Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1339 Two Paths of Freedom

Emerging from the liquid of the Energy Stabilizing Pond, Max rose and drifted with light steps onto the solid ground. His attention was immediately captured by an unexpected scene the moment his feet met the stone platform.

Long queues of people snaked across the vast plaza, leading toward polished counters crafted from pale divine stone. Though the atmosphere remained orderly, it was thick with tension, quiet murmurs, and the suppressed impatience of those who had recently ascended from their respective mortal worlds.

Judging by their lingering auras, Max realized these individuals had already finished stabilizing their mana and were now confronting the next phase of their journey in this strange realm.

"What is the purpose of these lines?" Max pondered internally as he approached the shortest queue. Stepping up behind a man already in line, he asked in a composed voice, "Brother, could you tell me what these lines are for?"

The man turned around, scrutinizing Max for a moment. He looked to be in his early thirties, possessing a hardened gaze that belonged to someone who had already resigned himself to his fate.

Upon seeing Max's youthful features, the man's expression softened slightly. "Little brother, your fate in the Divine Realm is decided by these lines," he explained with a soft sigh. "An ascender has only two paths to earn their freedom here. You can either mine Divine Ore for the powers that rule this city, or you can enter the Divine Colosseum to gain merit through blood and combat."

Max’s brow furrowed as the weight of the explanation settled in. The implication was crystal clear: ascenders were not greeted as peers. Instead, they were viewed as mere resources—laborers and gladiators whose value would be extracted through years of toil or life-and-death struggles.

This realization left a bitter trail in his mind. He had defended his world against gods, demons, and disasters, yet upon reaching the Divine Realm, he was forced into a line that barely differed from that of a slave.

'So this is the reality for ascenders,' Max thought. Despite the wave of irritation in his heart, his face remained a mask of calm. He found neither choice appealing, but he knew that starting a conflict now would only lead to pointless trouble.

While considering his options, another memory surfaced. 'Instructor Virelia mentioned she would seek me out once I ascended,' he recalled while scanning his surroundings. 'I hope our meeting happens soon.'

After a short silence, Max spoke once more. "Brother, which of these two paths is the quickest?"

The man paused before shaking his head slowly. "I'll be blunt with you," he whispered. "There is only one true shortcut to liberty, and that is the Divine Colosseum. Defeating the Grim Gladiator grants immediate freedom. Mining, on the other hand, can take years or even decades before you are released—provided you don't collapse from exhaustion first."

He looked Max over again, his voice becoming more guarded. "However, based on your aura, I'd suggest the mines. Most ascenders meet their end in the Colosseum."

"Divine Colosseum," Max murmured, the name ringing in his head. A small glint of interest sparked in his eyes before he nodded. "I appreciate the information, brother."

Max stayed in the queue beside the man, waiting for his turn to pick a path. He appeared submissive and calm on the surface, but a deep resolve was forming within him. Regardless of what this realm demanded, he refused to stay trapped for long.

As the wait continued, Max turned his focus toward the city itself. The more he looked, the more he noticed the contradictions of the place. The architecture was sleek with sharp lines and perfect symmetry, reminiscent of the advanced cities found in futuristic myths, yet the materials used were far removed from the steel, glass, or concrete of the mortal world.

Every building exuded a sense of quiet power, constructed from mysterious substances that seemed both ancient and unbreakable. Even the ground beneath him was etched with faint, glowing patterns, as if the very foundations were woven from divine essence.

Occasionally, flying vessels moved across the sky in silent, graceful arcs. They lacked engines or exhaust, instead propelled by thick currents of Divine Essence that flowed around them. Watching them move gave Max a surreal feeling, as if he had entered a dream built from eons of cultivation and technological progress.

'The atmosphere is quite similar to Obsidian Dragon City,' Max thought, remembering the impression that location had made on him.

Before he could dwell on it further, the line moved forward quickly, and he soon stood before the counter. The guard on duty wasn't overtly hostile, but his indifference was cold and absolute, treating Max as just another face among the thousands he had already processed.

"Name and path?" the guard asked, his eyes never leaving his work. "Mining or the Colosseum?"

"Max Morgan," Max answered steadily. "I choose to fight."

The guard gave no sign of surprise. Without looking up, he logged the name onto a crystal panel with a flick of divine light and tossed a metallic token toward Max. The object was cold and featured an engraving of a crossed sword and shield that glowed faintly with divine runes.

"Take this and report to the Divine Colosseum," the guard stated flatly.

Max caught the token with ease and moved away from the desk. He stopped for a moment, looking around until his eyes landed on a massive structure towering near the Energy Stabilizing Pond. The arena was so large it made everything else look small, its exterior walls decorated with reliefs of beasts, warriors, and strange beings locked in combat. The sheer magnitude of the building made his chest tighten.

"That must be the Divine Colosseum," Max whispered to himself.

He walked toward it without delay. On the way, he saw many others moving in the same direction. Their faces showed everything from grim focus to hidden terror; Max could sense from their auras that they were all fellow ascenders.

Some traveled alone in silence, while others spoke in hushed, nervous tones to people they had only just met.

As he drew closer, the Colosseum's presence became more oppressive, weighing heavily on his senses. This was not a place for entertainment. It was a brutal crucible where one paid for freedom with blood, and where many lives had likely vanished without a trace.