The moment the announcement ended, Modin vanished from where he stood. His speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he crossed several platforms and appeared at Thunder God's flank.
"Windblade Cross Slash!"
His hands traced a cross in the air. Two razor-sharp wind blades formed instantly and shot toward Thunder God in a deadly X-shaped trajectory. The blades were invisible, leaving only faint distortions in the air to mark their path.
Thunder God reacted at once. His lightning warblade swept horizontally, electric arcs flashing along its surface.
"Thunder Break!"
The blade collided with the wind attack, producing a piercing metallic impact. The wind blades shattered into countless streams of air. Yet the recoil forced Thunder God back several steps. He nearly lost his footing at the edge of the platform.
"Not bad," Modin's voice came from another direction. He had already moved again and appeared behind Thunder God. "But that was only a warm-up."
He pressed his hands together, then pulled them apart.
"Thousand Blades of Wind!"
The air suddenly filled with countless tiny wind blades. They attacked from every direction, their angles tricky and unpredictable. There was almost no space left to dodge.
Thunder God knew he could not block everything. He made a quick decision. He leapt upward and stabbed his warblade into the ground.
"Lightning Domain Shield!"
Electric light spread rapidly from the blade, forming a hemispherical barrier around him. Most of the wind blades bounced away or dissolved, but several pierced through, leaving bloody cuts across his body.
"Your defense is impressive," Modin said as he appeared on a distant platform. "But in the face of absolute speed, every defense has flaws."
Before his words faded, he vanished again. Only a green afterimage remained. The next second, Thunder God felt a sharp pain in his back. Modin had somehow circled behind him and struck with a wind blade.
Thunder God grunted and staggered, but quickly regained balance. When he turned, Modin was already gone. His voice echoed through the arena.
"The name Windwalker is not an empty title."
In the audience, Rowan, Luo Feng, and Hong watched the battle anxiously.
"Modin is too fast," Luo Feng said with concern. "Thunder God can barely keep up."
Rowan nodded. "Speed and flexibility are the greatest strengths of the Wind Law. Modin has pushed them to the extreme. And this multi-platform battlefield gives him a huge advantage."
Hong spoke as briefly as ever. "He must find a way to limit Modin's movement."
In the arena, Thunder God was indeed on the defensive. Modin's attacks fell like rain, each from a different direction. Thunder God's wounds increased, and his combat suit was already soaked in blood.
Yet his expression did not show frustration. Instead, his eyes grew sharper. He seemed to be searching for a pattern.
"Interesting," Modin said. "It looks like you've discovered something."
Thunder God grinned. "The Windwalker truly lives up to his reputation. But I'm not just brute strength either!"
He suddenly raised his warblade high.
"Lightning Net!"
The blue crystal on the blade erupted with dazzling light. Countless thin electric currents shot into the air, forming a dense web of lightning that covered several nearby platforms.
Modin was moving at high speed. Caught off guard, he collided with the net. Though he changed direction at the last moment, several arcs struck him. He cried out and fell onto a lower platform.
"Found you."
Thunder God seized the opportunity. He leapt forward, warblade raised.
"Thunder Slash!"
Modin rolled aside, but Thunder God's attack was equally swift. The blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep wound. Blood instantly stained his suit.
"A fine counterattack," Modin said as he retreated again. "It seems you possess both strength and intelligence."
Thunder God stood firm. "Thank you. But this is only the beginning."
The audience erupted into cheers. The intensity of the battle far exceeded expectations.
Luo Feng shouted excitedly, "That was brilliant! He used the lightning net to limit Modin's movement!"
Rowan nodded. "He observed Modin's patterns. Although his speed is incredible, his movement follows optimal routes. Thunder God predicted his position."
Hong gave a rare nod of approval. "But the next phase will be harder. Modin will not repeat the same mistake."
Indeed, Modin became more cautious. He no longer relied purely on speed. Instead, he began using more complex wind techniques.
"Wind Domain, activate."
A pale green ripple appeared around him and spread outward. Wherever the ripple passed, the air changed subtly, as if completely under his control.
Thunder God's eyes sharpened.
"This is…"
Modin smiled. "The Wind Domain. One of my strongest abilities. Within this domain, I control airflow and pressure completely."
As he spoke, Thunder God felt the air grow heavy. Breathing became difficult. Modin was increasing the air pressure to restrict his movement.
