Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

"Elder Drew, that's what I wanted as well," Lyra said softly, stepping forward as she looked at him with a calm and composed gaze. Her words didn't come as a surprise to Max—she had already told him about this—but hearing her say it openly confirmed what he felt deep down.

She had seen this outcome, anticipated this moment, and created the path for him. That was why she chose him to represent the Great Ruler Empire from the very start. Her confidence in him hadn't been born from impulse, but from intent.

Elder Drew fell into a thoughtful silence for a few moments, his eyes shifting from Lyra to Max, as if weighing the decision one last time.

Then, with a small smile curling on his lips, he gave a nod. "It's really not that hard for me to agree to something like this," he said with a hint of pride in his tone.

He turned to Max fully now, eyes filled with approval. "Kid, you fought for the face of our Great Ruler Empire… and you didn't let us down, not even in the slightest. For that alone, I'll grant your wish."

He paused briefly, then added, his voice becoming a little more solemn yet reassuring, "And remember, you are now a full-fledged member of the Great Ruler Empire. You've earned that through your strength and will. If you have any similar requests in the future, don't hesitate. Speak freely."

Max bowed respectfully, sincerity reflected in every gesture and every word. "Thank you, Elder Drew," he said, his voice firm but humble. He meant it. Not just out of courtesy, but from a genuine place of respect—for the elder who stood up for him against Elder Heng without hesitation.

In his mind he also thanked Lyra deeply. It was only because of her that he was here.

"Alright, you two kids handle things here. I'll see you back at the empire," Elder Drew said with a light chuckle, waving his hand casually before turning around. With steady steps, the elder made his way out of the cave, his presence slowly fading until only silence remained.

Lyra turned to Max immediately, her expression shifting to one of solemn curiosity. "Can you really absorb mana from the mana pool and level up to Master Rank without the assistance of runes?" she asked seriously, her brows slightly furrowed.

There was no playfulness in her tone now—only the sharpness of someone who knew the weight of such a claim.

In their world, it was a known fact that cultivation through pure ambient mana, even condensed mana pools like this one, required the support of runes, guidance machines, or special treasures to channel it efficiently into one's body.

Only a few rare materials—treasured fruits, or the most common - monster cores could be directly absorbed to increase power without those constraints. And if Max could break even that rule…

Then he was no longer just a genius.

He was something entirely different.

An anomaly.

Max met her gaze without flinching and nodded. "I can." His voice was calm, not arrogant, not boastful—just a quiet confirmation.

He didn't offer any explanation, didn't go into details about this ability or how he could do it. He knew there was no need for words here. If Lyra wanted answers, she would find them herself soon enough—because once he began absorbing the mana from this pool, the truth would reveal itself on its own.

With that thought in mind, Max didn't hesitate a second longer and leapt directly into the mana pond. The moment his body touched the water, a soothing, cool sensation flowed over him, like stepping into a calm stream after a blazing summer day.

But that serenity was quickly overshadowed by something far more overwhelming—the suffocatingly dense presence of pure mana. It wasn't like the usual energy floating in the air.

No. This mana was thick, almost syrup-like in its concentration, pressing against his skin, seeping into every pore, wrapping around him like a second layer of reality.

To an ordinary expert, this would've been torturous—like being surrounded by the most delicious feast imaginable yet being cursed without a mouth to consume it. All the power in the world, right there, within reach… and yet completely useless.

But for Max it was the exact opposite.

'Devour.' The word slipped from his mouth like a whisper, but it carried the weight of a command. Instantly, a wave of black flames erupted from within him, licking outwards like living shadows, greedy and hungry.

The flames weren't hot—they didn't burn in the traditional sense. Instead, they consumed, stripping everything down to its essence. The pond, once glowing in beautiful tranquil blue, turned pitch black within seconds.

And then, as if responding to some hidden rhythm within Max's body, the black flames began to spiral, slowly twisting and coiling around him like a vortex of shadows.

Max stood at the center, his expression calm and composed, as if he had entered a meditative state, entirely in tune with the consuming force he had unleashed. The spiral wasn't wild or chaotic—it moved with eerie precision, drawing in the surrounding mana with unstoppable pull.

The mana pool, once glowing blue and full of vibrant energy, now visibly dimmed as its essence was drained away. One could clearly see the black flames eating into the water, the level of mana visibly lowering second by second, like a cup slowly being emptied.

It was no longer just energy floating around—it was a stream of life force being siphoned away directly into Max's being.

Lyra stood by the edge of the pool, utterly stunned. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, reflected the dark spirals churning in the water. "Amazing…" she breathed, as if she could hardly trust her own voice. What she was witnessing simply defied common sense.

She knew how difficult it was to absorb raw mana, even with powerful rune formations and elite-level assistance tools back in the Great Ruler Empire. Those methods required coordination, preparation, and precise control.

Yet here Max was—alone, unassisted, and devouring pure condensed mana at a speed that would put their most advanced absorption chambers to shame.

The black flames were like a gluttonous entity, consuming without waste, absorbing without pause. Lyra had known Max was special—but this? This was something else entirely.