The moment Maxwell roared those words, the battlefield erupted once more.

Golden mana burst wildly from his body, spreading outward in violent waves that tore apart the already ruined ground beneath him. The dragon-shaped shadow behind his back became larger than before, its outline no longer blurry and incomplete, but clearer now, more imposing, more alive.

The air itself trembled.

Dust rose everywhere.

The surrounding trees bent from the pressure alone.

Maxwell slowly lifted his head.

Blood still dripped from his chin.

His breathing remained rough.

His body still looked heavily injured.

Yet something about him had changed.

Something dangerous.

Borzoi narrowed his eyes while steam continued rising from his red skin.

"...So you’re still not done."

His voice sounded calmer again.

But inside, he no longer viewed Maxwell the same way.

Earlier, Maxwell felt like an arrogant outsider.

A talented fighter.

A dangerous mage.

But now—

There was something else growing inside him.

Something unstable.

Something violent.

Maxwell suddenly moved.

Boom!

The ground exploded beneath his feet as he charged forward desperately, golden light trailing behind him like burning flames. His speed had increased again, though unlike before, there was far less control in his movements now.

He looked reckless.

Wild.

As though rage alone was forcing his body forward.

Maxwell threw a punch immediately.

Borzoi blocked it casually with his remaining arm.

Boom!

The impact still shook the surrounding air violently.

But Borzoi merely smirked.

"That’s it?"

Maxwell attacked again.

And again.

Fists covered in golden mana came crashing toward Borzoi nonstop, each strike carrying desperate force behind it. The dragon aura around Maxwell surged violently every time he attacked, causing small explosions with each collision.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Yet Borzoi continued blocking them.

Some with his arm.

Some with his shoulders.

Some simply by moving aside slightly.

His expression gradually became disappointed.

"So this is all you got?"

He snorted faintly.

"You screamed all that nonsense..."

Another punch blocked.

"...just to hit a little harder?"

Maxwell attacked again furiously.

His movements grew increasingly savage now.

There was no elegance left.

No proper rhythm.

Only desperation.

Only anger.

Borzoi continued mocking him while defending.

"It seems..."

He twisted aside from another glowing punch before slamming his knee into Maxwell’s stomach.

"...Young Warchief really was the only exceptional monster in this continent."

Boom!

Maxwell coughed blood violently from the impact.

But instead of retreating—

He attacked again immediately.

Borzoi frowned slightly.

Still attacking?

Maxwell’s fist slammed toward his face again.

This time—

Borzoi blocked.

Then froze slightly.

"...Hm?"

A sharp pain spread through his arm.

Not severe.

Not deep.

But enough to surprise him.

He glanced briefly downward.

A thin line of blood had appeared on his skin.

Borzoi’s eyes narrowed.

Maxwell attacked again before he could think further.

Boom!

Another collision erupted.

This time the pain increased slightly more.

Borzoi stepped backward once.

His gaze immediately locked onto Maxwell’s body.

Then he noticed it.

Scales.

Small at first.

Barely visible beneath the blood and light covering Maxwell’s skin.

But definitely there.

Golden dragon scales had begun appearing around Maxwell’s arms and shoulders.

Not fully formed yet.

Not complete.

But enough to make Borzoi’s instincts tighten.

Maxwell charged again with a roar.

His glowing fist smashed toward Borzoi repeatedly while the scales slowly spread further across his skin.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Each strike now carried greater force than before.

And worse—

Greater sharpness.

Borzoi blocked another punch and immediately felt the scales scrape against his skin violently, almost like blades hidden within the attack itself.

Blood splattered again.

This time more clearly.

Borzoi’s grin slowly disappeared.

"...Interesting."

Maxwell attacked again wildly.

His breathing sounded increasingly beast-like now, rough and deep, while the dragon shadow behind him continued expanding slowly overhead.

More scales appeared.

Across his neck.

His chest.

Parts of his face.

His nails had also begun changing slightly, becoming darker and sharper little by little.

Inside Maxwell’s mind—

His master sounded horrified.

Stop!

Your transformation is accelerating too fast!

But Maxwell barely listened anymore.

The rage consuming him continued growing stronger. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He attacked Borzoi relentlessly.

Every strike becoming heavier.

Every movement becoming more savage.

Borzoi finally stopped treating it casually.

Boom!

He punched Maxwell directly across the face this time.

The impact exploded loudly.

Yet Maxwell barely staggered before attacking again immediately.

Borzoi’s eyes narrowed harder.

What the hell is this body...?

Another strike came.

Then another.

Maxwell no longer seemed to care about defense anymore.

Even when Borzoi hit him, he kept attacking through the pain, like some crazed beast forcing itself forward regardless of injuries.

Borzoi suddenly realized something important.

He’s losing control.

The thought appeared instantly.

And that realization made his instincts flare dangerously.

Because the pressure leaking from Maxwell’s body continued increasing.

Slowly.

Steadily.

Relentlessly.

The dragon shadow above them looked more solid now.

Its massive golden eyes seemed almost alive.

Watching.

Observing.

Borzoi clicked his tongue.

"...Annoying."

Maxwell lunged forward again.

This time Borzoi stopped the punch completely.

Then grabbed Maxwell by the face.

His red aura exploded violently.

"That’s enough."

Boom!

He slammed Maxwell into the ground with terrifying force.

The earth collapsed beneath them instantly.

Maxwell roared angrily and tried rising again, but Borzoi immediately drove his fist into Maxwell’s stomach repeatedly.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Blood burst from Maxwell’s mouth continuously.

Yet even while being beaten down—

The scales continued spreading.

Borzoi noticed immediately.

"...Still growing?"

That dangerous feeling returned again.

Stronger than before.

His instincts screamed at him now.

End him.

Immediately.

Before something worse happens.

Borzoi’s expression hardened completely.

No more mocking.

No more playing around.

Only killing intent remained.

"You’re becoming troublesome."

He slowly rose while steam erupted heavily from his body.

His red skin darkened further.

Veins bulged violently along his muscles.

Then—

Borzoi entered a stance.

The ground beneath his feet cracked instantly.

Maxwell slowly pushed himself upward again, blood dripping everywhere while the scales on his body glimmered beneath the golden light surrounding him.

His breathing sounded increasingly inhuman now.

Almost like growling.

Borzoi stared coldly at him.

"I don’t know what you’re turning into."

His remaining arm tightened.

"But Young Warchief taught me something important."

His aura surged violently.

"When something dangerous appears..."

Boom!

The earth exploded beneath him.

"...kill it before it grows stronger."

Borzoi vanished.

Then reappeared directly in front of Maxwell.

His fist pulled backward fully.

Every muscle in his body tightened.

The pressure behind the strike alone caused the surrounding ground to crack apart.

Maxwell slowly lifted his head.

His glowing eyes met Borzoi’s red ones.

Then—

Borzoi punched.

Boom!!!

The impact exploded across the battlefield like thunder itself.

The force tore apart the earth beneath them while shockwaves spread outward violently across the land.

For a moment—

Everything disappeared beneath dust and destruction.

Then—

A sound emerged from within it.

Not human.

Not magical.

Not normal.

A roar.

A true roar.

Deep.

Ancient.

Violent.

Like a dragon awakening from slumber.