Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Raul, empowered by his essence blood, had reached a level of strength that was frighteningly close to the 7th and even 8th level of the Legend Rank. His aura surged like a tide of blood, his insects radiating a savage power that made the entire battlefield tremble.

Yet what shocked him to the very core was not his own strength—but Max's ability to match it without faltering. Raul's eyes widened slightly, his confidence cracking. Max was only at the peak of Master Rank, yet here he was, clashing with him blow for blow, with no sign of being overwhelmed.

It was something Raul could not accept, and more importantly, something that made fear coil inside his heart.

Because Raul knew one thing very clearly: the power of essence blood was temporary. While it could grant a expert an explosive increase in strength, that boost would only last for as long as a cup of tea at best. In his case, because he had used the blood essence not for himself but to empower his insect swarm, the duration was even shorter.

Once that time expired, his insects would be forced into a state of extreme weakness, unable to wield their full strength for ten days to half a month. If he pushed them beyond that limit, they risked permanent damage, possibly even death, which would cripple Raul's fighting ability for months.

This was why warriors only ever used their essence blood in moments of absolute life and death. Yet Raul had thought himself clever, channeling the power into his insects instead of his own body, hoping to cut the backlash in half and still secure victory.

Even so, he understood the price he would pay. If Max could hold out for fifteen minutes, just fifteen minutes, Raul's overwhelming advantage would vanish, and his swarm of insects would weaken instantly.

At that moment, Raul himself would be vulnerable, and Max would have the perfect opportunity to kill him.

Raul's expression twisted, veins bulging on his neck as he gritted his teeth. He could not allow that to happen. He had to kill Max now—before the timer on his strength ran out. His eyes blazed with killing intent, and his voice cracked like a whip as he roared commands.

The insects around him screeched and surged forward, their bodies glowing faintly from the blood essence coursing through them, swarming Max from every angle like a living tide.

But Max was not someone who could be easily killed. His body was shrouded in the pitch-black glow of the Dragon Scales Transformation, his entire figure emanating the terrifying pressure of his 700 Draconic Essences. Flames danced along his sword as he fused his level 2 sword concept and level 2 flame concept together, transforming him into a battle dragon in human form.

Every time the insect swarm clashed with him, shockwaves burst outward, shaking the sky and water alike. The sound of their battle—"Bang! Bang! Bang!"—echoed like a drumbeat of destruction.

"Damn it!" Raul hissed, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Max like a starving predator. His killing intent only intensified, his aura growing colder and sharper, making even the air feel suffocating.

Like a beast cornered, Raul drove his insects harder, weaving thousands of strands of glowing moonlight-like threads that shot toward Max like a storm of death.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

But Max blocked every single one. His sword flashed with perfect precision, his body flowing like a river of fire and steel, deflecting and slicing apart the swarm's attacks. From the outside, it looked as though he was unshakable, untouchable—but Raul's sharp eyes caught something.

Max's face was pale, sweat dripping down his brow, and his arms trembled slightly under the relentless strain. For a moment, Raul's heart surged with hope. "He's weakening…" he thought, his teeth clenching as his killing intent spiked. This was his chance—his one chance—to finish it.

But Raul didn't know. He couldn't know.

Max was doing it on purpose. The pale face, the trembling arms—it was all an act. He wanted Raul to lower his guard, to believe that victory was within his grasp. Max's mind was cold and focused, waiting for that one fatal moment when Raul would overextend himself, convinced of his impending triumph.

And when that moment came, Max would strike—not to wound, not to scare—but to kill.

The entire surface of Mirror Moon Lake quaked violently, ripples turning into towering waves as streams of blood-stained water surged upward. The stench of slaughter mixed with the metallic tang of blood filled the air, and the surging crimson waves rushed straight toward Max and Raul.

Yet, before they could be swept into chaos, waves of mana burst out from both sides, erecting barriers that split the raging water and kept the two combatants suspended in mid-air, locked in their deadly standoff.

Max stood there, his face pale as paper, his once-bright eyes now dim and weary from the ferocity of the battle. Yet, despite his apparent exhaustion, a faint smile curved his lips as he spoke in a low, mocking tone, "Raul, how long can you hold on?"

"Damn it!" Raul cursed, his pupils shrinking. Those words hit harder than any sword strike Max had unleashed. For a brief second, his killing intent faltered, and hesitation flickered in his eyes. He studied Max carefully, his expression tightening further.

That sharp, unwavering sword intent coming from Max's body felt sharper than any blade, forcing Raul to ask himself a question he didn't want to face—could he even kill Max now?

Taking a deep breath, Raul hardened his gaze, trying to bury his growing unease. His expression twisted, his voice dripping with hate as he finally spat, "Max, I will definitely kill you next time."

Max's smile widened, but it was cold and razor-sharp, his voice cutting through the air like his blade.

"You don't stand a chance." His sword swung out without hesitation, and arcs of black flames exploded forward like cascading meteors, each slash carrying the combined might of his flame and sword concepts. Every strike was lethal, capable of ending Raul's life instantly if it found its mark.