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| title | slug | novel | number | views | likes | wordCount | createdAt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 623: The Final Stage | ch-623 | Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 | 623 | 0 | 0 | 1238 | 2026-04-15 |
Max fell silent, his brows slightly furrowed as he sank into deep thought. Aria’s explanation made sense, and that in itself made things far more complicated than he had originally believed.
If what she said was true—if the strange blood ritual and those black-eyed figures were remnants of the Devil God Nation—then something ancient and dangerous was still lurking in this citadel.
But what disturbed him most wasn’t just the eerie display. It was the reaction of the infernal energy within him. That wild, primal agitation. The restlessness of infernal energy.
He had received his infernal energy through the cursed tattoo of the Infernal Demon that Mark had forcefully etched onto his body. That mark had nearly killed him once, but over time, he’d subdued it.
Mark had claimed the entire Mourning Depths was overflowing with infernal energy because a fragment of his own soul had been sealed there. That could only mean one thing—the infernal energy didn’t come from some universal force. It wasn’t some external power drawn from nature or dimension. It was Mark. It originated from him. He was the source of the infernal energy inside Max.
And yet... why did that same infernal energy—the one that was now entirely under Max’s control thanks to his Unholy Trinity Body—respond so violently to the arrival of those black-eyed puppets if they were from the Devil God Nation?
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. He ran through the possibilities in his mind, connecting threads that refused to tie together.
If the infernal energy was born from Mark, and Mark was in no way tied to the Devil God Nation—or so Max thought—then the only plausible explanation left was far more unsettling.
’Whoever was possessing Mark... whoever was truly sealed in the Mourning Depths... might be from the Devil God Nation.’ He thought. Perhaps even its last surviving shadow. A being from an age lost to time, now hiding behind Mark’s face.
That thought sent a chill through Max’s spine, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find another explanation. For now, he had no proof.
Shaking his head, Max decided not to think anymore. The mysteries surrounding Mark were becoming increasingly tangled, each answer only leading to more questions. And now, with the Devil God Nation being added into the mix, the puzzle had grown even deeper.
Still, Max believed that if he ever wanted the full picture—if he truly wanted to uncover who or what Mark really was—then the answer would lie within the Four God Nation. That place... the most powerful place in all of Acaris, where legends walked the land and godly bloodlines ruled... if anywhere held the key, it would be there.
After all Mark was the strongest being in all of Acaris wielding the power of a god and so, only the Four God Nation which as mysterious as Mark could know about the mysteries surrounding him.
Pulling his gaze away from the crowd still murmuring about the strange event, Max turned to face them fully. His voice was calm, but commanding.
"It’s better if only I enter the fifth stage of the citadel," he said. His tone left little room for argument. "You all saw what happened. Those blood puppets—there might be more waiting in the final stage. And if that’s true, things won’t be as simple as before. I don’t want to put any of you at risk. I can take care of myself if something happens."
King Magnar and the other leaders exchanged glances before nodding silently. Truth be told, they had already reaped rewards beyond their expectations. The citadel had given them more than they ever received from the past few explorations. For them, pushing further wasn’t worth gambling their lives.
Max’s eyes then turned to Aria and Elias. "What about you two?" he asked, curious if they’d insist on following. Though he hoped—no, wanted—Elias and Aria to remain behind in the fourth stage. It wasn’t just caution or arrogance that drove his decision; it was genuine concern.
The appearance of those blood puppets had left a mark on his thoughts, an unsettling unease that refused to fade.
The strength those puppets possessed was no joke. Even Max, with his Three Dimensional Body, had trouble tracking their movements at first. He couldn’t pin down their exact level of power, but one thing was clear—they were definitely above the Expert Rank. Possibly far beyond.
That’s why he’d hoped Elias and Aria would hold the line. They were the strongest among the group besides him, and if something went wrong in the fourth stage, only they had the ability to protect the others.
He’d taken the responsibility of facing whatever lay in the fifth stage upon himself, but deep inside, he didn’t want to leave the rest vulnerable.
Aria met Elias’ gaze briefly, then looked back at Max. "As you wish," she said, her voice serious. "The fifth stage... it should be where the legacy of the Devil God Bloodline is hidden. That alone makes it the most dangerous part of this entire citadel. So if you’re going, be cautious. No matter what happens inside, under no circumstances should you interact with anything suspicious. Don’t touch anything unless you’re sure."
Max gave a simple nod, his expression calm but resolute. "I’ll keep that in mind."
With that, he turned away from the others and strode towards the massive doors that marked the entrance to the final, fifth stage of the citadel.
As the last and most secretive floor, it didn’t follow the same restrictions as the previous ones—no group requirement, no waiting. Anyone who had reached this far could enter alone if they dared. And Max... he dared.
With one strong push, the ancient doors creaked open. A low hum echoed from within, like a whisper from the past. Max stepped through without hesitation. The instant his figure vanished into the darkness beyond, the great doors rumbled shut behind him with a heavy finality.
And then—something happened.
Before anyone in the fourth stage could even process what had just occurred, everything around them suddenly shifted.
The rectangular hall blurred, the glowing inheritance lights flickered, and a strange, pulling sensation overtook everyone at once. No time to react, no time to prepare. It felt like being yanked by space itself.
And then—
The warm sunlight kissed their skin. A soft breeze blew through the air. The sky stretched high and clear above them.
"We’re... outside?" someone gasped in disbelief.
All around them, stunned experts from various factions looked around with wide eyes. They stood in the air—the ancient plains below the floating fortress—but now the colossal structure hovered silently in the sky before them, just as it had days ago.
"What happened? We didn’t even feel a thing!"
"Did the citadel... throw us out?"
"I thought the fifth stage would still take time to open!"
Murmurs spread like wildfire. Even the most experienced leaders—King Magnar, Elarion, Ralph—looked equally confused. The sudden ejection had been seamless and absolute.
One moment they were inside the citadel, trying to comprehend the blood puppet incident; the next, they were back outside, the events behind them like a fading dream.
Elias stared up at the citadel, his brows furrowed in deep thought. "So that’s it. Only Max remained inside."
Aria crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "He chose to enter alone," she said softly. "Now... all we can do is wait."