Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 514: Shopping for Something

The sounds of so many people talking filled Max’s ears as his sonar revealed nothing beyond the noise.

When his eyes finally worked, he felt himself straighten. He saw a large corridor made of purple-worked stone similar to his dimensional space that ran for half a mile.

At its end was a portal, but all along the walls were what appeared to be shops with tents and overhangs, each filled with items and different beings shouting out and talking to others who perused the goods before them.

“Max… are we in some… bazaar?” Cordellia asked.

“Who cares,” Fowl said, clapping his hands together. “Look, over here!”

Behind them was a portal and a small wooden chest.

“Seems… a bit tiny,” Tanila stated before groaning as Fowl opened his mouth.

“Don’t!” Batrire snapped. “Just open it and let it go.”

Groaning, their warrior moved to the chest and lifted the lid, suddenly doing a little jig before turning and motioning for them all to come close.

Inside the swirling purple vortex were five potions, each of which usually gave close to a hundred points spread out across all their stats. Next to it were two items that needed to be rolled for. There was a ring for Tanila, Batrire, Fow,l and Cordellia. Max was the only one with something different, a black chain chest piece.

“Oh baby… I just want to touch it,” their warrior said as he glanced at the others. “May I?”

Their healer rolled her eyes, and Max motioned for the dwarf to go ahead.

Laughter came as Fowl held up the black band and slipped it on his finger. “Oh… I think I’ll call you my precious.”

“Not going to share?” Cordellia asked as the dwarf reached in and retrieved his potion.

“Uh… if you share yours, I’ll share mine.”

Sighing, their ranger reached in and took hers. A tooth-displaying smile quickly appeared as she also put the black band on her finger.

“Sharing?” Fowl asked.

With a shake of her head, their ranger's grin grew as she took the potion that was hers out.

“Now I can’t wait,” Batrire muttered.

Both she and Tanila reached in, and each started to laugh, putting the ring on and smiling at Max.

Grunting, Max frowned as he studied the four of them, all grinning like a cat who caught a mouse.

“I guess I’ll have to pry it out later from Tanila.”

“Bah, that’s cheating,” Fowl replied. “Still, it’s a pretty nice item.”

Retrieving his chest piece, Max studied the scales, which looked like tiny black pieces of chitin armor, and held it up, admiring it for a few seconds.

[ Inspect Chest ]

*****

Black Beetle Chitin Armor

+20% to All Stats

+20% to Physical and Magical Attacks

*****

After swapping it out for his old piece, Max couldn’t help but appreciate how it looked and how it made him feel. The power of the bonus stats was almost intoxicating, so he did a quick twirl to show it off.

“Going to share?” Fowl asked.

“Nah, I don’t think so.”

Ignoring Tanila's glance, he took the potion and the three large pink crystals and motioned to the chest.

“Two items, you all should roll on them,” Max said.

“You’re not going to roll?” Cordellia asked. “That chest piece is that good?”

Shaking his head, he pointed his thumb at the bazaar behind them.

“I’m going to go see what’s for sale. You four figure out who gets what.”

Spinning on his heels, Max walked off as he stored his potion and approached the first tent shop.

“WELCOME!” shouted a small demon about the size of a grapefruit. The little red and orange creature hovered behind a stone table, motioning at the three items before it. “Does anything strike your fancy?”

Max tried not to smile too much, as the demon’s low-pitched voice didn’t match his body. Instead, he chose to focus on the three objects before him.

One was a potion that almost seemed alive, with red liquid moving around it, sloshing up and down the sides. Next to it was a rainbow-colored gem the size of his fist. The last item was a dagger that was so black it almost seemed to absorb light.

“Uh… what are they?

“A good question and an even better answer! I am Foop, and before you is a potion so rare, every demon would kill their own mother for it!”

“Wouldn’t every demon do that already?” Max asked.

“Yes, but they would gladly do it now!” Foop exclaimed. “Inside is the blood of an archdemon. The power it contains and its potential uses are endless for those who practice the greatest arts in the system!”

“Demonic magic?”

“Exactly!”

Snorting, Max pointed at the next item.

“Ahh, a keen eye indeed! That there is a rainbow gem, only able to be harvested by blind leprechauns from triple rainbows when the planets align! So rare that I can promise you only two exist in all the systems!”

Blind leprechauns? What kind of idiot does this demon take you for?

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Probably an absolute idiot… I mean… he’s the first vendor in all this. I’m wondering how he got so lucky to get this spot.

“And what about the dagger?”

Hissing, the demon flew closer, glancing both ways before holding a hand up to its mouth and whispering.

“A borgurom blade. Very deadly. One scratch can end the life of many creatures. Sadly its last owner cut themself… and that is how I came to acquire it.”

“What did you find?” Fowl asked as the others came close.

“Friends of yours?” Foop asked.

“Brother, actually,” Max replied, bending down and looking at the three items again.

“Brother? But–”

“Different mother and father. Now, how do I know these are all what you say they are?”

Grabbing his leathery red chest, Foop let out a gasp as if someone had stabbed him.

“It pains me that you think I would lie and try to cheat you! Out of all the merchants here, I am the one you can trust! That is why I am granted this first spot.”

