Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1342 Cruel World

Following those instructions, the group of newcomers was escorted toward the arena's perimeter. Their boots clicked rhythmically against the cold stone as they emerged into the massive open space. Trailing behind them were several veterans; some were loosening their muscles with stretches, while others wore casual grins that betrayed a clear sense of eager anticipation.

To these seasoned warriors, the event was pure amusement. Fresh arrivals always showed up brimming with optimism and self-assurance, yet, with mechanical certainty, the majority would be broken before the sun set. The mere anticipation of this spectacle seemed to delight the experienced combatants as they took their positions at the arena's edge, already placing mental bets on which rookie would be the first to collapse.

The Divine Colosseum pulsed with vibrant life. Tiers of seating ascended into the sky, overflowing with a dense throng of spectators whose collective shouts merged into a deafening ocean of noise. Some fans roared the names of their favorite gladiators, others engaged in heated disputes over their wagers, while a few veteran observers watched with narrowed, analytical eyes in total silence.

A thin haze of Divine Essence permeated the atmosphere, shimmering and reacting to the raw emotions radiating from the audience. Below them, the vast arena floor was battered and scarred. Its surface bore the deep etchings of a thousand previous encounters, each mark serving as a mute witness to past carnage and desperate survival.

Within one of the prestigious elevated stands, two women sat together, exuding an aura of undeniable power. One possessed long, crimson hair that cascaded down her back like a river of fire; the other had hair the color of warm orange, glowing softly under the arena’s magical illumination.

While their beauty was breathtaking, the void surrounding them was even more remarkable. Despite the colosseum being packed to capacity, three or four seats in every direction remained pointedly empty.

Not a single soul dared to sit near the duo. Many avoided even glancing toward them, while those who did quickly averted their eyes, terrified of accidentally provoking their notice.

"Jaden, the warrior you picked must claim victory today," Lucia remarked, her crimson eyes locked onto the arena floor as a subtle smile played on her lips. "Yesterday, he secured three wins, which allowed us to win our bet and take home a respectable sum. I’ve increased my stake on him today. I truly wish to see him triumph once more."

"You fret over nothing, Lucia," Jaden answered with a relaxed grin, leaning back into her seat with effortless grace. "The fighters I select rarely let me down. Even if he has a poor showing, he’ll manage at least one win. I can guarantee that much."

"I hope your confidence is well-placed," Lucia said, her expression becoming sharp and greedy. "If he wins, I can roll my winnings into even larger bets later and walk away with a massive fortune."

"Honestly, Lucia," Jaden said, looking at her friend with a hint of skepticism. "You train with more intensity than almost anyone here, yet your fixation on gambling only seems to intensify."

"Hehe, don't worry your head about that," Lucia answered playfully, her smile growing wider.

"If you say so," Jaden murmured, shifting her focus back to the center of the arena as the opening combatants began to step out. Her face was a mask of calm expectation.

At the battlefield's edge, the combatants formed disorganized rows. Veterans and rookies alike stood in the shadow of the colossal walls that hemmed in the fighting pit. The air felt heavy with Divine Essence and palpable tension, while the relentless roar of the crowd crashed over them like waves against a cliff.

The new arrivals stood with stiff postures, their eyes darting nervously between the scarred floor and the towering stands where thousands waited hungrily for the first drop of blood.

Max watched the proceedings in silence for a time before his curiosity finally prompted him to speak. Addressing a nearby cluster of veterans, he asked in a level voice, "Who are our actual opponents in this colosseum?"

A middle-aged veteran burst into a boisterous laugh at the question, his voice sounding like grinding gravel as he scanned Max from head to toe. "Kid, since you asked so politely, I’ll fill you in," he said, his grin devoid of warmth but lacking true malice—only the cold familiarity of a hard life. "We ascenders fight one another here. That means when your name is called, if your luck is rotten, you might find yourself facing me."

He chuckled again, clearly delighted by the prospect. "That is the reality of the colosseum. We are pitted against each other until one man falls or surrenders."

He then gestured with his chin toward the screaming masses in the stands as the first fighters entered the light. "Look at them," he said, his voice turning icy as he pointed to the sea of spectators. "They couldn't care less if we live, die, or get torn limb from limb. To that lot, we are just a show. We are merely pawns on a board for them to gamble on, cheer for, and then discard the moment the next match starts."

Max gave a stoic nod to the veteran’s explanation, his face remaining impassive as if the news was of no consequence. The idea of battling other ascenders who were merely at the peak of the Divine Rank did not rattle him at all.

Compared to the horrors he had navigated on Acaris, these opponents could hardly be considered a threat. To him, these upcoming duels were nothing more than a minor detour—a light breeze he could easily walk through.

His mind was occupied by a far more important matter: Instructor Virelia. He cast a brief, searching glance toward the high-tier boxes, looking not for a foe, but for a familiar face that had yet to show up.

He had anticipated that she would locate him shortly after his ascension. The longer she remained absent, the more her silence weighed on his thoughts.

"Am I leaning on her too much in this place?" Max mused internally, shaking his head to clear the doubt.

Perhaps he was, but he couldn't ignore the cold facts of his environment. In this strange new world, surrounded by entities far more powerful and predatory than anything in the mortal realm, there was no one else he could truly trust. Instructor Virelia was the only high-ranking figure he could rely on—the only one who had helped him without a hidden agenda.

She had placed her bets on him back in Obsidian Dragon City, recognizing his potential while he was still struggling to climb. Max knew that people of her stature did not simply throw away their investments. There was no logical reason for her to shun him now that he had finally reached the Divine Realm.

With his resolve fortified by that thought, Max turned his attention back to the arena, waiting with quiet patience for the first clash to begin.