Max turned slowly, his eyes sharp and unwavering, the blade of the black sword still humming faintly with power at his side.
His gaze swept across the crowd of demons, settling on the one who stood at their center—Craig, the hulking First Seat, whose presence had always carried the weight of intimidation.
But now, in this moment, even Craig's aura felt like a flickering candle against a storm. Max's voice rang out, calm but cutting, "Are there any others who wish to kill me right now?"
The words echoed through the arena like a blade sliding from its sheath.
Then—silence. A silence so deep and absolute it pressed down on every chest like a boulder. No one moved. No one breathed.