Although Turk's vision was disrupted by the blinding radiance, years of battle-hardened instinct allowed him to sense the incoming danger. He leaned back sharply, while the rocky armor on his right arm expanded at astonishing speed, forming a shield-like defense in front of him.
Clang!
The collision between the light blade and the stone shield rang out, clear and sharp. To everyone's shock, the so-called indestructible shield was cut apart like soft clay. Two deep grooves appeared instantly, nearly slicing through the defense.
"That's impossible!" Turk cried out as he retreated several steps, pulling away to regain distance.
Hong did not give him even a moment to breathe. His figure flickered again. He reappeared at Turk's flank, thrusting his twin spears in rapid succession. Every strike was precise, aimed at a vital point.
Turk was forced into continuous defense, but his rocky protection seemed fragile before the piercing brilliance of light. Cracks spread rapidly across the surface. Even more alarming, the areas sliced by the light did not heal. It was as though some invisible force had sealed the flow of energy.
"This is one of the core traits of the Light Law," Rowan explained calmly from the stands. "Light can penetrate matter and disrupt the circulation of energy. Once those areas are cut, Earth energy cannot flow properly, so regeneration becomes impossible."
On the battlefield, Turk finally realized the severity of the situation. If he continued to defend passively, his protection would inevitably collapse. He had to change tactics.
"Wrath of the Earth!"
He stomped the ground violently. The entire arena trembled as if an earthquake had struck. The surface split apart, deep fissures spreading in every direction. At the same time, countless sharp stone spikes burst from below, like deadly traps attempting to impale Hong.
This was Turk's signature technique, the Earth Sink Formation. It transformed the battlefield into his weapon, leaving opponents with nowhere to hide.
Hong's movement was indeed agile, but even he could not evade an attack of such scale. Several spikes grazed his arms and legs, leaving streaks of blood.
Yet his expression remained calm, as if the injuries meant nothing. He steadied himself and crossed his twin spears before his chest.
"Rhythm of Light, activate."
In an instant, countless tiny motes of light appeared around him, flickering like fireflies. They began to pulse in a strange, rhythmic pattern, forming a complex array.
"Be careful!" Turk recognized the technique. His face changed dramatically. He immediately commanded the surrounding sand and stone to form a thick spherical barrier, enclosing himself completely.
"Rhythm of Light: Thousand Arrows!"
At Hong's soft command, every mote erupted at once, transforming into countless slender arrows of light. From every angle, they shot toward the earthen sphere. Though they appeared delicate, each carried refined Light Law energy and astonishing penetrating force.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The arrows struck the sphere with a series of dull impacts. At first, the defense seemed to hold. But soon, fine cracks began to spread. The arrows pierced the outer shell and entered the interior.
A cry of pain echoed from within. Turk had been struck.
Yet he did not retreat. Instead, he gathered even greater power inside the barrier.
"Heart of the Earth, reveal!"
The sphere exploded outward. Dust and fragments scattered. Turk stood at the center, wounded in many places. Blood stained his body. But what drew everyone's attention was the brown crystal at his chest, about the size of a fist, radiating profound Earth Law energy.
This was the legendary Heart of the Earth, his greatest trump card. It amplified his Earth power and drastically enhanced his healing ability. The wounds inflicted by light began to close at a visible rate. Blood stopped flowing. Fresh skin formed.
"You are truly strong," Turk said, his voice deeper and more stable. "But now, I will show you the true power of an Earth warrior."
He drew the massive hammer at his waist, the Earth Crusher. Infused with Earth energy, its head swelled to several times its original size, resembling a small mountain.
"Earth Shatter!"
He leapt high into the air and brought the hammer down with terrifying force. The strike contained not only immense physical strength but also pure Earth Law power.
For the first time, Hong's calm expression changed. A hint of seriousness appeared in his eyes. Gripping his twin spears, he leapt forward to meet the attack head-on.
"Is he insane?" Luo Feng exclaimed. "That hammer weighs several tons. How can he block it?"
Rowan smiled faintly. "Watch carefully. Hong is finally becoming serious."
In midair, Hong's weapons transformed. The one-meter light blades extended rapidly, becoming two radiant pillars nearly five meters long. Even more astonishing, they moved like living beings, shifting shape and angle freely.
