Ultimate Level 1
Chapter 521: The Fourth Piece

Chapter 521 - The Fourth Piece

“Another artifact piece?” Fowl asked. “All you need is one more now!”

“One more?! He has three?!” Tanila exclaimed. “How… I mean… never mind, of course Max has three.”

Max couldn’t help but stare at the black piece in his hand. It vibrated, almost as if it sensed that he had three more stored in his dimensional space.

“It’s a shame you don’t have another,” their ranger continued. “Every elf knows the legends of what those could create.”

He felt Tanila reach out to him, touching his waist as his oversized body towered over everyone. “You going to tell them?”

“Tell us what?” Batrire asked.

“I… I got one from Phaius. This is my fourth one.”

No one spoke, but he could hear the gasps that their ranger and warrior made.

The world began to shift and Max looked around, seeing the tower floor changing.

He quickly stored the piece, and two beats of his heart later, the team was outside the tower in the capital, standing on the platform.

“What in the gods?” Fowl muttered. “Did it just kick us out?”

“He told us it would,” Tanila replied. “I had expected a portal, though, not that.”

“What about–” their ranger started, stopping when the shouting of others came from around them.

“Who is that?!”

“Is that Max Hoste?! He’s huge!”

Guards and adventurers began to draw near, and Max sighed, realizing he was still in his Ultimate Form.

Bob's laughter almost made his head vibrate from how much his skill seemed to be enjoying this.

I told you that one day you wouldn’t be able to hide. Now your legend will grow, just as you have.

Deactivating the ability, he returned to his normal size, hearing the confusion and speculation of what ability he must possess.

“Touch me,” Max said. “I’d rather just get home quickly and figure out the next part versus having to wade through all of this.”

Fowl started to laugh, moving to where he was and grabbed his arm.

“Gods, we’re never going to be able to visit another tavern or ale house without hearing more songs about you.”

***

Max stood there with his party, Everett and Tom having joined them in the private crafting room set aside for him.

Both men had been silent for almost a minute, staring at the three black blocks that were vibrating on the stone counter.

A low hum came from the fourth one in his hand, like a child crying out to its mother to be with her.

“You… you’re going to craft an artifact,” Tom said slowly. “A thing of legends. Right here, in our house. I…”

The man who had trained them, teaching them tricks and how to use their skills, started to tear up, his chest heaving from the air that seemed to struggle to enter his chest.

Without warning, he moved to where Max stood and knelt down before him, bending his head.

“Max Hoste. I promise you my undying commitment to you, your friends and your family. I am honored to know you and watch the gods above bless you.”

Shaking his head, Max stood there, confused as Tom stayed like that, glancing at the others who seemed to be as shocked as he was.

A few seconds passed, and Everett moved beside the Faction trainer and knelt, smiling as he looked up at him.

“Max Hoste… you have been a pain in my arse and a blessing at the same time. I too pledge myself to you as Tom has. Faction first, you second.”

He looked at Tanila, trying to find what to say when Fowl grunted.

“I won’t bend a knee, so don’t wait on me.”

Everyone in the room but Max chuckled and all he could do was sigh.

“Stand you two, please. I’m not worthy of this.”

“You are,” Everett replied, looking up at him, still kneeling. “You don’t realize it but Tom and I often joked about how you and your team would conquer the tower. Neither of us truly believed it until now. There is no doubt in our hearts or minds, proven by this action we do now, that you and your team will do something that hasn’t happened in thousands of years.

“You five will be heroes, legends, names spoken with pride and honor. Parents will name their children after you, and those young ones will try to live up to the name given them. Everything in our world will change because of what I now know for certain, you all shall accomplish.”

Tell them you are honored and accept their pledge. Both of them are old, and that position will probably cause them pain after a little while.

Laughing, Max stored the fourth artifact piece and stepped forward, putting his hands on both men’s shoulders.

“Rise and thank you for this honor. As always, I will keep my promise to the Faction. May the Golden Axe continue to rise and be the greatest in all the land.”

Sniffing, Tom wiped a few tears still present on his face and looked up, grinning from ear to ear.

“We are honored. Thank you.”

As they stood, Max glanced at Tanila who was smiling, bobbing her head slightly.

“Now then, if you are done making me uncomfortable, I will see what happens when I put the four pieces together.

