Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 496: Seeing Max's True Power

Chapter 496 - Seeing Max's True Power

Everett started to laugh as Tom stood there slack-jawed.

“A single hit…” their trainer said slowly. “He killed that in a single hit.”

“You doubted anything less?” Dexic said as she slapped him on the back. “I mean, you watched him fight in the arena, and you know what floor he’s on.”

“I… I mean, yeah, but seeing it in person is… kind of mind-blowing,” Tom stated. “You and I both know those would tear us a new one, and he’s out there cutting them down like stalks of wheat.”

“Which is just proof of what real power looks like,” Everett said. “Now then, if you’re done being so dramatic, I’m returning to my book. You and I both know we’ve got nothing to do for a while.”

***

Max couldn’t help but grin as he sensed Everett, Tom, and Dexic taking in the sight of the tower floor beneath them.

After strapping them into the harness he used for his team, the golden warrior was on his back, knees bent slightly, while the other two men were strapped to his shoulders.

“This is a little bit… humiliating,” Everett shouted. “Don’t get me wrong, I won’t complain about the fact we’re covering ground like crazy, but I feel like your sister's daughter being packed around.”

“Well as long as you don’t crap yourself, we’ll be fine,” Max replied.

“Tell me,” Dexic said as she leaned her head back slightly, “how often do you travel like this? I heard about the harness, but seeing how easily you do this tells me it’s well-practiced.”

“I could have put you in my dimensional space,” he replied, “but then they wouldn’t get a chance to see what everything looks like from up here. Besides, you and I know we’ve got a bet, and I intend to win it.”

A groan came from the golden warrior as both men on his shoulders shifted slightly.

“What bet?” Tom asked.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” Max replied. “Now then, we’ll be reaching the portal soon. Just remember to keep your stomach tight.”

***

Tears continued rolling down Fowl’s and Batrire’s cheeks as Dexic continued her retelling of the day's events.

“And then Tom puked all over himself–”

“Dexic…” Everett said, cutting her off. “I thought we agreed we’d only mention him doing that once.”

“It’s not my fault!” Tom exclaimed, ignoring the howl of laughter from Max’s party. “He didn’t tell me we were going to drop like that. And then the sudden stop at the bottom!”

“Oh, I hate that part,” Cordellia said, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Max does that just to be mean I think.”

“Bah! I lost ten gold!” Dexic roared. “He knew! Max knew what he would do and lured me into a trap. Part of me wanted to accuse him of working with Tom with how easy it all happened.”

Laughter and smiles came from everyone, but the Faction trainer who had held up his middle finger more in this one moment than most could remember in a year.

“You seem to have had a lot of fun,” Tanila whispered.

Nodding, Max squeezed her hand, still smiling from ear to ear.

“Watching them and allowing them to play on those levels was fun. Both of them handled themselves well.”

“You know none of you really know what pain is until Max picks you up by your armpits and uses you as a battering ram to kill something. The stuff that gets in your beard….” Fowl said as he shuddered a little bit. “Let’s just say you quickly learn to keep your mouth shut.”

Both of the older men grimaced slightly as they shook their heads.

“I think I’ll pass on that if possible,” Everett stated. “Now then, you all are returning to the tower tomorrow, correct?”

“Aye,” Batrire replied. “Not all of us get a free ride like some people.”

“Oh really?” Fowl asked, his voice rising a little as he gave her a look. “We don’t get a free ride?”

“Bah, perhaps you do, but I always carry my weight. ‘ Heal me, Batrire! Cure my poison, Batrire! ’ Unlike some, I don’t get just to harvest testicles all day long.”

Laughter once more filled the room as their warrior held up two middle fingers at their healer.

***

Max couldn’t help but laugh as Fowl shouted ‘ Poisoned!’ for at least the hundredth time today.

Each insect they were fighting had a bad habit of exploding, sending out different colors of blood that all had some nasty effects.

“Good thing I’m not getting carried!” Batrire teased as she healed their warrior.

“What’s the plan?!” Cordellia shouted as she prepared to jump off the airwall she shared with the other two women. “We coming down or what?”

“Stay up there,” Max replied, flicking his weapon to clean off the blood on it. “I’ll pull more!”

She gave him a thumbs-up, and Max raced off down the tunnel, splashing water with each step.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

What kind of crazy nest is this?

They had been moving through a long system of tunnels, some knee-deep with water and others as dry as a bone. Different kinds of plants grew throughout the tower floor, each casting a different light color.

Over six varieties of beetles attacked them, and while the team had no problem killing them, the poison made things difficult.

Max had repeatedly commented that he could almost kiss the gorgon, which he barely survived against. His poison resistance was paying off, and Fowl suffered the worst, especially in the first moments.

Not everyone had exploded, lulling them into a sense of safety when it started.