"Source of Light, manifest."
His voice remained calm, yet the power within it stirred fear. The brilliance intensified until it was almost impossible to look directly at it. The two pillars intertwined, forming a massive barrier of light.
Boom!
The hammer crashed down. A deafening impact and blinding radiance erupted. A powerful shockwave swept across the arena, stirring clouds of sand and dust.
When the dust settled, the audience gasped. Hong's barrier remained intact, while Turk's hammer was covered in deep cracks. The Earth energy surrounding it had weakened dramatically.
"That's impossible!" Turk stared in disbelief. "How could my Earth Shatter be blocked?"
Hong hovered in the air, surrounded by a faint golden glow. He looked like a divine messenger descending upon the world. His eyes had turned completely gold, radiating overwhelming pressure.
"The Source of Light is the core essence of the Light Law," he explained. "Before it, the hardness of matter is irrelevant. Light can pierce all things."
With a wave of his hands, the light pillars shifted again, transforming into two enormous dragons of light that roared toward Turk.
Turk raised his hammer to defend and summoned layers of earth and sand. But before the dragons, the defenses were as fragile as paper. The dragons pierced everything and struck him directly.
He cried out as he was thrown dozens of meters, smashing into the arena's barrier before collapsing.
When the dust cleared, Turk struggled to rise. His hammer was shattered. His rocky armor was broken. Even the Heart of the Earth had dimmed. Yet his eyes still burned with fierce determination.
"It's not over," he said through clenched teeth. "I still have one final move. Earth: Ultimate Form!"
The crystal at his chest erupted with dazzling brown light. Sand and stone surged toward him like a tidal wave. His body expanded rapidly, transforming into a ten-meter-tall giant made of rock and earth.
The giant's arms became massive stone axes. The power within them distorted the surrounding space.
"This is my ultimate secret," Turk's voice thundered. "Before absolute strength, all technique is meaningless!"
The giant raised both axes and struck downward.
The spectators stood in shock.
"This is unbelievable," Luo Feng whispered. "Can Hong really stop that?"
Rowan remained calm. "He has his own ultimate technique."
On the battlefield, Hong showed no fear. He formed seals with his hands. His twin spears crossed before him.
He spoke an ancient incantation.
"Law of Light, eternal and unchanging. Order of Light, everlasting. In my name, I summon the ultimate form. Light Adjudicator!"
Golden rays appeared throughout the air, gathering rapidly. They formed a towering figure of pure light, ten meters tall, clad in radiant armor. In its hands was a massive sword inscribed with ancient runes.
"The Light Adjudicator," Rowan explained, "is among the highest mysteries of the Light Law. Only those who truly understand light can summon it."
The two giants faced each other. One symbolized the stability of the earth. The other embodied the piercing brilliance of light.
"Earth Giant: Rift Slash!"
Turk's giant swung both axes, unleashing a devastating strike.
"Light Adjudicator: Radiance Across Worlds!"
The sword rose. A pillar of light shot forward, filled with the origin power of the Light Law.
The two attacks collided. The explosion shook the entire arena. Even the protective barrier cracked under the strain.
When the light faded, the Earth giant's upper body had been pierced completely. The Light giant had lost an arm.
Both were near their limits.
"Not yet!" Turk roared. "The Earth does not yield!"
The giant began to regenerate.
Hong responded, "Light Eternal."
The Light Adjudicator blazed with golden fire. The sword shone like a miniature sun.
"This is the final strike," Hong said calmly. "Further battle will only end in mutual destruction."
Turk laughed loudly. "Then let us decide the victor now!"
The Earth energy gathered in the remaining axe.
"Earth: Final Strike!"
At the same time, the Light Adjudicator gathered all its energy.
"Light Adjudicator: Final Radiance!"
The axe and sword collided.
A catastrophic explosion engulfed the arena. When everything settled, both giants had vanished.
Only Hong and Turk remained, standing ten meters apart, both exhausted and gravely wounded.
Hong's suit was torn. One spear barely glowed. The other had been destroyed.
Turk's armor was gone. The Heart of the Earth had lost its light. His hammer was gone.
They stared at each other in silence.
Suddenly, Turk swayed and dropped to one knee. Blood spilled from his mouth. He looked at Hong with unwillingness and admiration.