Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 431: Dragon Core

Chapter 431 - Dragon Core

“You actually have one,” Nimyn muttered as she held the dragon core that was almost twelve inches in diameter in her hands. “I’m actually holding one…”

Max smiled and said nothing else as he stood beside her for a few more seconds.

“So you can do it?”

“You bet your swinging pair I can! Now, all I need to do is set up my shop, and we can start the process!”

Her hands shook as the glowing orb was given back to him, eyes seemingly unable to be torn away until she took a quick breath and hopped down off the stone platform behind her counter.

“Big H and GD! Flip the sign and lock the door! Momma’s going to be cooking tonight!”

Two of the clockworks suddenly stopped their movements, set down the boxes they were carrying and moved toward the door, ready to carry out the instructions they had been given.

Max watched in wonder at what he was about to witness, keeping his eyes focused on Nimyn's work.

For over three hours, she had built a custom power core, showing him how to enforce it with a metallic cage and different parts he could create if he acquired some other skills to help improve power flow between the core and whatever item it was finally inserted in.

So that Robotics skill you consumed…

Yeah… yeah… looking back now, I can see how it might have been useful. Still, you could probably travel to her world and try to acquire the tinkering, engineering, and other half-dozen skills she mentioned it took to build creations like the ones in her shop.

Or kill her and take them…

Yes… or that…

Their bond sparked a thread of sarcasm, and Max just smiled, knowing Bob had not been amused by his joke.

“Okay, now you’re going to really want to focus on this next part,” Nimyn said as she pointed at the core she had finished constructing. “We’re going to transfer the power from what you have to this, but we must take it slow and steady. If you rush it, even as much work as I’ve done to re-enforce this one, you could overload it and … boom!”

She waved both hands in the air, wiggling her metal-covered fingers as she grinned.

“We don’t want to do that, okay?”

Nodding, Max cracked his neck.

“So what’s next?” he asked.

“I’ll need to use a transfer case and cable. Are you willing to let me handle the dragon core so I can find the best case for its size? I know you’re protective of it, but it has to be a perfect fit.”

Retrieving it from storage, Max handed it to her, watching as she took it and jumped off her stone platform.

“Okay, now grab those two cables I laid out at the end of the table and clip them on the connecters we attached to the orb while I start sizing cases,” Nimyn said as she moved to a wall lined with metal boxes, each with runes etched all over them.

Moving to the cables at the end of the counter, Max found the clips on them and took them back, sensing the direction he needed to adhere them to the new core.

I guess we’ll need to buy some of these cases or just pay her each time to do this?

How many more of these do you want? We still don’t know how much–

“This one should do it!” Nimyn shouted as she turned, holding out a gold and crystal case, the glowing orb showing through the box. “You can’t imagine how excited I am.”

“Me either,” Max replied, grinning as she was. “I’ll need to–”

The box disappeared, and he saw her grin change.

“Nimyn, I thought you understood my instructions about the core.”

She nodded and shrugged as she moved her hand over her wrist.

“Be safe, Max.”

Hearing his name from her, knowing she had never been told any name, but Ifrit, made his blood go cold. Before he could react, Max felt a tear in the fabric around him.

[ System Travel - Block - Overridden ]

A gigantic force struck him as the very space around him began to compress. The last thing he saw was the gnome slapping her wrist. Just before she struck it, a small flashing yellow button appeared.

She’s–

His body was torn into pieces. Every inch of matter almost disintegrated into nothingness.

Pain that was beyond anything else that ate at his very existence was there for a moment and then gone as he was washed away.

[ Negate Death Blow - Activated ]

The absence of sound was the first thing Max noticed.

His radar didn’t detect anything.

It’s gone… everything around us is gone…

Max’s eyes worked, and he felt himself floating.

What… she… tricked me?

It would appear so… now I wish you hadn’t been joking.

Max’s eyes struggled to see what it was he saw.

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

Around him was a perfectly spherical crater, half in the ground, the other half missing.

Every building within that circle, which ran for almost a hundred and fifty yards, was also gone. Some of the buildings on the outer edge of the circle were perfectly cut in shape.

Then, the wailing started.

Sounds of pain, agony, and worse came as the realization of whatever had just happened set into those around.

Different beings looked down from cut buildings, some missing a limb, all responding to what had gone off in the city.

You need to go, now.

But these people… I need to –

We… you cannot help them. Right now, you need to do something else. You made a promise, and I know you. It’s time for you to go hunting.

***

Jazzjak slammed his furry fist into the table, his foot tapping the floor so fast the sound almost drove Max crazy, but he knew the rabbit was working as fast as possible.

“A weapon like that… here,” Quilazmore muttered. “Even that could have killed Igarra… those… are outlawed. For Nimyn to have had one… she would have to smuggle it in piece by piece.”

