Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

The elder with the moustache let out a disbelieving snort, clearly holding back his displeasure. "Princess Lyra, are you joking with us?" he asked, lips curling slightly. "With all due respect, are you truly saying this… boy at the 8th level of Expert Rank is to be our final seed? That position is reserved for geniuses who stand at the very peak of Master Rank. If this isn't a joke, then it's a waste of a seed spot."

Even though his words remained formal, the disappointment in his voice was clear. The others didn't speak, but their silence spoke volumes.

The woman with the phoenix robe narrowed her eyes, clearly questioning Lyra's judgment, while the bald elder shook his head lightly, lips pressed in a thin line.

They all knew who Lyra Shade was. Not just a princess by title, but one of the most dazzling geniuses the Middle Domain had produced in the past century. Her talent was unquestionable, her strategic mind sharp, and her loyalty to the Great Ruler Empire unwavering.

Time and time again, she had proven her worth on and off the battlefield. But even so, the elders had never stopped questioning her methods. She was young—bold, unpredictable, and sometimes too unconventional for their liking.

And now, this? Handing the last of the five coveted seed participant spots to someone who hadn't even reached the Master Rank yet? To them, it wasn't just a bad decision—it was a reckless gamble.

Every participant mattered. Every seed slot was a carefully chosen by them to ensure their force would get some good members every year. To see one handed to an 8th-level Expert Rank junior—a level any elite academy disciple could achieve—felt like a slap to the face of their hard-earned standards.

Their hearts were heavy with disappointment. Not because they didn't respect Lyra. But because this time, they feared she might be wrong.

"If he isn't strong enough, he'll be eliminated anyway," Lyra said casually, her tone indifferent and unshaken by the elders' disapproving looks. She didn't see the need to waste words. In her eyes, strength spoke louder than status, and Max would prove his worth when the time came.

Truth be told, she never held much respect for most of the elders in the Great Ruler Empire. Aside from her father, mother, and grandfather—whose wisdom and power had earned her full reverence—she considered the rest to be rigid-minded relics of the past, clinging too tightly to formality and tradition.

Without bothering to justify her decision any further, she turned her gaze to the massive screen dominating the center of the hall. The high-resolution display hovered midair, powered by a complex array of spirit formations and enchanted runes.

It showcased the ongoing match between four of the strongest current participants in the recruitment assessment—two battles happening side by side.

Each of the combatants moved like streaks of light, their weapons colliding with explosive bursts of energy, the sheer force behind every strike resonating even through the screen. Their forms were fluid, techniques sharp, and pressure intense.

"Hmm, good," Lyra nodded with satisfaction. "All four are at peak Master Rank… better than last year's batch. Including the few we'll secure after the final round, this year's lineup should be exceptional."

Max followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on the battles unfolding. Even though he couldn't fully sense their aura or analyze the depth of their concepts from a screen, the rhythm and tempo of their movements told him enough.

Their concept control—whether wind, flame, or sword—had clearly reached the advanced stage. It wasn't raw power that made them strong, but their refined mastery over their elements and techniques. This was the level of competition he would be stepping into.

As he observed, a thought surfaced in his mind. 'I still have the Lightning Core I obtained from the Citadel…' He hadn't forgotten the treasure pulsing with refined lightning energy resting inside his dimensional storage. 'If I absorb it, I should be able to elevate my lightning concept to Level 2.'

That would give him a critical edge. He also needed to review and master some of the profound techniques he had acquired during his time in the Citadel. There was only a week left before the assessment began, but for Max—who possessed the Dimension of Time—that was more than enough to make significant progress.

His mind began working on a plan, quietly determined.

"Let's go. I'll take you to your room," Lyra said, her voice calm and composed as she turned toward Max, her violet hair swaying lightly behind her. "You have one week. Rest and prepare for the assessment."

Max gave a silent nod and followed her as they stepped away from the wide observation hall, leaving behind the elders and the faint hum of the floating battle display. His expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, he was already making plans, thinking of how to best use every single moment before the assessment began.

Behind them, the elder with the sharp moustache exchanged glances with the others, a clear look of discontent flickering across their faces. Their doubts about Max were plain and not just because of his current cultivation rank—though that alone was enough for many to scoff.

What bothered them more was Lyra's outright dismissal of their concerns. Yet, none voiced their objections aloud. They had long grown used to this side of her.

Among the four children of the Great Ruler Empire's Emperor, Lyra—Second Princess Lyra Shade—was a breed apart. Unlike her siblings who operated within the limits of protocol and hierarchy, Lyra walked her own path.

She was unrestrained and unshakable, her decisions rarely swayed by political considerations or noble courtesies. That unbridled nature, paired with the steel in her spirit and the brilliance of her talent, had created a storm-like presence around her—one that none in the empire could ignore.

Dominant. Courageous. Unapologetically fierce.

And it was precisely this strength of character that had made her the most favored child of the Emperor. The entire Great Ruler Empire knew it. In the court halls, on the battlefields, and among the noble clans, whispers always spoke of her as the one most worthy of the imperial throne—not because of birthright, but because of sheer merit and the overwhelming aura of royalty that clung to her like a mantle of fire.

And so, though the elders grumbled in silence, they did nothing more than exchange meaningful looks. For as much as they disapproved, none dared truly stand against Lyra when her mind was made up. Not when the empire itself seemed to stand behind her.

***

"This is your room," Lyra said as she handed Max the intricately carved silver key and stopped in front of a tall, polished wooden door lined with rune patterns that faintly shimmered under the hallway's ambient light.

She glanced at him, her violet eyes narrowing slightly. "Remember this—never underestimate the geniuses of the Middle Domain. Not even for a second. You are strong, no doubt, and fearless… but so are they. Every single one of them."

She paused for a breath, her voice turning colder, sterner. "The Lower Domain may have shaped you, but this is a different world, Max. In the Middle Domain, talent alone isn't enough. Here, if you stop moving forward—if your progress slows for even a moment—you won't just be surpassed. You'll be forgotten. Or worse… crushed beneath the feet of those who never stop chasing power. In this place, humiliation is the least of what awaits a stagnant genius."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, sharp like a blade yet faintly laced with something that almost resembled concern. "That pressure is what forces the monsters of this land to unleash their true potential. And if you want to stand with or above them, you'll need to do the same."

She turned away then, flipping her long hair. "I've said enough, I think," she muttered softly before stepping down the hall. But just before the distance stretched too far, her voice echoed back one last time—cool and commanding.

"Don't disappoint me."

And with that, she vanished around the corner, leaving Max standing alone in front of the door, the key still warm in his palm.