"You hear the man. He no longer wishes to fight," Elvian said in a warning tone.
"Tsk, let me go."
Since Maximus no longer wanted to fight, Zar didn't remain stubborn.
Freeing Zar, Elvian flew above them, scanning them unscrupulously.
Feeling the power of an Overlord scanning them, they frowned.
Such a practice usually warranted death.
Yet, facing an Overlord, they stayed silent.
Maximus, experiencing the same, also stayed quiet, minimizing the aura emitted by the Supreme Law of Origin.
It had warned him earlier that if the Overlord discovered he had signed a contract with it, trouble would follow.
"15,810 individuals binding with an origin of law—more than expected," Elvian nodded in satisfaction.
Except for Maximus, Nyx, Sira, Zar, and Paragon, who he couldn't detect anything, he made a mental note of every individual and entity bound to an origin of law.
"Greetings, Master!" Linus bowed, flying before Elvian.
"Not bad. Binding the Supreme Law of Dreams—your future might not be worse than mine."
"Master, why are you here?" Hearing his master's praise, Linus simply shook his head and asked the reason for Elvian's presence.
"I'm here to announce something."
"Announce what?"
Turning toward the equally puzzled crowd, Elvian announced the changes in the Dimensional Competition.
"Instead of a thousand epochs, the dimensional competition would be moved a million years from now on."
"Furthermore, participants will no longer be limited to members of the Dimensional Alliance but include anyone from the Aeon Plane."
"As long as one is confident in their strength and is not stronger than the Tier 10 Realm, everyone is welcome."
Hearing Elvian's announcement, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
The Dimensional Competition, a once-in-a-billion-epochs event, had been moved forward by a thousand epochs in advance.
Digesting Elvian's words, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Especially the Devourer Faction—while they might not win the tournament, placing high enough could grant them the status of free men.
Though they mocked the people of the Dimensional Alliance as weak and cowardly, who wouldn't want a life free from constantly walking the tightrope of death?
It wasn't that they didn't want to live a weak and cowardly life—they simply couldn't afford to.
Now, with this chance to change their fate, they were determined to prove their strength, no matter the cost.
After making his announcement, Elvian quickly left the Virtual Realm.
His primary interest had been in identifying those who had signed binding contracts with the Origins of Law.
Delivering the announcement had been incidental.
For detailed dissemination of the news, the Dimensional Alliance would be the one to handle it.
Feeling the barrier to the Virtual Trial Domain vanish, the crowd excitedly dispersed, eager to begin their preparations.
Maximus, too, wasted no time.
Turning to his family, he began to think of various plans to prepare for the competition.
However, before he could leave, Zar blocked his path.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I just want to engrave your face into my memory. I can't wait for us to fight again."
"Hmm? Then don't cry when you lose."
"Hahaha! If the strength you've shown here is all you have, then prepare yourself to lose." Zar laughed.
As far as Zar knew, his power amplification had no limit.
Given enough time and an opponent capable of keeping up with him, his power could grow ten million, one hundred million, or even one hundred billion times.
Unless someone could defeat him swiftly, Zar feared no one.
"Then I look forward to it," Maximus replied with a smile.
If Malgron could match his combat ability, Zar could rival—or even surpass—his raw power within the same realm.
Uncertain of Zar's limits, Maximus began to anticipate their destined fight with genuine excitement.