Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1296 The Mysterious Fog

A week slipped by in silence, passing more rapidly than anyone had anticipated, and the day for the highly-anticipated expedition into the Four God Nation's secret domain finally arrived. A massive plaza had been established at the very center of the nation, designated specifically for this gathering.

The sky above was solemn and clear, appearing as if the heavens themselves were pausing to observe the coming events. The recruited geniuses assembled in full, each radiating a mixture of fierce resolve and lingering anxiety.

The atmosphere felt heavy and momentous due to the combined presence of the leaders of the Four God Nation, the Seven Overlord Forces, and the two major organizations standing around them.

Max stood among the crowd, his face composed yet fully conscious of the gravity this mission held. This was no common task. It could easily be their final foray into the unknown before the world's destiny was irrevocably altered. No one could predict what would happen once the final fragment of Mark's soul was recovered.

The world might fall into ruin before they could return. The crimson cloud might consume everything. Or perhaps something even more inconceivable would occur. Regardless of the risk, they entered the secret domain knowing that the future of this world was hanging by a thread.

While the final arrangements were being made, Max spent his time talking with the young geniuses chosen to follow him. These individuals represented the peak talent of the Middle Domain, including Victor, Seraphina, Arthur, Christine, Chris, Daniel, and several others Max had handpicked after observing their progress in Nullaria. During their chat, Max uncovered something unexpected.

“So the two of you have visited the secret domain before?” Max inquired, looking at Victor and Seraphina with a sparked interest.

Victor gave a nod. “Yes, we took part in a previous expedition once. It was a strictly controlled exploration under the close supervision of the Elders. They never permitted us to go anywhere near the domain's central region, so our understanding is quite limited.”

Seraphina added, “The Elders only led us through sectors they had already mapped and cleared numerous times. Those outer zones were stable and predictable. We didn't face any genuine peril during that journey. It felt more like a supervised training exercise than a real expedition.”

Max pondered this. “At least you are familiar with the outer perimeters. That should be of some use to us.”

Victor’s expression darkened as he exchanged a glance with Seraphina. He paused for a moment before continuing in a more serious tone. “However, we did encounter something bizarre.”

Max gave him his full attention. “What happened?”

Victor took a deep breath, as if pulling up a memory he had tried to bury. “It occurred when our group reached a valley that the Elders had supposedly vetted many times. Everything appeared normal until the surroundings suddenly transformed. One moment we were trekking through a misty valley, and the next, it felt as though the entire world had shifted. The air grew thick, as if gravity had intensified. We heard a sound reverberating through the valley, resembling a heartbeat. It was heavy and slow, but with every throb, the fog pulsed in rhythm.”

Seraphina took over the explanation. “The mist became so dense that even Elders with powerful perception lost their bearings. Our spiritual sense was unable to reach out, and even our own voices sounded muffled. It felt as if the valley itself had become a living entity breathing around us. The Elders grew anxious and attempted to lead us out, but the directions kept warping.”

Victor nodded in agreement. “For a time, we even witnessed illusions. The valley seemed to expand infinitely, as if space was bending. Some of us spotted shadows lurking in the fog. Others heard whispers that didn't come from any living being. The whole area felt wrong, as if it was actively trying to reject our presence.”

Max carefully processed their story. The secret domain was already known for being strange, but this phenomenon hinted at something much more ancient and volatile. The domain might possess its own consciousness, or perhaps the lingering power of divine beasts remained within. Such distortions typically only happened where profound spiritual energies or fractured laws existed.

“How did you manage to get out?” Max asked.

Seraphina replied, “The Elders were forced to deploy a powerful formation they had prepared for exactly those kinds of emergencies. They triggered a beacon that carved a path through the spatial distortion. The moment the formation was activated, the fog reacted violently, almost like it was trying to prevent our escape. The Elders had to burn a significant amount of power to pull everyone out before the valley sealed itself again. Afterward, they strictly forbade anyone from going near that place.”

Victor let out a sigh. “That was the only time we felt true life-threatening danger inside the secret domain. It left a lasting impression on all of us.”

Max turned his gaze toward the entrance of the domain that was about to open, his focus sharpening. “It appears this place contains secrets far deeper than what your Elders disclosed. If the outer regions already have anomalies like that, then the central region and the Celestial Beast Temple must harbor dangers on a completely different level.”

Seraphina gave a quiet nod. “Yes. The temple has always been shunned. Even the Elders are afraid of it.”

Max fell silent, but his eyes grew more determined. The path ahead would be unlike any challenge they had faced before. Whatever bizarre phenomena resided within the secret domain, they would soon encounter them firsthand.

“Max, there is someone who needs to see you immediately,” an Elder shouted as he rushed toward Max. His pace was hurried and uneven, showing that the situation had caught him off guard. Max turned toward the man, his eyebrows knitting together slightly.

He recognized him as an Elder from the Four God Nation, but he couldn't imagine who would be looking for him with such urgency on a day like today.

“Who is it?” Max asked, his voice calm but guarded.

The Elder paused to catch his breath before answering. “He claims his name is Kevin, and he mentioned that the two of you became friends within a secret domain some time ago.” The Elder’s face was twisted in confusion, unable to fathom what sort of tie Max could have with a person bearing such an unfamiliar name.

“Kevin?” Max repeated, his expression changing instantly as a memory came flooding back. He knew exactly who Kevin was. It was impossible to forget the unsettling and strange experience they had shared together back then.