Despite Hermes' speed boost, the hooded man was able to react every single time, blocking each of Hermes' attacks.
'No, he's not reacting. He's acting before I do!'
The hooded man condensed a grey whip and lashed it across space toward the location Hermes was about to fly into, aiming for where his legs would've been.
Noticing this, Hermes immediately halted his momentum and moved back.
'Just as I thought. He's predicting my movements before I even make them.'
Hermes spun his staff and knocked the whip aside before the serpents coiled around it shot forward, attempting to sink their fangs into the hooded man's shoulders.
The whip immediately dissolved, its divinity condensing into a pair of short swords, which the hooded man used to meet the serpents' fangs with a rapid series of slashes before throwing one of the swords directly at Hermes.
