Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 293

The drums started to sound, and while many groaned at having missed out on betting, cheers and shouts made the air almost vibrate from how loud it became.

“Now for the moment we all love! Will another new warrior die, their flame snuffed out in a moment, or shall they burn away their opponents and stand tall upon their ashes?! Fight!”

Four bells chimed, and the intensity of the spectators rose to a new frenzy as both of the Flesh Rippers spread out around Max. Each held their weapons ready, moving carefully, never taking steps that might leave them unprepared for an attack.

They had to move closer slightly, coming within seven yards of Max as the space between them and the wall shrank.

He, however, moved slowly to the middle of the arena, giving them as much space as they might desire.

Neither spoke, and yet Max could sense that somehow they were moving as one.

You seem relaxed. Tell me, are these a threat at all?

I doubt it. Regardless, is now the time to talk finally, or are you just having fun?

Laughter echoed in his head, and as many times as it had bothered him, Max couldn’t help but smile.

Win. I have much to share, and your thirst for this pulled me from what I was lost in trying to do.

Both moved as one, somehow able to detect that Max wasn’t one hundred percent focused on the pair. Sand shifted in a shower as their feet brought them toward him.

The two-handed axe came at him sideways, swinging so that it would take off his shoulders, while the two scimitars moved like a pair of scissors, attempting to cut off his legs and hips.

Even as they moved, Max read the movements, his Sonar skill and own understanding of his stats telling him everything there was to know.

They aren’t a problem.

Shifting toward the sister, Max reached out with his free hand, stopping the axe’s swing when he grabbed the shaft.

His staff moved in his left, deflecting both swords and sending one flying from the power he had used in it.

One moment the arena had been filled with noise that might deafen someone.

Now it was silent.

Sighing, Max lifted his head slightly, looking up at the sister, who was grunting, trying to pull her axe free from his grip.

The brother attempted another attack, losing this sword when Max parried and struck closer to the hilt, the vibration too much for him to hold on.

“Surrender?”

A scowl came, and the sister roared, spit flying at him as she lifted a leg, kicking at him, still not releasing the axe Max held on to.

His boot came up, a loud crunch of bones snapping when he kicked her clawed foot with his armored foot, taking her scowl away and bringing instead a cry.

“I offered,” Max stated as he threw the axe handle upward, sending the sister falling backward. His next move was to bring his staff around, cracking the skull of the brother and sending him face first into the sand.

As the sister fell toward the ground, Max was already turning back, his staff spinning so fast most couldn’t keep up with its speed.

It connected to the side of the larger warrior and sent her spinning, tumbling along the sand, until she hit the glass wall.

The silence that had been present for a moment was filled with a raucous noise of a crowd getting something they had clearly not anticipated. The beating that was being given was controlled, deliberate, and left no doubt that the Flesh Rippers were done.

Walking along the sand, Max moved to where the sister was, a wheeze coming from her mouth and nose as blood trickled out of both.

He had counted the number of ribs he heard break. Six.

No doubt a few had punctured her lungs, and the warrior seemed unable to catch her breath or move at all.

This is not how the cat and mouse story usually goes. Tell me, are you committed to doing what must be done? Have you changed so much since last we spoke?

Max wanted to argue and say that he was still the same person, but he knew he wasn’t.

If I want to get back to my world, I cannot be merciful, can I?

No.

He already knew the answer, yet hearing it, the way it came through, absolute, was exactly what Max needed.

The last bit of dregs of kindness were pushed down.

In his mind he saw only one thing. Tanila.

Her red hair, those amazing green eyes.

He could feel her lips against his.

An ache came as his mind struggled to remember how she smelled.

Time was taking that memory away.

He grabbed the foot, clamping on, and dragged her back across the sand to where her brother lay still.

Slowly, Max turned around and held his staff out at the crowd, watching their reaction, seeing the same look across every species and insect before him. Recognizing it as one that his queens once wore.

He locked gazes, even under his hood, with Kauakan and saw the insect nod.

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Twirling his staff around, Max let it glow with flames, creating a spinning inferno.

Sound once more began to grow soft and quiet as the spectators witnessed something Max figured most had never seen before.

Flames grew higher and higher as he held the staff above his head, sending them over ten feet high into the air.

When he stopped, the fireball he had been playing with hovered above him.

It was as tall as he was, and Max took a few steps back, his weapon still slightly covered with fire, and pointed it at the pair.

The scent of burning flesh and fur filled the air, and four seconds after the flames engulfed the pair, the crowd went wild.

Ifrit! Ifrit! Ifrit!

