Though he had reservations about using Phantom to face the second challenge, he had no choice now. If he succeeded, even if his energy was depleted and his injuries severe, his overwhelming combat prowess should allow him to endure.
Ye Yu's gaze hardened as Phantom materialized beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder. Black Blade Night swung through the air before cleaving forward.
"Dominion Country!"
Boom!
A terrifying explosion erupted, the power of Dominion Country far surpassing its previous manifestation.
In an instant, a massive wave of Rock Stone Generals was sent flying, shattering midair. The wide-range attack of Dominion Country drastically reduced their numbers—over three hundred were obliterated in a single strike.
Ye Yu exhaled in relief. "Good thing I have Phantom. This way, I have a better chance of clearing the first challenge."
Though nine hundred remained, for Ye Yu, this was still a grueling battle.
Facing nine hundred at the start would have been manageable, but now, with his energy significantly drained, eliminating them all would be a long, perilous ordeal.
But perhaps this was for the best—a greater trial to temper himself.
Just then, an announcement echoed through the space.
"One participant has reached the final wave. It can now be revealed that the first challenge's maximum number is 1,240."
At this, everyone's expressions twisted in shock.
"My god, the limit is 1,240? That's way more than expected!"
"I was disappointed earlier for not clearing the last wave, but it turns out I wasn't even facing it."
"Glad I withdrew."
"But who is this person? They've already taken down over six hundred and are still pushing forward? That's insane."
"It has to be Ye Yu."
...
Meanwhile, Yang Luo, Wang Jue, and Ba Ye exchanged triumphant glances.
"Excellent. It must be Ye Yu."
"He chose to challenge the final wave. Perfect."
"The higher difficulty is both good and bad. If there's even a sliver of hope, he'll push through. But if not, he'll withdraw, and we won't get our chance at him."
Yang Luo couldn't help but worry, though he silently prayed, "I hope he pulls off another miracle."
Of course, his prayer was only so that they could finally eliminate Ye Yu.
Among the other top Chosen Ones still battling, despair spread like wildfire.
They had been holding on, convinced that six hundred was the final wave—only to learn it wasn't.
For them, even six hundred was far from guaranteed, their chances slim at best. Yet someone had already cleared it and moved on to an even greater challenge.
Lin Muxue frowned. "The gap between us… is still this wide?"
She could easily guess it was Ye Yu, and the realization left her deeply unsettled.
From level thirty onward, she had believed she could finally overtake him, gradually closing the distance. But now, it seemed the disparity remained significant—a bitter pill to swallow.
Lin Muxue was confident she could defeat six hundred, but beyond that, she would have no choice but to withdraw. Yet Ye Yu was already pushing forward. She consoled herself:
"Even if he's fast, it doesn't mean the gap in strength is still huge. It must have narrowed significantly. My limit is clearing this wave—even if he reaches the final one, he won't be able to defeat them all. He'll only manage a fraction. That has to be the case."
"Besides, once I reach level forty, my combat power will undoubtedly surpass his."
...
Meanwhile, Xia Ling couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"The final wave is too difficult. Even for you, it's too dangerous, especially with the second level ahead. So, when you're nearing your limit, withdraw—or exit after leaving just one Rock Stone General standing. That way, you won't have to face the second level. While fully clearing the first level would yield greater rewards, safety comes first. Eliminating all but one is the optimal choice—both safest and most beneficial. You must do this."
The other crew members shared the same concern, knowing Ye Yu's temperament all too well. They feared he would push through.
If he did, the toll—both in exhaustion and injuries—would be immense, making the second level perilous.
At that moment, the Phantom beside Ye Yu vanished. Gazing ahead at the nine hundred Rock Stone Generals, he tightened his grip on Black Blade Night.
Each Rock Stone General exuded a cold, oppressive aura, their long blades gleaming with a deadly sheen. Their bloodthirsty eyes heralded the brutal slaughter to come.
Ye Yu took a deep breath, his eyes igniting with fierce battle resolve.
The Rock Stone Generals erupted with fighting spirit as well. Ye Yu sought to advance, while their sole purpose was to stop him.
The clash was imminent. With a thunderous roar, the Rock Stone Generals charged at Ye Yu in unison. Their synchronized steps shook the earth violently, kicking up a dust storm that blotted out the sky.
Unfazed, Ye Yu kicked off the ground like a black lightning bolt, streaking toward the enemy ranks.
Black Blade Night carved arcs through the air, sending rock fragments flying with every Slash.
But Slashes were for ranged attacks. With the Rock Stone Generals closing in, he switched to Divine Departure.
Ye Yu pushed his speed to the limit, his Observation Haki enhancing his movements. Like a specter, he weaved between the Rock Stone Generals, his blade cutting down one after another, shattering them into fragments.
The shattered remains didn't reform—they simply vanished.
Yet, the sheer number of Rock Stone Generals was overwhelming. No matter how many he destroyed, their ranks seemed endless, an unbroken sea of foes surrounding him.
They surged forward relentlessly, unafraid of death—or perhaps, as lifeless constructs, they knew none. For every group Ye Yu cleaved through, another immediately took its place.
Gradually, the pressure mounted. Ye Yu's stamina drained rapidly, his breaths growing ragged. But he knew stopping wasn't an option. The moment he faltered, the tide of Rock Stone Generals would engulf him, and the disadvantage would snowball.
From effortlessly cutting down swathes at a time, his strikes now only felled small clusters—then just three or four with each swing.
His attack power, speed, and defense had all plummeted drastically.
The fierce battle raged on, and wounds began to mar Ye Yu's body. The Rock Stone Generals' blades carved deep gashes into his flesh, staining his clothes crimson. Yet, he felt no pain—his mind was singularly focused on one conviction: defeat these enemies, clear this trial, and surpass his limits once more!
Slowly, Ye Yu neared his physical limit. His movements grew sluggish, his Slashes losing their initial devastating force. Sensing his weakness, the Rock Stone Generals intensified their assault, encircling him completely. Their blades rained down like a storm.
With a roar, Ye Yu channeled every last ounce of strength into Black Blade Night, coating it with Conqueror's Haki. A single Divine Departure sent the surrounding Rock Stone Generals flying—though not all were shattered.
After unleashing that slash, Ye Yu had expended even more of his strength. He knelt on one knee, gasping heavily for breath, the Black Blade Night hanging limply from his hand and resting on the ground.
Seeing this, the Rock Stone Generals closed in once more. Raising their long blades, they prepared to deliver the final blow to Ye Yu.