There was no warning or battle cry. As soon as Liam's figure left the circle of intricate symbols completely, the huge snake snapped its head, ramming it down.
The strike was fast, unbelievably so. It played into the magical beast's innate strengths, its huge head condensing the air with its descent, turning it into an immobilizing pressure.
But Liam had been ready. He couldn't have been readier. After all, he had prepared for that rematch for over a year.
Liam's superhuman perception assaulted his consciousness, fueled by the background hiss to capture everything it could, transforming it into subconscious knowledge.
Thoughts were faster than legs, and they created an awareness Liam could follow, a guide he could abide by without needing to consider his options.
So, despite the strike being basically immediate, Liam reacted to it as soon as the fake magical beast showed the faintest sign of wanting to unleash that attack, matching it with a thunderous noise.
