Chapter 1777: Max vs Selene
Chapter 1777: Max vs Selene
Selene sneered at Max’s words before turning to Rosaline.
"Remember your words."
"Do as you please," Princess Rosaline said calmly.
She had only been interested in Max because of the terrifying sword aura he had left behind near the neutral city, and after seeing the situation at the base of the Witch God Tree, that interest had only grown deeper.
The Sword of the Sword Sovereign, the strange Witch’s curse mark clinging to his body, the rumors of his sudden rise in the Cosmic Ascension Ranking List, and now the way Seraphine and Fin looked at him with fear hidden beneath hatred all made Rosaline feel that Max was far more mysterious than the reports suggested.
If letting Selene fight him would force him to release that terrifying sword aura again, then so be it. For now, Rosaline was willing to remain an observer.
Selene understood Rosaline’s meaning, and her cold smile deepened slightly before she turned back toward Max.
Then she raised one hand.
"All of you, step back."
The second faction elves immediately reacted. Some looked startled, while others hesitated because they had clearly come here prepared to surround Max and Caroline together, but none of them dared to disobey Selene’s command.
Seraphine and Fin exchanged a brief glance, and although resentment filled their eyes, their bodies moved backward more quickly than the others. They had already fought Max once.
They knew better than anyone that if Selene truly wanted to take him on herself, standing too close to the battlefield would only place them inside the range of that emotionless sword path again.
One of the second faction elves said carefully, "Divine Daughter, should we not assist you? This human is not simple."
Selene’s golden eyes turned toward him.
The elf immediately lowered his head and retreated without another word.
"I said step back," Selene said lightly. "I will take care of him with my own hands."
Her voice was soft, but the authority inside it could not be questioned. The second faction formation slowly opened, and the elves moved away from the central battlefield, creating a wide circular space at the base of the Witch God Tree.
The golden talismans and bloodline-suppressing formations around the area remained active, but the people controlling them withdrew to the edges, leaving Selene standing alone in front of Max. Her long golden hair moved gently behind her, the halo of Heavenly Luminance power above her shoulders becoming brighter with each passing second.
The atmosphere shifted.
This was no longer an ambush.
It was a duel.
Morgana Starveil watched with bright purple eyes, her smile playful but focused. "The Divine Daughter wants to fight him herself. How bold."
Kaiden Voidmere remained silent, but the space around him rippled faintly, showing that even he was paying close attention.
Orion Starfall crossed his arms and laughed. "Good. This is better than watching a bunch of people rush him together."
Rosaline did not speak. Her gaze remained fixed on Max.
Max, however, only looked at Selene for a moment before turning toward Caroline and the others.
"Retreat."
Caroline frowned. "Max..."
"I will handle everything here," Max said calmly.
His tone did not leave room for argument.
Caroline wanted to say more, but when she saw the calm certainty in his eyes, she swallowed her words. She still knew too little about Max, but after everything she had witnessed inside Witch God Valley, she understood one thing clearly.
Her sister’s son was not reckless without reason. If he told them to retreat, it meant he had already decided how to face what came next.
Jessica immediately helped Caroline move back, while the other third faction elves followed with tense expressions. Nancy also retreated, though her eyes remained on Max the entire time.
Caroline stopped several dozen meters away and looked back at Max.
"Be careful," she said quietly.
Max did not look back, but he nodded once.
The little cursed eye on his left shoulder blinked slowly, shifting across his shoulder as if it was also watching Selene. Max ignored it. His right hand held Dragonheart loosely at his side, and his expression remained calm, almost indifferent, while Selene’s aura continued rising in front of him.
Selene looked at him with cold interest.
"You are quite confident," she said. "You stand here alone even though you know who I am."
Max looked at her. "I know enough."
Selene smiled. "Then you should also know that I am not Seraphine, Fin, or Lumine."
"I know," Max replied.
His gaze moved briefly to the golden halo behind her.
"You are more useful than them."
Selene’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The words sounded simple, but she understood the meaning. Max was not treating her as a greater danger. He was treating her as someone who might carry more answers, more Killing Points, and more connection to the truth about his stolen bloodline.
The smile on Selene’s face slowly faded.
"You truly do not know how to lower your head."
Max’s expression remained unchanged. "I do not lower my head to thieves."
The air instantly froze.
The second faction elves at the edge of the battlefield stirred, and several of them released sharp killing intent, but Selene raised one finger without looking back, stopping them again.
Rosaline’s eyes sharpened slightly.
Morgana’s smile widened.
Kaiden’s gaze became deeper.
Orion’s expression turned more excited.
Caroline’s heart clenched because she knew exactly what Max was referring to. The bloodline stolen from him as a child. The second faction’s forbidden extraction. The Divine Son who now carried what should have belonged to Max.
By calling Selene and her faction thieves in front of everyone, Max had not merely insulted her. He had pointed directly at one of the darkest secrets of the second faction.
Selene’s golden light became colder.
"Careful, Max Morgan," she said softly. "Some words carry consequences."
Max slowly raised Dragonheart.
"I am counting on it."
A faint sword hum spread across the battlefield.
Selene’s halo brightened.
The ground beneath them trembled.
Around the battlefield, everyone had already stepped back. Rosaline, Morgana, Kaiden, Orion, Seraphine, Fin, the second faction elves, Caroline, Jessica, Nancy, and the third faction remnants all watched the two figures standing beneath the vast shadow of the Witch God Tree.
On one side stood Selene Vaeloria, the Divine Daughter of the second faction, trained by the Bloodline Hall and the ancestors, carrying an extremely pure Heavenly Luminance Royal Bloodline.
On the other side stood Max Morgan, Caelira’s son, wielder of Dragonheart, bearer of the Witch’s curse mark, owner of the Heavenly Luminance Divine Bloodline, and the one who had already cut down every enemy who believed numbers, status, or reputation could stop him.
Selene took one step forward, and golden light poured from her body like a rising sun.
Max’s eyes remained calm as Dragonheart tilted slightly in his hand.
The duel was about to begin.