The balance did not hold.
It shifted again.
The creature moved first.
Faster than before.
Its strike came down with precision.
Xu Tian reacted.
Their arms collided.
A heavy impact echoed through the ruins.
The force pushed outward.
This time-
Xu Tian slid back.
Two steps.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
"…Stronger again."
The creature did not pause.
It followed immediately.
Closing the distance.
Another strike.
Then another.
Each one sharper.
More controlled.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Block.
Turn.
Redirect.
But the pressure increased.
The margin grew smaller.
Each movement demanded more precision.
The creature's attacks came in sequences.
Not random.
Not instinctive.
Planned.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed.
"…It's reading me."
The next strike came.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Trying to break the rhythm.
Their arms collided.
A sharp impact echoed.
For a moment-
Neither moved.
Then-
The creature shifted.
Its next strike came from a different angle.
Faster.
Xu Tian reacted-
Late.
The impact hit his shoulder.
Not clean.
But heavy.
His body shifted.
Half a step.
The difference widened.
The creature pressed forward.
Relentless.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing slowed.
His focus deepened.
"…Not enough."
The energy inside him moved.
Faster.
Clearer.
But still-
Not fully aligned.
The creature attacked again.
A sequence.
Three strikes.
Each one heavier than the last.
Xu Tian moved.
Avoided one.
Blocked another.
Redirected the third.
But the force pushed him back again.
One step.
Then another.
The ruins limited his movement.
Broken walls.
Uneven ground.
No space to fully maneuver.
"…It's using the environment."
The creature advanced.
Cutting off angles.
Controlling distance.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
The next attack came.
He stepped forward.
Not retreating.
Their strikes collided again.
A louder impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian held his ground.
But only barely.
The creature adjusted instantly.
Its next strike came faster.
Sharper.
Xu Tian blocked.
But the impact forced him back.
The difference returned.
"…This won't work."
The creature continued.
Relentless.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
Each strike pushed him further.
Closer to the edge of the space.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing slowed further.
His focus narrowed.
"…Then I change."
The energy inside him shifted.
Not outward.
Inward.
Condensing.
Aligning.
The next attack came.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Their arms collided.
A strong impact echoed.
This time-
Xu Tian didn't move.
The creature paused.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
"…Now."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Cleaner.
More direct.
His strike landed.
The creature stepped back.
One step.
Then two.
Cracks formed along its surface.
But it didn't break.
It stabilized.
Faster than expected.
"…Still not enough."
The creature attacked again.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
Xu Tian reacted.
Blocked.
But the force pushed him back again.
The balance returned.
The pressure continued.
Relentless.
Unyielding.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
The energy inside him surged again.
Closer.
Closer than before.
But still-
Not fully there.
The creature moved again.
Its next strike came.
Faster than any before.
Xu Tian reacted.
Barely.
The impact brushed past him.
Close.
Too close.
The difference was clear.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing slowed to its limit.
His focus sharpened completely.
Because now-
He understood.
This wasn't a fight he could win slowly.
He needed to break through.
Now.
Or not at all.
The creature moved again.
Closing the distance.
Its final sequence began.
And this time-
There would be no room for error.