As the bodies burned, Max waited a moment and then gave a simple bow, turning and moving toward the gate he had come out of.

“THERE YOU HAVE IT! Today marks the birth of a new warrior! Ifrit has called down the flames from the skies! Let us see who can stand against him and not be turned to ash!”

More cheers sounded over the stomping of feet, claws, and other appendages.

As the gate lifted, Max saw Aimee nodding and smiling.

“You were strong.”

Max gave her a single nod and then moved down the hallway toward the room that he was supposed to wait in.

He still had one more fight to go.

***

Forgive me. I have exhausted everything I know or can recall to remove this thing that binds us. It is something strange, allowing the system to flow through and around it. Like a dam with release gates, it controls how much and where the water is permitted. As of right now I cannot find the lock which keeps it in place.

I understand. Are you done attempting to find it, or should I expect you to vanish once more?

He sensed a scoff in his mind and a thread of humor of some sort at his question.

Much has changed. You have grown stronger, and I see there are new things you have learned. I was able to stop the attempt to strip you of the skill you acquired, but it took more from me than I had anticipated. That slowed down my plan. Tell me what you have learned.

It appears two beings in this world have climbed the tower, and each has a section they call their own. We are in the city that belongs to one. Perhaps this place will protect us from the hunter. It appears neither is fond of the other. The other…

Max paused, ignoring Aimee, who seemed to be studying him. He was pretending to be resting but could feel her gaze.

This world… it seems to operate on a system like your skill. The only way to grow stronger is to defeat others of equal or greater power. Monsters do not give as much growth, I am told, as people, or beings do. How? Why?

There are many worlds like this. Does this surprise you? Even your own world is like this to a degree. While not to this level, do not the strong prey on the weak? Do not the ones who seek to grow stronger remove an obstacle above them?

But actual gains come from killing another. If in combat, the gains are more! Why?

Devour, Consume, Command. Which way is better to grow stronger?

Max barely was able to contain the shudder he felt at those three words.

Why does it have to be any of those?

Do you not grow stronger by devouring the flesh of animals? Can you be as strong if all you eat is plants?

Not wanting to get into a debate about food choices, Max groaned.

It is believed that meat is required to grow to ones true strength. Still, how does that okay the devouring of someone or something else?

Who gets to determine what is food? Does not the dragon look upon all creatures and see them as food? Only when the elves, human, dwarves, insects, or beastkin can grow strong enough to stop it, can they attempt to change what it devours to grow stronger.

Or have you forgotten those who command others to obey them? Are not the elves from your world under such a thing? Surely you can recall what Tanila—

Don’t say her name!

A moment of silence held, and Max tried to suppress the anger and hurt he felt.

Forgive me… I should have known that would not be a pleasant memory. But you have heard it said how they cannot resist the command given by their king. Tell me, do you doubt he grows stronger through that?

But… I mean…

Max had no reply, and he knew it. In a moment, everything he wanted to argue had been dashed to ground, shattered beyond repair. All the hopes that somewhere were worlds that didn’t have others who were required to destroy one another to get stronger.

That is a foolish thought, and you know it. No god would make a world where no chaos is present. Any power they gained from such a place would be lessened to almost nothing but a trickle.

Everyone who conquers the tower learns the lesson you must finally admit to.

Max sighed, even with his eyes closed and wanting to feign sleep he couldn’t hold back.

One only gets stronger by defeating what is above them.

You have slaughtered tens of thousands of lives in the tower. Now tell me, after walking this world, is it any wonder that you see before you the very creatures you have fought and killed? Why do you think that is?

His skill didn’t wait. It knew Max didn’t know.

Because the system is designed to test all who attempt to grow. Out of a million, perhaps one has the willpower, the conviction, the desire, rage, or whatever else you wish to call it to not quit and is willing to devour anything they must. They are willing to command anyone they can. Just like you, they are willing to consume whatever is required to grow strong enough for whatever their desire is.

Pain.

It felt like his chest was being sat on by a giant.

Breathing became harder as the truth he had fought against for so long set in.

Max considered all the lives of creatures he had killed in the dungeons and tower. Each time he had deemed it okay because he needed to grow stronger. He lied to get into dungeons that were not safe, hoping someone would help him take down something he couldn’t, just so that he could gain more strength.

Even now he was in this place, not just seeking wins so he could earn tokens or fame.

No.

Max knew exactly why he was here.

I need to kill the hunter. I have to become strong enough to consume his power so I can return home.

And if that requires you destroying everything before you?

His chest felt warm.

Max knew the answer, and no matter how much he hated it, he could no longer deny the truth behind it.

To get back to Tanila… I will do anything.

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