Tanila’s grip on his arm was causing her fingers to turn white, and he tried to calm her down with a gentle touch.

“You’re going to go… aren’t you?”

“I made a promise… I have, too. What she took…”

A nod was all the love of his life gave, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

“I warned you about this!” Aerthen shouted, pacing the room in her humanoid form. “Do you understand what you have done to him!? So much growth! Gone!”

“Stop it!” Rakonath yelled. “It was my choice. He is not to blame.”

The red dragon spun on her heels and came to where the silver dragon was scrunched up in the corner of the room.

“No, you do not understand! It will take time for you to start growing a new one. That will cause this dramatic growth you have been experiencing to come to a halt, and you may never recover from it. If you cannot retrieve that in the next few days, we’re looking at a loss of months, maybe a year in your growth! Unlike me, mine sustains me and keeps me from dying if I’m hurt. Yours… it is everything to you at this stage. Your body must adapt to a new one, and what that one had… cannot be easily replaced.”

Inside his chest, Max felt a weight that seemed to crush him.

You didn’t know. I didn’t even sense anything. She played us, and we fell into the trap. No doubt she believes you are dead. We’ll use that to find her and extract justice.

“Max, please stop.”

‎ Tanila’s voice was higher than usual, and he glanced down, seeing that he was squeezing her hands. He saw the look on her face.

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

‎ “It’s okay. Batrire, can I get a small heal?”

A green glow came as their healer obliged their mage's request, two fingers bent in the wrong direction, returning to normal.

“Don’t,” Tanila said as she held up a hand, cutting him off. “You didn’t know, and you’re right to be angry. I wish I could go with you, but we all know this isn’t the time or place for such a thing. Go… show her and anyone else who thinks they can attempt such a thing that you will make them pay tenfold.”

Her gaze was steady, but those green eyes seemed to be on fire, and a sensation of rage almost rolled off the woman he loved.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

Each minute felt like an eternity, and Quilazmore occasionally said something, making Jazzjak grunt as the pair worked on a terminal inside the teleportation area.

I wanted to learn more about this place, and here I am… about to find out how it works.

We need to focus. Time is crucial, and you will be on a world that’s not your own. Tell me, how do you intend to handle this problem?

I’m going to turn her entire world against her.

Laughter came from inside his head; unlike so many times, he wasn’t disturbed by it. Instead, it seemed to make him feel at ease.

You will learn the greatest lesson that can only be gained by doing. Show them all who you really are.

***

“Okay, this will take you to the world she went to,” Jazzjak said, handing Max the tablet he had been holding. “That’s all that I know about the world, but it’s mainly a gnomish, dwarf, and goblin one, from what our report says. I can get you to the main teleporter in the capital city. They won’t expect you, so you may be required to clear some customs.”

Forcing his rage to rise, Max took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“What will that involve?”

Five green tokens and a metallic card appeared in Quilazmore’s outstretched hand.

“There is a fee and some paperwork. All the information is on this card. Once you’ve cleared the transportation area, you should be free to explore the city. As far as finding out where Nimyn is at… I can’t give you any advice on it.”

“Whose in charge of that planet?”

“LYC-58252 has a delegation that handles all problems… not a singular person like yourself,” Jazzjak replied. “From what I understand, each race submits five who will be responsible for their section of the world and potential problems that arise between them. You should be able to find someone who can direct you or provide a map.”

“What about power level compared to here? Say Igarra or myself?”

Both men glanced at each other, and neither hid the pained look they wore.

“That isn’t an answer I can give,” Quilazmore said. “They’re an older world with a rich history of embracing the art of mechanical things. Unlike here, they focus on augmenting their bodies with equipment and machinery. It’s a weird combination of magic and technology, but it has done well for them.

“So anything you encounter strength-wise would be a mix-mash of organic and metal. How that stacks up against you… I’m not certain.”

“If you had to guess?” Max asked, trying to get them to give him a better answer.

“They most likely have multiple fighters who could potentially be as strong as you or stronger,” Jazzjak said with a sigh. “We don’t have time to do proper research. If you wanted to give me a day I could–”

“No. I don’t have that kind of time. I’ll go in and see what I can figure out. Just keep them safe for now, and I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”

Moving to where Tanila was, he pulled her close and kissed her.

“Forgive me.”

“You don’t have to apologize. No one blames you. That’s a job you seem to be very good at doing alone.”

Moving to where Rakonath was, he held out his hand and scratched the underside of the silver dragon’s jaw.

“I made a promise, and I will keep it.”

“Of that, there is no doubt. Teach them what it means to mess with you. And bring me back something to eat.”

Even as the portal activated, and he felt the world shifting before his eyes, Max couldn’t stop laughing, the thrumming of his dragon and Aerthen vibrating the room.

‎