Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1596 Towards the Dragon Death Valley!

Lucia made her return with Rose walking by her side.

The woman's demeanor remained as placid and unreadable as ever, yet a subtle severity flickered in her eyes as they fixed upon Max. After a brief lull in conversation, she spoke plainly.

"I consent," she stated. "I will escort both of you to Dragon Death Valley. However, I must inquire why you wish to venture to such a place?"

"Would you accept 'it's my private business' as an answer?" Max replied with a grin.

Rose offered a slight nod. Upon learning of Max's confrontation with Sword God Palace and his subsequent alliance with War God Palace, she had begun to regard him with greater seriousness.

A faint smile touched Max's lips. "In that case, we can depart at once."

Rose gave a minimal nod, then turned without further discourse. "Keep pace. The path is far from straightforward."

With that, she took the lead.

Her form effortlessly traversed the uneven terrain, stepping over fragmented stone ledges and desolate inclines as if intimately familiar with the route. Max and Lucia followed her at a consistent stride, both maintaining a heightened sense of awareness as they entered a much more desolate section of Orion.

The landscape underwent a gradual transformation the deeper they journeyed.

The earth grew darker, fracturing into countless fissures as if seared by primordial infernos. Jagged peaks thrust upwards like the teeth of ancient, buried beasts, while a dry, metallic tang permeated the wind. Even the sky above appeared more subdued, obscured by shrouding clouds of ash-colored vapor.

As their progress continued, Rose finally broke the silence.

"Dragon Death Valley stands as one of Orion's most ancient restricted zones," she explained, her movement unbroken. "Many theorize it was once the site of a colossal battle between true dragons in a bygone era. Others contend that a dragon sovereign met its demise there, its lingering animosity never dissipating."

Lucia cast a wary glance around. "And what is your belief?"

Rose's gaze remained fixed forward. "I believe that an excessive number of formidable beings perished there for the exact truth to retain any significance."

Her response prompted Lucia to fall into thoughtful silence.

Rose resumed after a brief interval.

"The periphery itself is fraught with peril. Savage beasts roam without restraint, many of them cruelly mutated by residual draconic energy. Some harbor traces of dragon blood within their lineage, rendering them vastly more potent than common fauna."

She gestured towards a distant precipice where deep gouges marred the stone, testament to savage claw marks.

"Those markings were inflicted by a scaled monstrosity that decimated a fully formed team from the peak Law Refinement Realm merely two months ago. Not a single soul emerged alive."

Lucia's expression tightened subtly.

Rose then indicated the sky, where peculiar silhouettes occasionally flitted behind the obscuring clouds.

"The heavens offer no sanctuary either. Vicious aerial predators lair within the cliffs. They descend with stealth, preferring to seize their quarry mid-air before rending them asunder."

Max absorbed the information silently, his mien contemplative rather than apprehensive.

Rose briefly met his gaze before continuing.

"That pertains solely to the outer reaches. The intermediate zone is where most intrepid explorers choose to retreat."

"And why is that?" Max inquired.

"It is due to the oppressive pressure," Rose elucidated. "The draconic aura intensifies exponentially with deeper proximity. Frail physiques cannot withstand its influence for extended periods. Cultivation becomes erratic, bodily movements are impeded, and an innate dread begins to fester within the spirit."

She paused, then appended in a hushed tone.

"Furthermore, there are the remnants."

"Remnants?" Lucia questioned.

"Spectral vestiges of deceased dragons. Fractured essences of will, fury, and primal instinct. They manifest without forewarning. Some are mere phantasms. Others possess lethal capabilities."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the canyon path they were traversing, carrying a faint sound that bore an uncanny resemblance to a guttural roar.

Lucia instinctively drew nearer to Max.

Rose proceeded as if undisturbed.

"The inner sanctum is where the true peril commences," Rose declared, her voice smooth yet imbued with unmistakable gravity.

