The crowd felt that slap as if it had struck their own faces, yet they could understand Rosalia’s point. Henry had lost his mind, and now everyone could see it clearly. Those who had not yet fallen to their knees before Max were now willingly doing so.

Henry had publicly admitted that he was ready to sell out his clan and its members in exchange for the protection of another clan.

This was something no one could accept. Even William, who hated Max to the bone, clenched his teeth. He respected Henry more than anything in this world, but now that respect lay shattered like a mirror smashed against the hard tile floor.

"Rosalia, how dare you!?" Henry’s fingers lit up with powerful purple ice flames. His fist burst into flames as he attempted to slam it into her belly. Max’s eyes narrowed. Immense anger surged through his veins, and the fear of her getting injured made his blood churn.

Black wind slammed into Henry like a hammer, hurling him hundreds of meters backward. Max stepped forward, his body erupting in swirling black mist. The mist rapidly solidified into a sleek, obsidian armor that clung to his frame like liquid shadow. A half-helmet formed over his lower face, covering only his jaw and mouth in sharp, angular plates while leaving his hair wild and unbound. Glowing violet runes pulsed along the edges.

Every step he took turned the ground dry and lifeless beneath his feet. The mana in the area plummeted to critical levels. No one could taste it on their tongues any longer. His weapon and armor alone had stripped the mana away, greedily devouring it all.

"I warned you, Henry," Max said through clenched teeth.

"Max, stop!" Rosalia cried out, trying to rush after him, only to slam into an invisible wall that held her in place.

Henry struggled to his feet. Blood spilled from his lips. He could feel that his ribs were broken. A single attack from Max had nearly killed him. Yet he laughed through the pain.

"Are you going to kill me, Chief Max?" He burst into pained laughter. "This is what you wanted, right? To take over the clan, to become the leader? Haha, I know your kind!"

Henry turned and dropped onto his bottom.

"You don’t know anything about me," Max said coldly.

"Oh, I do. I know that you and I are the same. We both crave power. We’re willing to sacrifice anything to protect what we hold dear. Aren’t you doing exactly what I did? You will kill me to protect your mate. Come on! Go ahead! Show everybody what kind of beast you are! Show them that you are a ruthless leader, ready to lead them to glory. Go on!" Henry’s crazed roar shook every soul present.

"Max, please, don’t!" Rosalia kept pounding on the invisible wall Max had created with his void magic. The rest of the clan rose to their feet as well, watching with their heads lowered.

Purple flames erupted from Henry as his body began to transform. White leathery wings sprouted from his back. "If you don’t kill me, then I will kill you instead!"

Henry unleashed a powerful wave of ice flame at Max, but the latter didn’t even bother blocking it. The moment it connected with his armor, the flames were sucked in and snuffed out. All the mana in the attack simply dispersed.

Max grinned beneath his half-helmet, hiding his satisfied smile. He was pleased with this new ability. It granted him the power to fight on an even higher level. Henry now seemed like nothing more than a bug before him.

At that moment, something snapped inside Max’s heart, as if a part of him that he had buried for so long had finally surfaced.

He raised his weapon and slashed downward. A black crescent wave shot from his blade, racing toward Henry at blinding speed. No one had time to react before blood sprayed and Henry’s right arm flew from his shoulder.

Rosalia’s heart dropped. She feared Max was going to kill her father.

Max felt deep satisfaction. After so long of being treated like a dog, it felt good to finally vent his fury.

Henry screamed in agony, clutching his shoulder with his left hand to stem the bleeding. His face turned deathly pale, but the fire in his eyes refused to die.

"Finish me!" he roared.

"Max! Stop! He is all I have left! Please!" Rosalia wailed from behind the barrier. Her desperate cries finally reached him. Max shook his head, as if snapping out of a trance. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"I won’t kill you, Henry. But the arm you dared raise against her will be your punishment. Leave now, and never show your face before us again. Scram!"

Max waved his hand, sending a wave of void energy that sent Henry tumbling across the ground.

Henry shot Max a furious look, then turned to the clan. "Traitors, all of you! Shame on you! You are not worthy of being called Ice Dragons!"

He flapped his newly formed wings and lifted himself up the mountain.

Max exhaled deeply. His weapon and armor vanished. He turned and walked toward Rosalia. The invisible wall between them vanished, and she raced to him.

"You animal! That’s my father! How dare you...?" She collapsed against his chest, pounding it relentlessly as she wept.

"He was ready to kill you. I simply punished him for it," Max sighed, allowing her to release her emotions.

"You monster..." she continued. Her tears caused many in the clan to shed their own. "I know... I know... Thank you for sparing him..."

She melted fully into his chest, her fists relaxing against his shoulders. Max wrapped her in his embrace and kissed the top of her head.

Today, the Ice Dragon Clan had lost its leader, but it had also gained a new one. This change would one day determine their fate in a world where powerful forces still loomed, waiting to be discovered. And Max was prepared to lead them to supremacy.