Dust still hung in the air.
The ground between us was shattered, a wide crater marking the point where our attacks had collided.
General Huo stood across from me, spear in hand, aura burning like a raging furnace.
Behind him, the Iron Banner Legion remained perfectly still.
Hundreds of soldiers.
Watching.
Waiting.
The system panel hovered in my vision.
[DING!]
High Commander engagement ongoing.
Opponent power: Superior.
Adaptive Growth Overdrive: Active.
Power increasing…
Heat surged through my muscles.
My aura thickened.
Every second under this pressure made me stronger.
General Huo noticed.
His lips curved into a sharp grin.
"So it's true," he said.
"You feed off battle."
I didn't respond.
There was no point.
Only the fight mattered.
He moved first.
His spear cut through the air like lightning.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
Our weapons collided again.
The impact sent shockwaves across the plain.
Several soldiers staggered despite the distance.
General Huo pressed forward, unleashing a barrage of spear strikes.
Each one precise.
Each one deadly.
I dodged, blocked, and countered.
Shadow Step activated repeatedly.
The world blurred around me.
Left.
Right.
Behind him.
My fists struck like thunder.
Some landed.
Most were deflected.
But every exchange pushed me higher.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
High-intensity combat detected.
Growth acceleration active.
Power +12
Power +15
Power +19
My aura surged.
The ground beneath my feet cracked.
General Huo's eyes narrowed.
"You're getting stronger," he muttered.
He suddenly changed his stance.
The air around his spear grew heavier.
Darker.
More dangerous.
"I've crushed dozens of rising talents," he said.
"They all thought they were special."
He raised his spear.
"None of them survived."
Energy gathered at the spear's tip.
The pressure alone made the air tremble.
The system flashed red.
[DING!]
High Commander finishing technique detected.
Survival probability: 28%
Extreme Domination condition available.
I smiled faintly.
"Good," I said.
He lunged.
The spear shot forward like a meteor.
I stepped into it.
Shadow Step.
The world flickered.
I reappeared just inside his guard.
My fist drove toward his chest.
Our attacks collided at point-blank range.
Explosion.
The ground shattered beneath us.
Dust swallowed the battlefield again.
When the dust cleared, both of us stood several meters apart.
But this time—
Blood trickled from General Huo's lip.
His eyes widened.
Just slightly.
Impossible.
I rolled my shoulders.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Extreme Domination exchange successful.
Power +27.
Rank threshold approaching.
My aura flared brighter.
Stronger.
Heavier.
The legion behind him stirred uneasily.
General Huo wiped the blood from his mouth.
Then—
He laughed.
A deep, booming laugh.
"Good," he said.
"Very good."
He raised his spear again.
"This is the first time in years I've had to use this."
The ground around him cracked.
His aura surged violently.
Even his own soldiers stepped back.
The system chimed urgently.
[DING!]
High Commander power spike detected.
New state: War Overdrive.
Threat Level: Catastrophic.
I smiled.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
He charged.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
His spear descended like a falling star.
I raised my arm.
Impact.
The shockwave flattened the nearby grasslands.
My feet sank deep into the ground.
Pain shot through my bones.
Real damage.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Severe impact detected.
Adaptive growth surge.
Power +34.
Heat exploded through my body.
My aura roared outward.
General Huo's eyes widened.
"What…?"
I stepped forward.
My fist struck his ribs.
A deep crack echoed.
He staggered.
For the first time—
The High Commander lost ground.
The legion erupted into whispers.
"The general stepped back!"
"That's impossible!"
"He's forcing the general back!"
General Huo roared and swung his spear again.
I dodged.
Shadow Step.
I appeared above him.
My heel crashed down.
He blocked with his spear.
The impact still forced him to one knee.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
A High Commander—
Kneeling.
Even if only for a second.
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
Extreme Domination event in progress.
Victory condition approaching.
Power +22.
Rank threshold imminent.
General Huo forced himself up.
His breathing grew heavier.
His grin returned.
"You really are a monster," he said.
I didn't answer.
I stepped forward.
He stepped forward.
Both of us moved at the same time.
Our final clash erupted in the center of the battlefield.
Fist.
Spear.
Power.
Domination.
Everything collided at once.
The world exploded.
Dust swallowed the plain.
The legion held its breath.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
When the dust finally settled—
One figure remained standing.
Me.
General Huo knelt in the crater.
His spear had fallen from his hand.
Blood covered his armor.
He looked up at me.
Not with hatred.
Not with anger.
With respect.
"…So this is your strength," he muttered.
I stepped closer.
He didn't resist.
He couldn't.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
High Commander defeated.
Regional war outcome: Victory.
Rewards processing…
Power +45.
Rank advancement triggered.
My aura surged.
The air trembled.
But this time—
I didn't step on him.
I simply looked down.
"This region," I said calmly,
"belongs to me now."
General Huo closed his eyes.
"…Then rule it well," he muttered.
And collapsed.
The legion stood frozen.
Hundreds of soldiers.
Without a leader.
Without orders.
Without hope.
I turned to face them.
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
"Leave," I said calmly.
No one argued.
No one resisted.
They lowered their weapons.
And retreated.
The system pulsed one last time.
[DING!]
Regional Authority: Established.
New status unlocked:
Rising Regional Tyrant
Next Arc Initiated:
Capital-Level Conflict Phase.
I looked toward the distant horizon.
A bigger world waited.
Stronger enemies.
Greater battles.
And this time—
I was ready for them.