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324 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
324 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Chapter 289: Start of the Banquet"
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slug: "ch-289"
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novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
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number: 289
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views: 0
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likes: 0
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wordCount: 1213
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createdAt: "2026-04-13"
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---
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Max felt the weight of their gazes—Aelric, Amelia, Revenna, and Jack—all waiting for an explanation.
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For the truth.
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But he only shrugged.
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"Honestly, I don't know either."
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It was the truth—at least partially.
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His "betrayal" had been declared for him, not by him.
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He never chose to turn against the Phoenix Order Guild.
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Yet, here he was—labeled as a traitor.
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Aelric studied him for a moment, then patted his shoulder lightly.
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"Well, don't think too much about it."
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His voice carried genuine warmth.
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"Whatever happened, you're my friend, and you're always welcome here."
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Max met his gaze.
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There was no doubt, no hesitation in Aelric's words.
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A small smile touched Max's lips.
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"Thanks."
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Just as the conversation settled, a new wave of whispers spread through the Grand Chamber.
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It started as a ripple, quiet murmurs spreading like wildfire—
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Then, it exploded into hushed awe.
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"Look, the top five guilds, the four super families… they're all arriving together."
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"They're being led by the King himself."
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Max's eyes shifted toward the entrance.
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And what he saw—
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Was power.
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The large golden doors of the Grand Chamber opened wide, revealing a procession of powerful figures.
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Groups of men and women, some Max recognized, some he didn't.
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They moved with absolute authority, each step exuding confidence.
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And at the very front of them—
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Was a man who stole the presence of the entire room.
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A middle-aged man, his golden hair flowing past his shoulders like a lion's mane, led the entire procession.
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His aura was overwhelming—an invisible force of dominance radiating from him.
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Just standing there, he felt like the sun itself—a force of unshakable power.
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Magnar Dragomir.
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The King of the West.
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The man who had single-handedly united the entire Western Region under his command.
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He ruled not just with strength, but with absolute authority.
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And now—
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He had arrived.
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As Magnar Dragomir strode into the Grand Chamber, Max felt something stir deep within him.
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It wasn't just the overwhelming aura of the man—
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No, it was something else.
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Something familiar.
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Something ancient.
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And then it hit him—
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A bloodline pressure.
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It was faint, barely noticeable, and yet—Max recognized it immediately.
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'This is… some kind of Dragon Bloodline.'
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His thoughts sharpened, his gaze subtly locking onto the King.
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It made sense.
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A ruler as powerful as Magnar Dragomir—someone who united an entire region—
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Would have a bloodline beyond normal humans.
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'So, the Royal Family of the West possesses a Royal Dragon Bloodline…?'
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It was a logical conclusion.
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But then—Max's gaze shifted.
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He turned to Aelric, studying him closely.
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And the more he thought about it—
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The more something felt off.
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Aelric was the Crown Prince.
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The direct son of the King of the West.
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Which meant—he should have the same bloodline.
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And yet—
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Max had never sensed even a trace of it from him.
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No dragonic pressure.
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No hidden aura.
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Nothing.
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'That's strange.'
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Max's mind worked quickly, piecing together possibilities.
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There was only one logical explanation—
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'Maybe… his bloodline is like Alice's.
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Dormant.
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Unawakened.'
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It was the only thing that made sense.
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And if that was true, then—
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'There's more to Aelric than meets the eye.'
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Max glanced at him again, curiosity burning in his chest.
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Because if Aelric's bloodline truly hadn't awakened yet…
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Then when it finally did—
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What kind of power would he unlock?
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As Max stood there, contemplating Aelric's mysterious bloodline, a sudden chill crawled up his spine.
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A presence.
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A sharp, unmistakable killing intent locked onto him—
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Cold. Calculated. Focused solely on him.
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His instincts flared, his body automatically tensing as his senses expanded.
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'Who…?'
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His first thought—
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Aurelia.
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She was the one who had tried to kill him before.
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But when his gaze swept across the Grand Chamber, searching for her figure…
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He didn't find her.
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Instead—
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His eyes landed on a group of figures standing in the shadows, near the corner of the hall.
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A group of black-robed individuals stood silently, watching the gathering from a distance.
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Their attire—dark, heavy cloaks with hoods covering their faces—
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Was eerily similar to the Black Lotus Guild.
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But Max knew immediately.
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They weren't from Black Lotus.
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They were from the Monarch.
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The assassins. The shadows.
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The ones who had hunted him relentlessly.
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And now—they were here.
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Max narrowed his eyes.
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'They were also invited?'
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At first, it shocked him.
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Why would the West invite a power like the Monarch?
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But after thinking about it, it made sense.
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'They are currently the strongest power on the continent.'
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Even if they were ruthless—even if they were feared and despised—
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Their power was undeniable.
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And in a gathering like this, where all the major forces had assembled—
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The Monarch's presence meant only one thing.
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They weren't here just as guests.
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They were here to remind everyone who truly ruled from the shadows.
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And judging by the killing intent locked onto him—
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They had noticed him too.
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Just as the tension thickened, an explosive laugh shattered the weight in the air.
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"Hahaha! Magnar, how have you been?"
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The voice was bold, unrestrained, carrying an undeniable air of confidence.
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Max's gaze snapped toward the entrance, his curiosity piqued—
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And then, a knowing smile spread across his face.
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He recognized them instantly.
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A group of new arrivals strode into the Grand Chamber, their movements unhurried, yet commanding absolute attention.
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At the very front stood a tall, rugged man—his hair a mix of dark and deep red, his sharp red eyes carrying a depth of wisdom and battle-hardened experience.
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Envoy Lucas.
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Behind him were several individuals, each exuding a powerful aura, dressed in distinctive uniforms not belonging to any faction in Valora Continent.
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They were from the Lost Continent.
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A force unlike any other.
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And seeing them—
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King Magnar's face immediately brightened.
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"Lucas, I was just waiting for you!"
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His deep laughter rumbled as he strode forward, arms open—
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The two men embraced like old friends, slapping each other's backs with camaraderie.
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Max observed them closely, a light frown forming on his face.
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He had known about Envoy Lucas for a long time.
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But he never realized—
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The Envoy and the King of the West were this close.
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'This isn't just a casual meeting.'
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Their familiarity wasn't something built in a day.
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Then it clicked.
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Every three years, an Envoy from the Lost Continent visited Valora.
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Their primary purpose?
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To oversee the transfer of Valora's top geniuses—guiding them toward greater opportunities beyond this continent to the Lost Continent.
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While different Envoys had taken on this role over the past century—
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Lucas had remained a permanent one for Valora Continent for the past few decades.
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Meaning, he had spent decades returning to this land—
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And every single time, he always arrived around the same period.
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King Magnar's birthday.
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It wasn't just coincidence.
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It was tradition.
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A natural bond formed through years of shared meetings, diplomacy, and mutual respect.
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'Of course, they'd know each other well.'
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This meant something else—
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If Lucas and Magnar were this close… then the Lost Continent had more influence in the West than anyone realized.
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Just then—
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"Let's celebrate today!"
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King Magnar's deep, booming laughter echoed through the chamber, his powerful voice commanding attention.
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"Everyone, on the occasion of my 53rd birthday, let's eat and drink to our hearts' content!"
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The moment those words left his lips— |