She continued her stride as she spoke, yet neither Max nor Lucia failed to perceive the profound weight accompanying her pronouncements.

"Numerous accounts have surfaced over the years. Entire expeditions vanished within the inner valley, seemingly erased from existence. Others managed a desperate return, but only at a grievous cost. Some reappeared decades older, experiencing rapid aging within the span of mere days. Their hair had turned stark white, their bodies gaunt, their very life force severely depleted."

Lucia's composure faltered slightly.

Rose's tone adopted a more chilling cadence.

"And a select few returned with their minds irrevocably shattered. They babbled incoherently, attacked unseen specters, or shrieked about visions perceived within the distorted depths. None ever reclaimed their former sanity."

A heavy silence descended for a beat before Rose spoke once more.

"However, even these dire fates do not constitute the ultimate reason Dragon Death Valley is classified as one of Orion's paramount forbidden zones."

Her gaze traveled towards the distant horizon, where a faint crimson haze was barely discernible.

"The most profound terror resides within the central core region."

The very air seemed to hold its breath as she uttered those words.

"The aura within the core is unlike anything encountered in the outer or inner valley. It is ancient, potent, and thoroughly corrupted by draconic power. The instant a living being enters, that aura begins to infiltrate their body."

Max's gaze sharpened with intrigue.

Rose continued, her expression growing somber.

"Initially, the changes are barely noticeable. Blood starts to churn restlessly. Bones throb with a deep ache. Skin begins to toughen. The mind turns increasingly aggressive. But the transformation doesn't halt there."

She paused for a beat.

"The longer one remains within that zone, the more rapidly the metamorphosis progresses. Flesh contorts, scales start to sprout, instincts become feral, and rational thought begins to erode. Before long, the individual undergoes complete draconification."

Lucia felt an involuntary shiver trace its way up her spine. "You mean they turn into monsters?"

Rose inclined her head in agreement.

"They forfeit their human consciousness, their cherished memories, their self-control, and their very identity. Everything that defined them is utterly consumed by primal, beastly instinct. In the end, they become just another one of the numerous draconic beasts that roam the core region."

Her voice deepened, carrying a heavier weight.

"Some of these monstrous beasts were once formidable cultivators. Others were brilliant geniuses who ventured in pursuit of riches and renown. Still others were revered elders who fancied their strength was sufficient to withstand the encroaching corruption."

She cast her gaze upon both Max and Lucia.

"Now, they exist solely as savage predators, eternally guarding the very place that ultimately annihilated them."

The gravity of her warning descended upon them.

Even Lucia, who had heard countless dire tales of Orion's perils, now truly grasped the profound terror that Dragon Death Valley inspired.

It wasn't merely a location that felled individuals.

It was a place that utterly erased them, transforming them into something entirely alien.

Even Max's eyes gleamed with a heightened intensity upon hearing this.

"And still, people persist in venturing there," he remarked.

Rose offered a faint, mirthless smile.

"Because Dragon Death Valley also harbors opportunities that match its dangers. You can find rare herbs that have absorbed dragon essence. The bones of ancient, powerful beasts. Grounds steeped in forgotten inheritances. Pools shimmering with potent blood energy. If fortune smiles upon them, one might even discover a sliver of a dragon's bloodline."

Now, Max fully comprehended the allure that drew so many to risk utter annihilation.

As their journey continued, the surrounding environment intensified its hostility with every passing mile. The wind grew more formidable, and a subtle yet persistent pressure began to build in the atmosphere.

Rose slightly reduced her pace and issued one final, critical warning.

"From this point forward, do not stray from the path. Do not investigate any unusual sounds. Refrain from touching any bones you might find on the ground. And if I instruct you to flee, do so without question."

Lucia’s throat felt dry as she swallowed hard.

Max, however, simply grinned.

"That only makes me more eager to witness it."

Rose regarded him for a moment, her expression unreadable, before turning her gaze forward once more.

"You may come to deeply regret those words once we arrive."