Ultimate Level 1

Bob had counted down the seconds for Max, not because he needed to but because it was the only thing keeping him settled as he waited.

“I’ll be back in a month,” he informed the trio. “Sog’thollech, don’t overdo yourself. Simply allow your presence to be noticed and these two to state that you are my emissary. I’ll try to find another time soon so that we can converse.”

The demon bowed, lower than Max had intended.

“It is my pleasure to be known as your arm and blade if required. Travel safe, Max. Until next time.”

Jazzjak hopped once to get closer to Max.

Thirty seconds.

“My wife said she owes you a meal. Do not make me tell her on your next trip that she is not worthy of your presence.”

A chuckle came from Quilazmore, whose grin showed most of his teeth.

“I too feel that pain. Travel well. May your friends know your concern, and may your enemies always fear your blade.”

Waving once, Max backed up a few steps, his armor and weapons now ready.

As soon as he could, the purple portals came, and he winked out from the large office room he had been standing in, leaving a trio to carry a weight he felt he had yet to deal with properly yet.

“Max!”

His Sonar skill told him that Tanila was coming toward him, having shouted his name as his eyes adjusted to the new place.

Even though it only took a fraction of a second, he could already see the situation that had unfolded.

Three elves were bound in rope, and the love of his life was standing there, radiating power as her hair and eyes shone with the gold light she often hid.

Moving to embrace her, his weapons disappeared, and he ignored the sound of one of the elves spitting, kissing her quickly before turning to see what had happened.

“Any more?”

“Gods no,” Fowl said as he shifted behind the tied-up trio. “Tanila has kept them in check. It appears they understand the importance of her blood.”

“Get your hands off her, you filth!”

The elf on the left spat again, this time at him.

“Do not speak!”

Tanila’s voice boomed in the enclosed area, and the man flinched as if she had struck him with her hand.

Giving her an appreciative glance, Max grinned.

“So what happened?”

“You tell us,” Cordellia said as she moved closer to where he was. He could see the way she moved, the effect of Tanila’s power evident by the distance she had been standing at. “Where is the… princess?” ṘαΝоʙÈṩ

Max found himself frowning.

I guess we never did ask her that… I still don’t know her name.

Do not worry. For now we need to move from here. I want to access that shard and see if I can learn some things about this place. Just in case, I need you to gather everyone close and be ready. I would also store those three in your dimensional storage with that one.

He held up his hand at seeing how Cordellia was looking at him, tapping his head.

Won’t that reduce the amount of air in there?

You can easily open it anytime and have it cycle through. Or you can kill them. The truth is at some point they must die. You cannot leave witnesses.

Bob’s words felt like he had been kicked in the gut by a dragon. The pain of that almost took his breath away.

It always comes back to that.

For a very long time it will seem that you only have two options, and one will always be death.

“Help me put them in a special place,” Max said as he summoned the door to his dimensional storage. “After that, I can talk and we can decide our next steps. Besides, my friend wants to inspect that shard.”

As the door swung open and the light from the torches and the lightstones filled the skill he had turned into a prison, a moan came from the elf he had tied up.

“Tari!”

Max and Tanila’s head both snapped in the direction of the prisoner who had shouted out that word.

“She’s a queen,” he muttered. “An elven queen…”

“And you defeated her,” Cordellia said, her voice almost a whisper.

Their ranger’s words and the view of the woman the three elves gazed upon caused each of them to slink away, attempting to move back from where Max was.

“How could he capture her? Alive?”

“Quiet!”

The male elf that had shown a backbone for a moment silenced his companion, never taking his eyes off of Max.

“I’m going to put you three with her. Fight me, and you won’t see her again. I will end your life right before the others.”

His glare and tone seemed to convey what he hoped wouldn’t need to be done, and none of them said a word as Max grabbed them, easily lifting one in each hand by the rope and carried them to the doorway.

“You all stay out. I’d rather you not experience that again.”

None of his team argued, each of them having felt the disconnection of their skills and power upon walking inside the day he showed it to them.@@novelbin@@

In just a few moments, all three elves were bunched up next to the one they had called Queen , and her eyes still burned with hatred.

“Prove to me you can obey, and next time I’ll let you have light,” Max said as he started to shut the door. “Try to free yourselves, and the death you suffer won’t be one I’d ever wish for.”

When the door closed and the dimensional space vanished, he turned to see Tanila activating her bracelet, her hair and eyes returning to normal.

“So… how in the gods did you defeat a queen?” Fowl asked. “I mean… how strong was she?”

There isn’t time for this. Let me do what I need to, and then you can have that conversation.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Bob’s tone was different, and Max could tell he was anxious yet serious at the same time.

“Actually there is one more thing we need to do. Everyone, gather close. I need to let my skill access this and see what we can find. He’s a bit… anxious and wants you all nearby in case something… happens? Comes? We’re not sure.”

