As Jiang Chen, Bai Muchen, and Xiao Dong stepped onto the Ninth Floor, an overwhelming sense of danger settled over them.
The air was thick with bloodlust, a pressure unlike anything they had felt before. It was not the mindless killing intent of a beast, nor the lingering echoes of a battlefield.
This was different.
This was calculated, measured, and absolute—the aura of an existence that had reigned over countless battles.
Jiang Chen's golden-amber eyes flickered as he scanned the battlefield.
A massive arena of shattered stone stretched before them, surrounded by the ruins of a once-great citadel. The sky was shrouded in dark storm clouds, flashing with faint streaks of black lightning.
And at the very center of the arena—
A figure sat upon a throne of bones.
It was not a ghost.
Nor was it a beast.
It was a man—or what was left of one.
His body was covered in ancient, battle-worn armor, the once-golden metal now blackened with the stains of time and blood. A long, jagged sword rested across his lap, its edge dull yet radiating the presence of countless slain enemies.
His eyes burned with ethereal fire, flickering like dying embers.
A warlord who had never fallen in battle.
Until now.
The figure slowly lifted his gaze, locking onto them.
"You have come far," he said, his voice a deep, resonating thunder, as if his words carried the weight of a thousand past wars. "But I wonder… will you fall here, like all the others?"
He stood.
BOOOOOOM!
The sheer force of his movement caused the ground to shatter beneath his feet, cracks spreading outward like the scars of ancient battlefields.
Jiang Chen's pulse quickened. This was no ordinary foe.
This was a true warrior.
Bai Muchen clenched his fists, his Titanblood Physique surging with power. "Who the hell is this guy?"
The figure placed a hand on his blade, his grip firm but casual, as if he had wielded it for an eternity.
"I am the Eternal Conqueror."
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed. That name…
A legendary title.
One that only the strongest warlords, the greatest battlefield sovereigns, had ever dared to claim.
The Eternal Conqueror smirked. "You may call me Erathion. But that name no longer matters. The only thing that matters… is whether you will survive."
Then—
He moved.
And time itself seemed to slow.
BOOOOOOOM!
In an instant, Erathion was upon them.
His massive blade cleaved downward, its arc tearing through the air like a guillotine meant to end their existence.
Jiang Chen vanished.
Xiao Dong ducked.
Bai Muchen roared, meeting the strike head-on.
CRAAAAAAAAASH!
The impact sent shockwaves through the entire battlefield.
Bai Muchen's arms trembled, his feet sinking into the stone floor as he held back the monstrous force with pure brute strength.
"Shit—he's strong!" Bai Muchen growled, his muscles bulging as cracks formed beneath him.
Xiao Dong flashed forward, his Madstorm Qi spiraling around his fists. "Then let's see how much punishment he can take!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A barrage of blows rained upon Erathion—each fist backed by hundreds of battles worth of experience, each strike aimed at a weak point.
But—
CLANG!
His armor did not break.
Xiao Dong's fists struck like meteors—yet the Conqueror barely flinched.
A deep chuckle rumbled from Erathion's chest.
"You are relentless," he said, his sword flashing like a shadowed sun. "But persistence alone does not grant victory."
His blade twisted—
And Xiao Dong was sent flying.
BOOOOOOOM!
Xiao Dong crashed into a nearby ruin, his body breaking through multiple stone walls.
Jiang Chen's Starshadow Body activated instantly, his form flickering as he appeared behind Erathion in an instant.
His spear twisted with Chaotic Qi, space itself bending around its blade.
"CHAOTIC SPEAR STRIKE!"
SHIIIIIING!
The moment his spear connected—
A massive explosion tore through the air.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A vortex of destruction erupted from the impact, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
And yet—
Erathion was already gone.
Jiang Chen's eyes widened. "What—?!"
A whisper of wind.
A flicker of movement.
Then—
PAIN.
CRACK!
Jiang Chen barely managed to twist his body, but Erathion's sword still carved across his chest, a shallow yet devastating wound opening instantly.
Blood splattered the battlefield.
Jiang Chen gritted his teeth, staggering backward. His Chaos Qi surged to mend the wound, but the pain still burned.
Erathion's eyes glowed with intrigue.
"You are interesting," he mused. "Your movement is… unlike anything I have seen."
His gaze lingered on Jiang Chen's Starshadow Body, the ethereal glow surrounding him.
"Your physique… a celestial alignment with space and darkness?"
Then—his expression changed.
A flicker of something deeper passed through his gaze.
"…No. This is different."
Jiang Chen's Chaos Qi pulsed violently.
And Erathion stared.
"…What are you?"
His voice held no mockery.
Only genuine curiosity.
Jiang Chen wiped the blood from his lips. "I'm the guy who's going to kill you."
Erathion grinned.
"Then come, child of chaos."
Jiang Chen's eyes went wide. He had the feeling that this bastard knew something. Something about his chaos seed. His eyes shone with desire and battle intent. He would beat it out of Erathion if he had to.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!" Jiang Chen yelled.
Erathion, seemingly uncaring, completely ignored him.
And he moved again.
The fight became a storm of pure violence.
Bai Muchen and Xiao Dong rejoined the battle, launching relentless attacks from every direction.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fists clashed with ancient steel.
Spears bent space and time.
Qi erupted like cascading stars.
But Erathion was unrelenting.
Every attack they threw—he countered.
Every technique they unleashed—he absorbed.
Their strongest blows barely left marks on his body.
And yet—
They were learning.
Their movements became sharper.
Their synergy became flawless.
They were no longer three warriors fighting separately.
They were a unit.
For the first time since entering the Temple—
They weren't just surviving.
They were fighting as one.
Blood dripped from Jiang Chen's lip. Bai Muchen's arms were bruised and battered. Xiao Dong's knuckles were bleeding freely.
But they stood.
They had no choice.
Erathion raised his sword, preparing his final strike.
"This is your last chance," he warned. "Show me if you are worthy to ascend."
Jiang Chen smirked through the pain.
"Fine."
"Let's end this."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Three warriors, one final attack.
Would they conquer the floor?
Or would they fall like the rest?