A wide smile appeared on Hermes' face as he watched his colossal dagger close in on Cain. Victory felt certain. Yet, instead of the anticipated explosion or the shattering sound of bones, the image of Cain faded away silently—as if he had never been there.
"An afterimage?" gasped Hermes, the Lord of the Last Step, disbelief flooding his senses.
"You are too slow."
Those simple words, spoken calmly yet dripping with terrifying confidence, filled Marcus with a primal dread. His heart skipped a beat as he realized Cain was already positioned directly before him, his body enveloped in blazing crimson energy. Marcus' Liberación Total form was gargantuan, the size of a world itself. Next to him, Cain appeared insignificant—a mere speck of dust. Yet, it was that tiny figure, no larger than a couple of meters, that sent chills through Marcus' enormous frame.
