Ultimate Level 1

Max and the others struggled, knowing they had to wait for cooldowns to expire before going back into the tower. The itch of progression had gotten under their skin and they were eager to get back at it.

The only way to overcome that problem was by spending time staying busy.

“What did you find out?”

“My mother is coming,” Tanila replied with a sigh. “It appears that there are a few who can be convinced to share that truth if they deem it worth the risk. Especially when one specifically asks if they are aware of it.”

Looking up from the weapon he was working on, Max saw her frown.

“Is it really going to be that bad?”

“She is going to sit in the box with the queens, her power radiating out from around her. Every elf will be enthralled already by her mere presence, but to see her in that state is considered a rare experience for many.”

Biting her lip for a moment, Tanila suddenly held a simple harvesting knife in her hand and offered it to Max.

“What would you do for this?”

“Would you beat someone up or mug an individual in order to acquire this weapon?”

Scoffing, Max shook his head.

“You know I wouldn’t.”

Pulling her staff that she used every day in the tower, Tanila tapped it with a finger.

“What about now?”

“I see what you’re saying and doing, but you know none of that means anything to me. I’m sure for some it would.”

Motioning to the stuff he was working on, Tanila grinned.

“How many would do what I ask for an item you make?”

“Too many…”

“And what if I asked you to mug someone or beat them up for me?”

Max wanted to groan, but didn’t. Her tone was sweet, but the way Tanila had spoken left no doubt to the trap she had set.

“So if your mother asked every elf to attack the other races, you’re saying they would.”

Shaking her head, Tanila frowned.

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“Some would. From that far away some would still be enticed to obey the command of the queen. If they were closer to her, within the aura she puts off, they would almost certainly. Now if it was my father, he could issue a command and most elves wouldn’t hesitate even if they wanted to. Say a couple like you and I, one not typically accepted was present. My father could command them to kill their spouse, and they would. Most wouldn’t hesitate at all.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat as he considered what she said, Max tried to weigh how much worse this situation could be.

“What about you or your siblings? Would your mother’s command work on you?”

Tanila shook her head.

“My father could make us though it would be very painful and I could resist for a while. My mother isn’t my father. His power is much greater than hers. He is like a dragon that is old and strong. One might think he is weak because of his age, but the truth is, the older he gets the stronger he becomes. A person might get closer and closer, thinking they can safely grab a coin and get away from the dragon’s treasure.

“The dragon might even allow it for sport and for fun. Word would spread about the aging dragon and how it is no longer strong enough to defend its horde. People would flock to come for easy pickings. Then, when the time was right, the dragon would devour them all, bringing vengeance far beyond what many might seem fair. Simply because it could and wants to. My father is the same way.”

“That has happened, I take it.”

Tanila nodded once.

“It was a horrible thing and most don’t remember it because he made certain word didn’t spread. He allowed a few who thought they were strong enough to get too close. They were dead before they knew he had devoured them.”

Max frowned as he considered the word Tanila had used multiple times.

“You keep saying devour… does your father eat them?”

An expression he had never seen before appeared before him.

Tanila’s body trembled slightly as she squeezed her eyes shut. A hand moved to cover her face, and Max was certain she was starting to sweat.

Without waiting for permission, he moved close and drew her to him. Holding her in his arms, he ran his hand along her hair, gently kissing her head as she continued to tremble.

“I… I can’t tell you even though I want to…”

Her voice seemed pained and each time she spoke, her body spasmed.

“Don’t worry. I understand,” Max said, having a good idea of what had been done to her. “No matter what, I’m here and soon you won’t have to worry about him hurting you ever again.”

***

Tell me you can shed some light on what she said. I need to know more if I’m going to protect her.

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Drifting off to sleep, Max held Tanila close, having reached out as many times as possible before exhaustion set in, desiring to receive some knowledge from his skill.

***

Did you learn the danger of feelings?

The voice made Max open his eyes and found himself and his image sitting on a cliff overlooking planets and stars.

What? What feelings?

A chuckle came and his clone moved its hand apart and the view below came closer, showing nine planets that seemed to circle around a massive sun.

You were angry, upset, and wanted vengeance. Your love for her and your friends creates problems. I am more than happy to help with those problems, but I do not need you yo-yoing on me. If we are to work together, I need to be able to trust that you won’t yank back on the chain when you let me loose.

The sight below him was hard to take his eyes off of, seeing a blue and red planet, another with what looked like seven moons, and yet the truth of what his skill was saying pierced Max’s heart.

I am still angry. I’ve done nothing to–

You killed one of theirs. That is all a person or group needs to seek vengeance. What if someone killed Tanila? Even in a fair fight? Would you give up the anger you felt toward that person? Or would you seek to exact revenge?

