Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1298 True Enemy

"It's gone!" Kevin muttered, his voice trembling as he felt the internal void where the parasite's gnawing presence used to be. For a brief moment, he stared at his palms in disbelief, overwhelmed by the sensation of true freedom. The persistent burning, the agitated restlessness, and the suffocating pressure that had plagued his every breath were entirely vanished. Looking up at Max with eyes brimming with raw emotion, he collapsed to his knees in profound gratitude.

"I thank you for saving my life," Kevin declared, bowing his head low. His voice was stripped of all pride, replaced by a sincerity forged through years of quiet agony. He was acutely aware that Max owed him nothing. They had never truly been friends; in fact, Kevin had previously attempted to take Max's life, and their past was defined by hostility. Had Max chosen to walk away or remain indifferent, Kevin would have been helpless. He would have perished slowly under the parasite's control, a forgotten victim of a curse he never asked for. The fact that Max chose compassion over apathy moved him to his core.

Max observed him silently for a beat before speaking with a tone of calm authority. "Very well. Enter your assigned Life Space Ring and rest. Your constitution has been undermined for years, and a full recovery will take time." Without waiting for further expressions of thanks, Max turned and exited the room, leaving Kevin speechless but filled with a hope he hadn't felt in ages.

Upon leaving the inn, Max made his way back to the central plaza. There, the gathered geniuses and leaders were in the midst of frantic preparations for the secret domain expedition. Tension hung thick in the air as Qi formations were inspected, artifacts were readied, and defensive measures were finalized. Max navigated through the crowd of Elders until he stood before the leader of the Obsidian Order—the mysterious figure hidden behind a tiger mask. Though the mask obscured his face, the leader radiated an aura of dignity and unshakable composure.

"I require all the Life Space Rings to be handed over to me before we step into the secret domain of the Four God Nation," Max stated, his gaze unwavering. This wasn't a request; it was a firm command necessitated by the gravity of their situation. Only Max possessed the means to ensure the safety of the people within those rings once the world began to crumble under the influence of the Devouring Spirit.

The leader in the tiger mask gave a nod of immediate agreement. "I understand," he answered. "We are finishing the process of storing every remaining genius, guard, and Elder. As soon as the last human on this world is safely inside, I will deliver the Life Space Rings to you personally. No one will be left behind when the expedition begins."

He paused briefly, as if a sudden thought occurred to him. "By the way, Miss Freya is searching for you. She mentioned it was an urgent matter regarding your entry into the secret domain."

"I appreciate the information," Max replied with a curt nod.

He adjusted his course toward the living quarters reserved for the honored guests and leaders of the Four God Nation. Freya's room was typically at the end of the hall, a quiet space cluttered with ancient scrolls, complex formation diagrams, and various artifacts used to investigate divine beast lineages. Whatever she needed to discuss was bound to be of significant importance.

When Max arrived at Freya’s quarters, the door was slightly ajar, suggesting she had been waiting for him. He gave the frame a light knock before entering. "I was told you were looking for me," he said softly.

Freya looked up from the various scrolls spread across her desk, her face reflecting a complex blend of serenity and sorrow. She pointed toward the chair across from her. "Please, sit."

Max took his seat, noting that the mood in the room was far heavier than their previous encounters. Freya let out a long, slow breath, her posture slumping slightly as if she were finally dropping a heavy burden.

"I have a feeling this is the last time we'll be able to speak like this," Freya remarked, her voice tinged with a sense of resignation.

Max gave a single nod. "That is likely." He understood the reality. Once they entered the secret domain to claim the final piece of Mark's soul, the true conflict would commence. Defeating Mark might cost them their lives, and failure would mean fleeing a collapsing world. The opportunity for a quiet conversation would likely never come again.

"Because of that," Freya went on, "there is something vital I must tell you. It concerns our enemies."

Her voice turned sharp at the mention of enemies, and Max realized immediately she wasn't talking about common demons. She was speaking of adversaries from the Divine Realm.

"The Divine Realm contains more factions than we can possibly fathom," Freya explained, her brow furrowing. "However, our primary enemy among them is the Elf Race."

Max stayed silent, waiting for her to elaborate.

Freya’s expression darkened further. "Our mother was once a princess of the elves. She carried a royal bloodline so potent and pure that she was destined to be a future pillar of the Elf Race. Her talent was beyond compare. She was honored, protected, and revered by her people. But everything shifted the moment she met our father."

Her hands tightened into fists at the recollection. "Mother fell in love with him and wished to stay by his side, but the Elven Council forbade it. To them, it was an unthinkable disgrace for a royal-blooded elf to bond with a human. They saw it as a violation of their ancient statutes and a source of deep humiliation. But Mother refused to yield. She chose our father, willing to sacrifice everything she had for him."

Freya took a breath, fighting to maintain her composure. "The Elven Council decided she was no longer worthy of her status. Using an ancient treasure, they forcibly stripped her of her royal bloodline. They tore away her elven powers and obliterated the core of her racial essence, trapping her in a human body. Then, they discarded her as if she had never been one of their own."

Max’s eyes narrowed as he listened. He could only imagine the depth of the betrayal and suffering their mother had endured.