Both men quickly rose and moved to where they had been, eyes now locked upon the three blocks on the table.

Once more, he retrieved the fourth piece, feeling it pull toward the others.

Taking a deep breath, he set it down on the stone table.

All four began to vibrate, and a red glow began to radiate around the four of them.

Push them together. It is time.

But what will happen? Even Tanila didn’t know.

You know this: I have no answer. None of my memories can recall anything specific beyond what needs to be done. For now, accept the destiny of what has been given to you, and let us see what the gods and the system give us.

Though they were harder than any other object he had touched, Max touched them so carefully, feeling the power against his skin, pushing them together.

A jolt of magic raced through both arms as the four merged, turning into a single block that started to change shape.

It lost its square form, turning into a sphere. A few seconds later, it became a black diamond as big as his head. Over and over, it pulsed, changing shape and form every few seconds until it became a black chest, darker than the night or the true absence of light.

A small line of crystal appeared where the lip of the lid would be and Max reached out, touching it with his thumb.

Pain came, and jerking his hand back slightly, he saw blood on the crystal edge, his thumb quickly healing.

His blood began to spread and grow, filling the band of crystal that ran around the chest. When it was all red, the chest pulsed, and the blood moved to the lid, turning into a set of runes and symbols that even his ability to know most languages couldn’t understand.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

All around Max, the sounds of his friends gasping and breathing heavily echoed in his sonar skill, but none of it could make him take his eyes off the chest. The runes flared with light, bright red, then turned dark like a blood ruby. A click came, and the lid opened on its own.

Inside was a pool of red that looked like blood, swirling like the vortex of dimensional space he knew well.

Every part of his being called out, and Max reached in, putting his hand inside.

Pain, light, and power infused every part of his body.

And the world shifted.

***

“You?! How?!”

A familiar voice rang out in his ears, and Max blinked, his sonar not working.

The shape of a lizard man he recognized stood before him, drenched in sweat, rolling off his scaled hide.

“Zisathass?”

Laughter came from the being that stared at him, eyes glowing red as he held a large hammer in his right hand.

“You remember my name. I am honored. Tell me… how is it you have come here?”

Glancing around, Max saw that he was in a small circular room. There was a forge, an anvil with runes he couldn’t read, and boxes stacked behind the lizard. A warm wind blew in from somewhere, and a red door was off to his left. Beyond that, the room was empty, made of purple stone like the dimensional storage space he had.

“I combined four artifact pieces. It made a box and brought me here.”

“I know that,” Zisathass replied, shaking his head. “I mean, how have you acquired them? Your kind rarely receives this kind of blessing or power. Yet twice now you enter my home. For you to do so…”

Max watched as the red eyes grew larger, eyelids pulling back and the lizard’s skin retracted from his jaw, showing teeth.

“You are the one! Ifrit! A world champion! That means…”

Zisathass started to pant, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat off his chest and set the hammer down on the forge.

“I am honored to be in your presence. Forgive me for not behaving as I should have. You have collected the pieces, joined them together and I am the one who will help you craft a piece that shall be told across worlds. What is forged today will be a legend and grant you power like nothing you can imagine. But there is a cost. Are you willing to pay it?”

Max couldn’t help but frown.

“A cost? What kind of cost? Isn’t collecting the items needed to make an artifact hard enough?”

Laughter echoed around the room as Zisathass shook his head.

“It is and it isn’t. You and the few who reach this place like you are given the same offer. Some choose not to pay the price, taking instead an artifact that is powerful and rare. But the few willing pay the price, desiring something far greater, even if it costs them.”

“What is the price? What do I have to pay to gain something like that?”

Zisathass’s smile almost felt dirty, the red eyes shrinking as his eyelids drew together.

“I shall need three things. It must be all three or you will be unable to take this path. Many are willing to part with one or two. Most are not willing to part all three.”

Gods he rambles on.

Snorting, Max grinned, ignoring the look he received as the lizard cocked his head.

“Just tell me the price. I don’t need to hear anything else.”

Laughter came from Zisathass who nodded.

“Very well. The price is simple. I require that which you hold dear. A token of something so important that you know the loss of it will hurt. Try to give me something that isn’t valued will be known and we will be done.”

