Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 2036: Uses of Marks!

The devil kept explaining, terrified Max might think he was hiding something. "The marks don’t just disappear for no reason. When you meet the requirement, the Pilgrimage recognizes your accumulation and gives you the choice to advance. But once you condense the lower marks into a higher one, the lower marks get consumed. You can’t use the same marks twice."

"What happens if someone collects enough but refuses to advance?" Max asked.

"They can keep accumulating," the devil answered. "Some people wait because lower-grade marks can get used directly for certain exchanges and transactions. But the higher your mark grade, the greater your authority, and the more valuable your status becomes. A Gold Mark holder gets treated very differently from someone who only carries Bronze Marks."

Max looked down at his wrist again. The bronze symbol seemed to glow faintly beneath his skin.

"So every newcomer starts with one Bronze Mark," he said.

"Yes."

"And killing beasts gives more Bronze Marks?"

"Usually," the devil replied. "The number depends on the strength of the beast and the rules of the region. Some beasts give one Bronze Mark. Stronger ones might give several. Certain trials can reward dozens or even hundreds. Killing other participants can also give marks, but the amount depends on the victim’s accumulated marks and the rules governing the area."

Max’s eyes turned cold. "So killing someone lets you take their marks?"

The devil nodded nervously. "Sometimes. Not every region allows it, but plenty do. That’s why people are so careful about revealing their mark count. A powerful participant carrying a large number of marks turns into a walking treasure vault."

Max understood immediately. The three devils hadn’t just wanted his storage ring and treasures. They’d also noticed he already carried a Bronze Mark. If he’d accumulated more, they would’ve tried to seize those too.

The devil continued, "There are also missions, inheritances, ancient ruins, and special trials that reward marks. Some opportunities can grant more marks than months of killing beasts. But the more valuable the reward, the more dangerous the trial."

"What about the Godslayer Mark?" Max asked. "Has anyone ever obtained one?"

The devil’s face changed. Fear and reverence appeared in his eyes.

"I don’t know," he admitted. "There are rumors that a few ancient existences once obtained Godslayer Marks, but nobody knows if those stories are even true. In the current era, I’ve never heard of anyone openly holding one. Even Divine Mark holders are rare enough to become legends in most regions."

Max’s expression stayed calm, but his mind was already working. The mark system was clearly more than a simple reward mechanism. It was a hierarchy built into the Godslayer’s Pilgrimage, one that measured achievement, authority, and maybe even destiny.

If the highest mark truly required one thousand Divine Marks, obtaining a Godslayer Mark would demand an unimaginable accumulation of lower-grade marks.

The devil looked at Max carefully. "Do you understand now?"

Max raised his eyes. "Not completely."

The devil’s face went pale.

Max continued, "You said marks can be used for exchanges and entry fees. If I spend a Bronze Mark, does that reduce the number I need for advancement?"

"Yes," the devil answered quickly. "Any mark you spend gets removed from your total. If you want to condense one thousand Bronze Marks into a Gold Mark, you need to still hold one thousand Bronze Marks at that moment. Marks used for transactions can’t get counted again."

Max nodded slowly. That meant he’d need to choose carefully between immediate benefits and long-term advancement.

The devil added, "But some cities and factions offer conversion services. They might let you exchange treasures for marks or marks for resources. The exchange rates usually run terrible, though. The stronger the mark, the more valuable it gets. A Gold Mark is worth far more than one thousand Bronze Marks in ordinary transactions, even though it takes one thousand Bronze Marks to condense one."

Max’s eyes flashed. "So the system pushes people to advance, but also tempts them to spend their marks before they can."

"That’s exactly how it works," the devil said bitterly. "The Godslayer’s Pilgrimage hands out opportunities, but it also forces people to make choices. Those who spend everything just to survive might stay at the bottom forever. Those who save everything might die before they ever get to use it."

Max fell silent. The rules ran cruel, but they weren’t chaotic. The Godslayer’s Pilgrimage had built a clear path. Bronze. Gold. Sacred. Divine. Godslayer. Each step required an accumulation of one thousand marks from the level before it. The higher one climbed, the harder the journey got, but the rewards and authority grew accordingly too.

Freya had said marks were extremely important. Now Max understood why. They weren’t just currency. They were proof of achievement, a key to opportunities, a symbol of status, and maybe the only way to reach the deepest secrets of the Godslayer’s Pilgrimage.

Max looked back at the devil. "Is there anything else I should know about marks?"

The devil hesitated. Max’s sword pressed slightly deeper. The hesitation disappeared immediately.

"There’s one more thing," the devil said hurriedly. "Marks are bound to the soul. They can’t normally get stolen through ordinary means. If someone kills a participant in a region where mark transfer is allowed, the rules of the Pilgrimage decide how many marks can transfer. But if the victim has hidden or sealed their marks, the killer might not get everything."

Max nodded. "And the mark on my wrist?"

"That’s your personal mark," the devil replied. "It records your current accumulation and grade. As you get more Bronze Marks, the symbol will gradually change. Once you reach one thousand Bronze Marks, it’ll transform into a Gold Mark if you choose to advance."

Max studied the bronze symbol again. A faint light moved across its surface. He could sense it connected to something vast and ancient, something existing beyond his understanding. It wasn’t simply counting his achievements. It was watching them.

Maybe the Godslayer’s Pilgrimage was watching every participant. Maybe it was judging them. Or maybe it was just waiting to see who could climb high enough to reach the end.

Max pulled his gaze away from the mark and looked at the devil. "You’ve told me everything you know?"