Chapter 787: Move or Death
"How is this possible?!" Julio gasped, his eyes bulging as he stared at Max, disbelief written all over his pale face. He stood rooted to the spot, trembling slightly, his palm still outstretched as the remains of his lightning attack fizzled out. Never in his wildest calculations had he imagined that a mere Master Rank genius could cut his attack cleanly in two.
"Level 2 Sword Concept..." June’s voice came softly from the side, her normally distant, mist-like eyes flashing with a sharp glint of interest as she studied Max. There was no trace of mockery in her tone, only genuine curiosity and surprise.
"It is indeed level 2 Sword Concept." Derek muttered, his brow furrowed deeply, his lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn’t wrap his mind around the reality in front of him. Even when they were at the Master Rank, geniuses like him had barely comprehended the rudimentary first level of their concepts. For someone at the sixth level of Master Rank to wield the second level so effortlessly was nothing short of monstrous.
Scott’s face darkened like an incoming storm, his jaw tightening visibly, while Josh’s expression twisted into something downright ugly, fury and disbelief swirling in his eyes. Neither of them had anticipated that Max would possess such terrifying strength, capable of casually obliterating an attack launched with a level 2 Lightning Concept by a peak Champion Rank genius.
All around them, whispers and murmurs erupted like a tide as everyone stared at Max, a mixture of awe, shock, and creeping fear etching itself into their faces. Max simply stood there, his sword lowered slightly, his chest rising and falling as he exhaled slowly, his cold gaze fixed on Julio as if daring him to try again.
Only Gayle and Rose sat there in unruffled calm, unfazed by the stunned silence hanging over the restaurant after Max’s sword effortlessly severed Julio’s lightning palm. They alone were not caught entirely by surprise.
They had witnessed Max kill Brian with a single devastating sneak attack days earlier, and though that victory had come swiftly and unexpectedly, it was undeniable proof that Max possessed the power to fell a peak Champion Rank expert without hesitation.
But more than that, there was something else that kept Gayle and Rose composed while everyone else was reeling. Gayle recalled the conversation he’d shared with Max just before they entered the Hourglass Restaurant that morning.
He had wanted to probe Max’s true strength, seeking reassurance for the perilous venture into Lord Kome’s treasure cave. They were about to throw themselves into a dangerous place rumored to be littered with traps and rival geniuses. Gayle had felt compelled to know what level of strength he could truly count on.