“Like an object I carry or own or what?” Max asked.

“That is for you to decide. You’ll know in your heart what is important.”

He nodded and started to think about everything he owned, trying to decide what could be so important to him that giving it up would hurt.

Glancing at the ring on his finger from Tanila, Max twisted it a few times, knowing it was important to him but that if he lost it, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

The tooth in his storage came to mind, as he knew it had value. He could make a weapon from a different dragon tooth, but it wouldn’t carry the same power. So much of what he had done was based around trying to find out how to craft it.

Mentally Max checked off everything he possessed and stopped when he knew what it was.

Touching his neck, he felt the object that he and Tanila shared.

I believe you have found it.

Even though it’s not my strongest piece of equipment?

But it carried you through when we were on Igarra’s world. It is what connects you to her. We also know that if you give it up, she will lose hers and it will cause her pain.

His fingers ran along the Bonded Heart, which had long symbolized everything about his relationship with Tanila. They were one, bound in marriage and through this.

It pained him to will it to come off his neck. Even in storage it was a comfort. Yet Max knew that taking it off this time would mean it would be gone forever.

Closing his eyes, Max took a deep breath and willed it to his hand, holding it out to Zisathass.

“Take it.”

Smiling, the lizard reached out, tapping its talons against the necklace and wrapping its scaled fingers around it.

A bright light came, and Max's connection to it snapped. His whole body ached from the loss.

“Yes… This is dear to you. Very good. This price has been paid. Now then. You must pay the second price. You have given what is important. Now you must give what many will not. Tell me the part of your body you wish to sacrifice. I shall then collect it. You can offer as much as you desire. Just know the more you give, the stronger the artifact can be.”

Coughing, Max cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, you want to cut off a part of me?”

“Or parts. You decide. For some, this costs little, for others it is a great cost. Some can regrow limbs in time. Others cannot. Just know that if you die from the loss, I am not obligated to heal you or return your body home. Instead, your corpse stays here for me to enjoy.”

Those red eyes seemed to glow, and Max almost felt creeped out.

“So I can heal after telling you what to take?”

“Yes.”

Laughing, Max couldn’t help but enjoy the sensation of Bob finding this moment humorous.

“I understand. If that is the case, then cut off my head and take everything from my neck down.”

Both red eyes grew wide, and Zisathass’s neck retracted as the lizard stepped back.

“You offer everything but your head?!”

“I do.”

“And if you die…”

“I understand,” Max replied. “Chop off my head, but leave it alone. The rest is yours.”

“Very well,” Zisathass said, his teeth showing as he smiled, his fork tongue running along his teeth. “Prepare yourself and tell me when you are ready.”

Max became naked, storing everything he owned in his necklace. The stats loss felt intense as he stood there, bare before this challenge, but knowing how it would go.

[ Regeneration ]

“Go ahead, I–”

His words never finished as pain came.

The world shifted as his head began to fall.

It stopped, and he sensed Bob using Wind Magic to keep it from bouncing on the stone floors.

Multiple times he had died and each moment had been a lesson in pain. Against Igarra, he had lost count. His skin and flesh had been melted, burnt off, corroded away, and yet this injury was the worst of all. Even getting cut in half couldn’t compare.

The spine began to form and grow downward.

Even amidst the pain, Max’s eyes worked, and he could see Zisathass watching him in awe, mouth open, as his body regrew.

“I… am impressed. My kind cannot survive an injury like that or heal so quickly. It appears that what I asked was not difficult at all for you.”

Max nodded slowly, his neck cracking as the last of his appendages grew back. Blood covered the ground where he stood, and glancing at his bare feet, he realized he was still naked, solving that problem with a single thought.

“So then, what is the third cost?”

Zisathass smiled and then began to laugh. This time, his whole body shoo,k and the scales of his chest expanded and shrank as he took another breath, breaking out in another round of laughter.

“You ask what the third cost is. Know that only one has ever paid this price. All consider the cost to be too great, and you will not be given back that which I have already taken.”

“I understand,” Max replied. “So tell me the cost.”

“You must give me all the experience and levels you possess. Returning to the beginning of your journey. Starting back at level one.”

Max couldn’t help it.

In all his life, he couldn’t recall a moment like this.

He had never laughed this hard.

‎