Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 302: Divine Rank - The Peak of the World

”Wait—” Max frowned. ”Isnʼt it said that those who donʼt leave in three months… never come back? How did your master stay inside for more than forty years?”

Blob chuckled.

A deep, knowing amusement.

”Because my master was a Mythic Rank expert. Just one step away from the Divine Rank.”

His tone carried something else, too.

Something close to disdain.

”He had already broken through Mythic Rank several hundred years before. After suffering through an endless bottleneck trying to step into the Divine Rank, he returned to the Mourning Depths, exploring its depths for two decades.

Then, a small pause.

Then, Blob sneered.

”Naturally, he was far beyond you. Or anyone here.”

A sharp statement.

”So then…” Maxʼs mind pieced it together. ”That means the legend of people vanishing after three months isnʼt completely true?”

Blob hummed.

”The so-called 1000-mile absolute death zone is only applicable to juniors like you.”

Maxʼs eyes narrowed slightly.

That meant there were exceptions.

And more importantly—

Someone had survived beyond three months before.

Which meant—

There was a way.

The entire hall remained silent, watching the spatial gate churn with endless gray mist.

But Max?

His mind was already miles ahead.

Because now, he understood something that no one else here did.

The Mourning Depths wasnʼt just a graveyard.

It was a trial. A threshold. A place that had once been tread by legends.

And if he wanted to uncover the real secrets of this place—

Three months wouldnʼt be enough.

But then he recalled something from Blobʼs words.

Maxʼs mind raced.

”He broke through the Mythic Rank before returning to the Mourning Depths…”

A realization struck him.

The Lower Domain had always been limited to the Expert Rank.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

But—Max had heard whispers.

Two ranks above the Expert Rank—Master Rank and Champion Rank.

Yet now, he was hearing more.

Maxʼs thoughts sharpened.

He asked the question that was now burning in his mind.

”Is the Mythic Rank after the Champion Rank?”

Blobʼs voice was steady. Knowing.

”After the Expert Rank,” Blob began, ”comes Master Rank, followed by Champion Rank.”

A brief pause.

”Then comes the Legend Rank.”

Maxʼs pupils shrank slightly. Legend Rank?

Blob continued.

”Beyond Legend Rank… is the Mythic Rank.”

Then, his voice grew deeper.

”And finally, at the very peak, there is the Divine Rank.”

Max felt something stir in him.

He had always known that there were higher realms of power.

But to hear it laid out so clearly—to know that the path extended so far beyond what he had imagined…

It sent a shiver down his spine.

Master. Champion. Legend. Mythic. Divine.

There was still so much more.

Blobʼs voice took on a melancholy tone.

”My masterʼs deepest desire was to reach the Divine Rank. The very peak of this world.”

A pause.

Then, a cold truth.

”But alas, before he could accomplish his dream… the Nulls attacked. And then, everything fell apart.”

The Nulls.

Maxʼs fingers twitched slightly.

A force so terrifying that even a Mythic Rank expert couldnʼt overcome them.

Max exhaled slowly.

Then—his eyes blazed.

A fierce battle intent surged through him.

The thrill of a new challenge.

The hunger for a greater height.

”Divine Rank…”

He muttered the words to himself.

It wasnʼt just a concept anymore.

It was a goal.

Something far beyond his reach.

But that only made it more thrilling.

He clenched his fists.

Because now, he knew.

His journey was only beginning.

***

The spatial gate was now fully open, swirling like a portal into the unknown.

The old man, the one responsible for opening the Mourning Depths, spoke once more.

”Now we shall begin dividing the teams.”

His voice carried authority, finality.

A hush fell over the hall.

”Every faction will send one or two people to form a ten-man squad. A supervisory elder from the Divine Palace will lead that group 1500 miles from the edge of the Mourning Depths.”

A slight pause.

”After that, the supervisory elder will return. At that point, whether you wish to return or continue forward will be entirely up to you.”

His words held a deeper meaning.

Maxʼs eyes narrowed.

For a moment, he was startled.

A squad system?

The Divine Palace was deliberately forcing factions to mix together.

ʼIf every faction sends one or two people, that means theyʼll have to mutually watch each other.ʼ

At least in the beginning.

That meant—

The killings wouldnʼt start immediately.

A clever strategy.

At least for now, no one could act recklessly.

Not until the first 1500 miles were crossed.

After that?

Everything would be fair game.

As expected, some factions stepped forward first.

One by one, they sent their representatives.

A group of ten warriors quickly formed under the old manʼs guidance.

Then—

With just a single nod, he motioned for them to enter.

Their figures stepped forward.

Then—

They walked through the illusory spatial gate.

Their forms faded into the endless gray mist.

Max watched in silence.

The gray fog consumed them.

They vanished.

There was no sound. No energy fluctuation.

It was as if they had simply ceased to exist.

Maxʼs thoughts churned.

”They went inside…”

Now, there was no turning back.

And soon—

It would be his turn.

Max stood still as Klausʼs voice echoed in his ear.

”Max, you and Callie will go with that bearded man. He is the most experienced here and can guarantee your safety the most up to the 1500-mile range. Afterward, you will begin to move alone.”

Maxʼs gaze flickered toward the supervisory elders.

One man, in particular, stood out.

An old, bearded elder with a face that seemed to have been carved by time itself.

Dark, weathered skin, covered in deep lines, telling of a life filled with hardships and countless battles.

Even without knowing his exact age, Max could tell—this was a man who had seen far too much.

The elder stepped forward, his posture straight despite his old appearance.

His voice was steady, unfazed.

”I am Grey.”

A simple introduction.

Then, he scanned the crowd.

”Who would like to go with me?”

Maxʼs mind was already moving.

His gaze instinctively turned to Alice.

But before he could even open his mouth—

Aurelia spoke first.

”She wonʼt be going with you.”

Max turned to Aurelia.

Dead in the eye.

Cold. Unwavering.

She met his gaze with the same intensity.

Neither backed down.

Neither spoke another word.

Then—Max turned away.

His voice was calm, but firm.

”I will see you again then.”

Alice nodded.

Her expression was calm, but Max wasnʼt fooled.

He could see it—a flicker of worry hidden in her gaze.

She wanted to say something.

But Aurelia was right there.

So—she said nothing.

Max walked toward Old Man Grey.

A moment later, Callie joined him.

Her expression was unreadable as she wore the mask, but her presence was steady.

Then, Old Man Grey spoke again.

”There are still seven spots. Who would like to come from the other factions?”

A voice cut through the air.

”Hehe, count me in.”

Maxʼs gaze shifted.

From the Monarchʼs group, a young man stepped forward.

A grin stretched across his lips, but there was nothing friendly about it.

His eyes locked onto Max, sharp with undisguised hostility.

Max remembered him immediately.

When Max had first arrived, this idiot had been glaring at him.

Eyes filled with killing intent, as if he thought his mere existence was enough to pressure Max.

Even now, the eagerness in his expression was almost laughable.

Like he thought he was about to prove something.

Max exhaled slowly.

And then—he completely ignored him.

Didnʼt react. Didnʼt acknowledge him.

Because against someone this self-important—he couldnʼt even be bothered to look.