A roar of confusion and anger echoed in the Scarlet King's thoughts as he recognized what had just happened.
"He tricked The Flow!?" The exclamation pulsed in his mind, matching the beat of his racing heart. Throughout his countless battles, the Scarlet King had encountered adversaries capable of negating, nullifying, or blocking The Flow—his near-precognitive technique. Yet never had he faced someone who went a step beyond that, someone who actually tricked it, feeding it false predictions.
But there was no time to dwell on the startling implications. The Supreme Neo-Demon, an entity whose very presence roiled the atmosphere, had already closed the distance. His fist, wreathed in flickering white lightning, came rushing toward the Scarlet King. Instinct fused with discipline: the Power of Order coursed through the Scarlet King's soul, burning away distraction, pressing any shock or surprise into a hidden corner of his mind. This was survival at its rawest!
