'I didn't sense him until now,' he thought.

Erion closed the distance, his mana-forged swords slicing through the air as he aimed for Atticus's back.

However, unlike what everyone had been expecting, the opposite happened.