Coming up over a small ridge of dirt, Max saw half a dozen beetles all mulling about in the tunnel. Two of them were red, ten feet tall and easily thirteen feet long. Short and squatty but with a pair of pincers that could hurt Fowl if not taken out quickly. Three were yellow with purple polka dots all over, smaller and faster, known for casting a gas that could blind anyone until cured.

And a black one…

Max frowned as he knew that one had to die first.

Like him, it had a small teleport feature. It vanished into a black portal and could cover up to thirty yards.

It’s a shame you can’t help yet. That would be another skill we could use, Bob.

The thread of their connection was stronger, and a part of him wondered what had changed. All he knew was Bob had spoken for the first time in ages, and it had seemed distant, so far away. But the command had been clear, and he wasn’t missing a single kill if he could help it.

Summoning an Ice Spear, he poured mana into it, preparing for what he knew would come.

Pulling his bow out, Max let the arrow go.

[ Empowered Shot ]

The black beetle cried out, vanishing into a black portal with a third of its body missing. Max sent his spell as it reappeared, watching it pierce and kill the creature.

[ Consume is Locked ]

Chuckling to himself, he began casting other spells as he raced back to his allies, knowing they didn’t want to miss out on the fun.

***

Alfreda continued to hum a song as she inspected the items laid out on the stone tables.

“You five never fail to impress,” she said, holding up some poison sack they had harvested. “The stuff you bring me would make any other Faction weak in the knees.”

Fowl laughed and pulled out one of the first kills they had made, quietly setting it on the ground behind the older elven woman.

An eight-foot purple and red striped beetle rested against the stone floor and Max ignored the look Batrire gave the two of them as they waited.

A few seconds later, Alfreda screamed as she turned. She saw the corpse move slightly as their warrior gently bumped it.

“You… Fowl Hammerfall are going to one day kill me,” she cried out, holding her hands to her chest and taking deep breaths. “Why, I–”

Max watched as Batrire immediately cast a healing spell on the Faction’s collector of all harvested parts.

He had reached Alfreda as she fell to the ground, immediately knowing what had happened.

Without waiting, he pulled the gloves off her hands, a faint residue of the poison from the sack. Her slight miscalculation had caused her to touch her skin, transferring the active poison upon contact.

The other two women were there in seconds and after a brief moment of panic, they had Alfreda sitting in a chair, vomit covering the stone floor near her.

“I… I didn’t mean to–” their warrior sputtered.

“You never mean to!” Batrire snapped as she glared at Fowl. “We warned you this wasn’t a good idea!”

“It’s my fault too,” Max said, sharing the blame. “Neither of us considered this might happen.”

“He is fine dear,” Alfreda managed to get out before taking another sip of water. “I broke the rules, touching myself while handling objects.”

“But it was–”

Shaking her head, the older elf cut off their healer.

“No… I should have known and do not take away something Fowl and I enjoy. Unlike so many, you five do more than drop off items and run. You tell me stories and share with me what you faced. I can almost pretend I’m in the tower with you all for a brief moment.”

Max saw her eyes seem to light up as Alfreda looked up at the ceiling, a slight smile beginning to form.

“Every day, I see the impossible, and often I wonder what it must be like, risking your life and facing different monsters and beings. While I don’t want to risk my life to see such things, you all are kind to me. Even Fowl with his jokes tells me I’m more than some old woman who just takes whatever junk you bring.”

“You’re not old,” their warrior said.

Alfreda’s laugh filled the room.

“You don’t have to lie to me,” she replied. “No, I’m old, which is why I do this job. I could retire but then what? Sit around in some house somewhere, reading books? Even if I wrote them, I’d be bored out of my mind in days, especially after witnessing all I have in my lifetime.”

‎ She shook her head and shrugged.

“So don’t punish him for bringing me some excitement. Besides, I had items ready to use. You all just beat me to it. Still, I am grateful for your quick response.”

A huff came from their healer as she scowled at their warrior.

“You realize all you’re going to do is egg him on?” Batrire asked. “I mean, who knows what he’ll try to do next to get a reaction out of you.”

Alfreda nodded and stood.

“Don’t worry, dear, I’ll be ready. Besides, if I do manage to die from it, Tom will finally win a bet against Everett.”

She stretched and moved to the corpse still where Fowl had left it.

“It really is a remarkable specimen. Other than the giant hole where its head should be.”

“Blame that on Tanila,” Fowl said.

Their healer rolled her eyes at their warrior.

“Yeah, blame me for doing my job.”

Alfreda laughed again as she stored the corpse. “This is what I love about you five: like siblings, lovers, and a family. Trust me, what you all have is rare. Always protect it.”

As she spoke, her smile was replaced with a serious expression, and a single finger wiggled at them all for a brief second. “Now then, let’s see what else you brought for me today.”

Max watched as Alfreda moved back to the table and began going through the last of the bags.

“She’s a bit crazy,” Tanila whispered. “Still… she is right.”

“Yes… yes she is,” he replied. “Must be an elf thing.”

Laughter came from their side of the room as Tanila elbowed him immediately.

‎