Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 508: Perks of Bob's Return

Chapter 508 - Perks of Bob's Return

You… did it. For a moment… in that domain… his control was more than I had anticipated.

Bob’s voice was strong, and it helped Max through the pain he was feeling right now.

His sonar showed him how he looked. A monster to any who saw him, his body cracked and broken, the only flesh there was what grew back.

Bones were forming, having shattered under the effects of the cold he had experienced.

The agony felt like hours when it was only about ten seconds.

Blinking, Max groaned as he sat up, the ground around him rising in a large bowl.

“What in the…”

His words stopped as the scene before him appeared.

For over a mile, the ground was sunken, pockets of dirt and stone radiating slightly, and blood pooled in different areas.

Near him on the ground was a shape slowly reforming, and Max jumped to his feet, took his weapon out, and ran toward it.

Gurgling came as a dull golden eye looked up at him. If it had not been for the one left eye, Max might not have been able to tell who it was.

Both arms and legs were missing, blood seeping from open wounds.

Gone was the beautiful skin, the strong jaw, and the perfect golden hair.

At his feet was a hideous being, with barely any flesh left across its face.

“How…”

The raspy voice of that question would have scared children and some adults, yet Max stood there, a part of him struggling to believe this was the king that had stood here not long ago, taunting and laughing as he attempted to get close.

That single eye stared at him, yearning for an answer.

You’re not going to reply, are you?

He doesn’t deserve that. For what he’s done, I’m not sure a quick death is even something he should receive. Still…

Leaning against the shaft of his spear, Max shook his head at Savantus.

“Tanila and I will be married. Our child will be something to celebrate. Unlike you, I’m–”

“Cursed… you’re cursed!” the King declared, his voice almost gone as he spoke. “Thuyja, she–”

No other words came as Max kicked the butt of his weapon, spinning it in his hand thrust his blade into the left eye.

A sharp twist sent a cold sensation so different that it reminded him of the ordeal he had just escaped.

Max fell over, unable to stay upright, his blood boiling instantly.

[ Consume has gained 30% of Racial Skill - Bloodline ]

[ Racial Skill - Bloodline has achieved 30% ]

[ Consume has Successfully Consumed 5 Racial Skills ]

[ Consume is unable to convert Skills due to Racial Type ]

[ Power stored for future use ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Blood Magic ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Heaven’s Storm ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Soul Harvesting ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Manipulate Soul ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Personal Barrier ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ 8 Skills Consumed are Equal or Lower Than Rank of Current Skill ]

[ Power stored for future use ]

His body burned, every piece of him feeling like it was on fire.

It slowly drew into his midsection and then, after a moment, stopped.

A foul sensation filled his stomach, and Max began to retch, heaving over and over until a slimy substance made its way up his throat and out of his mouth.

Spitting, he pushed upward with his spear, climbing to his feet and staring at the black gelatinous object he had just spewed.

Is that… blood?

Some kind of blood. I believe it's whatever is left from your body after you killed him and gained part of his bloodline. I’m unsure what will happen when you finally reach the required amount.

It took a moment to consider what Bob had just said. There was so much they still didn’t know; if that came from this moment, he didn’t want to imagine what might happen at 100%.

The others, you should go.

Ignoring the skills that begged him to take action, Max nodded and reached out with his mind.

Rakonath. How goes the battle?

It is over. Your mate has proven to all that she is the stronger one.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

A chuckle from Bob filled his head as Max couldn’t help but smile.

Can you–

Aerthen says that they have defeated the elves that faced them. The queen has fled, using an object like her daughter, it appears. She says, "I am to tell you that the dwarf impressed her with his fortitude."

Fortitude? What does that mean?

A few seconds passed, and then a laugh came through their bond.

She says she will tell you later.

You’re as bad as her sometimes because we both know you know what she means. Now then, where is Tanila?

She and the golden warrior are on my back. We are coming to you.

Shaking his head, Max looked at the carnage around him. This area wouldn’t produce any crops for a long time, and he wasn’t sure what the long-lasting impact of their battle would mean to this place.

You can sense it… the evil and the magic. They will have to spend a great deal of time and effort to remove this.

Then the queens can handle this part. For now, I just want to see Tanila.

***

Neither had spoken upon her arrival, simply embracing the other, holding each other tight.

Her golden hair was a mess, and blood soaked her robes.

Max could see that her smile was forced, and as he held her gaze, she expressed more relief.

“You… you did it.”

“And still you seem surprised?”

Shaking her head, Tanila stopped and then nodded.

“My… he was the strongest I had ever known until you. There was never a day in my life that I thought I could ever stand before him. He… he grew stronger from taking the blood from others, and I remember every time he had done it to me.”

“Crimson Ascendancy. Is that what allowed it?” Max asked.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly.

