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

Dense rows of people snaked across the expansive plaza, each queue terminating at polished counters fashioned from pale divine stone. The air was thick with tension yet remained disciplined, humming with low whispers, suppressed agitation, and the fading arrogance of those who had recently ascended from lower mortal planes.

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

"What are these lines for?" Max pondered silently as he approached the shortest queue. Stepping up behind a man already waiting, he spoke in a measured voice. "Brother, could you tell me the purpose of these lines?"

The man turned his head to inspect Max. He looked to be in his early thirties, possessing a weathered face that hinted at someone who had already resigned himself to his fate.

Noticing Max's youthful appearance, the man's gaze softened a fraction. "Little brother, your destiny after ascension is decided in these lines," he explained with a faint sigh. "In the Divine Realm, an ascender has only two paths to gain their freedom. You can either mine Divine Ore for the powers that rule this city, or you can step into the Divine Colosseum to win your merit through blood and combat."

Max's brow furrowed as he processed the information. The underlying message was painfully clear: ascenders were not greeted as peers. Instead, they were viewed as mere assets—laborers and gladiators whose value would be squeezed out through years of toil or life-and-death struggles.

A bitter sensation rose in his throat. He had defended his world against gods, demons, and apocalyptic disasters, only to arrive in the Divine Realm and be forced into a line that felt little different from a slave auction.

'So this is the treatment reserved for ascenders,' Max mused, his face remaining a mask of calm despite the spark of irritation in his heart. Neither path appealed to him, but he recognized that starting a rebellion now would only lead to pointless trouble.

While contemplating his options, another memory surfaced. 'Instructor Virelia mentioned she would seek me out once I reached the Divine Realm,' he thought, scanning the area with a watchful eye. 'I hope our meeting happens sooner rather than later.'

After a short silence, Max inquired further. "Brother, which of these two routes is the quickest?"

The man paused before shaking his head grimly. "To be perfectly honest," he whispered, "the only real shortcut to liberty is the Divine Colosseum. Defeating the Grim Gladiator grants immediate freedom. Mining, however, takes years or even decades of labor before release—provided you don't collapse from exhaustion first."

He looked Max over once more, his voice dropping to a warning tone. "But based on your aura, I'd suggest the mines. The Colosseum is where most ascenders meet their end."

"Divine Colosseum," Max murmured, the name ringing in his mind. A flicker of interest danced in his eyes as he nodded. "I appreciate the information, brother."

Max stayed in line behind the man, patiently awaiting his turn to declare his choice. While he appeared composed and obedient on the outside, his internal resolve was hardening. No matter the demands of this realm, he had no intention of staying a prisoner for long.

As the wait continued, Max turned his gaze toward the city itself. The more he looked, the more the environment felt like a series of contradictions. The structures were sleek with sharp, symmetrical lines that evoked the high-tech cities of futuristic myths, yet they weren't built from steel, glass, or concrete found in the mortal world.

Every building exuded a silent power, crafted from mysterious materials that seemed both ancient and indestructible. Even the pavement beneath him shimmered with subtle patterns of light, as though the very foundation of the city was woven from divine essence.

Occasionally, flying vessels glided across the sky in silent, elegant arcs. They lacked engines or exhaust, propelled instead by concentrated currents of Divine Essence that flowed around them. Observing their flight gave Max a surreal feeling, as if he had entered a dreamscape built by eons of cultivation and technological advancement.

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

Before he could dwell on it, the line moved forward quickly, and he soon stood before the registration desk. The guard on duty wasn't overtly hostile, but his indifference was absolute; to him, Max was just another face in a sea of thousands.

"Name? And which path are you choosing?" the guard asked, his eyes never leaving his work. "Mining or the Colosseum?"

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

The guard didn't even blink at the choice. Without a word, he logged the name onto a crystal slab with a pulse of divine light and tossed a small metal token toward Max. The object felt cold and was etched with a glowing divine rune depicting a crossed sword and shield.

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

Catching the token with ease, Max stepped away from the desk. He stopped for a moment, searching the horizon until he spotted a colossal structure looming near the Energy Stabilizing Pond. The arena was so massive it made the surrounding buildings look like toys, its exterior walls covered in intricate carvings of warriors and beasts locked in eternal war. The sheer scale of the place sent a slight pang through his chest.

"That must be it—the Divine Colosseum," Max whispered.

He began walking toward the arena without a second thought. As he moved, he saw many others heading the same way. Their faces displayed everything from grim resolve to poorly hidden terror, and Max could sense that every one of them was an ascender like himself.

Some walked in solitary silence, while others spoke in hushed, nervous tones to strangers they had just met.

As the Colosseum loomed closer, its aura grew more oppressive, weighing heavily on his senses. This wasn't just a place for entertainment. It was a brutal crucible where freedom was bought with blood, and where countless lives had likely vanished without a trace.