The battle between Zephyr Kane and the Eternal Veil Syndicate representative had escalated into a nightmare that was devouring the city district.

Shockwaves continued to ripple outward with every collision. Buildings that had survived the initial impacts now groaned and collapsed in slow motion, floors pancaking down into streets already choked with rubble and bodies. Fires raged unchecked. The night sky was lit by explosions of Qi and the red glow of destruction. Thousands were already dead — crushed under falling debris, killed by stray pressure waves, or simply torn apart by the raw force being unleashed. Those still alive fled in blind panic, screaming as the ground shook beneath their feet.

Zephyr Kane moved like a force of nature.

He laughed wildly as he pressed his attack, his silver eyes glowing with pure madness and joy. Every punch, every kick carried enough power to level city blocks. The representative was no weakling — he blocked and countered with dark, swirling Qi techniques that tore through the air like black serpents — but Zephyr was clearly faster, stronger, and far more ruthless. He danced through the representative’s attacks, landing heavy blows that sent the Syndicate leader skidding backward again and again, carving deep trenches into the reinforced streets.

Lian and Elara watched from a distant but still dangerously close rooftop, crouched low behind a crumbling parapet. Lian’s blue void eyes were locked on the fight, unblinking. He absorbed every movement, every clash, every display of overwhelming strength. This was what he craved. This level of power.

Zephyr Kane suddenly leaped backward, creating distance between himself and the representative. His grin widened as he reached behind his back and drew his weapon for the first time that night.

The blade was pitch black.

So dark it seemed to swallow light itself. The moment it left its sheath, the surrounding area grew noticeably dimmer, as if the sword drank in the neon glow of the city and the light from fires. The edge was razor thin, yet it felt ancient and alive — a void given form. Runes faintly pulsed along its length like dying stars.

Zephyr Kane held the sword casually in one hand, laughing softly.

Then he swung it.

A simple, vertical slash — from high above his head down to the ground.

Black sword Qi erupted outward in a devastating crescent wave.

The representative’s eyes widened. He ducked down instantly, dropping low to the ruined street as the black slash passed just above him.

Everything behind him was cut in half.

The ground split open in a perfectly clean line that stretched for hundreds of meters. Reinforced Grade E buildings that had survived earlier destruction were sliced neatly through the middle — floors, walls, support beams, everything severed as though they were made of paper. The upper halves of the structures hung suspended for a brief moment before slowly tilting and crashing down in a thunderous roar. Streets, vehicles, fleeing civilians, everything in the path of that black sword Qi was cut cleanly in two. Blood sprayed into the air as people were bisected without warning. The destruction was absolute and terrifying in its precision.

Lian stared, completely stunned.

To everyone else watching from afar, it was a bloody, horrifying scene of carnage. But to Lian, it was something else entirely.

It was absolute power

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): Firt Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders