Ultimate Level 1

It seems stupid… only one skill?

Do not blame me. I simply am the tool that operates under the rules set forth by the system. However, I, too, am surprised at what he had.

[ Skill Consumed is Weaker than Rank of Current Skill ]

[ Power stored for future use ]

[ Skill Consumed is Weaker than Rank of Current Skill ]

[ Power stored for future use ]

[ Skill Consumed is Weaker than Rank of Current Skill ]

[ Power stored for future use ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Butaru - Hand to Hand Fighting ]? ]

[ Yes / No]

What were all the skills that it appears we already know?

One was a concealing skill like yours, the second was a form of intimidation, and the other I couldn’t tell. It was the first and weakest of all of them, so perhaps it was simply a type of defense?

But he was weak… I mean… wasn’t he?

Compared to you, most are weak. When you snapped his neck instead of using your dagger, how hard was it to do? Couldn’t you have just as easily ripped his head off?

Max nodded, staring at the corpse that was at his feet.

Blank eyes stared upward. Sighing, he created a stone casket from one of the walls, sealing up the corpse like a form-fitting statue. After it was done, he used his stone skills to drive it deep into the ground, at least thirty feet under the soil, and then left it there.

“Thank you for choosing to end him that way,” Tanila said, her voice cutting through the silence.

“You were right. It was a better way to do it.”

He turned toward the four who stared at him and trembled as he moved closer to where they were sequestered.

“We’re going to leave soon. You’ll be coming with me, but I expect no trouble. Ask for help from anyone you see, and there won’t be a second chance. I don’t care if it’s a guard or the queens themselves. Do you understand?”

All four nodded frantically in response.

“Good. I’ll ensure you get something to eat soon. For now, I need to take care of a few more things before we go.”

Motioning toward the door, he followed Tanila, who left first, choosing to leave the opening there to air out some of the stench.

“Are you certain now is the time to push part of your plan?”

Frowning, Max nodded and blinked, seeing the sunlight slowly start to show itself far away. A beautiful sky of oranges and reds painted a picture that seemed alive, so opposite of what he had just done all night.

“There isn’t time, and if they don’t want to come with us right now, we need to go. Time is running out. I need to find somewhere for this dragon to hatch, and we still have to get Batrire and Fowl home for a wedding.”

She snorted and moved to where Max was, wrapping her arms around him and putting her forehead against his.

“I love you. I know that wasn’t easy, but you showed yourself capable of doing things most wouldn’t have the strength to do.”

“Trust me, if I never had to do that again, I would choose that path.”

After a moment of holding each other, Max kissed her and then led her toward the tent.

“Let’s get this over with.”

***

His parents and sister sat in their chairs, eyes scanning the table where over a hundred gold coins were sprawled out.

“How…”

“He’s a tower climber, Mom. That’s how.”

His mother nodded at Stacy’s words but couldn’t help but stare at the coin in her fingers.

“Son, you don’t need to give us all your money,” his dad said.

Laughing, Max began to pull out more bags, dropping them on the table with a thud. After four more bags were there, he pulled out some gems from storage, setting a variety of other costly objects on the wood.

“He likes to show off,” Fowl muttered. “Makes my gold pile feel so small.”

“I’m not showing off, just simply proving a point. You four can live safely in the capital and do whatever you want. No longer would you have to live here, worried about how the other townspeople might act. You would be safe and provided for. As your son and brother, I can’t think of anything else I can do to help take care of you.”

“What about training me to fight?”

Grinning, Max nodded as he began to put away the treasure he had placed on the table.

“There will be a time that I will go with you in a dungeon or two. Nothing would make me happier than that, but for now, I need to take care of a few things. Besides, these two beautiful dwarves are waiting to return home to get married, and I made a promise. If you choose to stay, I cannot tell you how long it will be before I can return.”

“You’re not giving us a lot of time to think about this,” his mother complained. “I mean… this is our family home.”

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“It is, and yet it’s not a home anymore, simply a shell of what once was. Instead, you can go to the capital and help Stacy start a new home. Perhaps she might even find a nice person there.”

A groan followed, and her sister turned slightly and showed him her middle finger while keeping it hidden from their parents.

“Not that I’m looking right now,” she protested.

“I know,” Max teased. “I’m just saying we need to decide, as I need to leave no later than tomorrow. Think about it, and talk amongst yourselves. I need to go into town and take care of a few things. While I do, you can go inside the house, but don’t go in the stone building I created.”

His father scoffed and shook his head.

“You created a building like that in a night… seems you are much stronger than I can even imagine, son. I have so many questions, and yet… I’m just grateful you’re here.”

“As am I, Dad. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return to town and speak with Captain Molo and the mayor.”

His mother began to laugh as she shook her head.

“My Max… talking with the mayor as if it’s nothing… oh, how so much has changed since he hid from all the physical work and tried just to spend time in the kitchen baking.”

