Caelum’s gaze remained fixed on the portal as it finally stabilized.

And from within it, emerged a massive warhorse followed by a knight seated upon it, whose very presence caused the surroundings to dim as if light itself was being suppressed by the overwhelming killing intent and dense dark energy radiating from him.

A faint laugh escaped Caelum.

"Haha... Asta."

At his call, Asta, the Divine Mystical Horse, manifested beside him, his arrival causing the surrounding mana to tremble slightly.

The Undead Knight observed him for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"A young knight? No... you are not a knight."

As soon as those words fell, a concentrated killing intent surged outward, directed entirely at Caelum, attempting to crush his will and presence.

The Undead paused, a hint of confusion surfacing. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Caelum remained completely unaffected.

Narrowing his gaze, the Undead Knight released a far more oppressive force, a Black Aura Burst that spread outward and suppressed everything in its vicinity, causing the air itself to grow heavy.

Caelum smirked slightly.

For the first time, he felt something resembling pressure, though even then it manifested only as a faint heaviness and a strange ticklish sensation across his body rather than anything truly overwhelming.

’So this is the pressure of a Master-level being... perhaps it is because of my physique,’ he thought, calmly analyzing the sensation.

With his [Boundless Warrior Physique] and fully opened energy channels, the flow of power within him felt as natural as water moving through an endless ocean, making it difficult for external forces to truly hinder him.

’I should study this further and perhaps even learn to reverse this kind of pressure,’ he thought, as nearly a full minute passed in silence while the two simply observed one another.

"You possess an exceptional physique," the Undead Knight finally remarked, his tone carrying a trace of acknowledgment as the warhorse beneath him let out a low, rumbling snort.

Moments later, the knight dismounted before driving his sword into the ground with such force that a tremor spread outward, shaking the area like a minor earthquake and finally drawing a small bead of sweat from Caelum.

’The difference in raw power is still significant...’

His opponent was clearly a Knight Lord, an existence equivalent to a Master and undeniably one full stage above him.

"Young man," the Undead continued, his aura beginning to condense and solidify around his armor like an additional protective layer.

"Although I have been ordered to kill everyone I encounter, I am willing to spare you if you can impress me further, because judging from your aura density, you have already reached the level of an Expert at such a young age, and had I still been alive, you would have made for an excellent disciple."

Caelum let out a small breath, his grip tightening around his weapon as blue Sword Qi gradually coated his blade.

"Damn, why are you creating so much suspense?" he replied, his tone carrying both impatience and excitement.

The Undead Knight tilted his head slightly as his senses focused more deeply on the energy surrounding Caelum’s weapon.

"Oh? This is not pure Sword Aura... it is something different altogether."

What he sensed was neither demonic nor divine, but rather an unfamiliar force born from the harmonious fusion of Qi and Aura within Caelum’s core, a unique manifestation that set him apart from conventional warriors.

His gaze sharpened as he analyzed the sword itself.

"As expected, this is a Hollow Manifestation. The weapon does not yet embody your principles, which makes it dangerous, but it is still not truly yours."

He straightened his posture and spoke with clarity.

"Child, my name is Grror. Let us have an honorable duel."

As he lifted his sword, a vast surge of black aura erupted outward, parting the sky itself and sending waves of pressure that reached even the upper levels of the dungeon, drawing the attention of everyone present.

At that exact moment, Asta released a deep, resonant snort, and for a brief instant his fur shimmered in a golden hue before returning to its original blue, a subtle transformation that went completely unnoticed by everyone present there.

"I, Caelum, accept your duel," Caelum declared, as he launched forward crossing a great distance in an instant.

Their weapons met with a thunderous impact, and the clash of their forces echoed throughout the dungeon.

***

’I can’t win this...’

That was the very first thought that surfaced in Caelum’s mind as his blade clashed against Grror’s.

From the very beginning, the difference was evident.

Grror’s control over aura, his experience, and the precision behind every movement were superior in every aspect, and that was without even considering the raw gap in their strength.

"What a splendid technique... I cannot even determine what that sword is made of," Grror remarked, his tone calm and almost appreciative as he continued to exchange blows with Caelum.

Each clash sent violent shockwaves through the surroundings, tearing apart the terrain as if it were nothing more than fragile debris.

Caelum, however, understood one thing clearly.

Deception would not work here.

Against someone like Grror, tricks and feints would be seen through instantly, which left him with only one option, face him head-on.

Yet with every collision of their weapons, he could feel his energy being steadily drained, while Grror remained composed, not even taking the fight seriously.

’Alright... enough of this, let’s get serious’

Caelum’s expression sharpened.

His concentration reached its peak as his eyes glowed faintly, analyzing every minute movement Grror made, reading the flow of his aura and the subtle shifts in his stance.

Then, he found it.

An opening.

Perhaps it was intentional, perhaps it was a trap, but at this point, Caelum had no luxury to hesitate.

His energy surged.

The air trembled as power gathered within him.

[Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art] – First Form

[Heaven Transcending Slash]

In an instant, his aura and Qi erupted together, forming a brilliant blue surge that tore forward with overwhelming force.

The surroundings shook violently under the pressure of the attack.

Grror’s eyes sharpened.

In response, his own energy flared, a deep, oppressive black aura rising to meet the incoming strike.

For a brief moment, the world was divided.

Blue and black consumed everything in sight.