The footsteps did not stop.
They grew closer.
Slow.
Heavy.
Each step carried weight.
Not just sound-
Presence.
Xu Tian turned fully.
His gaze steady.
Focused.
From the shadows-
It emerged.
Not like the others.
Not twisted.
Not unstable.
Its form was taller.
More defined.
Its body still dark.
Still rough.
But structured.
Complete.
Its movements-
Controlled.
Deliberate.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed.
"…Different level."
The creature stepped into the open space.
The air shifted immediately.
Heavier.
Denser.
The pillar behind Xu Tian seemed to react.
Faintly.
A subtle vibration.
As if responding to its presence.
"…So this is connected."
The creature stopped.
A few steps away.
Its glowing eyes fixed on Xu Tian.
Not wild.
Not instinctive.
Aware.
Xu Tian remained still.
"…It's guarding this place."
The silence deepened.
The creature did not attack immediately.
It observed.
Just like him.
Then-
It moved.
Fast.
Faster than the others.
A direct strike.
Clean.
Precise.
Xu Tian reacted.
Their arms collided.
A heavy impact echoed through the ruins.
The force spread outward.
This time-
Xu Tian stepped back.
Two steps.
The difference was immediate.
"…Stronger."
The creature didn't stop.
It followed.
Another strike.
Then another.
Each one controlled.
Each one deliberate.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Block.
Turn.
Redirect.
But the pressure increased.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Calculated.
The creature shifted its angle.
Cutting off space.
Forcing him away from the pillar.
Xu Tian noticed.
"…Protecting it."
The next strike came.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Breaking the direction.
Their arms collided again.
A sharper impact echoed.
This time-
Neither moved.
For a moment.
Then-
The creature adjusted.
Its next movement changed instantly.
Faster.
Xu Tian reacted-
Late.
The strike brushed past his side.
Closer than before.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
The energy inside him moved.
Faster.
Clearer.
"…Good."
He stepped forward again.
This time-
He attacked first.
A direct strike.
The creature blocked.
But its stance shifted slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
And pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
The creature stepped back.
One step.
Then stabilized.
Its movements tightened.
More focused.
The next exchange came.
Faster.
Sharper.
More intense.
Their strikes collided repeatedly.
The sound echoed across the ruins.
Xu Tian felt it clearly.
"…Not enough."
The creature adapted.
Quickly.
Its next attack changed mid-motion.
Xu Tian reacted.
Blocked.
But the force pushed him back.
One step.
Then another.
The difference returned.
The creature advanced.
Relentless.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing slowed.
His focus sharpened.
"…This isn't like before."
Not just strength.
Not just adaptation.
This-
Was control.
The creature attacked again.
A sequence.
Three strikes.
Each one faster.
Xu Tian moved.
Avoided one.
Blocked another.
Redirected the third.
But the pressure continued.
The space tightened.
The ruins closed around them.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Not retreating.
Their strikes collided again.
A stronger impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian held his ground.
The creature paused.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
"…There."
He moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
His strike landed.
The creature stepped back.
One step.
Then two.
For the first time-
Clearly.
It had been pushed.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
The creature blocked.
But its stance shifted again.
The balance-
Began to change.
But not completely.
Because this time-
His opponent was not just reacting.
It was preparing.
And the real fight-
Had only just begun.