Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 303

[ 20 Strength Consumed ]

[ 20 Dexterity Consumed ]

[ 20 Constitution Consumed ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Skill does not match being’s body type ]

[ Consume is adjusting skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Harden Body ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

Everything inside him wanted to click yes, but Max had never had an easy time with anything that came from this world.

Still the sound of the arena was jarring enough.

“AND THAT IS HOW IFRIT WILL END HIS TOUR HERE!”

Max gave a wave, flicking his staff to remove the green blood it had acquired upon the death blow.

Instead he moved toward the gate, ignoring the replay the announcer called out.

At the gate, he could see Kauakan waiting for him, and it appeared that the insect was laughing.

***

“You have no idea how upset I am that I missed your fight,” Jazzjak grumbled as he sat in his chair at his desk. Those little paws tried to drum on the wood, but Max was certain no one but him could hear the little padded tap the fingers made.

“But everything is okay with Aimee?”

“Yes, yes,” he replied. “She is in the next ring of the city, recovering from what she has acquired. I promised to not tell you and will let her reveal it if she desires. Just know that she could easily kill Kauakan if she desired now.”

Max felt his eyebrows go up at those words and was glad that his insect friend wasn’t in the room.

Sitting there on the floor, it made him wonder just how all that worked. Aimee never really gave much detail about the orbs or gems that they talked about. He wasn’t sure if she didn’t know or didn’t want to share.

“Are the items she got that powerful or?”

The drumming of the tiny fingers stopped, and Jazzjak sat up a little straighter, scooted his chair closer to the desk, and leaned over it, resting his chin on both hands.

Max almost chuckled, watching that pink nose and those whiskers dance, but he kept quiet, wondering what the vorpal bunny was going to say.

“There are four different colors of stones or gems… well, five, but none will ever see the fifth unless Igarra herself was to grant one. The colors match the tokens you earn, and she was granted a yellow and green one.”

The rabbit pulled on his desk and set a tiny red gem the size of the rabbit’s paw on the desk.

His nose twitched and shook for a few seconds before he sighed and picked it up and tossed it to Max.

“Don’t use it, but you can look at it. That is worth a lot, even though it isn’t very powerful.”

It was like a ruby that hadn’t been cut or polished. Dull, no luster, but inside he could feel the power it held.

“And one just absorbs these? How?”

Jazzjak tsked and held his paw out, and without complaining, Max moved closer, setting the gem in the rabbit’s paw.

“I’m not sure I want to share this with you, but I know at some point someone will. I would caution you to try to absorb one, as there are rumors that your kind does not often succeed.”

“What kind of rumors?”

The pink nose danced, and the rabbit let out a string of noises, causing a servant to leave.

“Let me get us something to drink. This may take a while.”

***

Max tried to not laugh as he sipped the small cup that was given to him.

Carrot alcohol… What kind of messed up world is this?

Jazzjak leaned back in his chair, sipping the drink, and for a moment Max would have sworn he heard a sigh or some kind of purr come from the rabbit.

“You know that your kind isn’t liked. There have been a few dozen of your species that have come to our world. Some were like you, yet most were not.”

Taking another small sip from his metal cup, Jazzjak closed his eyes.

“The hunter who seeks you has been a plague to our world for some time. Before I was born and my mother as well. He and Igarra have some weird agreement, it appears. I’m not certain how, but neither have fought in a while because it appears neither is certain who will win anymore.

“When you make it to the center of the city.” Jazzjak paused, opening his eyes, and gave Max a you will make it look. Closing them again, he continued.

“You will find the arena in the middle is nothing like what is in this ring and the next. Everyone who fights in these are from this world. Things that fight in the last one are not always from here.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“As in others come here to fight?”

Shrugging, Jazzjak took a long drink and sat up, placing his cup on his desk.

“I’m not sure why, but each one that comes here is seeking something. Not many of us know what lies beyond the tower, as Igarra keeps that knowledge secret. A few have been allowed in, and she always speaks of how they have ascended, yet none have ever returned.”

Turning the cup in his paws a few times, the rabbit stared at the drink for a good ten seconds, before he sighed.

“If I am honest… I have killed many. I dream of being stronger, but I know that I cannot risk it unless I must. Even taking you in was a gamble, but there is a reason I took that risk.”

Max could sense the change in the rabbit, felt him relax for a moment.

“My mate has just given birth to our first litter. If they are to survive in the coming time, I will need to ensure their chances of acquiring power.

“I have seen how you look at me and know that you do not think I am dangerous, but know that both my mate and I could ravage many in this ring before we would be cut down by those who can do the same to us.”

