Two minutes

Sol, once exuding confidence, now took hesitant steps backward until he found himself standing beside Derek. The aura of the Goddess of life had effectively eroded his earlier bravado. Despite wielding the powers mimicked from the apple of knowledge, Sol understood its limitations, it enhanced abilities but did not elevate his cultivation base. Engaging with a peak champion realm master as a warrior realm master was simply unthinkable, a disparity in strength too vast to bridge.

The realization dawned upon Sol, the same understanding that had gripped Derek earlier. The urgency behind Derek's initial panic to leave now made perfect sense. The risks involved in confronting Aeloria were far too great, and their chances of success were next to nonexistent.

As Sol reached Derek's side, the latter posed a daring question,

"Can you open a spatial rift that can lead us outside the temple?" Derek's question seemed to hit the wrong spot.