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298 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
298 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Chapter 225: Means"
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slug: "ch-225"
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novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
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number: 225
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views: 0
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likes: 0
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wordCount: 1264
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createdAt: "2026-04-13"
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---
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Max sighed lightly, his eyes lingering on the now-empty sky where the rift had once been.
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The overwhelming presence of the Ascendants was gone, but their shadow still loomed over him.
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24 hours.
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That was all he had.
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Aurelia’s voice broke the silence.
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"You now have 24 hours. Prepare well."
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Max turned to her, his expression softening slightly.
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"Thanks. I really needed some time."
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But then, as the reality of the situation settled deeper in his mind, his expression shifted.
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His gaze turned concerned as he looked at Aurelia.
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"You helped me in front of everyone… won’t the Monarch find out?"
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His voice was low, edged with caution.
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The Young Monarch had already declared that anyone who supported him would be marked as an enemy.
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Yet Aurelia had openly assisted him.
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Aurelia, however, merely shook her head, her golden eyes unreadable.
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"Only for now."
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Her words were cryptic.
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And before Max could press further, she turned away—her body moving in a blur of motion as she descended back to the Phoenix Order group.
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Max watched as she landed gracefully, her expression sharp and focused.
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Then—she spoke.
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Her voice was low, steady. Commanding.
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"Anton, there is something I need you to do…"
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As she began to explain something to him, Max could see the Phoenix Order warriors react subtly—some stiffened, some nodded in agreement.
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A hidden move. A preparation of her own.
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Max’s gaze lingered on Aurelia for a moment.
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Even now, she was planning something.
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Even now, she was thinking ahead.
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And Max knew one thing for certain.
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Whatever it was—
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It wasn’t just for him.
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She had her own reasons. Her own game.
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And as much as he trusted Aurelia—he wasn’t sure if her plans would align with his.
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Though he did wonder what would their relationship be in the future?
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Would the Phoenix Order still stand by him?
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Or would they distance themselves, knowing the wrath of the Monarch was looming over them all?
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It didn’t matter.
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Because Max didn’t regret anything.
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Not for a second.
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The Monarch’s geniuses had come with a death sentence.
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They hadn’t come to negotiate.
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They hadn’t come to talk.
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They had come to kill him.
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And Max didn’t like that one bit.
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So he did what had to be done.
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Without hesitation.
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Without mercy.
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And if he was given another chance—
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He would do it again.
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That didn’t mean he didn’t care about them.
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There was one person in the Phoenix Order guild Max cared about anything in this world aside from his family.
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Alice.
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Therefore—
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If there was ever a regret in his heart then it would be that he would never get the chance to be honest with her.
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At least not anytime soon.
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Max shook his head, forcing himself to push the distractions aside.
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’What’s done is done.’
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There was no point in dwelling on the past.
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Right now, only one thing mattered.
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The Ascension Ceremony.
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The fight against Evan McAllen.
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A battle that would decide his freedom, his future, his very existence.
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Just as Max was pushing aside his thoughts, four figures approached him.
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Kate.
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Envoy Lucas.
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Ralph Thorne.
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Garrison Ashford.
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Max glanced at them, already guessing why they were here.
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"You’re in a very tough situation."
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Envoy Lucas sighed, his tone carrying an unmistakable mix of concern and inevitability.
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Max raised a brow, his expression unbothered.
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"How strong can they be?"
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He crossed his arms, eyes gleaming with confidence.
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"If I put my all into it, I can take down a Seeker Rank Level 1 expert in a direct confrontation."
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Ralph Thorne’s face remained serious.
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"It’s not about strength. It’s about means."
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His words cut through the air, making Max’s eyes narrow.
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"The Ascendants are the most mysterious group of people in all of Acaris."
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"Because of that, people have little to no real information about them. But what we do know—"
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A pause.
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"Is that they are formidable. Very formidable."
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The way Ralph spoke was different.
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There was no exaggeration, no fearmongering.
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Only fact.
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Max’s expression darkened slightly as Ralph continued.𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
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"It’s said that even the top geniuses from the Lost Continent—ones who have trained under the best resources, the best environments—couldn’t stand against the same-level geniuses from the Ascendants."
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Max’s frown deepened.
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That statement was not to be taken lightly.
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Lost Continent geniuses were the pinnacle of the Lower Domain.
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And yet, they had been crushed by Ascendants of the same level?
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Kate stepped forward, her voice solemn.
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"It’s said that the Ascendants are the only ones who can come and go freely anywhere in Acaris."
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Her eyes locked onto Max’s, making sure he understood the weight of her words.
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"That includes the Middle Domain and the Four God Nations."
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The moment those words left her lips—Max’s expression shifted slightly.
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He had expected them to be strong.
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But this?
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This meant that the Ascendants were not bound by the laws of the world.
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They were beyond the limits of normal factions.
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"That alone," Kate continued, "makes them one of the most dangerous groups of people in all of Acaris."
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A heavy silence settled.
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Max felt a brief shock at Kate’s words.
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He had always known that traversing to the Middle Domain was no easy feat.
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For anyone in the Lower Domain to reach it, they had to cross the Forsaken Wilds—a lawless, untamed land filled with dangers beyond imagination.
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Only the strongest, the luckiest, or the most well-connected could ever reach the Middle Domain.
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Even that was considered a miracle.
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Yet the Ascendants could come and go freely?
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That kind of mobility, that kind of power, was beyond comprehension.
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Max’s brows furrowed as a new thought surfaced.
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"Then what are they doing in the Lower Domain?"
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His voice carried genuine curiosity.
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"Did they just happen to be here when I got famous, or do they have unfinished business in the Lower Domain?"
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Garrison slapped Max’s shoulder, making him stagger slightly.
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"Kid, that’s a stupid question."
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The old warrior’s grip was like iron, forcing Max to tense involuntarily.
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"Nobody knows their intentions. Nobody knows their goals. We’re just as clueless as you are, even after knowing of their existence for decades."
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Max stiffened at the impact, gritting his teeth.
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’Damn, this old man doesn’t know how to hold back.’
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But he didn’t argue.
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Because Garrison was right.
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No one knew what the Ascendants truly wanted.
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And that was what made them terrifying.
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Before Max could respond, Envoy Lucas spoke again.
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His tone sharpened slightly, carrying an undeniable warning.
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"Alright. Let’s talk inside. There are too many eyes on you right now."
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Max glanced around.
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Dozens of hidden gazes locked onto him—some filled with curiosity, some with envy, some with unmasked greed.
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"Let’s go."
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Envoy Lucas turned, walking toward the villa’s entrance.
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Max followed without hesitation.
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And behind them—
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The leaders of the five guilds and the four great families walked in unison, sealing the entrance behind them.
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Because what was about to be discussed—
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Was not meant for the ears of the public.
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***
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Inside the grand villa, a large room with a round table awaited them.
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A table reserved only for the highest powers of the East.
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Seated around it were the leaders of the top five guilds and the four super families—their expressions grim and solemn.
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The air was thick with tension.
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This was no ordinary meeting.
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This was a council of power, gathered not for their usual discussions on territorial disputes, trade agreements, or diplomacy with the Lost Continent.
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This was about the Ascendants.
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And at the center of it all—
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Max. |