The answer is that when Malchut of Adam Kadmon becomes Atik, it also stands level with the branches inasmuch as MaH and BaN are joined together in Atik, and they are branches, as explained earlier. (In other words, Malchut of Adam Kadmon in terms of its role in governing Atzilut – which is why it clothes itself in Arich Anpin – becomes the Partzuf of Atik. In this role it too is built of MaH and BaN, which are radiations from Adam Kadmon, even though as Malchut of Adam Kadmon it is in the category of Adam Kadmon. The difficulty may also be resolved in the light of the teaching in Etz Chayim, Shaar 3, Seder Atzilut that only sparks of Malchut of Adam Kadmon are clothed in Atzilut.)