Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

"How long has it been since these attacks on the Bright Buddha Palace began?" President William asked, his tone sharp but steady, eyes locked on the old man.

"For the past year," the old man replied, a trace of frustration seeping into his voice. His normally calm, measured demeanor gave way to the weight of what he was about to describe. "At first, it was nothing unusual—just small groups of Nulls appearing from the forest behind our palace. They were a nuisance, but nothing my disciples couldn't handle. Yet over time… those small groups grew in number. Then came larger, more organized forces—entire armies of Nulls led by multiple Vespers and even Ascendants."

He paused, his voice lowering but his presence pressing heavier into the room. "Even that, we endured. My Bright Buddha Palace has never feared these dark creatures. In fact, we have always been known for slaughtering them, for turning the ground red with their blood. But recently… the frequency of these attacks has increased. They are no longer spread out—they're coming at us again and again, as if something is driving them relentlessly toward our gates."

President William's expression darkened, his mind already racing through the implications. "You're suggesting…" He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "…that these attacks are coordinated?"

The old man's face hardened, shadows crossing his features. "I fear that might be the case." His voice was calm, but there was a chilling certainty behind his words. "And only you and I know how deep this problem could run…" His gaze sharpened, locking onto William like a blade.

"You can't mean… these attacks—" President William's eyes widened briefly before he shook his head sharply, almost as if to banish the thought. "No. That's impossible."

"How do you know it's impossible?!" the old man snapped, his voice cutting through the air. The fierce baleful aura around him flared slightly, a sharp contrast to his monk-like robes. "The attacks on your Hunter Association have never stopped—from the very first day your Hunter Association established its headquarters in the Almond Region to this very moment. Do you truly believe they've been sending Nulls and Ascendants to their deaths for nothing all these years?"

William fell into a heavy silence. The weight of the old man's words pressed against him like a mountain, and for a long moment, the only sound in the room was the slow, deliberate rhythm of his breathing. He drew in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and finally met the old man's gaze.

"If what you're saying is true," William said, his voice low and grave, "then this is far bigger than I originally thought. This isn't just about the Bright Buddha Palace or the Hunter Association… it concerns the entire Middle Domain. No—" he paused, his tone growing heavier, "—it concerns our entire world."

The old man's expression softened slightly, but the lines of worry etched into his face didn't fade. "My big brother," he began quietly, "has reached the highest level in the way of the Buddha. He has always been the embodiment of calm, reason, and detachment. But recently… something changed. He's no longer the serene man I knew. He speaks of calamity as if it is already at our doorstep, claims that countless lives will be lost, and insists that the current peace is only an illusion about to shatter. I don't know what triggered this… but I believe him when he says the peace of the Middle Domain is coming to an end."

His eyes, sharp and steady despite the gravity of his words, fixed on William. "I hope you are prepared for that."

And with that, his body began to shimmer with golden radiance. The fierce aura he carried faded beneath the glow of a serene, holy light. His form dissolved into motes of golden particles, each one drifting upward before vanishing completely, leaving the office empty save for William.

The President of the Hunter Association stood there for a moment, staring at the space where the old man had been. His face was unreadable, but the weight in his gaze was undeniable. Slowly, he moved to his desk, then to the high-backed chair behind it, sinking down into the seat as though the conversation had aged him years.

He leaned back, eyes unfocused, his mind chasing threads of thought that spiraled deeper with each passing moment. Hours slipped by unnoticed. The once-busy hum of the Association beyond the office walls became a distant, muffled background.

William remained there, motionless, consumed by the implications of what he had just heard—and the storm he feared was already brewing beyond the horizon.

Just as the last threads of his thoughts were circling in his mind, the heavy double doors to President William's office swung open with a quiet creak. The faint sound of footsteps followed, steady and purposeful, and Elder Liam stepped inside, his usual composed expression in place.

Behind him walked Max.

President William's brows lifted slightly in surprise—of all the people he expected to see at that moment, Max was not one of them. "What brings you here, Max?" he asked, his tone showing genuine curiosity.

Max stepped forward and stopped a respectful distance away from the President's desk. He bowed slightly, his posture calm yet dignified. "Greetings, President William," he said, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of urgency. Straightening, he continued, "I've come because I find myself in a troubling situation… and I need the assistance of the Hunter Association."

President William leaned forward slightly in his chair, interest flickering in his eyes. "Oh? And what query is this?"

Max didn't waste time. In a clear, concise manner, he recounted the entire matter—how his friend had been taken, the involvement of the Void Soul Tower, and the possible hand of the Thunder Monarch Hall in the plot. His words were measured, but there was an edge to them that carried the weight of his determination.

When Max finished, President William sat in silence for a brief moment, processing the details. Then he gave a slow, deliberate nod. "I see," he said finally, his voice calm but laced with a deeper undertone. He understood the situation perfectly—too perfectly.

Inwardly, his expression shifted from calm contemplation to a cold realization. He could see the pattern clearly: this was not a random act but a deliberate move. He knew the Void Soul Tower and the Thunder Monarch Hall well enough to recognize their handiwork, and this plan bore their scent all over it.