My attributes are increasing infinitely Chapter 497: Entering seclusion

The colossal demonic creature finally forced its entire body through the rift. The tear in space expanded to its limit before stabilizing, as though reality itself had reluctantly allowed the being to pass. Its towering frame rose above the battlefield like a moving mountain.

Jagged black scales covered its body, layered like natural armor. Dark mist flowed constantly from between those scales, spreading outward and contaminating the surrounding air. Every breath carried an oppressive weight.

Its crimson eyes slowly moved across the battlefield.

To it, the gathered humans looked no different from scattered ants. Their weapons, formations, and defensive arrays appeared meaningless. The demon’s gaze lingered briefly, as if evaluating whether they were even worth the effort.

"Is this the lower realm?" it muttered to itself.

Its voice did not travel through sound alone. The words vibrated directly in the minds of everyone present. Several soldiers instantly coughed blood, unable to endure even the casual transmission of its thoughts.

"Why is the Qi so thin here?" it continued, sounding mildly dissatisfied.

The demon raised one enormous clawed hand. Black energy gathered at its fingertips, swirling lazily.

"Let us eat some of those humans. We will soon know about them."

The moment those words left its mouth, the entire battlefield froze.

This time, it was not fear.

Everything stopped.

The air halted mid-flow. Dust particles suspended in the atmosphere became completely still. Soldiers who were in the middle of lifting their weapons froze in their exact positions. Even the faint ripple of residual energy lingering in space stopped moving. Time itself had been forcibly locked.

Only three beings remained unaffected.

Ethan stood calmly where he had been, observing the scene without the slightest tension. His expression remained neutral, though his eyes carried a trace of interest.

The second unaffected figure floated above the battlefield. He had sharp features and long dark hair that flowed behind him. Two curved horns emerged from his head, giving him a demonic appearance. However, his face was strikingly handsome, and his aura carried an unmistakable arrogance. He wore a deep crimson robe that seemed woven from condensed energy.

Ethan glanced at him once, and information surfaced immediately.

[Name: Azamoth Ashborn

Race: Shura (God Child)

Strength: 10th dimensional]

Ethan’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Interesting. So he is a candidate and already a tenth dimensional being. Has he been born at this level, or did he grow to this power within a short time?

Azamoth stepped forward, completely ignoring the frozen humans. His attention remained fixed on the towering demon.

"Demon," he said calmly, his tone filled with natural superiority, "I am the child of a god clan. You should serve me."

Ethan almost slapped his forehead.

This fool actually believed that background mattered here. In this world, lineage meant nothing. The trial worlds existed precisely to strip away external protection. Anyone who relied on status instead of strength would only die faster.

As expected, the demon looked down at Azamoth as if he were an insignificant speck.

There was no anger in its gaze. Only indifference.

A faint sound escaped its mouth.

The next instant, Azamoth exploded.

His body shattered into a cloud of blood mist without any warning. There was no struggle, no resistance. The tenth dimensional being vanished as though he had never existed.

The demon lost interest immediately, but then something caught its attention.

It slowly turned its head.

Its crimson eyes focused on Ethan.

The tiny human stood there, completely unaffected by the time stop. More importantly, he was observing the demon with calm curiosity.

"An insect from the lower realm can resist time stop?" the demon muttered. "How very amusing."

Ethan took a single step forward.

He disappeared.

The next moment, he appeared directly in front of the demon’s face, suspended in midair. Compared to the creature’s massive head, Ethan looked microscopic. Yet his calm posture made the size difference irrelevant.

"What is a being from the upper realm doing here?" Ethan asked.

The demon opened its mouth, intending to mock him.

But no sound came out.

Its pupils contracted instantly with confusion.

Ethan looked at it quietly.

"Only answer the questions I ask," he said in a soft tone, as if explaining something simple to a child. "Nothing else will come out. And every 10 seconds you waste from my time, one of your organs will be destroyed."

The demon did not believe him.

It was a supreme entity from the upper realm. Countless rulers feared its presence. Entire civilizations had been erased under its claws. And now, a tiny lower realm insect was threatening it.

Ridiculous.

The demon tried to move.

But it could not.

Its entire body froze. This was not a self-induced paralysis, but an unfamiliar force that completely bound it, making even its thoughts sluggish.

A sliver of unease crept into its mind.

Boom.

Its right arm detonated.

Dark blood spewed forth like a breached dam. Normally, the arm would have regenerated instantly, but the wound persisted. Instead of healing, the flesh at the severed edge began to decay.

Ten seconds later, the left arm also disintegrated.

The demon's pupils trembled intensely. Pain surged through its senses, yet it couldn't scream, its mouth clamped shut.

Ethan observed in silence, his expression unchanged.

Another ten seconds elapsed.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the demon's chest. One of its ribs shattered, crumbling into dust.

Fear finally overwhelmed the demon's mind.

"I will talk. I will speak. Please, stop."

It shouted internally, but no sound emerged.

Ethan remained motionless.

The demon struggled to respond.

"I arrived here... by accident."

The instant its answer coincided with Ethan's inquiry, its mouth snapped open, words spilling out without any resistance.

Ethan gave a slight nod.

"Oh. Then you are of no use to me."

His interest evaporated instantly.

"Begone."

The demon's pupils dilated in sheer terror.

It attempted to plead.

"Please—"

Its body exploded into a mist of dark blood before the word could be completed.

The oppressive pressure vanished in an instant.

Time resumed its flow.

The paralyzed soldiers collapsed to the ground as movement returned, many gasping for air, oblivious to the events that had just transpired. They recalled the demon's arrival, then a blank void, and then nothing.

The sky was now empty.

Only scattered droplets of dark blood descended before evaporating.

Max swayed slightly, clutching his head.

"What... what just occurred?"

Erina looked around, bewildered.

"The pressure... it's gone?"

Mira frowned, surveying the battlefield.

"Something was here. I'm certain of it."

No one could comprehend the missing interval. Their memories contained a gap that defied all logic.

Ethan quietly returned to his original position beside Elina.

"What's happening?" Max mumbled. "Are we losing our minds?"

Ethan calmly shook his head.

"You all should rest. The battlefield is unstable today."

His tone was so composed that the others gradually began to relax. Although confusion lingered, none could provide an explanation.

They commenced their retreat towards the base camp.

...

Ten hours later.

Within Ethan's chamber,

The air shimmered.

The Founder materialized silently before him.

This time, a ring was held in his hand. Its surface was a dark silver, etched with intricate patterns. Even without activation, faint roars emanated from within, as if countless creatures were held captive.

"Here," the Founder stated, extending it. "Monsters from level three to level eighty are contained within, all restrained as you requested."

Ethan accepted the ring with care.

The instant his consciousness touched it, he beheld rows upon rows of sealed beasts. Each was bound by spatial chains, rendered immobile. The weakest trembled at level three; the strongest radiated the formidable aura of level eighty.

Even Ethan felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Thank you very much, sir," he expressed, offering a slight bow.

The Founder regarded him.

"You intend to enter seclusion?"

"Yes."

The Founder nodded.

"Then I shall return later with the remaining ones."

He vanished once more.

Ethan closed his hand around the ring. The Cube hovered above his palm, emitting a soft glow. With these acquired resources, his strength was poised for a rapid ascent to level 80.