Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 311

“What is this material?”

Jazzjak was stroking the fur on the chair of the small apartment they had been given for now. Max couldn’t help but shrug as the bright yellow fur looked out of place compared to all the other colors that furniture and rugs were made of.

“It’s like someone took a rainbow and threw up in the room here,” he replied. “I don’t even recognize the wood or stone in this place.”

The vorpal bunny had moved to a glass tabletop, inspecting the bright orange crystal that was three inches thick and appeared to be one piece with the legs. He lifted it up, or tried to, unable to even budge it.

Giving it an attempt, Max managed to move it a few inches, but it felt like something was keeping it pulled toward the floor.

“It’s held down by gravity magic,” Jazzjak stated as he tried to lift the rug. “Everything here is. Do you… no you wouldn’t. Gravity magic is so rare, I can only think of maybe seeing it once in my life.”

“And they use it to keep furniture in place?”

Chuckling, the rabbit shook his head as he moved toward the kitchen area of the apartment.

“No… it was used to move those stones too large for a Stone Master to move. It is rumored that a true master of gravity magic can crush walls and mountains with a single thought.”

Max studied the room once more, impressed by how everything in the room looked like it was made from one single piece of whatever it was. The wood chair was a solid section of wood, shaped to fit a larger body than his, and the grains in the wood were set in a weird runic language he didn’t understand.

What is this world? Do you recognize any of it, Bob?

Memories… like I’m in a foggy day, and I can see an outline, but I cannot place what or from where. All I know is we are not in Peltagow anymore.

Chuckling to himself, Max moved to where Jazzjak was checking the different cupboards and a cold-infused stone refrigeration unit.

“Hungry?”

“I can eat,” Max replied with a grin.

The rabbit nodded and began pulling things out, and pointed at the area behind them.

“Relax, I’ll make us something. You need to prepare for what you are about to encounter soon.”

“Igarra?” Max asked as he leaned against a counter, choosing to stay inside the kitchen area versus going to the other room.

“Yes, and while I wish I had more answers, the truth is none of us know her true power. Everything we have or know comes from her, or so we are told. It has been more generations than I could count that have called her master of this city. Which means she has been around a long time.”

“Yet she doesn’t look old at all, does she?”

“Says the one with no hair on his face.”

Max rubbed his chin and smiled. Growing hair had never been easy, and it seemed like after he had shaved his head, it felt ok to be bald everywhere.

“Power changes you,” Jazzjak stated as he began to cut some vegetables with ease, handling a blade so fast it blurred. “Those who gain enough are rumored to have lived for thousands of years. Some even ten times that.”

“Wouldn’t someone get bored living that long? I mean… I’ve only been alive eighteen years and—”

The noise of the knife falling to the floor and some of the carrots the rabbit had found moving to join it cut Max off.

“You’re… only eighteen?”

The wide red eyes and open mouth on his companion left no doubt of how shocked the rabbit was.

“I am…” Max replied slowly. “How old are you?”

“Closing in on two hundred years… Still, how have you gained so much power in so little time? Is your world that strong?”

“No. I’m kind of different from most. Even in my party… my friends who I climbed the tower with were strong, but they would have struggled against everyone I have faced here.”

Having retrieved the fallen vegetables and knife, Jazzjak nodded slowly.

“Tell me… just how strong are you, Ifrit?”

Max sighed and motioned to the knife his companion held.

“How good is that knife? Will it cut you?”

“It is very sharp. I’m actually glad I managed to not lose a finger when I slipped earlier.”

“Good. Try to cut me with it,” Max stated as he held out his hand.

Cocking his head, the vorpal bunny stared at him a few times. Even though he kept motioning his hand out, it took a few seconds for Jazzjak to come close and slash at the outstretched hand.

The knife hit and slid, not cutting the skin at all.

Both ears shot straight up, and two red eyes grew bigger.

“Harder.”

Like a predator, the rabbit slashed, moving just as fast as he had when cutting vegetables a minute ago, and yet after twenty plus slashes, no mark was made.

“How… I know for a fact when we first met this would not have been the outcome.”

The confusion in his companion’s voice brought a smile to Max’s face.

“How does one grow stronger? By defeating those who are above them. I have done that, and I will continue to do so. Now, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

***

“My mistress has requested your presence. Please come.”

Max nodded, and as Jazzjak started to follow, the pink insect, which had no eyes, just a large round body that rolled, spun in circles suddenly.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“No. Only he may come. You may stay here or explore, but know that she is not responsible if you get lost or end up in trouble.”

“I will be fine,” Jazzjak stated as he motioned toward the door. “Go and return. I will be around.”

***

The buildings grew even taller as they moved toward the tower and where Igarra must have her home. Each street was packed, and the variety of creatures and beings sometimes left Max feeling out of place.

His robe was nothing special, and his appearance had many staring and whispering. Often their gazes were at his staff more than at him, and Max wasn’t sure if any of them could detect what it gave.

