Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 430: Managing a World

“I still can’t believe that gnome was real or that she’s going to allow you to watch her work,” Fowl stated as they walked down the street. “I mean… gnomes are… rare… like how many exist in our world?”

“A few hundred?” Batrire answered. “Most don’t socialize anymore.”

“Why is that,” Cordellia asked. “I mean… I heard rumors but did they really create automatons that attacked others?”

Their healer simply shrugged in response.

“Tanila might know better, but that’s the rumor. Some felt their creations needed souls, and whatever they did didn’t work out. In the last four thousand years, the number of gnomes has decreased, and the few around are pretty crotchety. Also, they’re known for being a bit of a trickster and very guarded of their craft.”

“Says a dwarf,” their mage teased. “Still, I think you’re right. All I ever heard about them was that they love trying to create things more than life itself. A few are employed in our kingdom, and I met a couple as a child. Both were extremely old and yet excited at whatever materials my father gave them. Beyond that, I don’t remember much about them or even seeing them again.”

Max said nothing as he walked beside the woman he loved, holding her hand and considering his next move.

So we go back to the tower and see what comes from it. We continue to collect whatever might be useful and prepare to leave in two weeks.

That is about the most time I would spend here. Quilazmore believes he’ll have the rings you requested within that time frame. He wasn’t happy to learn you had given away that corpse.

I can only imagine how he felt after losing so much power. Can you fathom what it would be like to see your stats reduced by one-half or two-thirds in a moment?

Sensing Tanila looking at him, Max turned and smiled at her.

“I heard you. No, I’m not crazy for wanting to watch her work. Part of it is because I want to see how it is done. The other part is because I won’t simply hand a dragon core to someone I barely know and trust them to not use it.”

“It appears you’re getting wiser. Now all I need to do find a way to make you dress nicer. Surely, you don’t always have to wear your armor.”

Max glanced down at his outfit. He had become so accustomed to wearing it that he had forgotten it was on most of the time.

“Protection… that’s why you have everything but your staff out. Fowl’s the only one who doesn’t have to wear everything, as no one will attack the shortest one in our group.”

“Bah, go hump a troll!” their warrior shouted. “It’s because they know I’m probably the strongest and thus don’t need to wear any armor.”

“Oh, I’m certain that’s what it is, my love,” Batrire teased.

Laughing, they approached the tower, ready to see what it tossed at them next.

***

“What is this stuff?” Fowl asked as he flicked his weapon, orange goo stretching to the limit before flying free of the embrace it had on the metal.

Max shrugged, not suffering the same fate as their warrior after learning a sharp blade prevented most of the gel-like liquid from sticking.

“It’s a type of shapeshifter,” Tanila stated. “We all saw them transform. I guess that whatever this stuff is provides them the ability to shape their skin however they want.”

Cordellia made a dry heaving sound as she tried to wipe the gunk off her body.

“Swallow some, dear?”

Their ranger nodded, still spitting out the gunk that had splattered all over her.

“Who could imagine that those birds would dive at you like that or explode upon being killed.”

Shaking her hands, their ranger scowled at him for a moment. A large section of rocks covered in busted bodies had exploded upon impacting the grey, rocky floor she was standing on.

Well over two thousand busted corpses lay around and behind them in the pass they were in, some still sliding down the walls from where Max had sent them flying with spells or his hands.

Gone was the shape of all the attackers.

“There were goblins, ogres, elves, a giant, birds, some kind of dinosaur thing and even a pack of large bull-like creatures,” Fowl said as he banged his shield against the rocky floor. “It was like someone sounded a dinner bell, and they all came to eat.”

“This reminded me of the floor I faced a little bit,” Max stated as he stared down the enclosed pass. “A never-ending wave of monsters. Thankfully, these weren’t too strong.”

“You’re kidding? Right?”

Shaking his head at Cordellia, Max pointed at the largest corpses turning into orange sludge with a grey exterior skin that melted away.

“Imagine something twenty feet tall at least, in packs that never ended until something stronger came. That’s what it was like. And I was fighting non-stop for days. No rest or break unless my friend took over or the rare moment Sog’thollech helped.”

She spit out the water she had swished around in her mouth.

“But did you swallow any of them?”

Laughing, Max shook his head.

“No, I learned long ago to keep my mouth closed when fighting.”

***

“Word has traveled that you five are already past the fourteenth floor,” Jazzjak said as he waited for Max to review the reports. “Many are signing up to give the tower another attempt, and this time it appears your advice of grouping up is setting in. Most now go in at least a pack of four if not five. I even heard of two groups of five going in together to help cover each other as they fight.”

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“Don’t be too surprised,” Everett chimed in. “You’ll get tired of being constantly caught off guard by what he and the others are accomplishing. If I had a gold coin for each time he returned and told me how they overcame some impossible floor or boss, I’d have at least fifty of them now.”

Max set down his tablet and shook his head at both men.

“You talk like I’m not here. Besides, you already earned far more gold from everything we accomplished. And if I remember, you’re the one who was anxious to see us pass the 50th floor.”

