Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Max felt the immediate spike of hostility. The young man glared at Arlen and the others with open disdain, as though their mere presence was an offense. His hair, streaked with faint blue lightning, seemed to spark slightly as his emotions flared.

Arlen held his ground, his voice even but guarded. ”Nothing. Just exploring the region,” he replied coolly.

”Exploring the region?” Gyser scoffed, his sneer deepening. He spread his arms theatrically as though addressing a crowd. ”For your information, our young master is currently also exploring the deeper areas of the Berserk Lightning Region. And we—” he motioned to the group of Thunder Monarch disciples clustered behind him, ”—are gatekeeping. So I’m afraid I can’t let you and your people go any further past this point.”

Max stood there, his eyes narrowed into slits as sparks of faint blue lightning crackled around his fingertips, his senses stretched taut like a bowstring.

He didn’t miss the way Gyser’s eyes flicked briefly toward the barren plains behind them—the same direction Max intended to go—and his instincts whispered that his guess was correct: the Thunder Monarch Hall was likely here for the same reason as he was—to hunt for lightning essence stones.

Such treasures, born in a place of endless storms, would be invaluable to anyone cultivating the lightning path, and Max knew well that in the Middle Domain, even ”exploring” was rarely just exploration.

Arlen took a single step forward, his jaw clenched, his own aura subtly surging in the charged atmosphere. His voice was cold as steel when he snapped at Gyser.

”This isn’t your Thunder Monarch Hall where you can swagger around doing as you please.” His words cut the air like a blade, and the sneer that twisted his lips spoke volumes about his opinion of their rivals.

It was no secret that tension had been growing between the Great Ruler Empire and the Thunder Monarch Hall in recent years. Reports of bullying and harassment by Thunder Monarch members were becoming disturbingly common.

Talented geniuses of the Great Ruler Empire who found themselves crossing paths with Thunder Monarch members often returned battered—or sometimes didn’t return at all. Arlen clearly hadn’t forgotten those grievances, nor was he willing to let them slide.

Gyser’s smile turned sharp, his eyes glinting with a cruelty that didn’t quite reach his polite tone. ”It is our young master’s orders not to let anyone else into the deepest part of the lightning region,” he said, his words dripping with icy authority. ”Anyone who tries... is to be killed on sight.”

A dark edge slid into his voice as he spoke the last words, the flash of ruthlessness in his eyes like a serpent striking from the shadows.

Truthfully, Gyser had wanted to go straight for the kill the moment he realized they were facing members of the Great Ruler Empire. Old grudges and faction pride burned in his blood, and the thought of adding a few more trophies to Thunder Monarch Hall’s reputation thrilled him.

But he also wasn’t a fool. Arlen’s team, despite being outnumbered, were all elite 4th and 5th-level Champion Rank geniuses, each one carrying strength and combat experience that could rival Thunder Monarch’s own top geniuses.

Even Gyser had to admit the fight would not be an easy win, and he wasn’t ready to risk humiliating his Hall with a defeat. Not yet.

Max’s gaze sharpened as he swept his Three Dimensional Body across the group from Thunder Monarch Hall, his senses mapping every flicker of their energy.

He quickly noted that they were all clustered between the third, fourth, and fifth levels of Champion Rank—a formidable lineup, no doubt, but nothing he feared.

What bothered him more was the uncertainty about his own team. He didn’t know how powerful the other members of Lyra’s faction truly were beyond their strength levels. Rank alone meant little in real combat if techniques and battle awareness were lacking.

As Max calculated, weighing strengths and escape routes in his mind, a voice transmission buzzed into his ears, cutting through the hum of crackling lightning.

”Everyone get ready to attack!” It was Arlen’s voice, steady but low, hidden from any eavesdroppers.

Max’s lips curled into a faint, dangerous grin. He transmitted back in a calm, almost cheerful tone, ”Should I go for the kill?”

”Go for the kill!” Arlen’s answer came without hesitation, like the snap of a blade being drawn.

”Noted,” Max replied, and a devilish smile spread across his face, his black hair subtly rippling as tiny arcs of violet lightning played along his fingers. He was already planning how many he could annihilate in a single move.

But just as tension reached its breaking point and battle seemed inevitable, Gyser abruptly held up a hand and stepped forward, his expression tight. ”Alright, you guys can go ahead now,” he said, though there was a faint edge of reluctance in his voice. ”We won’t block your path.”

Max’s eyes narrowed instantly, suspicion flashing across his gaze. This sudden withdrawal made no sense. They’d just threatened to kill them moments ago, and now they were stepping aside?

Arlen seemed to think the same as he glared at Gyser, voice edged with steel. ”Why the sudden change of heart?”

Seeing the skepticism written plainly on all their faces, Gyser gave a smooth, almost diplomatic smile, though his eyes were anything but warm. ”A battle here would only injure members from both our forces,” he said smoothly. ”There’s no sense in creating casualties over this. Go ahead. We won’t interfere.”

Arlen continued to frown, clearly turning the situation over in his mind. Finally, after a moment’s silence, he inclined his head stiffly. ”If you dare try to attack us from behind, I’ll kill every single one of you,” he said, voice cold enough to chill steel.

He shot a quick signal to Max and the others. With wary glances back at the Thunder Monarch Hall, they followed him, pressing deeper into the violent heart of the lightning region.

Once Arlen’s team was out of sight, one of Gyser’s subordinates stepped closer, his brows knotted in deep worry. ”Senior Gyser, why did you let them go? Young Master Omar will definitely not like this. He gave strict orders not to let anyone else into the inner region.”

But Gyser only smiled, a cruel glint shining in his eyes as lightning briefly illuminated the sinister lines of his face. ”Hmph, don’t worry,” he sneered. He tapped rapidly on his holowatch, a series of encrypted messages flashing across the transparent screen. ”I’ve already informed Young Master Omar’s group. If things go as planned, the Great Ruler Empire’s team will walk right into them. And once they do, they’ll be at Young Master Omar’s mercy.”

He paused, folding his arms, satisfaction dripping from his voice. ”The team Young Master Omar brought into the Berserk Lightning Region is countless times stronger than us. Once they clash, there’s no way those Great Ruler Empire pups will escape. Let them walk into their doom.”

Thunder rumbled high above as Gyser’s lips curled into a predator’s grin, lightning flickering in his eyes. For him, the real hunt was only just beginning.