Ultimate Level 1

“I’m going to need a minute,” Max said as he pulled a flask from his storage and started to drink it all. After wiping his mouth, he put the empty container away and could feel some anxiousness coming from the silver dragon that waited patiently just a few feet away.

“It appears you have grown some, Rakonath. Do you mind coming to me so that—”

Before his words were finished, the dragon, which had gained over a foot in height, bolted, stopping just before he barreled over Max and put his head on both legs.

Laughing, Max began to scratch the scales he knew his dragon wanted him to touch, enjoying the trill that came as his fingers moved along both sides of the silver-scaled jaw and finally up to the top of his head.

A few chuckles came from his companion, and Max saw Tanila looking at him, her head cocked sideways and the slightest smile displayed on her lips.

“Would you mind if she gives you a few scratches?” he asked.

Rakonath turned his head slowly, doing what appeared to be his best to keep at least one of Max’s hands on him.

She is your mate. I am fine with that.

“How… I mean… Aerthen, when did he get smart?”

“Unlike your children, dragons grow much smarter when in the presence of another one. It is a weird bond we share… he picks up on what I know and try to teach rather quickly. Still… he is smarter than I could have imagined.”

Why do you ask her? I am right here.

Scratching with a little extra vigor, Max snorted and shrugged.

“Sorry… I’m new to all this but forgive me, Rakonath. You are right… Tanila is my… mate.”@@novelbin@@

Both Fowl and Cordellia started to laugh, and Max could see his words had caused his mate to turn red, not from embarrassment.

“Your mate… Perhaps I should look elsewhere if that is to be my title,” Tanila stated as she moved to the pair.

“Forgive me. I was simply using the word he had used. Still if you want, you are welcome to scratch his scales. Rakonath has said you can do so because you are my… partner.”

The only response he got from her was a raised eyebrow. Then her hand moved slowly until her nails came in contact with a few scales along the back of the young dragon’s jaw. As she moved them deftly, the trill came again, causing their mage to smile.

I am ready. We need to talk. Now.

Grunting, Max sat up in the chair, shifting Rakonath’s head slightly.

“Give me a few. I’m not sure how long I may need, but hopefully I’ll have the answers we’re looking for in a couple.”

The other inside you. He is talking to you.

“You can hear that?” Max asked, his voice having risen slightly.

No… I can… sense it.

Trying to figure out how that might work down the road, Max bobbed his head once and took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to relax.

Alright, Bob. Tell me what happened.

It felt like inside his brain his skill did the same thing, preparing itself for whatever news was about to come.

Max, I need you first to understand that there is still much I cannot remember. A part of me remains locked behind a wall; no matter what I attempt to do, I cannot break it down or get past it. In time, I am certain the only way it will ever fully unlock is when we gain enough power for me to evolve again. Ｒ₳Ν𝙤ʙЁ𝙎

There are a few things that I didn’t consider until recently. I’ll return to them, as there are too many other things to deal with. The first being that someone is active on this world, and I’m not sure how aware the gods are of it.

Another god?

I believe that the elven goddess, Thuyja, somehow acquires power through different means that are not typically done within the system. I cannot be certain, but her presence came as I accessed a part of that shard. Some alarm of some sort was set off… a trap… or perhaps a key I didn’t see that was required.

When I connected through the shard, everything was in a language I struggled to understand. It was coded… or perhaps it was concealed almost through magic. Had you not possessed the Omnilingualism skill that you do, I doubt I could have overcome that initial barrier.

Bob paused for a moment, and Max could sense something that felt like a shudder, almost as if someone had walked over their grave came through their bond.

There was so much there, it was overwhelming. All over the system is a tiny thread that seems to be spread like a web, and when I touched it, my presence was sent out. Before whatever command came that was intended to destroy me and thus you in the process arrived, I learned a few things.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

For at least a thousand years, this world has been a point in that web. I found lists of names of people from your world. Each had different colors and other marks listed next to them I couldn’t discern in the time I had. One I recognized only because you know it. A Henry Mythos. He was from your town.

Max immediately knew the person Bob had just named. It had been years before his Choosing Day, but that teen had been declared unskilled. His parents had caused a problem at that declaration, and now that he thought about it, they all disappeared not long after.

