The air grew heavy.
Not with noise.
Not with chaos.
But with pressure.
Real pressure.
The kind that made breathing feel slow… thick… difficult.
Lin Feng stood still, watching his opponent.
For the first time since entering Blackstone City—
He felt it clearly.
A wall.
The Weight of Mastery
The man didn't move immediately.
He simply stood there.
Calm.
Collected.
Unshaken.
But the space around him seemed to bend slightly, like his presence alone was enough to alter the flow of everything nearby.
"You've done well to reach this point," he said.
His voice wasn't mocking.
It wasn't arrogant.
It was… factual.
"But this is where it ends."
The Shift
He stepped forward.
Just one step.
And the pressure doubled.
Lin Feng's instincts screamed.
Move.
Now.
The Attack You Can't See
The man vanished.
Not like before.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just—
Gone.
Lin Feng's pupils shrank.
"…Where—"
Too late.
Impact
A palm struck his chest.
Clean.
Direct.
Unavoidable.
BOOOOOOM!
Lin Feng's body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing across the arena floor and crashing into the far wall with a deafening explosion.
Stone shattered.
Dust exploded outward.
The crowd gasped.
Down… But Not Out
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
Then—
A hand pressed against the rubble.
Lin Feng pushed himself up slowly.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing was heavier now.
"…Yeah."
"That's different."
Pain and Clarity
His entire body screamed.
Every muscle.
Every bone.
But his mind—
Was clear.
Sharper than ever.
He's not just stronger…
He controls everything.
Distance.
Timing.
Impact.
Everything.
The Titan Core Responds
Deep within his chest—
The Titan Core pulsed violently.
Not calmly.
Not steadily.
But wildly.
Like something inside it was trying to break free.
A heat spread through his body.
Stronger than before.
More unstable.
The Man Approaches
"You can still stand," the man said as he walked forward slowly.
"Impressive."
Lin Feng wiped the blood from his lips.
"…You talk too much."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…And you talk too little."
Round Two
Lin Feng stepped forward.
Not rushing.
Not reckless.
But—
Determined.
He moved again.
Faster than before.
More focused.
His fist shot forward.
Still Not Enough
Blocked.
Again.
Effortlessly.
The man's expression didn't change.
Breaking Point
Lin Feng stepped back.
His breathing heavier now.
His body reaching its limit.
This isn't enough…
I need more.
The Core Erupts
Suddenly—
The Titan Core exploded with energy.
A violent surge ripped through his entire body.
His vision flickered for a split second.
Then—
Everything sharpened.
Something New
It wasn't the same as before.
Not exactly.
This power—
Was deeper.
More raw.
More dangerous.
His muscles tightened.
His aura thickened.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly under the pressure.
A New State
Lin Feng slowly lifted his head.
His eyes—
Now carried a faint golden glow again.
But this time—
There was something else in them.
Intensity.
Weight.
Control.
The Man Notices
For the first time—
The opponent's expression shifted.
Not shock.
Not fear.
But—
Interest.
"…There it is."
No Words Needed
Lin Feng didn't speak.
Didn't joke.
Didn't smile.
He simply stepped forward.
The Clash Changes
They collided again.
But this time—
It was different.
Impact
BOOM!
The sound was louder.
Heavier.
Stronger.
The man's arm—
Moved.
Slightly.
The First Crack
The crowd saw it.
They felt it.
Something had changed.
"He moved him!"
"Did you see that?!"
Momentum Returns
Lin Feng pressed forward.
Strike after strike.
Each one heavier than before.
Each one more controlled.
More precise.
More refined.
Equal Exchange
For the first time—
They stood on equal ground.
No one dominating.
No one overwhelmed.
Just—
Pure combat.
Pushing Further
The man countered.
Stronger now.
More serious.
But Lin Feng matched him.
Blow for blow.
Step for step.
The Limit Break
Inside—
The Titan Core roared.
Not struggling.
Not resisting.
But—
Synchronizing.
Lin Feng felt it.
That barrier.
That invisible wall.
Cracking.
Final Exchange Begins
Both of them stepped back slightly.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked.
No distractions.
No hesitation.
Everything came down to this.
One Strike Each
They moved.
At the same time.
Everything behind one final attack.
The Collision
Lin Feng's fist surged forward.
The man's palm met it.
Silence
For one second—
Everything stopped.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The explosion shook the entire arena.
The ground collapsed.
The air split.
The crowd screamed.
Aftermath
Dust filled the arena.
No one could see.
No one moved.
Cliffhanger
Slowly—
The dust began to settle.
A figure stood.
Barely.
Unclear.
Uncertain.
But standing.
The question remained—
Who?