“Oh, I’m not complaining, just giving our little friend here some advice about what you’re capable of.”

A grunt came from the vorpal rabbit, who glared at the Faction leader.

“I would request you don’t mention my size. Trust me, it’s one of the few things that upsets me.”

“Ahh, forgive me,” Everett replied. “I meant no disrespect. I wasn’t sure how to describe you best with a term of endearment.”

Jazzjak’s nose twitched as his red eyes shifted from the older man to Max.

“Does he really care about me? If so, why would he call me small?”

“You’ve heard how Fowl and I as well as the others all talk to each other?

‎ Bobbing his head so fast both ears seemed to dance, the rabbit affirmed that he had.

“We tease and talk about each other because we care for one another. It’s just how we are. He mentions that I’m bald, and I talk about how he is short. All of us comment on Cordellia’s voice…”

A slight chuckle came from Jazzjak, who then returned his gaze to Everett.

“So then I would comment on how old or grey your hair is?”

Laughing, the Faction leader nodded.

“Most do… most do. But still, I will try to find something else to tease you about that you cannot fix. Are there other things one shouldn’t mention?”

“My ears or my nose are best not spoken of. Most of my kind do not appreciate any comments about those two things.”

“Got it… no mentioning your nose or ears… what about your soft fur?”

“Of course, it’s soft. Why wouldn’t it be?” Jazzjak asked, cocking his head slightly.

Max and Everett started to laugh and then began to cry as the vorpal rabbit sat there, unsure what he didn’t understand.

“In… our world… rabbits are known… for being cute,” the Faction leader said between breaths. “So soft fur is kind of a way of saying you're cuddly and cute.”

Two large teeth appeared, and a slight hiss came from Jazzjak.

“Perhaps we should just agree not to show our affection for each other.”

The older man froze, glancing at Max, who had stopped laughing immediately after seeing the rabbit’s demeanor change so quickly.

“I… forgive me, I didn’t mean to–”

Jazzjak started to giggle and laugh, his nose moving so fast it was hard to track and both ears flopped around as the rabbit wiggled in his seat.

“Oh… your face! I was joking! You can talk about my fur being soft.”

A forced chuckle came from Everett, who Max could see looking very relieved to find out he hadn’t started some planetary crisis.

***

“It would appear both of you have this in hand,” Max stated as he slid the tablet back to Jazzjak. “What is your opinion of having those other twelve helpers, each one managing a section of this city, along with three for each ring outside the center?”

“It is unlike anything ever suggested before is an understatement, but your old friend’s stories have shown me what I already know. There is not enough time or desire for me to run everything. Also, having those numbers makes it easier to keep too much corruption from spreading and provides enough support if one needs help.”

“And you already have most of the people in mind for these positions?”

Jazzjak nodded and leaned back in the chair.

“Only about five spots out of all those will still need someone I’m not certain of. Everett also mentioned ensuring that you meet with each of them before you leave and give them a personal charge. That alone should motivate them to follow the task they will be given.”

“You and I both know how much every member in the faction immediately tried harder after a little bit of time spent with you,” Everett stated. “Based on their culture and respect of power, it should do the same here.”

Nodding, Max stood and slapped the table.

“Alright, then I’m off to see about a few other errands. Make sure Quilazmore gets me a list of what I asked for and to have that book sooner than later for me. Also, tell your wife I’m looking forward to dinner with you all in a few days.”

The vorpal rabbit leaped off his chair and quickly moved to where Max was. He held out his hand and then quickly pumped it up and down multiple times before letting go.

“You have no idea how excited she is about this moment.”

“Based on how you’re acting, I can guess.”

***

“Are you certain you can trust this gnome?” Aerthen asked. “For Rakonath, this will be the first time he has attempted to expel the core. Know that it will be far worse than it was for me, and he will feel its loss immediately.”

“I will be fine,” the silver dragon quickly interjected. “You and I both know that I must help Max in any way possible, and I trust him with my life. As such, I trust him with my core.”

The red dragon’s lip furled slightly, the softest growl coming for a moment as she stared at the growing dragon who seemed to forget just how much larger she was.

Max couldn’t help but smile, seeing the pair lounging on a bed of orange grass that had been grown for the pair near his home , letting the sun bake the pair as they relaxed in their natural form.

“I promise you, I won’t let it out of my sight, and I understand the risk this involves.”

Snorting, she nodded and then lay still on the grass.

“Then begin. We shall see how long it takes for you to bring it up.”

A grin appeared on Rakonath’s face as he moved a little bit away from the two and turned, stretching his neck out.

Retching sounds came and after a minute, chunks of partially dissolved flesh and bones spewed forth from the younger dragon’s mouth, landing on the grass, immediately emanating a stench that was one of the worst Max had ever smelled.

“Eat it! Quickly!”

Rakonath stood there for a few seconds, staring at the pile he had just created, before bending his neck and using his tongue to lap up the bubbling mess.

Max covered his mouth as he watched, not wanting to witness what was before him but unable to look away.

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