Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1307 Corruption

The massive blue orb had vanished. Replacing it was a gargantuan gateway, ancient and tightly shut, its exterior carved with endless runes and channels that flickered with a malevolent crimson light.

Max’s eyes sharpened as he sensed the sudden atmospheric shift. His primal instincts flared with a warning of extreme peril. "Everyone get back!" he barked.

The alert was issued just in time. From every surface—the floor, the walls, and the ceiling—thick, blood-red vines burst forth like writhing tentacles. They lashed out with horrific velocity, swarming every corner of the hall in a mere heartbeat.

No patch of ground remained safe; there wasn't even enough space to place a foot. These tentacles struck with bone-crushing power, radiating a corrosive and hateful energy that seemed intent on devouring life rather than simply ending it.

Recognizing that only he and Lucien possessed the strength to survive such a barrage, Max reacted without delay. He unleashed his fifth-level concept of space, manifesting it with absolute precision.

A spherical shield of highly compressed space expanded around the entire party, isolating them within a private pocket of reality. The moment the tentacles collided with this boundary, the laws of space fought back.

A thunderous boom reverberated as the initial wave of vines slammed into the spatial dome. Several were instantly shredded, torn into pieces as the intense spatial pressure acted like a blade. Others were repelled with such violence that they were reduced to mangled scraps before they could even apply pressure. The barrier remained unshakable and solid, a perfect fortress amidst the turmoil.

"Stay close and move forward," Max directed with a calm tone as he led the way. The spatial sphere migrated with him, carving a path inch by inch through the dense forest of red vines.

As the dome progressed, the tentacles continued their relentless assault. Every time they brushed against the perimeter, they were annihilated—crushed or severed by the supreme spatial authority. The path was not cleared through raw physical power, but through Max's total mastery over space itself. Slowly, the group advanced as the dome forged a narrow passage through the living nightmare.

While the air within the sphere remained tranquil, the hall outside churned with fury, as if the environment itself was revolting against their intrusion. The red vines would retreat and reform, only to be obliterated the instant they touched the spatial edge.

Despite the fierce resistance, Max’s focus never wavered. With a steady expression, he steered the group toward the sealed gateway at the far end of the chamber.

After what felt like an age, the crushing pressure began to fade. The swarm of tentacles grew sparse until the writhing mass finally withdrew. The dome came to a stop right before the massive doors. The red vines retreated back into the masonry, leaving behind scorched grooves and cracks where they had been destroyed.

Max lowered his arm, and the spatial sphere vanished seamlessly, once again exposing the group to the silence of the hall. They stood directly in front of the ancient gate, which pulsed softly as if acknowledging their arrival.

"This place does not want us here," Lucien remarked in a low voice.

Max stared at the door with icy concentration. "That only means we are exactly where we need to be."

"Whatever lies beyond this door is deeply evil," Lucien added solemnly, his gaze fixed on the ancient seal. "Most likely it is the crown tainted by the True Origin Devil Blood."

Max gave a slow nod. As his senses brushed against the aura behind the gate, his face turned grim. "I can feel it too. The evil energy behind this door is at its peak. It is far denser and more malicious than anything we have encountered so far."

Before any response could be made, Lucien suddenly blurred into motion.

He vanished from his spot and reappeared instantly before one of the squad leaders. A heavy thud echoed as he pinned the man to the stone floor, wrenching his arms behind his back and restraining him with overwhelming strength. The man pinned under him was Michael.

For a brief moment, the entire party stood frozen in shock.

"I will kill you! I will kill you all!" Michael shrieked like a lunatic, his voice raspy and overflowing with pure malice. His eyes radiated a sickly crimson glow, and dark red veins branched across his face and neck. His skin appeared pale and diseased, as if some internal rot was trying to burst through the surface.

"What happened to him?" Victor yelled, his face a mask of disbelief.

Seraphina, Daniel, Arthur, and the others watched in terror, unable to connect the person before them with the dependable comrade they had known. Even the four leaders of the Four God Nation were visibly disturbed, their faces darkening as they felt the distorted aura radiating from Michael’s frame.

"He was about to sneak attack all of you," Lucien stated coldly, his grip never loosening on the struggling Michael. "His killing intent spiked the moment you lowered your guard."

Max had already stepped forward. He knelt before Michael, his eyes sharp and analytical as his perception scanned Michael’s body and soul. "The corruption here is not passive," he noted softly. "It seeps into anyone who stays exposed for too long. I believe whatever has defiled this temple has begun to corrupt him as well."

While speaking, Max glanced briefly at the other squad leaders and the four representatives of the Four God Nation. His Three Dimensional Body scrutinized them, checking for any instability in their auras or souls. Upon confirming they were untainted, he exhaled slowly.

"You are all safe for now," Max declared with a firm, serious tone. He then turned his focus back to Michael, who continued to fight violently against Lucien’s hold, his hatred spilling out like venom.

Victor balled his fists, his jaw tight as he looked at Michael thrashing on the stones. "What do we do about him?" he asked, his voice heavy with emotion. "He is our teammate. I do not want to see him end like this."

The hall returned to a heavy silence, the sealed gate looming behind them as the corrupted energy pulsed, seemingly mocking their indecision.