"You! Crazy bastard! Get away from me!"
Before Micha'el could shake him away, Auren had already snapped his arm around Micha'el's neck like a snake, locking it into a precise triangle hold that choked both breath and mana flow in an instant.
His hand struck true- right at the base of Micha'el's jaw and neck, where the unstable mana had flared only seconds earlier in his special eyes.
Clinging to Micha'el's back like an overly affectionate monkey, Auren's smaller frame behind the furious Goldhair turned the moment into pure comedy.
In an instant, laughter erupted from everyone.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Look at that desperate human!"
"What a pathetic loser!"
"Yeah! That's it! Hold him tight, little monkey!"
The elves howled, pointing and jeering at what they thought was a last-ditch, foolish attempt to save Auren's head.
The absurdity of the pose- Auren clinging on like a backpack- was too much for the elves to take seriously.
Until-
Micha'el scoffed, voice laced with smugness.