Eyebrows furled and moved into one, but a grunt was all their warrior gave, moving to the stone X near the skill shard.

“Should we be worried?” Batrire asked as she joined Fowl.

“I don’t know, but after what I just faced… and not knowing what all this is, it’s better to be safe.”

Tanila came up and grabbed his hand, squeezing it and walking with him as they crossed the room.

It was then that he noticed everything that had been on the shelves was missing.

“Where did—”

“Destroyed. I’ll tell you later,” she replied, her voice hard and rougher than usual.

Bobbing his head, he squeezed her hand and then motioned to everyone to take a few steps back.

“I’m not sure what will happen nor how long this might take. So just give me a few feet.”

No one said anything as they exchanged a few glances and gave Max the space he asked for.

Taking a deep breath, he moved till he was just inches from the small sliver of the shard, staring at its dull color.

You ready?

I am… but you cannot join me on this one. Last time it was hard enough to bring you and show you what I see. Even now I can sense… something different from this shard. Forgive me, but you’ll be unable to move or see anything in this world or in there.

You make me feel like we’re in for such a good time.

A small chuckle came, and Max could sense the change in Bob’s tone.

I won’t lie to you. Something about the way this feels almost scares me.

***

“Everyone to me now!”

The world swirled around Max as he heard his own voice come from his lips.

An intense pain like someone had cracked open his skull and was reaching in, pulling his brain out one handful at a time, made it impossible to see or think.

Even still, his Sonar skill sent enough information to him that the others were coming to where he was, stumbling backward from the shard that had a high-pitched whine coming from it.

“Max?” Tanila asked, grabbing his arm when she got close.

He could sense the tension in her voice, the beating of her heart, and yet none of it felt right.

“Touch me!”

Once again words came on their own, and he finally realized it was Bob doing all of this.

What—

No time! Hold on!

A heat began to build from behind him where the shard was, cracks forming along it, and Max could sense the power that was starting to escape it.

Four different hands all touched him, and the moment they did he felt his skill activate.

[ Planetary Travel - Waypoint ]

The only thing he could sense as the portal moved them away was that the back part of his body felt on fire, a sensation of pain starting to give the one that felt like dwarves were taking turns hammering his skull a run for its money.

***

“Max! Max!”

Tanila’s voice sounded so distant, and yet he knew she was right up against him.

It felt like someone had taken a giant fishhook and run it through his chest and skull. Then they were jerking on both ends, sending pain through his heart and mind.

“What… Bob?”

His words were slurred, and he could tell that they weren’t coming out right.

“What’s he saying? I can’t understand him!”

“I don’t know!”

Blinking didn’t help Max see, his eyes not working, yet he knew Fowl and Tanila were talking.

“The shard. What happened? Did…”

[ Consume is Modifying Language ]

[ Language is Corrupted ]

[ Fixing ]

[ … ]

[ … ]

[ Language Reset ]

A cool breeze felt like it was washing over the inside of his mind, and the throbbing pain was beginning to dull.

“What happened?”

“Praise Ockrim!” Batrire shouted. “I can understand him!”

Her words hurt for some reason, and as Max started to stir, a hand pushed against his chest.

“Wait… just wait.”

Like a calming balm, Tanila’s words soothed the discomfort that he felt.

Are you okay?

His mind heard the voice and the concern and then realized it wasn’t the normal tone Bob had.

Blinking again, he took a deep breath and tasted the sulfur and acidic scent he recognized.

“Rakonath?”

I am here. Your friends are here. Why does your voice sound different now?

Finally his eyes worked as he felt a sensation of something fixing run through them.

[ Regeneration Expired ]

Turning his head, he saw that he was on the ground in the lava-filled area, Fowl looking anxiously at Rakonath, who was towering over him, her humanoid form making his dwarven friend look smaller than usual.

“You are awake. This is good. Tell me, Max, what had the power to do this to you?”

Unable to stop the groan as he sat up, the spinning sensation that came with that motion made him slow down his original intent.

“I’m not sure yet… the shard… I think it exploded. Anyone?”

“Bah, you’re telling me you couldn’t see what happened?” Fowl asked, both eyes widening as he watched him rise. “The whole room lit up like a bonfire or one of those spells Tanila casts! Then the next moment you shouted for us to come close, and as we were brought here, I was certain all my hair would be burnt off.”

A hand appeared by his side, and Max saw Cordellia holding it out for him. Using it, he smiled at her.

“Shorty is right,” their ranger said. “For a moment… I was certain we might not make it out of there. And then the next thing we know this… dragon woman came at us, followed by the dragon you told us about. Neither were happy about the state you were in.”

Finally able to stand without feeling like he was going to fall over, Max summoned a chair and set it down, plopping onto it, and took a few deep breaths.

“Give me a minute. Let me see if I can figure out what happened.”

Bob?

A pain came through their connection. Hurt and something else.

Are you okay?

Yes… like you… I am hurting. Give me a minute as well. We need to talk .

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