“That was part of it. He had other abilities, all designed to work with that one. Every–”

Her eyes looked out over the battleground, and she frowned.

“Where is the army?”

“Mostly dead… or should be dead,” Max replied. “Anytime one of them died, they… exploded. Some sort of magical spell that damaged only me while sending their blood to him.”

Tanila spat on the ground and then cursed.

“He used that… of course he did. Those warriors… all of my people…” She paused, a few tears starting to form and leaving streaks through the grime that was on her face. “Died for an elf that didn’t care about them at all. He used them. He–” Both of her eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm and squeezed it. “What… what did you get?”

Her voice had become a whisper and Max glanced at Dexic who was still by Rakonath, scratching the scales on his snout.

“I haven’t clicked yes to any of them yet, but there are five to choose from. I think I’ll only take two of them based on the short conversation Bob and I had.”

“Five… that’s it?”

Shaking his head, Max shrugged.

“I had eight that were equal or below whatever I already possess. I also couldn’t acquire five racial skills. Which left me with Blood Magic–”

A gasp from Tanila made him stop as her eyes grew as large as a full moon.

“You didn’t?” she whispered.

“No… just like I won’t take the Soul Harvesting or Manipulate Soul abilities.”

Her face looked pained as he reached out and brushed her cheek, removing a few of the tears.

“You’ll never have to worry about me taking something that dangerous,” Max said softly. “I don’t ever want to lose who I am, no matter what kind of power is offered.”

She clasped her hand against his and leaned into his touch.

“I know… that’s what I always loved about you.”

“The other two are Personal Barrier and Heaven's Storm. You know of them?”

Tanila nodded, chewing on her lip.

“A barrier… that explains so much. I only knew about –”

Every pore on Max’s body tingled with energy, and the ground around them shook.

[ Planetary Travel - Block - Overridden ]

An earthquake far worse than the one that occurred in Windsor Wheel began, with the ground rising and falling like waves on an ocean.

Max grabbed Tanila and pulled her close, quickly levitating them both off the ground. He turned to see Rakonath using his mouth to deposit Dexic on his back, the silver dragon preparing to leap into the air.

What is this?!

A god…

His mind raced, and at the furthest edge of the bowl, on top of it, a bolt of lightning, followed by a dozen others, streaked down from the sky. Dirt and stone flew in every direction as a shape appeared from a portal.

He could feel Tanila’s pulse quicken as he saw the gold hair shining like the sun.

The darkness of the clouds above only highlighted how bright it was.

“It’s her,” she whispered, clinging to him tighter.

GO! FLY!

But–

NO GO!

With no concern for anything else, Max summoned his dimensional vault and tossed Tanila inside as carefully as possible.

Two seconds later, a hand gripped his throat, lifting him into the air, nails digging into his flesh and drawing blood.

“You… are a pest, and I shall–”

The god who held him in her hands was glaring at him, her golden eyes radiating magic as waves of power rolled off her, but the sound of two thunderclaps quieted her as a pair of portals opened up on the side of the bowl closest to the city.

Two gods came forth, wearing full armor and weapons, unlike the elf god's flowing clothes.

“THUYJA!”

Phaius’s shout caused the god to spit as she turned, still holding Max like he was nothing more than a garment.

Even grabbing her wrists with both hands, he couldn’t break free from the vise that held him tight.

Do not struggle. Wait… The moment will come but–

“Put him down!” Ockrim roared as the dwarven god appeared a few yards away, flanking the elven goddess.

Her flowing purple clothes changed so quickly to a red set of chain armor, the emblem of blood and a tree upon its chest.

“You two do not tell me what to do! I can take what I am owed!” she bellowed, her golden hair rising off her shoulders. “This one is–”

“No!” Phiaus shouted, pointing his sword at her as he crouched down. “You know who he is and what he is. Even you aren’t foolish enough to contest the system. Put him down or I shall ravage your people until you draw no more power from this world.”

Phaius’s voice felt like it could strip the bark off a tree, and Max’s sonar told him that the human god was poised to attack at any moment.

“He’s right, Thuyja,” Ockrim added. “I too shall call for a war against every world you own and will not stop until there isn’t a place you can hide.”

The elven goddess’s arm shook, taking Max for a ride. She huffed and puffed, her head twisting both to the left and right, and she held a staff in her other hand.

“He killed my king! My blood!” she roared. “Even now, he hides one of my own from me!”

“Not our concern or yours,” Phaius replied. “The rules, you know them. I paid the price for being foolish, costing me thousands of years' worth of power. Your decision right now could be far–”

Phaius's words were cut off by the sound of a crack, and Max felt his head removed from his shoulders. Blood ran down the elven goddess’s fingers as she laughed.

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