With a thunderous slap on the stone armrest, Toxius split the marble dais. The entire floor cracked open, and from the fissures erupted ink-green vines, wriggling like venomous serpents toward the trio.

Corin’s longsword rang free. Silver-white arcs of sword energy sliced through the nearest tendrils, severing each before it could touch flesh.

“Careful! These are Corrosive Vines. Their tiny hairs burrow under the skin and rot the heart!”

Flaxseed unfurled a golden net etched with runes, casting it wide to form a shimmering wall that held the vines back. “Jared, that old geezer sits at Top Level Earthly Immortal Realm Level Seven. Watch his true venom art!”

Jared never glanced at the vines. His stare locked onto Toxius. “Your fight is with me!”

He closed the distance again, but this time, each sword technique blended the ghost-step movement technique had mastered within the tomb of swords, turning every advance into a feint inside a feint.

In his grip, the Dragonslayer Sword seemed alive. At times, it was a golden serpent lashing wildly, and other times, a black dragon’s claw problng. Every cut hunted a fresh gap in Toxius’ defenses.