The three charged at each other with unstoppable speed.
Narvik raised his hand, freezing the wind around him, and a sharp wave of ice shot toward Qiandu. At the same moment, Baran launched a bolt of lightning from his spear. Ice and lightning merged into a single devastating attack aimed at their opponent.
Qiandu smiled calmly, then stomped lightly on the ground with the poise of an experienced warrior. Rocks surged upward, forming a solid wall that completely blocked Baran and Narvik's assault.
Narvik vanished like a gust swept away by the wind, reappearing beside Qiandu and swinging his frozen sword toward his neck. But before the blade struck, Qiandu encased his arm in stone and blocked it with a hardened fist. Shards of ice exploded into the air as cracks formed across the rocky arm. Qiandu withdrew his arm, then thrust it forward with violent force, sending Narvik flying.
Narvik landed beside Baran and whispered,
"The rocks… he keeps regenerating them. We need to find his weakness."
Baran didn't wait. Lightning engulfed his body as he ascended into the sky, gathering thunder above him before unleashing it all upon Qiandu. Qiandu lifted his stone-covered arm to take the hit, while Baran descended with his spear, thrusting forward—only for Qiandu to deflect it with his other arm.
Narvik appeared behind him, sword raised.
"This is my chance… I won't waste it."
But before he struck, the ground trembled. A violent shockwave burst from Qiandu's body, hurling both opponents backward as nearby buildings shattered. Qiandu looked at them coldly.
"You're strong… yet I've never heard your names. Unranked, I assume."
Then he muttered cryptic words:
"The last pillars of the labyrinth…"
Stone pillars erupted from the ground, evenly spaced around the square. Two pillars rose beneath Baran and Narvik, forcing Baran to leap left and Narvik to the right.
Baran dashed between pillars.
"This is a technique of the Existence Level… everyone who reaches it gains a unique ability. And this is his."
He kept running, but confusion struck him.
"Am I running in circles?… These pillars don't end."
Suddenly, Qiandu appeared before him and punched him with a stone fist at terrifying speed. Baran doubled over from the blow and hit the ground, coughing blood. Qiandu kicked him, launching him into a pillar.
"Now for the one with the sky-blue hair," he said coldly before disappearing.
He reappeared atop one of the pillars, watching Narvik. But Narvik didn't move, as if waiting for him. Qiandu lunged—yet Narvik vanished at the last second.
"He disappeared?! How did he sense me?!" Qiandu muttered, shocked.
He looked down to find ice creeping up his legs. He struggled, but something suppressed his strength. Narvik appeared behind him—Baran in front. Qiandu's eyes twitched in disbelief.
Narvik gripped his sword.
"Radiant Bow!"
Baran raised his spear of black lightning.
"Black Lightning Dragon Strike!"
The combined attacks struck Qiandu, releasing a massive wave of energy. The pillars, however, remained unscathed.
Narvik and Baran exchanged a glance, recalling Jessur's words:
"Qiandu's strongest technique is the Last Maze Pillars. Within them, his speed becomes superhuman, and he always knows the location of his opponents."
"That's true," Baran said. "But stopping it needs a plan."
They discussed it for half an hour before Baran suggested:
"When he activates the technique… we split up."
Narvik frowned.
"That's not a plan."
Baran continued,
"When he hits me, I'll leave a trace of lightning on you too. When he gets close to you, the lightning will react—we'll know exactly where he is."
Narvik hesitated.
"And if I get too close to him?"
"I'll control the lightning," Baran replied.
And so, the battle continued inside Qiandu's most powerful technique.
Smoke filled the square. A moment later, Qiandu emerged from the dust—blood dripping from his head and back. He looked at them and said:
"So Jessur told you everything… didn't he?"
They stayed silent. Qiandu burst into hysterical laughter, then suddenly stopped.
"Skill Transformation."
The entire city shook. Rocks and debris floated upward, gathering behind him—forming a colossal golem. It opened glowing red eyes.
"Now… it's two against two," Qiandu murmured.
Before anyone moved, a third voice echoed:
"No… it's three against two."
Diasso—the man with the falcon feathers—stood atop a pillar. He leapt down to join Baran and Narvik.
Narvik smirked.
"So… you're the spy."
"That's right," Diasso replied. "Who takes the golem—and who takes Qiandu?"
Qiandu shouted angrily,
"Diasso?! I'm allied with your father! What will Diako say when he hears of this betrayal?!"
Diasso didn't answer. Wings spread from his back.
"Predatory Falcon Feather Barrage!"
Hundreds of razor-sharp feathers shot toward Qiandu.
Qiandu glanced at the golem. The giant raised its hand to block the feathers, then struck the ground lightly—yet the entire battlefield cracked.
Everyone froze—even Qiandu.
Then suddenly… the ground collapsed.
All of them fell—except Diasso, who hovered above.
He looked down and saw the earth split wide open, revealing a vast network of enormous caves beneath the city.