Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 1298  True Enemy

"It's gone!" Kevin whispered, his voice shaking as he felt the internal stillness where the parasite's gnawing presence once existed. For a moment he simply stared at his own hands, hardly believing the sensation of freedom coursing through him. The constant burning, the restless agitation, the invasive pressure that had haunted his every breath had vanished completely. He looked up at Max, eyes trembling with raw emotion, and dropped to his knees with overwhelming gratitude.

"Thank you for saving my life," Kevin said, bowing deeply. There was no pride left in his voice, only sincerity born from years of silent torment. He understood better than anyone that Max owed him nothing. They had never been true allies. In fact, Kevin had once tried to kill Max, and their initial encounters had been filled with hostility. If Max had walked away today, refusing to involve himself, Kevin would have been powerless to change the outcome. He would have died slowly under the parasite's influence, forgotten by the world and consumed by a curse he never chose. The realization that Max had chosen mercy over indifference struck him deeply.

Max looked at him for a moment, then spoke with calm authority. "Alright. Just get into the Life Space Ring you are assigned to and rest there. Your body has been weakened for years, and you need time to recover fully." Without waiting for further thanks, Max turned and walked out of the room, leaving Kevin speechless yet hopeful for the first time in a long while.

After leaving the inn, Max returned to the central plaza where the chosen geniuses and leaders continued preparing for the expedition into the secret domain. The air was filled with tension as formations were checked, artifacts prepared, and protective measures finalized. Max made his way toward the group of elders and eventually stopped before the leader of the Obsidian Order, the enigmatic figure who always wore a tiger mask. The mask concealed his identity completely, but his presence radiated dignity and unshakeable calm.

"Before we enter the secret domain of the Four God Nation, I want all the Life Space Rings in my hands," Max said, his gaze steady. There was no request in his tone. It was a necessary command born from the urgency of their situation. Only Max could guarantee the safety of the humans stored within those rings once the world began collapsing under the Devouring Spirit's influence.

The tiger masked leader nodded without hesitation. "I understand," he replied. "We will finish storing every remaining genius, guard, and elder. Once the last human on this world is secured, I will personally deliver all the Life Space Rings to you. Not a single person will remain outside when we embark on the expedition."

He paused for a moment, as though recalling something important. "By the way, Miss Freya wanted to speak with you. She said it was urgent and related to your upcoming entry into the secret domain. She has been looking for you."

"Thanks for letting me know," Max said with a nod.

He turned away and headed toward the living quarters designated for the Four God Nation's leaders and honored guests. Freya usually resided in a quiet room at the end of the corridor, a place filled with scrolls, formation diagrams, and artifacts she used to study the ancestral lineages of the divine beasts. Whatever she wished to discuss would undoubtedly carry great importance.

When Max reached Freya's room, the door was slightly open, as though she had been expecting him. He knocked lightly on the frame and stepped inside. "I heard you were looking for me," he said quietly.

Freya lifted her gaze from the scrolls scattered across her desk. Her expression carried a strange mixture of calm and heaviness. She gestured to the chair opposite her. "Sit down."

Max obeyed, lowering himself into the seat. The atmosphere in the room felt different from their usual conversations. Freya exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as if she had been holding something in for far too long.

"I have a feeling this will be the last time we will have a proper talk," Freya said, her voice weighed down by resignation.

Max nodded once. "It might be." He knew what she meant. They would enter the secret domain soon, retrieve the final fragment of Mark's soul, and then the real battle would begin. If they defeated Mark, they might not survive the process. If they failed, they would be forced to flee from a dying world. Either way, the chances of sitting calmly to talk again were close to none.

"Because of that," Freya continued, "I want to tell you something important. Something about our enemies."

Her tone sharpened at the last word, and Max immediately understood. She was not referring to demons or corrupted forces. She was referring to enemies from the Divine Realm.

"There are far more forces in the Divine Realm than either of us can imagine," Freya said, her brows drawing together. "But our number one enemy among them is the Elf Race."

Max remained still, letting her continue.

Freya's expression grew darker. "Our mother was once an elf princess. She belonged to a royal bloodline, a lineage so pure and powerful that she was destined to become one of the future pillars of the Elf Race. Her potential was unmatched. She was revered, respected, and heavily guarded. But everything began to change when she met our father."

Her hands clenched slightly at the memory. "Mother fell in love with him. She wanted to be with him, but the Elven Council refused. To them, a royal-blooded elf forming a bond with a human was unthinkable. It was a humiliation, a disgrace, something that violated their ancient laws. Yet mother did not back down. She chose our father, and she was willing to abandon everything for him."

Freya paused, struggling to keep her composure. "The Elven Council decided she could not be allowed to keep her status. They used an ancient treasure to strip her of her royal bloodline. They removed her elven powers and even destroyed the very essence of her racial bloodline, forcing her into the body of a human. Then they cast her out as though she had never belonged to them."

Max's eyes narrowed. He could imagine the pain and betrayal their mother must have felt.