So they track each person that was taken? Just how many are we talking about?

Thousands. Tens of thousands.

Neither said a word, and Max was grateful he was sitting, the presence of Rakonath a comfort as the dragon’s head was still on his lap.

Every village… every town… each year.

Silence seemed to stretch in the expanse of his mind, and yet Max knew it was nothing but seconds.

Do… do you think Ockrim and Phaius know about it?

I doubt that highly, but it would also point to the reason both of them are possibly scared or anxious of her presence. While I don’t remember all the things about gods and power, I can imagine that such a thing as this would give Thuyja a way to get stronger faster.

Tanila doesn’t appear to know about this, and I’m assuming that her parents have only given her small bits of knowledge, preparing her and her siblings for potentially becoming like the one that we faced?

A chuckle that felt so oddly out of place in that moment came from Bob.

Your mind is quicker than I had expected. She most likely does not know the truth behind what she was raised under. The house in which she grew breeds those who are hungry for power and are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire it. If the elven woman we faced is a sign of the kind of power one might have from serving this goddess… Tanila’s father might be more powerful than we imagined.

Max’s hand froze, having been gently scratching Rakonath’s scales, causing the dragon to move its head.

I can sense your concern over something. Do not worry; I am here.

A calm that felt oddly out of place seemed to transfer between the simple touch they shared.

“Thank you,” Max whispered, eyes still closed as he began to scratch again.

That isn’t a fight we might be ready for… Still, now what? Does Thuyja know it was us? Is she going to be hunting us?

I doubt she will know what happened as I created a back loop on the power that was sent to injure or kill me. The attack was more of a spell meant to overload us and provide time for someone to come to where we were. She may not be aware that you have captured the elf that we did. All this points to a god who will know something has happened in a world they take part in.

So we’re running out of time. Why does it feel like so many threads are suddenly falling apart?

Bob was silent, and the seconds ticked on, half a dozen turning into almost twenty, and finally his skill answered him.

Max, we are becoming a light that cannot be hidden. You knew this would happen, and I told you that such a thing always takes place. Eventually, we will have to fight for the power you desire to have. We cannot win a fight against a god, but there are things we can do to help protect us from those fights.

Staying on the move… not being tied down.

Correct. The skills you picked up will provide you with the ability to avoid that conflict. Provided you keep yourself safe and do not allow yourself to be caught off guard, we should be able to always flee. While it does not fit the person you are, the tower and those fights defending the city taught you that sometimes you must run.

So what do I tell the others? Can I tell them that a god has been abusing this world? That we have—

Max’s mind suddenly connected a few dots that he hadn’t considered until that thought.

The shard… you destroyed it!

A maniacal laughter came from his skill, and a sense of pride was present all at the same time.

I did. The very spell used to subdue me turned into the catalyst to create a feedback that looped until the shard imploded. Unfortunately I had to stay there, using every skill you have in a different way to let it grow stronger before adding my own power to it. When I disconnected and gathered your friends, the power was too much for that small shard to contain.

If one was to revisit the area we were in, I doubt they would find that city at all.

You mean it’s been destroyed?

And probably a large section of the land near it. You might hope that your driver, Blake, is still alive. I’m not certain the extent of the damage done, but anyone in that area is gone, including those who were in the cells.

Max frowned, frustrated at knowing a few more people died and that he couldn’t save them.

So now what? We consider this path done?

I would stay here a few days. Allow your travel skill to give us a chance to return to the capital and inform your friends of what has happened. Then we start the next journey and head to the dwarven capital. It is not hard to see those two hairy people are anxious to return.

You’ve changed so much. For a moment it almost appears like you like them.

Bob gave off a sense of contentment.

Max Hoste, you have allowed me to become something I know I was most likely never meant to be. That is another conversation for another day. For now, know that those you love and consider family are under my protection. Anything that I must do, I will.

That… that means a lot. Thank you, Bob.

A sensation of a snort came through their bond.

That name… one day I will find a different one. Perhaps Seth might work.

Max couldn’t help it when he burst into laughter, his eyes opened, and he saw the looks everyone was giving him.

“Sorry… inside joke. Let’s get a table, chairs, and some food. We need to have a talk.”

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