Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1289 Nero the slave

Having fully analyzed the complex structure and essence of the Soul Seal, Max approached the shivering third demon king. Every step Max took was tracked by the demon’s terror-stricken eyes, as if each movement was a heavy stroke of judgment falling upon his life.

Stopping directly in front of his prey, Max tilted his head slightly. "You mentioned that you have no desire to die. Is that right?" he inquired. His tone was deceptively soft, accompanied by a subtle smile that failed to soothe the demon’s overwhelming dread.

The demon king’s head bobbed in a frantic nod, his whole frame quivering. "I do not want to die. Do anything you want to me—strip my power, lock me away, bind me in chains, or drain my essence—just please do not kill me. That is my only request." His pride had been utterly discarded, leaving only raw, painful desperation.

Max’s expression softened into a warmer look, though a sharp glint remained deep within his eyes. "Alright, I will not kill you," he stated placidly. "However, I cannot place my trust in you either. That creates a dilemma. How should we resolve this?" He tapped his chin in a thoughtful gesture, forcing the demon to suffer in the agonizing silence of uncertainty.

Without a moment's pause, the demon king blurted out, "I can become your slave. Just do not kill me!" Clinging to this final thread of hope, he added, "I swear to follow any order you give."

"Slave?" Max echoed the word slowly, his piercing gaze scrutinizing the creature. "Are you absolutely certain that is what you want? Once you become my slave, your freedom will be extinguished. Your future will no longer belong to you. You will exist solely under my command until the day I decide to release you, if such a day ever arrives." He spoke without mockery, yet the weight of his words was undeniable.

With unexpected resolve, the demon king dropped to one knee. Though his voice trembled, it was anchored by a genuine determination. "Master, your strength already stands at the peak of the mortal realm. It is only a matter of time before you ascend to the Divine Realm. Even there, I believe you will rise to unimaginable heights. To serve a master such as you is not a humiliation. It is a blessing. I accept this path completely."

Max observed him in silence for several moments. While the demon's flattery was blatant, it revealed a certain shrewdness. The creature's willingness to trade his pride for survival showed a high level of adaptability. Max’s initial suspicion began to recede. "Very well," he finally declared. "I will place a seal on your Soul Palace. Once the seal is established, your loyalty will be absolute. Open your Soul Palace to me and do not resist at all."

The demon king bowed his head even lower. "Yes, Master." He immediately lowered the defenses surrounding his Soul Palace without the slightest hesitation.

A person's Soul Palace was their most sacred sanctum, guarded more fiercely than the physical body; granting entry was the equivalent of placing one's life entirely in another's hands. Nevertheless, the demon remained motionless, as his fear of death far outweighed any natural instinct for self-preservation.

Max reached out, pressing his fingers against the demon king’s forehead. His consciousness glided into the demon’s inner soul world. The Soul Palace loomed before him—a massive, somber fortress that looked as though it had been hewn from ancient obsidian.

Utilizing the knowledge provided by Blob, Max began weaving the Soul Seal. Layer by layer, he inscribed the structure directly onto the palace's core chamber. The seal emitted a faint glow before sinking deep into the foundation of the demon’s essence, forging a permanent bond.

Normally, such a process would be painstakingly difficult. Enslaving another soul requires a vast superiority in spiritual power. Forcing a seal into a defiant Soul Palace is nearly impossible, and even a success can result in the target's spirit shattering.

Max finished the task with such speed for one simple reason: the demon king had embraced servitude of his own free will. By removing all barriers and opening his Soul Palace, he allowed Max to simply execute the technique without opposition.

Withdrawing his consciousness from the soul world, Max took a step back. The demon king remained in a kneeling position with his head bowed, but the frantic trembling in his aura had ceased. The Soul Seal was now active.

The deed was done. The final demon king was now his property.

"Alright, from now on your name is Nero," Max announced, looking down at the demon king who remained respectfully knelt. His voice was firm. In demon culture, naming a slave was a definitive act of ownership and the first step in rebuilding the creature's identity under a new master.

The demon king pressed his forehead toward the ground. "Nero… I thank Master for bestowing me with a name," he replied. His voice was now steady, filled with a solemn reverence that had been absent before. To Nero, accepting a name from his master was the ultimate sign of submission.

"Good," Max nodded slightly. "Here is your first task. Go and scour the entire region of Nullaria. Hunt down every demon still hiding in this world. I want every last one of them dead. Leave no survivors. When the task is completed, return to this exact place and report to me." His tone carried an authority that allowed for no doubt and no defiance. It was a command given by one who knew he would be obeyed perfectly.

As Max finished speaking, he signaled with a pulse of his will. The spatial dome that had isolated the battlefield dissolved instantly. The shimmering barrier melted away like mist in the sun, exposing the chaotic struggle outside. Max stood centered and calm, while Nero looked up to acknowledge his instructions.

"Yes, Master," Nero answered before standing. He launched into the sky with staggering speed, vanishing over the horizon in heartbeats. There was no lingering doubt or trace of rebellion; Nero had fully embraced his new existence.

Max watched the demon's silhouette disappear. He felt no anxiety or suspicion. The Soul Seal was an absolute force. it permitted no wavering thoughts, no hidden agendas, and no possibility of betrayal.

If Nero were to ever harbor even a flicker of defiance, the seal would spontaneously ignite his soul, incinerating him from the inside out until nothing remained. Furthermore, the instant such a thought formed, Max would be alerted by the seal.

With that certainty, Max was completely at ease. Nero was bound more securely than any chain or oath could manage. His loyalty was no longer a choice; it was a fundamental law of his existence.

Satisfied with the arrangement, Max turned his attention back toward the ongoing battlefield.