From beneath her feet, jagged ice vines erupted, tearing through the ground as they surged toward Baylor.
In response, he conjured a transparent barrier, channeling his full power to block them. But instead of shattering, the vines coiled around his defense, writhing like furious snakes.
The thorns pressed in. The cracks began to form.
"Are you kidding me?"
Baylor's laughter rang out, undeterred even as the pressure mounted.
"This girl… she's radiating pressure close to the S-rank… and that attack of hers… it feels alive."
A glint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
"She's actually breaking it… breaking the barrier of someone like me ..who's nearly SS+!"
As his defense crumbled, Baylor shot backward, but the vines chased him immediately.
"Hah… Seris, I always thought you were special… but who would've thought you were this special?"
He moved swiftly, avoiding the cursed vines without making contact.