“Family changes things.”

“No,” Jazzjak replied, his body once again returning to a predator aura. “Children. My mate and I have an understanding. If our death means the survival of our children, neither of us will hesitate to kill the other.”

Those beady eyes didn’t flinch, and the pink nose was not moving at all.

“I see. So my kind has been a thorn in your people’s side for a while.”

Chuckling, the rabbit nodded, both ears flapping slightly from the movement.

“A good change of discussion. Yes. They come for something. Some die, some live. Almost always, many of my people die.”

“How do they arrive?”

Shrugging, Jazzjak picked up his cup and downed the last of it.

“I have no idea. Yet another thing that Igarra doesn’t share with us.”

“What if I could tell you what I know about the towers and what is beyond them. Would that be worth anything?”

Jazzjak’s nose had been twitching for a few seconds, and at Max’s question it froze.

He held up a hand and let out a loud screech, and suddenly the four servants Max knew were in the room all vanished, leaving just the two of them alone.

“What you say is dangerous… dangerous to me and you… especially if Igarra knew you shared such knowledge.”

“So that is a no?” Max asked, giving a wink, as he could sense the vibrations of the rabbit’s foot tapping against the ground hidden under the desk.

“Do not play games with me. I would… pay for the knowledge, but I have leveraged much to get your friend those stones. Win one fight… no, two in the next arena, and then we will talk. If you are still willing to share the knowledge, I will see what I can pay.”

Max shook his head and smiled.

“No. I will tell you now, and if the moment comes, and you can get me a yellow skill stone or gem, I shall take it. If not, I understand.”

Cocking his head, Jazzjak twitched a few times.

“You are strange… you hold the power, the knowledge, and could barter with so many others, and yet you offer it freely, even when I told you what it was worth.”

“You took a risk. You brought us in and have kept every part of our bargain. I… I ignored your advice, and it cost me a friend. As such, I will trust you to do what is right, even if that doesn’t happen here often.”

The fur-covered fingers drummed the desk for a moment, and then Jazzjak smiled.

“Very well. I am eager to listen.”

***

You are better than I imagined you might be after that fight. I can feel the wall you have built. Behind it is a mound of dangerous things.

There is no other option. Tell me, do you think those gems or stones would be dangerous to me? To us?

It felt like his skill was drumming fingers on a wooden desk and lying there on his floor, Max couldn’t help but chuckle out loud.

Without getting more time with one I cannot be certain. I would like to see how they are absorbed, how long it takes for one to recover. If that lizard woman of yours had let us watch, I could possibly see how it worked.

It feels weird to think that their whole system is different from ours. I know you already said each world can have its own, but still, this world seems broken. Who is the god that benefits from all this?

I’m not certain, but I think we shall find that out before we are able to leave this world.

What about all those that come to this world? Why would they do that?

I still cannot recall everything… the stronger we become, the more I can recall, and I sense we are drawing nearer to the next stage of my evolution with each one you defeat.

When that happens… I know there is so much more I can share.

I still feel like I should call you something. I mean… I know Bob was meant as a bad thing, but there were times when I called out as I ran that I wished I knew what to say to summon you.

There has never been a name but what I am called. I am Consume. All I have ever been, all I have ever felt inside me was a desire to grow from the deaths of everything around me. Yet now…

Max waited. Minutes stretched as he felt the skill that he had fought against for what felt like forever trying to come up with something to say.

You, Max Hoste, have changed me. All I can remember is that in previous moments of when I was possessed, I changed the host. Everything I desired was fulfilled, until they were cut down. At first, I thought you would be like them. I could sense inside you a desire to get stronger. When you killed that elf, Serhmy, it awakened me. You felt the hunger and desire.

A laugh came inside his head, not the weird, crazed one that had come so many times before, but instead something like a chuckle.

When you killed those thieves and murderers, and you slaughtered that woman, I was almost certain you would give in. After you killed James, I was certain you would let me have my way. Then your party saved you… Tanila saved you.

Max’s heart broke at those memories. He recalled that moment where all he wanted to do was get stronger, lying to get into dungeons, wanting nothing but the rush that came with each death of something stronger.

I had to change when you wouldn’t give in. Even when I tried to taunt you with the possible death of your friends if you didn’t let me win. Yet your willpower and love for them kept me at bay.

Long before you got that Formidable Mind skill, I knew this time would be different. Whoever picked you to receive me was either the greatest tactician in the system or the luckiest god of all.

Max laughed, not caring that his room was dark and it was time to sleep.

His skill laughed with him.

You may call me Bob. No one else can though.

It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Bob.

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