An hour went by as they walked at a quick pace, or at least he walked. The insect said nothing, rolling along, leading the way through the crowd that seemed to move as it got close.

As they moved past buildings with lights of every color that blinked rapidly, drawing guests or patrons inside the large doors, they came to a section where all the buildings stopped. A four-hundred-yard section of nothing but purple grass led to a short gold wall, maybe three feet high with a single path that led to a gate.

“That seems awfully short,” Max stated. “I guess no one would be foolish enough to come uninvited?”

“No, they would not.”

Its reply had been short, no desire for chit-chat at all.

Upon reaching the gate, a shimmering area ran between two larger gold stones, and Max felt a chill run through him.

Something to detect a visitor?

Or an enemy.

All he had seen before that moment was the tower. It was over half a mile away, but once he crossed the gate threshold, a giant house-like structure, larger than the castle the queens lived in appeared, encircling the tower completely.

“That is impressive… all that for just one person?”

A scoff-like sound came, and the insect stopped its spinning, turning around once and remained motionless.

“My mistress is not a person. She is everything. This is her domain. We are fortunate to be allowed in her presence… No, to even be on the same world.”

As soon as it finished scolding him, it turned, moving once more, and Max could detect it had sped up some.

More guards appeared, all standing in the same gold armor. It was almost as if they were statues, as none moved anything other than their eyes, watching as he followed the path of worked purple stones that led to the grape-colored monstrosity that Igarra called home.

Each step was etched with artwork depicting titanic battles, so well done, Max could sense the flow of combat in them.

After climbing thirty steps, they stopped on a porch-like area with fifty-foot columns that ran to the overhang. Underneath it was a large black door.

That’s crystal, not glass…

At about thirty feet tall, it began to move, making no sound as it swung inward.

His eyes barely picked up another shimmering light where the door had just been.

She has many different pockets of space. This means she is most likely a master of some kind of dimensional energy.

Like my necklace or one of those items?

Perhaps even more… there are many different kinds. I cannot recall them all right now, but I know she is strong if she possesses that power.

Holding up his hand and moving till it was just a few inches from the shimmering surface, Max waited.

I sense nothing… it should be safe.

Without waiting any longer, he stepped through the shimmering area and found himself in a long hall.

Gone was the purple-colored stone, now replaced with a silver colored one.

At least it doesn’t hurt my eyes to look around now.

Tall columns rose to the thirty-foot ceiling, and Max realized no one was inside here but Igarra, who sat on a golden throne at the end of the hall.

At about a hundred yards long, it took him a bit to make his way toward her, not rushing and studying the purple portals that were set on each side between the columns.

Twenty of them. I’m assuming they each go somewhere else…

To keep them active would cost a lot of mana. Either she has something to power them, or Igarra is attempting to show you a bit of her strength. Eventually she would have to close some of them if it was her.

“ Ifrit, I am glad that you have finally joined me in my home.”

Her words carried an air of amusement, and the teeth that showed from her curved lips did not hide the threat she possessed.

“I am grateful for the invitation, Igarra. I must say I am impressed by the amount of dimensional power you possess. So many portals and pockets.”

Her left eyelid shifted just so slightly, and had he not had Sonar and been able to feel the variation, his eyes would have missed that detail as Max continued to draw closer to her.

“You are aware of them… interesting. Not many would know of their power outside of having completed the tower… Tell me, do you really wish to enter my tower?”

Giving the slightest bend of his neck, Max nodded.

“I would enjoy getting to see what yours might offer, though I doubt I have the time right now to fully climb it. I would rather prefer to find a way to remove Ezreal and return home.”

A soft chuckle came from the woman as she tapped a ringed finger against her chin.

“Removing him is not an easy task. Trust me, I know. I have made many attempts at freeing this world from his presence, and each time I have failed. Tell me, do you think you are strong enough to accomplish such a task?”

“Perhaps. I will say he caught me off guard when he captured me from my world and put me in his play area. If we do meet again, I hope that this time he will learn I am not as easy to capture.”

All of her teeth were on display, and Max could feel her heart was beating just a little faster.

“Well then, perhaps I can help you in preparing for that moment. You are going to have to fight in the arena here, and I want you to know that everything you have faced before means nothing. Those who come here to fight are from other worlds, seeking power, items, deals, and a variety of other opportunities not available from where they are from.”

Rising to her feet, Igarra left her throne, moved down the two steps of the platform, and walked till she was just a few feet from Max.

“Are you willing to bet everything, your life included, to have the chance to grow?”

The way she said that… it’s almost like she knows something.

“I am.”

“Very well,” she replied with a nod. “Then there is no time to waste. Follow me.”

With that she moved, an air of no concern that he was behind her.

Turning, he followed Igarra as she moved toward one of the portals halfway in the room.

“This one will take you to the staging area. I shall go first so that you know I am not sending you to some trap.”

Strange words to say…

Ignoring the concern he and his skill had, Max nodded and followed the woman through the shimmering purple portal.

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