Instead of responding to Aragon's roar, Max flapped his wings and vanished from where he stood. However, before he could escape the descending axe, the strange backward ticking returned inside his ears, and his eyes widened as he suddenly found himself standing exactly where he had been a moment earlier.
With the colossal weapon already falling toward his back, void and crystal magic burst from Max's body and formed a dense defensive structure across his scales. The barrier attempted to stop the attack, but Aragon's axe tore through it as though it were made of butter, shattering its layers before they could fully stabilize.
Scorching heat raced along Max's spine as the sharp crimson blade struck his back, leaving a deep red mark across his scales. Before he could turn and retaliate, Aragon vanished once again, leaving nothing behind but a fading trail of crimson magic.
