The air thickened the instant the First King spoke, as if the domain itself responded to his voice.
"I can transform into all my versions in this domain. You are not capable of fighting me in the Transcendent Realm," he said calmly.
"This is my form from when I was in the Sword Saint realm. First, defeat me here. Then we move on."
The First King's aura flared outward, pressing against the very air, sharp and heavy. The domain trembled faintly under his unwavering intent.
Leo tightened his grip and stepped forward.
His own aura rise to meet the pressure, colliding silently with the King's presence.
The First King vanished without warning. There was no ripple, no sign.
In the next instant, a sword flashed across Leo's vision. The world spun violently as a sharp, freezing sensation tore through his neck.
His sight collapsed, sound vanished, and darkness swallowed him before he could react.
Then he returned.
His body stood whole and breathing, head firmly in place, as if nothing had happened.
His grip on the sword was steady, his balance untouched. Only the fading echo of that severing sensation remained, burned into his awareness.
The First King appeared a short distance away, sword resting at his side.
"You will not die here," he said. "You are a bold one—but weak. I am not even using half my strength."
Leo met his gaze and attacked.
He advanced without hesitation. Every strike he delivered was answered the same way—a flash of steel, his body cleaved apart, then restored instantly. Again and again it happened.
Swords collided, dust and sparks erupted, yet Leo never faltered.
Each time he returned, his stance was flawless. His movements remained precise, fluid, relentless. His focus never broke.
"System," Leo called.
The system appeared instantly.
"Scan him," he ordered.
"I can only scan a living person," it replied.
Leo glanced at the First King.
"Then tell me—am I still limited? Or can I access more of my power?"
"You are still limited," the system answered.
"However, you may temporarily unlock fifty percent of your power for two minutes.
Warning: extremely dangerous in your current condition."
Leo grinned, anticipation burning in his eyes. "Activate it."
The system complied. A countdown began.
Mana erupted from deep within him, surging violently through his veins. Strength, speed, and perception sharpened at once. His aura exploded outward like a living storm, twisting the space around him.
In a blink, Leo appeared behind the First King and slashed.
The King stopped it effortlessly, pushing Leo back. "Not bad," he said. Then he raised his sword. "So this is your full strength. I will use thirty percent."
A terrifying pressure poured from his sword. His sword transformed into pure aura. With a single swing, the battlefield shook.
Shockwaves ripped through the ground, stone shattering apart.
Leo met it head-on.
The earth cracked beneath his feet. His bones rattled, but his stance held firm. He did not retreat. His eyes burned with calm resolve as he endured the strike without flinching.
Smoke and debris swallowed the battlefield.
When it cleared, Leo still stood. Blood trickled from his mouth. His sword lay snapped in two at his feet. Yet his posture remained perfect.
"One more time," he said.
The First King laughed sharply. "Interesting. Very interesting."
The system countdown reached zero. A sharp pain tore through Leo's muscles, stretching his body beyond its limits.
He dropped to one knee, absorbing the strain in silence.
Every fiber of his body adapted under the pressure. When he rose again, he was intact—unbroken, movements controlled, breathing steady.
"You tried to surpass your limits with a weak body," the First King said, approaching.
"Sit. Control your mana flow."
Leo obeyed.
Mana circulated through him, reinforcing muscles, strengthening bones, stabilizing the strain. The system appeared beside him, its interface glowing.
"Activating healing," it said.
The broken pressure eased, and his body began to recover. Slowly, he felt his mana flow correctly again, and his wounds and strain healed steadily.
After some minutes, he had healed completely.
When he stood, his stance was steady. Unwavering.
"One more time," Leo said.
The First King studied him for a long moment. A faint smile crossed his face.
"You're persistent, boy. First, stabilize yourself completely. To surpass me, you must master strength itself."
"So what you need to do now is strengthen your body."
The space around them trembled. Reality rippled. Light swallowed everything.
When Leo opened his eyes, the domain had changed. The enclosed space was gone, replaced by an endless field like the first test. This time, there were no shadows.
At the center stood a massive stone—ancient, smooth, untouched by time. Dust swirled faintly around it, yet its presence felt absolute.
"This is your next trial," the First King said calmly. He gestured toward the stone.
"Break it."
Leo stared at the stone, then glanced down at the broken remains of his sword. A dry, humorless laugh escaped him.
"My sword is destroyed," he said. "So how am I supposed to do that?"
"You will not use a weapon," the First King replied.
Leo's grin widened slightly. "With my fists?" he asked, a trace of humor in his voice, though his resolve was firm.
"Yes," the King said. "Only raw strength and resolve will complete this trial."
Silence stretched between them. The wind whispered across the endless field, carrying no threat—only challenge.
Leo stepped forward.