“He still bakes when he can,” Tanila declared, pulling a small box from her dimensional storage. “In fact, I happen to have a few treats he made a while back still saved.”

His family looked at her and then at Max, who nodded, seeing them smiling.

“I promise you, he hasn’t killed any of us yet,” Tanila teased.

***

“Max Hoste… Seth Pendal… Champion of the Arena.”

Nodding for the hundredth time, he watched as the mayor sat behind his desk, staring at him.

This was the only time he had ever been invited to the office, and Max was impressed with the number of paintings, tapestries, and other objects that decorated the wood-paneled space.

“Mr. Mayor, we really need—”

“Dameon, please. I’m not sure I deserve the title when compared to yours. It would be like the queens sitting in those chairs.”

Captain Molo snorted and shook his head.

“I secured the shard as you asked, and we have sent a note to the adventurer’s hall. I have no doubt they will make a formal request for it soon. Tell me, do you want me to give it to them?”

“You should,” Max replied. “There is no reason for our city to face any other problems from them. Besides, I’m fairly certain our hall isn’t a part of whatever has been going on.”

“Stealing away teens… and you still don’t know why?”

Glancing at the mayor, Max shook his head.

Dameon was taller than many. His broad frame and six-foot-six height added a presence that made most back down. He had been escorted through dungeons and reached the fortieth level, having multiple administration skills and the physical and mental power most wouldn’t imagine a mayor having.

“Nothing good, I’m afraid. Also, the older one, Terrance, is dead.”

“Self-defense is a great way of resolving many of those problems,” Molo said. “I’m just glad you don’t have to walk around with the aura on you. Even though I’m certain none could harm you.”

“Tell me, the body?”

“Disposed of.”

Dameon nodded, a slight frown only present for a few seconds.

“No worries, just asking. And do not be concerned about your parents and sister. We have sent word to many in the city about how they should be treated. Still, three skills for your sister? Does she have any idea when she will start the training program?”

“That I’m not sure of, but I’ve also offered to take them to Peltagow with me. It might be better for them in the long run. If they go, I’ll trust you to handle selling the property if my father wants to. For now, I plan on leaving first thing in the morning.”

“So quickly?” Dameon asked. “You just got here! I mean… our town has…”

The mayor went silent, frowning as he and Molo exchanged a few glances.

“We owe your family an apology… I know how they were treated wasn’t fair, and to hear that we were lied to has upset a few of the others in the town whose children were taken as well. Surely you could help ease some of their suffering and perhaps give them hope.”

Max shook his head, doing his best to keep his composure.

“I won’t lie to them,” he replied. “The odds of any of them still being alive is almost impossible. To do such a thing is worse. Just make sure they know that I will seek out whoever is responsible and do whatever I can to extract…”

He caught himself not using the word he wanted to.

“Justice.”

“That is all we can hope for, then, I guess,” Dameon replied. “Is there anything else we can do to help ease the pain you and your family have endured?”

Shaking his head, Max stood and held out a hand.

“No. I’ve got a few other errands to run, and if you don’t mind, I will sneak out. There was already a crowd in the street that was following me. Most of them are the families of the teens I gave a coin to, trying to thank me again. Others are those hoping I might give them one as well.”

Sighing, Max felt the strings that constantly tugged at his heart.

“How many teens were there, not of noble or higher blood? Those whose families are on the lower end of the income scale?”

Closing his eyes and scratching his chin momentarily, the mayor shook his head from side to side.

“Seventy? Maybe ninety? I’m not sure. Why?”

In each hand, a coin bag appeared, and Max dropped them on his desk.

“There is one hundred gold. Ensure that each teen who could use one gets one, but also ensure that those who do are in need. I may come back at a later date and verify who received them.”

A slight chuckle came from Molo, and Dameon just nodded, ignoring the grin on the captain’s face.

“One last thing.”

Another pouch hit the desk, and the mayor coughed twice, banging his chest once.

“Find a way to let the town celebrate. There are fifty gold coins inside. When I return, I expect to hear about a party rivaling anything the capital has ever thrown. Again, ensure everyone who wants to come can and that all of it is free.”

“We will make it so,” Dameon said as he moved around the desk and held a hand out to Max. “I… I feel bad now. Not once did I know who you were until they said you were unskilled and you somehow escaped. Now, seeing you and hearing about what you have done and are doing, I wonder if others are like you in our town.”

“The only way you’ll ever find out is if you spend time with them. Besides, it appears the city has seen a bumper crop of new adventurers spring up. Perhaps you might help them prepare for what comes next.”

“I’m already on that,” Molo said as he held out a hand to Max. “For what it’s worth, I always knew you were special.”

Laughing, he shook the captain’s hand.

“You don’t need to lie to me. We both knew I was lazy.”

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