Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 499: Floor 78

Chapter 499 - Floor 78

Fowl shook his head in disbelief at him.

“You do realize… that I’m now at a place no dwarf ever believes they can achieve?”

“So I take it the potion did what I hoped?” Max asked.

A snort came from his friend. “And then some. Gods! I’m now at a 258 strength! Two stats, Max! Two! I’m…”

He watched as a few tears formed and ran down his tan cheeks, vanishing into his brother's brown beard.

“It’s okay. You’re the warrior I always knew you’d be.”

Short arms wrapped around his chest as Fowl rushed him, barreling into him.

“Thank you,” Fowl whispered.

“Anytime, brother,” Max replied as he returned the hug.

Sniffles came from the other three in the room, and Max watched as everyone stayed silent. After a few seconds had passed, he gave Fowl three quick taps on the back, causing the dwarf to let go and laugh.

“Gods, I’m such a baby.”

“Well, don’t expect me to change or burp you,” Max stated as he waved a hand before his nose. “No one should ever have to endure that.”

Laughter came from both men as they stood there, slapping each other on the arm playfully.

“You two done bonding?” Batrire called out. “No one cried when I got above 250 in two stats.”

“Bah, that’s a lie!” their warrior cried out, wheeling around and wagging his finger at her. “You cried last night when–”

“FOWL HAMMERFALL!”

Her tone cut him off and Max, Tanila and Corellia all started to laugh as their healer’s cheeks turned red.

“I think on that note, we'd best be getting to the tower,” their ranger said as she pointed at the door. “No need to watch Fowl get his arse kicked by a woman.”

***

Everyone stood under the shade of the sand umbrella Max had created, holding hands above their eyes as they stared out over the dunes.

“It’s been what? Six hours?” Tanila asked.

“At least,” Max replied. “No monsters, no changes in the landscape or horizon. And the sun… it hasn’t moved like on all the other floors.”

Using a rag to wipe the sweat on his face, Fowl muttered under his breath. “I’m not sure what’s worse, us not finding anything or the fact we’ve been carried so far by you. Still, it beats walking.”

Glancing behind them, Max saw the trail they had created through the sand. The wind was blowing it away slowly, erasing the memory of their passing.

“Two or three miles on foot didn’t bring anything either,” Tanila said, coming to join him. “It truly is a barren place.”

“I could go higher and look for a better view from above, but you all would need to enter my dimensional storage. That would allow me to move faster without worrying about someone passing out from the thinner air.”

“One time!” Cordellia exclaimed. “I only did that once!”

Smiling, Max shrugged and opened his dimensional space, letting everyone climb inside.

“You okay?” Tanila asked as she stood at the entrance.

“I am… this floor just… feels weird. Tom and Everett mentioned before that there were long floors. Even Dagon had spoken about floors that stretched on for weeks or months. I can’t imagine traveling for so long and nothing ever happens.”

“You’re worried we’re going in the wrong way?”

Shaking his head, Max knew he was biting his lip, unable to hide his thoughts.

“It’s so much more than that. The sun hasn’t moved at all. Everything feels more like a lower tower floor or a dungeon floor, not what we’ve encountered lately. Could a real world have a sun that never moves? What would that do?”

“Create a place like this?”

He groaned and leaned forward, kissing her.

“What would I ever do without you?” Max asked.

“Kill everyone you see and be a rampaging, crazed maniac.” Her smirk was only ruined by the small wink Tanila gave, right before she reached out and cupped his cheek. “Now go, I’m going to relax in the chairs you left for us.”

***

The days turned into weeks, and as he sped across the sky, the vastness of everything and the never-ending sun that baked down upon him caused his emotions to bubble out.

Every moment felt like one back on Igarra’s world; the only difference now was he didn’t have Bob to talk with.

As the team stayed safe in his dimensional storage, Max pressed forward, streaking across the sky like a comet, his mind at war with the knowledge that the landscape never changed.

Occasionally, he yelled out, crying to no one but himself, the frustration of all this wearing him down.

Everett understood that it might be a while after they used the rings the first time. Two days ago, the Faction leader’s expression showed the first sign of concern.

He had been tempted to use an escape gem. Max was done with this mess and would wait a week or more before he was willing to try a different 78th floor. The only thing that prevented that was how rare they were and the knowledge that it might not change. Losing weeks' worth of traveling was not something he could endure.

Bob… I really need you!

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

That same statement ran through his mind constantly, and the lack of reply deepened the pain.

***

“We’ll walk with you for a while,” Fowl said. “And don’t complain this time.”

Sighing, Max nodded. “Thanks.”

“You don’t have to do this alone,” Cordellia chimed in. “We’re here. All of us can see how you look.”

“And it’s not a pretty sight,” Batrire said, winking at him.

Taking another deep breath and letting it out, Max shifted in the chair Fowl had given him. Closing his eyes, he turned his face toward the canopy he had created with the sand.

“I’m just… frustrated,” he admitted. “I’m itching for a fight, a change in landscape… something!”