Worse still, Thunder God realized his lightning energy had grown unstable. Electricity required a medium to travel. When the airflow was fully controlled, its efficiency dropped drastically.
"You've noticed," Modin said with satisfaction. "The Wind Domain interferes with both physical air and energy flow. Your lightning power will be greatly weakened here."
Thunder God attempted to cast Lightning Net again, but the current faded quickly and dispersed.
"This is troublesome," he thought. "Without lightning, I'm left with close combat."
Modin seemed to read his thoughts. "Don't worry. I will not deprive you of your full strength. I want to see your Ninefold Lightning Domain. Only victory against your strongest form has meaning."
He pushed his hands forward.
"Wind Domain: Thousand Blade Storm!"
The air within the domain became violently active. Countless wind blades formed and rained down with lethal precision.
Thunder God knew his body alone could not withstand this. He had no choice.
"If you want to see it, then I won't hold back."
He gripped his warblade tightly. The blue crystal shone like a miniature sun.
"Ninefold Lightning Domain. First Layer, activate!"
A deafening thunderclap exploded above the arena, as if real lightning had struck. A faint blue aura wrapped around Thunder God, forming a powerful energy field. Though small, it carried overwhelming pressure.
Every wind blade that touched it was instantly destroyed.
"Second Layer!"
Another thunderclap. The lightning grew brighter and denser. The domain doubled in size. Cracks formed on the ground. Small stones began to float.
Modin's expression grew serious. "So this is the Ninefold Lightning Domain."
Thunder God continued.
"Third Layer. Fourth Layer!"
Two more thunderclaps echoed. A massive sphere of lightning formed around him, about ten meters wide. Inside, currents roared with terrifying intensity. Even more astonishing, it began to neutralize the Wind Domain. The air around Thunder God returned to normal.
The crowd reached a fever pitch.
"Incredible," Luo Feng said in shock. "His lightning domain is countering the Wind Domain!"
Rowan nodded. "This is the nature of lightning. A strong electromagnetic field can alter ionization in the air, weakening the Wind Law's control."
Hong spoke again. "The real test begins now."
In the arena, Modin became even more cautious. He studied Thunder God's domain carefully.
"It seems the Wind Domain is not enough," he said. "But the true essence of wind is more than airflow."
His hands formed a complex seal.
"Wind Essence: Vacuum Domain!"
The air around him twisted into a transparent sphere. Inside, all air was removed, creating a complete vacuum.
"This is an advanced application of the Wind Law," Modin explained. "A rotating barrier outside, and absolute vacuum inside."
Thunder God's eyes widened.
"In a vacuum, electricity cannot travel."
Modin nodded. "Exactly. And this domain can move."
The vacuum sphere floated toward Thunder God. Once trapped, his lightning abilities would fail completely.
Thunder God reacted instantly.
"Fifth Layer. Sixth Layer!"
The lightning around him condensed into liquid-like energy. Its power surpassed ordinary cosmic weapons.
"Thunder Overwhelming!"
He slashed. A massive bolt struck the sphere. The collision produced blinding light and a thunderous explosion.
When the light faded, the sphere remained. Cracks appeared, but quickly repaired themselves.
Thunder God stared in shock.
Modin's voice came from within. "Its defense is beyond your imagination."
The sphere continued approaching.
The situation was critical.
Then Thunder God smiled.
"You're right. Ordinary attacks cannot break it. But who said I only use ordinary attacks?"
He planted his blade and formed hand seals. His eyes turned pure blue, radiating terrifying power.
"Ninefold Lightning Domain Core Art: Thunder God Descends!"
The Seventh Layer erupted. Instead of expanding, it compressed inward, forming a plasma sphere only one meter wide. Though small, it distorted space itself.
This was the true core of his domain.
Modin sensed danger and reinforced his defense, attempting to evade.
But Thunder God continued.
"Thunder God Descends: All Lightning as One!"
The compressed sphere exploded into a pillar of lightning over five meters wide. It pierced the arena's barrier and shot into the sky, causing a massive energy disturbance.
Then something even more shocking happened.
Countless bolts appeared in the clouds above. Like divine punishment, they descended toward the vacuum sphere.
Rowan stood up in shock. "He's invoking the power of the Lightning Law itself. Thunder God has reached this level of mastery!"
This was no longer merely his own energy. It was the force of heaven and earth answering his call.