The first move was the wraith's. A jagged rift split the air before Max, and from within it came a massive, spiraling spear of compressed void energy.
Max's form blurred as Lightning Manifestation Armour ignited around him—crackling arcs racing across his black armor, his speed spiking instantly. He side-stepped mid-air, vanishing into a lightning streak, and in the same motion his sword cleaved down in Severing Flow Sword Art, splitting the spear into two halves that dissolved into nothing.
The wraith responded by twisting space behind him, attempting to crush him between two converging folds of reality.
Max's body flashed white-hot—Star Flame Art activated, the weight in his limbs increasing tenfold, forcing his movements to carry unstoppable momentum. His flames burned pure white, radiant like the cores of newborn stars, and with one sweeping slash he unleashed Void Severance Slash, splitting open a massive, stable gap in the spatial folds, forcing the wraith to retreat.