Tanila smiled at him, squeezing his leg as she sat beside him. “We’ll get through. Trust me. A floor like this won’t break us. We’ve faced impossible enemies and horrible conditions. So what if there’s nothing but sand?”

“Definitely better than sliding face-first along a frozen sheet of ice,” Fowl said.

Laughing, Max felt some of his anxiety start to vanish; the comfort of his friends and the assurance they gave were the medicine he needed.

***

Max glanced at everyone who was gathered around him.

Each of them was shifting slightly, not from the heat of the sand but of the news Everett had just shared.

“What do we want to do?”

His question hung there as the knowledge an elven army was moving toward Peltagow had just ruined everyone's mood.

“Everett said there are three or four days till the army arrives,” Cordellia replied. “We could try and see if finding the exit is possible before using a stone.”

“But three weeks,” Batrire said slowly. “We’ve been here three weeks… to give up that much time.”

Max kept his eyes focused on Tanila as she bit her lip, causing him to be concerned she might draw blood from how it was changing colors.

“I’ll do whatever… darn sharp ears always–”

The sound of flesh hitting metal came as their healer smacked their warrior.

“Fowl Hammerfall! Don’t you use those words, or help me; I’ll wash your mouth out with soap!”

A grunt came from Fowl as he glared at her, ignoring the look their ranger was giving him.

“Stop it, please,” Tanila whispered. “We’re all tired and worn out. He only said that because of all… this.” Her hands motioned to the area of sand surrounding them. “We need not to fight each other, especially if we’re most likely going to end up fighting against an army.”

“But your father, the King… and your sister–”

“Are against me,” Tanila said, cutting off Cordellia. “With them at the head of the army, both queens must face the,m and we know there isn’t a path in which they will survive. I have no doubt every elven adventurer is being summoned to his side. They will have no choice but to obey him and fight.”

“Meaning the slaughter of innocents,” Max said quietly. His eyes shook with rage as his hand crushed the metal cup it had been holding. “Families like mine… Faction members… so many innocents.”

“So what do we do?” Batrire asked. “Whatever it is, we’ll need to be out of here in two days. The city will require our presence.”

“Surely they’re going to evacuate the civilians,” Fowl said. “At least they will be safe.”

“From what?” Max asked, shaking his head. “Where can they go to be safe from an army like that? Head across the land to the Great Waters? There aren’t enough boats to carry them all. And the problems that would arise on the road there would be almost as bad as those in the army. They can’t even head to a nearby city. It couldn’t hold them all, and the roads would overflow.”

Grumbling, Fowl stroked his beard.

“Two days,” Max said as he stood, storing the chair he had been using. “I’ll give everything I have. You four get inside. I’ll be fine. Either we find the exit or use a stone to leave.”

Everyone stood, storing their furniture and items, moving quickly to enter the dimensional space he had just summoned.

“You okay?” he asked as Tanila moved past him.

“No… but I always knew this day would come. It’s just like my family. Why would he pass up attacking if we’ve not been seen lately?”

“Yeah, but why would he risk an attack when we could show up any minute? I mean even if he believes he is weaker, why…”

His words failed him as Max realized something he hadn’t considered until this moment.

“What is it?” Tanila asked.

“I… I think there might be a mole in our Faction.”

Both of her golden eyes widened, and then she frowned so hard that her cheek muscles ruined her beautiful face.

“He… would do that. And if they knew we were stuck here, and with no update on our return, it would seem like a wise move. Still…”

Max pulled out a communication ring and tapped it three times, waiting for a reply.

Soon the image of Everett’s face hovered above his hand.

“Did you find the exit?!”

Hope was in the older man’s voice, and Max knew he was about to shatter it all.

“No… but Tanila and I spoke. We think you might have a mole problem.”

Everett’s eyes filled with shock. Next came a string of words Max knew would earn a mouthful of soap escaping their Faction leader’s mouth.

“That… makes sense,” he replied after taking a moment to compose himself. “I’ll get to work on–”

“Wait. Feed information that we’re possibly getting closer to finding an exit. See what happens. Then let us know.”

“It’s a good plan. Are you?”

“No,” Max replied. “We’re going to give it two days. After that, we’ll use a stone to leave. In the meantime, I’ll keep the ring close. Message me if you learn anything new.”

A grunt came from the Faction leader and Max knew that if Everett found the mole, it wouldn’t be pretty.

“I’m on it. Good luck and be safe.”

Without waiting for a reply, the head vanished and Max tapped his ring three more times to disable it.

“You’re going to go all out, I can see it written all over your face.”

Max looked at Tanila and nodded.

“There’s no point in holding back. Whatever happens, I need to do what I can to cover as much ground as possible. Bob and I discussed this next part as a possibility for moving faster. While I’ve never had a chance to test it, we’ll see if it works.”

He smiled as her hand brushed his cheek.

“I’d say have fun, but I can already see you’re excited to try.”

Nodding, he covered her hand with his and smiled.

“Oh, I’m definitely looking forward to finally trying it out.”

‎