On the surface layer of the Dream World, Huo Er, with brown hair and golden eyes, cradled a pure black greatsword as he leaned beneath a pale purple Moon Tree, resting with his eyes closed.
He had actually noticed the Outsider's sudden appearance earlier, but he had not interfered.
The assessment was not his responsibility. He was only responsible for preventing outside interference and ensuring that the Trial-takers did not suffer any accidental casualties.
Just as Anvis and the others answered the final question, a small Gray Mist Dream World suddenly emerged from the void beyond the world.
Only when it was within a few seconds of impact did Huo Er finally notice the hazy small world approaching from the lower Dream Space. His expression changed drastically.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, he immediately raised his sword, intending to forcibly alter its trajectory by creating an enormous spatial deflection and prevent it from colliding with the Trial World.
But just as he prepared to strike, an Hourglass Shadow flashed through the void. A pitch-black domain appeared out of nowhere, instantly enveloping him.
Ninth-rank rule spell—Time Stop
It was a single-use Artifact made from precious Sand of Time, a special material painstakingly condensed by a Ninth Rank Limit powerhouse using Rule Power. It could maintain this Time Stop Domain for one minute.
However, Huo Er was, after all, a veteran ninth-rank. After his various resistances weakened it, the time he was bound by the domain was reduced by a full nine-tenths—to roughly six seconds.
But less than three seconds remained before the two worlds collided.
Without Huo Er's obstruction, the small world shrouded in Gray Mist continued along its original trajectory, silently crushing toward the Trial World ahead with the immense mass of an entire world.
Viewed from outside, the