Max landed gracefully on the ground, his expression unreadable as he met the stunned gazes of those around him.
Then—
"You… you killed him?"
Norton Blade's voice choked with shock.
And something deeper.
Terror.
Max simply shrugged.
"My life was on the line. Of course, I killed him."
His tone was calm. Indifferent.
As if taking a life was no different from taking a breath.
The weight of his words sent shivers through the crowd.
"Do you realize what you just did?"
Kheonne Evernight's voice trembled, her usual confidence fractured.
"You didn't just bring doom upon yourself… you've doomed the entire East Region!"
Max turned toward her.
A slow, almost mocking smile formed on his lips.
"Is that so?"
His gaze flicked to the four remaining Monarch geniuses.
They stood frozen, disbelief flickering in their eyes.
Then—
His smile widened.
"But I'm not done yet."