Then—
Thick, boiling magma erupted out of thin air directly in the weapon's path with a sound like the earth itself tearing open—a deep, grinding rrrrrmmm that reverberated through the entire arena floor.
Not a small amount. An absolutely vast quantity of dense molten volcanic rock materialized as a layered shield in front of the creature, appearing instantaneously as if reality had simply rearranged its priorities.
Leon's blade hit the first layer and cut through with a screaming metallic shriek, holy energy searing and hissing as it encountered the extreme heat—sssshhhk—burning through the initial barrier of cooling volcanic material before slamming into the second layer, then a third.
The sound was like dragging steel across volcanic stone—harsh, grinding, deeply unpleasant—as the blade carved its way through successive barriers.
But at the end of its arc, the sword stopped.
It didn't reach the creature.