Max’s sonar picked up laughter and chuckles from some of the other vendors. He could feel the ones who didn’t have someone before their shop watching and studying them.

“Hmm… let me check that theory,” Max said as he pulled a dagger out.

Foop flew back a little bit.

“Sir… violence here is prohibited. To do so would–”

Ignoring the demon, Max plunged the dagger into his own arm.

[ Demonic Summoning ]

The prismatic world appeared and the same great set of grotesque doors slowly opened, revealing a bustling hall of demons with Sog’thollech striding toward it.

“Max! Is it time for…” The demon’s words trailed off as he saw what was around the one who had summoned him. “A system shop? You’re in a system-sponsored trading floor?!”

“Apparently,” Max replied, holding out his hand and shaking it when his demon friend took it. “I’m trying to make sure I don’t get taken by this little demon selling me stuff or any others.”

Peering through the crystal wall, Sog’thollech let out a laugh.

“That’s an imp… not a demon… I’m almost offended, but then again… you wouldn’t know. Still, the fact you’ve reached one of these is impressive. Can you give me a moment, and then I’ll be ready to assist.”

Nodding, Max watched as Sog’thollech turned and moved back through the doors, shouting orders that sent the other demons who had been watching scurrying.

“Okay, I’m ready. I just needed to make sure what I ordered gets done.”

“You look good, Sog. Real good. Have you… grown again?”

Pounding his black chest, the demon smiled and nodded.

“That coin you gave me… was worth more than we realized. Let’s just say I grow stronger daily, and I have you to thank for that.”

“Well, thank me by helping me with this imp.”

As the prismatic walls shattered and Foop’s eyes saw the demon suddenly standing beside Max, it started to shrink slightly.

“Ma… master… how… how can I help you today?”

Gone was the deep voice, replaced by one that sounded almost childlike.

“Tell me, little one. What are you selling?”

Red eyes darted between Sog’thollech and Max, its tiny chin quivering slightly.

“Uh… a potion of unending flatulence, a gem of hair coloring, and a borgurom blade,” Foop replied, wincing as he spoke.

“Well one of out three was true,” Max said. “The borgurom blade. Is it any good?”

His demon friend’s head bobbed side to side.

“Useful but only once. They bestow a nasty curse when they cut something, dissolving and entering the creature or person’s body. I wouldn’t care if you cut me with it, as that would do nothing to me but to others… it would be troublesome.”

“How much?” Max asked.

“What do you have to trade?” Foop asked, clearing his throat, the deep voice returning.

Rubbing his eyes, Max turned to his friend. “What do imps like?”

“Gold, blood, magical equipment, sweets, bone–”

“Sweets?”

Not seemingly upset that Max had interrupted him, Sog nodded.

Summoning two different boxes, Max carefully set them on the stone counter.

“Now…what I have in here is beyond rare,” Max said as he tapped the two cardboard lids. “There were only twelve in our entire world until I traded a few to a dragon for some scales.”

“Bah that’s a load of urphormus shite!” the sprite exclaimed, spitting to the side. “No dragon would–”

When the gold scale appeared in his hand, the noise in the bazaar stopped, and the imp’s mouth froze.

“I’ll TAKE IT!” Foop shouted.

“I’m sorry the scale isn’t an option.”

“Who cares about the scale!” the imp exclaimed. “I want to know what a dragon would trade for one!”

“It’s going to cost you,” Max stated as he grimaced. “All three of them for one.”

“No!” Foop declared. “Just one, you can–”

Max opened the box and pulled out a lemon surprise cupcake. The candied lemon peel glistened with the sugar, and the scent immediately began to spread.

“Ah… yeah you see, these are so rare that it wasn’t just one dragon scale she gave… but three.”

Max thought the imp’s eyes were going to fall out as he started to stack gold scales upon the stone counter.

You are a shrew liar… I knew I liked you.

Laughter filled his head as the imp kept glancing between the scales and the cupcake Max was starting to put into the box.

“Fine! All three! I’ll take it!”

Sucking air in through his teeth, Max grimaced as he stored the scales again.

“I’m not sure… maybe I should see what others might offer me for one.”

Flying until he was only a foot from Max’s face, Foop clasped his tiny hands together.

“All three and… I’ll… give you an Imps pass!”

Suddenly, a metallic black card appeared in the creature's tiny hands.

Glancing at Sog, Max had to keep himself from smiling as the demon’s eyes widened and he nodded.

Sighing, he waited a few seconds before shrugging.

“I guess. Those three items and the imps pass for one of these.”

“Trade confirmed!” Foop exclaimed as he held out a tiny hand.

Putting his finger out there, they shook, and Max felt the cupcake leave his hand, floating toward the imp whose smile almost took up its whole face.

“Come to daddy,” Foop whispered as he ran a finger through the yellow frosting.

A moan that made Max uncomfortable escaped the little imp as he shuddered upon licking his finger.

“Uh… yeah, thanks for ruining my appetite,” Cordellia said.

Storing the box with eight cupcakes remaining, Max carefully picked up the dagger and stored it along with the other two items.

Tanila shook her head, biting her lip as she smiled at him.

“You’re so bad… not that I mind of course,” she whispered into his ear.

“Perhaps I should bake more often,” he replied.

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