The middle-aged man's smirk widened as he observed Max's tense posture, sensing the caution in his eyes.
Then—he chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Boy, tell me—do you even know how to battle with your soul?"
Max's frown deepened.
The man's smile grew.
"Do you even have a soul attack?"
Max's remained calm.
The man continued, his voice laced with a cruel certainty.
"You should know that in this place—your body, your aura, your techniques—none of them matter."
The air around them grew heavier, as if the very realm of his Soul Palace was responding to the truth of those words.
"Here, only soul-based skills and techniques work."
Max remained silent, his eyes dark with contemplation.
Because—
He already knew this.
The last time he was here, he had learned the hard way.