Hearing the shout, Van immediately ducked. At the same time, the hole in the Witch’s palm vibrated, and her attack began. Dozens of dark spikes spread out in a fan shape. The dark spikes flew past Van’s lower back and slammed into the tree behind him with a series of heavy thuds. Upon impact, the spikes instantly shattered into sharp fragments and scattered. Without pausing to check the attack he had just dodged, Van seized the opening and unleashed his Sword Aura. Unable to conjure a barrier in time, the Witch pulled back, but the Sword Aura grazed her shoulder, leaving a shallow wound.