Demonic Steps was a very simple movement technique by nature. Depending on the Qi used to initiate it, the result would be different for each one.
When Hao Xuan used it with Chaos Qi the very first time, the effect wasn't that strong. There was a screen of grey energy that partially surrounded him from top to bottom, not only obscuring the view of all that were around him but increasing his own movement speed.
But now that Hao Xuan had used every iota of Chaos Qi at his disposal, the effects were much, MUCH stronger. And it was aptly named 'Maelstrom of Chaos' because of them.
The pyramid's floor that could take a direct attack from a demigod and still not budge now had a shallow imprint left in the same spot where Hao Xuan was standing.
Chaos Qi erupted forth from the soles of Hao Xuan's feet and immediately surrounded his entire body like a flame. To all the spectators he looked like a ball of smoke, lighting, and fire from afar but it did not stop there.
Chaos Qi distorted the space around him making him appear smaller. And since it surrounded him, he broke free from most of the laws of nature, entering a sort of sub-dimension.
Hao Xuan could feel the difference in his body. He felt smaller and lighter, almost weightless. There was no resistance from the air nor from the gravity that shackled him.
A high-pitched screech that sounded like it was coming from somewhere very far away emanated throughout the entire 3500-meter square level.
Even though it was coming from Hao Xuan, the sound was distributed and diffused throughout the nearby space in such a way that it felt like it was coming from every single direction other than the only right one.
Lazar brought out the full potential of his Law, creating long metal spikes from nothing. They tried to block Hao Xuan's path or even slow him down enough for one or to impale him but he was too fast.
Using the 'Maelstrom of Chaos' Hao Xuan was able to change his direction mid-air and although he couldn't 'fly', propelling himself through the air was more than easy enough. The only downside was that it ate through his Qi, of which there was very little to begin with.
Seeing Hao Xuan closing in on him quickly, Lazar knew that he underestimated Hao Xuan and that he was not as simple as he had originally thought.
Immediately thrusting both his hands forward, Lazar used the power of his Law in conjunction with his own bloodline, that of the Ancient Heartwood Dragon's.
He opened his toothy gullet and let out an inaudible roar. No one could hear it, not even Hao Xuan.
The blood that was spilled from every creature that had died since the start of this battle was called to action. It seethed and boiled with intense lifeforce that was pulled from it not a moment later.
It turned into a shade of inky blackness before abruptly solidifying into a hard metallic material. One after another gigantic leafless trees sprung to life, shooting out of the ground and reaching dozens of meters of height within the blink of an eye.
The only difference was that these trees were not made of wood but a living black metal called the 'Void Obsidian' that was able to restrict the flow of all energies.
Their branches grew to immense sizes and even the roots shot out of the ground towards Hao Xuan.
This was Lazar's core ability, the 'Ancestor's Respite'. In less than 10 seconds more than half of the floor looked like an old cursed forest that was alive with unrest.
Hao Xuan who was still using the 'Maelstrom of Chaos' and should have been free from all outside force suddenly slowed down.
The Chaos Qi shrieked from the disturbance. Hao Xuan was finding it harder and harder to control it. He was forced out of the technique instantly, beginning his descent towards the ever-increasing tree branches there were clawing their way up towards him.
Seeing as he didn't have long, Hao Xuan gave up on defense and directed all the Qi towards his legs.
He stepped on air as if it was solid ground, twisted his feet forward and inward, utilizing the Chaos Qi's most basic function to diverge and scatter the very molecular structure of the air and drawing power from it.
The air exploded.
*BOOOOOM*
Tongues of flame and arcs of electricity encircled Hao Xuan's lower body. His legs shattered from the shockwave and his feet were torn to shreds but it was enough to send him shooting forward.
He broke the speed of sound and then surpassed it, reaching Mach 3 with nothing but his physical body.
The static current created from the friction reached such a level that it completely encompassed Hao Xuan.
It looked like he was encased in a white armor of lightning.
Hao Xuan's figure became larger and large in Lazar's eyes until that was all he could see. Lazar brought both his hands forward before drawing them back towards his chest.
A five-meter thick tree root shot out of the ground at breakneck speed-
*Squelch*
-barely managing to pierce straight through Hao Xuan's body which was less than five meters away from Lazar's face.
Hao Xuan was just close enough that the static current leaped off of him and smattered onto Lazar who had unknowingly become crusted with sweat.
The draconian warrior was flustered, for the first time in a very long time.
He looked at the ant-like human that looked like a skewer right in front of his face. He should have felt relief at this point but seeing the knowing smirk being birthed on Hao Xuan's face his heart became heavy.
"See? I knew you weren't...as strong as...you wanted me...to think," he happily announced.
"I'll see you...very soon," Hao Xuan winked with a wide grin before thrusting his own hand through his skull.
*GASP*