The balance did not hold.
It broke again.
The creature moved first.
Fast.
A precise strike aimed directly at Xu Tian's center.
Xu Tian reacted instantly.
Their arms collided.
A sharp impact echoed through the narrow ruins.
The force spread outward.
This time-
Xu Tian stepped back.
Two steps.
More than before.
The difference was clear.
"…Stronger than expected."
The creature did not pause.
It followed immediately.
Another strike.
Then another.
Each one controlled.
Each one measured.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Block.
Turn.
Redirect.
But the pressure increased.
The space around him was limited.
Broken walls.
Uneven ground.
No room for wide movement.
"…Restricted."
The creature used it.
Its strikes guided him backward.
Forcing him toward a collapsed section.
Xu Tian noticed.
"…It's controlling positioning."
Not just attacking.
Thinking.
The next strike came.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Breaking the angle.
Their arms collided again.
A heavier impact echoed.
This time-
Neither moved.
For a moment.
Then-
The creature adjusted.
Its arm shifted mid-contact.
Its second strike came instantly.
Xu Tian reacted-
Late.
The impact hit his side.
Not full.
But enough.
His body shifted.
Half a step.
The difference widened.
The creature pressed forward.
Relentless.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing slowed.
His focus sharpened.
"…Good."
This was no longer a simple fight.
This was pressure.
Real pressure.
The creature attacked again.
A sequence.
Three strikes.
Each one faster than the last.
Xu Tian moved.
Avoided one.
Blocked another.
Redirected the third.
But the force still pushed him back.
The ground beneath his feet shifted.
Loose stone sliding.
"…Unstable footing."
The creature advanced.
Maintaining distance.
Maintaining control.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed.
"…Not letting me close in."
The next attack came.
Xu Tian stepped forward anyway.
Forcing the clash.
Their strikes collided.
A loud impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian held his ground.
The creature paused.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
And moved.
His counter landed.
Clean.
The creature stepped back.
One step.
Then stabilized.
Not broken.
Not shaken.
But affected.
Xu Tian pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
The creature blocked.
But its stance shifted.
The balance tilted.
For a moment-
Xu Tian gained control.
But it didn't last.
The creature adjusted again.
Faster this time.
Its next movement changed direction mid-motion.
Xu Tian reacted.
Barely.
The strike grazed his shoulder.
His sleeve tore further.
The difference returned.
"…Too fast."
The creature attacked again.
Relentless.
Xu Tian moved.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
But the pressure continued to build.
Each exchange pushed him slightly off balance.
The margin grew smaller.
"…Need to break it."
The energy inside him surged.
Not outward.
Inward.
Condensing.
Aligning.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Not retreating.
Their strikes collided again.
A stronger impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian didn't move.
The creature paused.
Its glowing eyes flickered.
A small delay.
Xu Tian saw it.
"…There."
He moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
His strike landed.
The creature staggered back.
Two steps.
Cracks spread across its body.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
The creature blocked.
But the cracks widened.
The balance shifted again.
This time-
More clearly.
The creature reacted.
Adjusting.
Trying to regain control.
But slower now.
Xu Tian stepped in.
Closing the distance completely.
The space tightened.
The creature's advantage decreased.
Their next clash came.
Harder.
Sharper.
Xu Tian's strike landed again.
A deeper crack formed.
The creature staggered.
Its movements-
Less stable.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
"…Now."
He moved again.
No hesitation.
His next strike-
Clean.
Direct.
The creature's body froze.
For a moment.
Then-
It moved again.
But weaker.
Slower.
Its final attack came.
Still controlled.
But lacking force.
Xu Tian stepped inside it.
His movement precise.
His strike-
Final.
The impact echoed through the ruins.
The creature's body cracked completely.
Then shattered.
Fragments falling to the ground.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Complete.
Xu Tian stood still.
Watching.
"…So even this level…"
He exhaled slowly.
The energy inside him settled.
Stronger.
More refined.
More stable.
He adjusted the children in his arms.
The boy remained asleep.
Unaware.
The girl's grip relaxed slightly.
But her eyes still watched the ruins.
Xu Tian looked ahead.
Deeper into the broken structures.
The darkness remained.
Still.
Waiting.
Because this-
Was not the end.
Only the entrance.