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316 lines
7.6 KiB
Markdown
316 lines
7.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Chapter 282: Fearful Anton"
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slug: "ch-282"
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novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
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number: 282
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views: 0
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likes: 0
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wordCount: 1231
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createdAt: "2026-04-13"
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---
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Anton took deep, controlled breaths, forcing his racing heart to slow.
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His hands trembled slightly, a lingering cold sweat forming at his brow.
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The sensation he had felt moments ago—
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It wasn't normal.
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It wasn't something that could be easily dismissed.
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For a brief, fleeting instant—
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It had felt as though death itself had brushed past his throat.
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Not with a blade.
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Not with an attack.
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But with something far worse.
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A force so absolute, so overwhelming, that his entire being had screamed at him to run.
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To escape.
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But he couldn't.
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Because it was already gone.
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The air was still.
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The fight had ended.
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But Anton…
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He was still shaken.
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His mind spun, struggling to piece things together.
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'What was that? Who was that?'
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The masked figure who had dominated the battlefield with ease.
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The man who had stood unshaken against the Crown Prince, Amelia, Revenna, and even the top geniuses of the South.
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The same man who had mocked them all, held their strongest in place with a single skill—and vanished as if reality itself bent to his will.
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Anton swallowed hard, his suspicion growing with each passing second.
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Slowly, his eyes drifted toward Alice.
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She stood still, but he could see the faintest traces of emotion flickering across her face.
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Recognition?
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Shock?
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Relief?𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
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It was subtle.
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Too subtle for most to notice.
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But Anton wasn't most people.
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He knew Alice better than anyone.
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And the way she reacted to the masked man's presence—it wasn't normal.
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'Does she… know him?'
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The thought took root, growing stronger and stronger the more he dwelled on it.
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No—
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It wasn't just that.
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It was something more.
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Something deeper.
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A connection.
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Anton's jaw tightened, his mind flashing back to another person.
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Someone he once knew.
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Someone who shouldn't be here.
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A figure took shape in his mind.
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'Could he be…?'
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The thought was dangerous.
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Unbelievable.
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And yet—
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He had never felt such an overwhelming presence before.
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Never seen someone dominate an entire battlefield the way that masked man had.
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The way he moved.
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The way he spoke.
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The way he froze the strongest of the South with a single skill.
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The sheer untouchable aura that surrounded him.
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It was unnatural.
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Terrifying.
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And yet…
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It reminded him of someone.
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Anton shook his head, forcing the idea out of his mind.
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'No. It couldn't be Max.'
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The differences were too great.
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Max was only an Adept Rank the last time he was seen. The masked man's strength… it was far beyond that. It felt closer to Peak Adept Rank—possibly beyond.
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Max used a sword, lightning, and flames in battle. The masked man? He used only his fists and space element. No sword. No fire. Nothing that resembled Max's style at all.
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Max was strong—but not like this.
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Not like a walking calamity.
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Not like someone who could toy with the Crown Prince, Amelia, Revenna, and the strongest of the South all at once.
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Anton let out a slow breath.
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No—it didn't make sense.
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And yet…
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Even as he convinced himself otherwise, the unease remained.
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His hands were still clammy.
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His chest was still tight.
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The memory of death brushing against him wouldn't disappear.
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He could still hear that voice, whispering in his mind—
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"Be very careful with how you treat Alice. Otherwise, the next time I see you make her cry… I won't just warn you."
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It was too much of a coincidence.
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Too personal.
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His jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists.
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He wasn't the gambling type.
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He didn't like risking his life over a mistake.
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And if—just if—there was even the slightest chance that the masked man was somehow Max…
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Then he needed to change his approach.
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Because if that monster truly was Max…
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Then Anton had severely underestimated him.
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And he wouldn't make that mistake again.
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Anton's thoughts were interrupted as a group of figures descended from the sky.
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The air around them shifted, carrying a heavy martial pressure that made even the strongest guests tense up.
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They were the Royal Guard.
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Not ordinary soldiers.
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Not simple warriors.
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But elites—the very backbone of the Western Kingdom's military might.
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Each one wore silver armor, their movements precise and disciplined.
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But at the front of the group, leading them—
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A single man stood out.
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Unlike the others, this man's armor gleamed gold, carrying an air of absolute authority.
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A massive sword rested on his back, its presence alone enough to demand respect.
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His eyes—sharp, piercing, and impossibly keen—swept across the battle-scarred garden, taking in the pits, the craters, and the lingering remnants of the clash.
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Then, they locked onto Crown Prince Aelric.
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His voice was calm, yet firm, carrying the weight of a man who had seen countless battles.
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"What happened here, Your Highness?"
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Though respectful, there was an underlying urgency in his tone.
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Something like this couldn't be ignored.
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Crown Prince Aelric let out a deep sigh, his face still carrying the frustration from earlier.
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"It was some guy in a mask."
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The golden-armored general's brows furrowed slightly.
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"Someone from the Black Lotus Guild?"
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It was the most logical assumption—after all, the Black Lotus Guild was infamous for their secrecy and shadowy methods.
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But—
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Crown Prince Aelric shook his head immediately.
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"No, it wasn't them."
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His voice was certain.
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And then, after a brief pause, he added—
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"This guy… didn't look like he was from the Black Lotus Guild."
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The general's frown deepened.
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"Then who?"
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The Crown Prince stood silent for a moment, contemplating his next words.
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Then—
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He spoke with deliberate precision.
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"He is probably a guest here."
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His gaze drifted to the garden full of spectators—people from all over Valora Continent, watching the scene with a mix of amusement, curiosity, and disbelief.
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"A guest… but someone who doesn't want to show his face."
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His fingers tightened slightly around his golden blade, but his tone remained controlled.
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"There's no need to look for him."
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The golden-armored general's expression flickered with surprise.
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"Your Highness?"
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But Aelric continued.
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"Just make sure that if you do find him, you must inform me first. Before my father."
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A weighted silence fell between them.
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The general understood immediately.
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This wasn't something to report to the king yet.
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This masked man was dangerous—but if the king got involved too soon, it could escalate into something even bigger.
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Aelric wanted to handle this personally.
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The golden-armored man gave a firm nod.
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"Understood."
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Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the night, the silver-armored guards following closely behind him.
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As the guards dispersed, Anton let out a slow breath, still unable to shake the feeling in his chest.
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His gaze shifted once more—toward Alice.
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She still hadn't spoken.
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Still hadn't moved.
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She simply stared at the spot where the masked man once stood, her hands clenching tightly at the fabric of her dress.
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Her expression—hidden from most—
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But not from him.
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Anton swallowed hard.
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'What do you know, Alice?'
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The question burned inside him.
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Because whatever it was—
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It was something she wasn't willing to say.
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***
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Crown Prince Aelric's voice rang through the garden, carrying a tone of assurance and authority.
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"Everyone."
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His gaze swept over the crowd, taking in the uneasy faces of the guests who had just witnessed a battle that shook the Sun Palace itself.
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"Forgive me for the chaos that happened just now. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening." |