Chapter 27 - Fists and Fractures in the Void

The Domain was empty, a boundless black void scattered with cold stars. There was no ground, no sky, yet Khalid stood tall as if gravity itself bent for him. Every step he took sent ripples of faint light, like he was walking across the surface of a celestial lake. Silence cloaked everything, yet within that silence… horror was born.

The seventh level began with a deceiving quiet. There was no warning when eight figures materialized from nothingness, forming a perfect circle. Their towering bodies were covered in silver scales that shimmered with a dark glow. Their eyeless faces and ever-gaping mouths seemed to devour existence itself. They made no sound, yet a deep fear stabbed into Khalid's chest like their voices echoed directly through his bones.

He charged first. His twin scimitars slashed through the void like crescent moons tearing through the night. His movements were fast, circular, fluid killing was second nature. Dark blood-like fluid sprayed as monstrous bodies fell. But for every one that died, two more emerged from a swirling light that never dimmed. Attacks came at him from every direction. His body was wounded, his cloak torn, and his skin scorched by dark energy. Still, his footing never wavered.

Khalid roared not in pain, but in defiance as he leapt, spun, and sliced without hesitation. His blades danced through the void, carving streaks of light against the darkness. He endured, alone against dozens, fueled by nothing but will and steel. And when the final monster fell, he stood trembling, his body battered, his soul nearly torn apart.

In the distance, the portal to the eighth level pulsed like a heavenly eye, watching… waiting. But he had no strength left. His breath was heavy, blood dripped from his chin, and his knees trembled.

I can still go on... he thought. The stars around him continued to shine, uncaring of the life-and-death struggle below.

For the first time since entering this Domain, Khalid closed his eyes and the Domain ejected his consciousness back to his body before he could face the final monster.

Back in the real world, Khalid stretched out his arms, opening and closing his fists as if to confirm everything was intact.

It's like all the energy I used in the Domain never even existed, he thought.

He glanced at his score to confirm how far he'd made it.

[Khalid – Early Level 8]

"Tch… Just as expected from a Domain created by an Apostle," he muttered inwardly, annoyed for having thought that clearing the entire Domain would be easy for him.

"Your swordsmanship is good," Gaia commented, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "But it's your sword technique or rather, the grade of your martial arts that's lacking. If I had to classify it, I'd say it's only heaven-rank, upper tier."

"I'm surprised you can tell that, Gai," said Lin An, eyes widening slightly.

I could only figure that out thanks to the system.

For martial artists, simply learning a martial art isn't enough. Even someone with the greatest talent would struggle against a martial artist wielding a higher-tier technique.

Martial arts manuals are categorized into several ranks: Mortal, Earth, Heaven, Profound, Mystic, and Divine, with each rank divided into low, middle, and upper sub-tiers.

For example, the martial art of Ryu Ryeon the Supreme Heavenly Demon, which Gaia currently wields is classified as Divine Rank, Upper Level.

"Exactly," Gaia nodded casually in response to Lin An's comment.

"Wait… aren't you supposed to be a mage?" Elysia asked, frowning in confusion.

"Before asking that, you should remember who her teacher is," Luo Jin interjected.

Elysia blinked, clearly surprised as if she'd forgotten something basic.

"Still, wasn't General Jiang an exception because he could use an Ether Skill that let him wield both types of energy? Can you use Ether Skills too, Gai?"

"Nope. I can't cheat like that," Gaia answered nonchalantly. "It's complicated to explain, but you could just think of me as the same as... uh, General Jiang able to use both martial arts and magic."

Lin An and Luo Jin merely smiled, as if they had known all along. Elysia, meanwhile, fell silent, unable to find words.

As Khalid returned to his spot to rest, Luo Jin stepped forward and approached the test screen.

"Well then, I'll take the next turn," he said.

*

In the heart of the silent cosmic void, where the stars hung still in infinite blackness, Luo Jin stood tall. His gloved fists faintly pulsed with restrained lightning, glowing violet. Beneath his feet, there was no land, no stone yet he stood as if the invisible surface acknowledged his existence.

Using only his fists, legs, and body, Luo Jin deflected and evaded every attack. Simple and efficient. Just like Khalid, he cleared levels one through five effortlessly.

The real battle began at level six.

At this stage, both the number and strength of monsters increased drastically. Luo Jin, who had casually tanked their hits before, now started dodging with the least movement possible.

Though his strikes were still highly effective, the endless wave of monsters began to drain his energy at an alarming rate. He held his ground, alternating between dodging, attacking, and occasionally blocking, until he finally cleared the sixth level.

But barely two seconds passed before the seventh began.

Nine shadowy silhouettes emerged, eyes swirling like galactic whirlpools, whispering death in a language not meant for mortals.

Luo Jin didn't wait. In an instant Voidstep. He vanished.

He reappeared above the foremost creature's head and unleashed:

Fist of Tai Xuan!

A blast of white light pierced the darkness, reducing one monster to stardust. But they kept coming faster, smarter, hungrier. Breathing heavily, Luo Jin clenched his fists as his Qi from his Heavenly Battle Physique, an ancient body-refining technique said to forge warriors into living weapons erupted, cloaking his body in a golden-purple blaze...

He activated his ultimate technique:

Shadow Fist of Tai Xuan, a modified version of an ancient martial art known for merging philosophy with overwhelming power

His fists shot out like shadows outrunning light, striking in five directions at once. The impact formed a floating Tai Xuan symbol that shattered with an explosive burst of energy.

"Wow, what an amazing technique," Gaia said, clapping in admiration.

"You're right. He upgraded a divine middle-rank martial art into an upper-rank one," Lin An responded, visibly impressed.

Nearby, Elysia struggled with inner conflict. The person she saw as a rival now felt so far out of reach. But even more shocking Lin An and Gaia barely looked surprised, as if they could do the same… or more.

Am I the only one falling behind? Elysia clenched her fists.

From the side, Gaia cast her a brief glance before returning her gaze forward.

As the final creature of level seven fell, the black sky twisted and tore open. From its depths emerged a colossal, horned entity carrying the void itself as a weapon. Luo Jin was forced back, his knees hitting the invisible "ground." His qi began to fracture. His body trembled. He stared at the entity the eighth level.

He knew… this time, he wouldn't win.

But a thin smile crossed his lips.

If this is my end… then I'll give it everything I've got.

Luo Jin poured every last bit of energy into one point of his fist.

He charged, targeting the entity before it had fully materialized.

This was it. The last breath, the final push. His qi burned wildly now, threatening to burst from his very skin. Luo Jin channeled every drop of energy into his right arm.

"Tai Xuan Modification Art Shadow Fist of Tai Xuan!"

The void exploded with color as golden-purple light tore through the darkness. A single punch fueled by everything he had left rushed forward like judgment itself.

A brilliant purple-golden light blazed with his punch.

Moments later, his figure returned back to his original body.