Max remained calm, his posture unchanged as he leaned slightly against the tree. Leo mistook this composure for fear and let out a mocking laugh. Standing up straight, he slid his hands into his pockets and tilted his head, looking down at Max."Any last words?" Leo asked, his smirk widening.Max glanced up at him, his expression unbothered. "Last words for what?" he asked evenly, his voice calm, almost curious.Leo's grin grew malicious. "Don't play dumb," he sneered. "I know you're scared. You're just pretending to be brave because you're too terrified to accept reality."Max sighed softly, shaking his head as if amused. "Scared?" he repeated, his tone carrying a faint hint of disbelief. He gestured toward the armed men surrounding them. "These people? They're just trash. What exactly do you think they can do to me?"Leo barked out a laugh at the audacity of Max's words. "Trash?" he repeated, gesturing grandly to his men. "You call these men trash? Do you even realize who you're ins

Max, still smiling, finally looked at him. For the first time, his amusement faded. And in its place, Leo saw something that sent a shiver down his spine.A glint of deadly intent.A warning.As if Max was telling him, without words:You just made the biggest mistake of your life.Leo clenched his teeth and pulled the trigger.Bang!The gunshot echoed, but Max casually caught the bullet between his teeth and bit down on it before spitting it onto his palm. He flicked the bullet to the ground with a playful smile. Leo froze, his body stiff with fear as he took a step back."H-Hellspawn… you're a hellspawn!" Leo stammered, his voice trembling. His men stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened."Kill him!" Leo shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "Take out your guns and shoot him!"His men quickly snapped out of their shock and pulled out their firearms. The sound of safeties clicking off filled the air before they aimed at Max and pulled the triggers. A barrage of

Max spoke firmly into the phone, his expression unreadable. "Looks like the old man is making his move faster than expected." Without hesitation, he gave his orders. "Deploy all available units near the affected areas. If there are no units nearby, send Brad and Marga immediately." His voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. "I'll be there soon." "Understood," Leon responded without hesitation before ending the call. Max turned to Alexa, his gaze steady. "I have to move." He exhaled sharply before adding, "The one behind this attack… it's one of those who disappeared during the last war. That bastard is making a move again." Alexa gave a small, knowing smile. "Then go," she said softly. "Do your duty as a general." Max smiled in return, appreciating her unwavering support. "Thank you." He placed a gentle hand on her cheek before instructing, "Stay in the villa." Alexa nodded, concern flickering in her eyes. "Be careful, Max." Max gave her one last glance before

The commander swiftly gave a new order, his voice firm despite the growing tension. "Switch to grenade launchers!" Without hesitation, the soldiers moved with practiced efficiency, grabbing their grenade launchers and preparing to fire. Within moments, ten launchers were locked and loaded. The air was thick with tension as the commander raised his hand. "Fire!"A deafening series of explosions erupted as grenades rained down upon the three humanoid creatures, engulfing them in thick smoke and flames. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the battlefield, kicking up dust and debris. The soldiers held their breath, gripping their weapons tightly as they waited for the results.But as the smoke began to clear, their worst fears were confirmed. The three creatures remained standing, completely unharmed. The leader let out a sigh, scratching his ear as if mildly annoyed. "That was boring," he muttered. Then, in a voice laced with amusement, he continued, "You have one minute left.

Max answered the call, and the moment he did, he heard Robert's weak voice on the other end."Ma-Master Max… there's a problem at the villa," Robert said, his tone strained. "We were attacked… Black-clad martial artists with dark auras—just like the ones from the tournament. They… they took Alexa."Max's grip on his phone tightened."They were too strong… We had no chance," Robert admitted, frustration and exhaustion lacing his words."I understand," Max replied firmly. Without another word, he ended the call and slid the phone back into his pocket.Leon and Alice immediately took notice of the shift in his expression. Leon stepped closer. "Something wrong?" he asked.Max let out a short exhale before flashing a smirk, though his eyes were filled with a cold, deadly intent. "Looks like I was the old man's target all along," he said. "These creatures were just a distraction. His real plan was taking Alexa."Leon narrowed his eyes. "So, what's the plan now?"Max's smirk faded into a cal