Slowly he nodded, knowing the skill was right.

So now what? I wait for the next attack?

His clone’s hands moved and the planets and sun before him swept to the side, another one replacing it, and then another. Soon dozens had quickly passed by until one came that was barely there.

The sun was so low and the planets that remained were covered in what had to be ice. Some huge broken pieces floated in the darkness of the space beneath him. Worlds that had obviously been destroyed.

Someone stronger will always come. Your mind is set on the things of your single world. Countless lives of beings are always in danger. The only way one can protect them is to be stronger and to leave no doubt to those who would attempt to cause problems that doing so would be repaid one hundred fold. Below us is an example of just that.

Max felt his breath catch in his throat.

Gods wage war like this?

Laughter came from everywhere, and his clone shook its head.

This wasn’t a war. Below us was a single strike. Trust me, I have seen wars and nothing would be left at all. This was a message left to the god or gods that claim these planets. Feelings can crush you completely but instead they broke you to the point you wish I had ended the lives of those elves.

A hand, his clone’s hand, was on Max’s shoulder.

You will need to eventually break those who threaten you to prove a point to everyone else. That will be the only way to protect the ones you care about.

What about that skill? The one Tanila says her father has.

Dark eyes from his clone bored into his head and there was no expression on the face before him.

I cannot be certain as there are many variations, but it is obviously a red skill. Possibly mine, possibly not. Some require you to eat the body of those you kill. Others drink their blood while alive or sometimes when dead. Even worse are the ones that steal part of your soul. I can protect against many things, even more as I grow stronger, yet if you are foolish and fight someone or something too strong, I cannot fully help. Similar to what your queens used on you.

The memory came to his mind and Max remembered how he felt in that moment. Crushed almost beneath a willpower that was impossible to resist.

So my only option is to continue to get stronger.

You will find that for as long as your soul remains you, that path will never stop.

Max sat there quietly, staring at the worlds that had to be lifeless or almost dead beneath him.

Thank you for your help today with that, boss. I’m certain I could have defeated it but I knew you needed to be… free.

A snort came from his clone and then a laughter that wasn’t like the usual one that overwhelmed him. Instead, it was as if he was sitting across from Fowl at the table.

Max Hoste, you are a being different from any I have ever met. Most would use me, seek to control me, attempt to harness my power for their own gain, and yet even now you see me as more than just a tool. For that…

Sitting there quietly, Max waited for what would come next.

A minute passed, and his clone finally faced him.

Thank you. Now go to sleep. You have a tower to climb and we have a score to settle soon.

***

“Rooting!” Tanila called out as she locked down the third ogre in the group.

Max’s weapon cleaved the one he had reached in half, frustrated at having to chase it when it raced off towards another group.

Fowl was pissed as his aura didn’t seem to keep the ogres' attention. Each one only bothered to attack the pair of them when they blocked the path to the three women.

“Mine’s down! Assisting!”

Max saw Cordellia had taken out her target and was now assisting the one Fowl had intercepted, the pair of them dancing side to side as the ten-foot monster attempted to get past the dwarf.

What in the world is going on? These things are far smarter than before.

The first pack had surprised them by splitting up and racing to the sides, not charging head on like every other ogre had. Their brown skin was hardened, resistant to arrows unless it was an empowered shot and took longer for Cordellia to take hers out.

Tanila still could one shot one if she got the drop on them, but these ogres were fast and smart, using their weapons to block the attacks as if they somehow knew they were coming.

“Two down!” Tanila shouted.

Max reached the third one that was rooted and even though it attempted to block his strikes, the poor creature never had a chance. His new strength reminded him of how it felt when the taller creatures struck his weapon. Parrying and blocking drove them backward and when that wasn’t possible, the weapon just slowed his strike some, still cutting into their flesh.

With the runners down and the last one falling to Fowl and Cordellia, everyone took a deep breath and let it out.

“What in the gods is with these things?” Fowl asked again. “I mean, it's like they don’t like me at all!”

Max nodded as he tossed one of the ogre's swords into his inventory.

“These things aren’t as big, but they’re fast,” Max replied. “What is weird is how none of them talk, make a sound, and those eyes. The way they stare at you is almost creepy.”

“We have a lot of ogres to fight,” Tanila said as she motioned around the grassy plains that were a few miles wide and hedged in by massive cliffs. “I can see at least fifteen packs from here. I was going to offer to let you try to bring a group, but I’m not sure that would work.”

Snorting, Max nodded.

“I thought the same thing, but with how they run, don’t focus on me or Fowl, I’d be afraid things would get out of hand. Should we let Fowl taunt and see if that at least works?”

“Please,” Batrire answered. “I’d rather know beforehand instead of during a fight and finding out it failed.”

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