Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 328

Breathe!

Max retched as he felt the blood he had ingested burn his lungs.

[ Regeneration ]

A few seconds passed, and the pain and scarring healed as Max blinked, wiping the blood from his eyes and turned to see the corpse next to him.

Gone was the pain. No longer did the aches and sorrows of what had hurt him exist.

Even the lack of noise from the spectators seemed eerily silent as Max stood.

[ Bonus Stats Consumed ]

[ 17,432 Hit Points Consumed ]

[ 100 Strength Consumed ]

[ 100 Dexterity Consumed ]

[ 100 Constitution Consumed ]

[ 100 Intelligence Consumed ]

[ 100 Wisdom Consumed ]

[ Stat Milestone 3 Reached ]

[ Intelligence of 1000 acquired ]

[ Evolution is required for Milestone Upgrade ]

[ Stat Milestone 3 Reached ]

[ Wisdom of 1000 acquired ]

[ Evolution is required for Milestone Upgrade ]

[ System Error - World Champion Defeated ]

[ Title Granted - World Champion ]

[ Error - Title Not Applicable for Entity power level ]

[ Entity is not – ]

[ ….. ]

[ ….. ]

[ System Error - Abilities Transfer Detected ]

[ World Champion Abilities do not match Entity power level ]

[ Abilities cannot be— ]

[ …. ]

[ …..]

[ Twenty-two abilities have been Consumed ]

[ Consume Overwriting System Error ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Skill does not match Entity Power Level ]

[ Consume Overwriting System Error ]

[ Would you like to learn [Dimensional Space]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Skill does not match Entity Power Level ]

[ Consume Overwriting System Error ]

[ Would you like to learn [ System Travel – Block ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Skill does not match Entity Power Level ]

[ Consume Overwriting System Error ]

[ Would you like to learn [ Dispel Magic ]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

Select the second one now!

Max felt his mind selecting yes.

[ System Travel - Block - Activated ]

[ Area of space blocked - one hundred miles ]

[ Mana upkeep - 1,000 mana per hour ]

Max almost staggered as he felt the power pour out from him.

A noise rose up from the audience as the power went from him, and Max gazed up at the boxes that were visible outside the protective barrier.

“We… we have… A NEW CHAMPION! IFRIT!”

Noise filled the air as Max gave a single bow and then smiled as the disc of light appeared under his feet.

[ Quilazmore wishes to teleport you ]

[ Yes / No ]

Smiling, Max clicked yes, and his grin grew even bigger as he found himself in his old box at the arena.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

A small clap came as Max’s eyes and ears worked immediately upon entering, and he saw Ezreal standing near the screen, eyes locked on him.

“Max Hoste… it appears I misjudged you.”

“Trying to go somewhere?” Max asked as he motioned to the damaged section of the wall where the door was supposed to be, a few stone chips on the floor.

“Would you believe if I said I was excited that you won?”

Max studied the man and his smirk. The outfit he wore was the same black leathers he had worn when he had deposited Max in the jungle.

Every breath and slight movement of the man who had hunted him was read by his Sonar skill, and Max could tell that Ezreal wasn’t happy about this current change of roles.

He has become trapped in his own stone room.

“Not going to leave? I mean surely you could just teleport right out of here.”

Both silver eyes narrowed, and Max could sense Ezreal’s hands clenching and unclenching.

“Your black skill… I should have killed you,” he declared, his voice almost a hiss. “You should be thanking me! It is because of what I did that you are alive and stronger! I can sense the power washing off you! Before me you couldn’t have—”

Max crossed the room, his left hand gripped around Ezreal’s throat, slamming the hunter into the wall, placing the tip of his spear against the man’s chest.

“THANK YOU?! I WILL NEVER THANK YOU!”

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“Wait! Wait! I have gold! Treasure! I can take you back! Without me, how will you return home?!”

Each word from the hunter he had feared felt like nothing but an attempt to draw breath for another second. Even the way Ezreal grabbed at Max’s wrist and tried to pry away his grip did nothing.

You have grown stronger. Much stronger because of him… All this… feels like a game of the gods… someone pulling strings, making one fool act. Tell me, Max, are you committed to this path?

His hand shook, causing the struggling hunter to shake as he was pressed against the stone walls. Both eyes would have sent beams of light at Ezreal and burned the silver eyes he had away if that skill had been his to command.

Can you take his power? Can you steal his ability that will allow me to return home?

I can. Right now I am like a cup of water, full to the rim. If you add another drop, the bubble that struggles to stay in place and not spill over will burst, and I shall be able to evolve. Igarra… she provided more power than I could have imagined.

I saw… did you consume twenty-two skills for yourself?

You noticed.

A chuckle came, and Max and Bob continued their conversation as Ezreal struggled to breathe as Max’s tip left no question that if he moved too much, blood would spill forth.

There were skills you could not take. The system would not allow it. Even the two I granted should not be possible for you to have. Igarra was strong, but she had many things that were worthless in combat. Most of what she had was based on her power as a dragon that had been feeding off the power of others. That fool is right. Before her putting you in the tower, you would have not been able to defeat her. Her own foolishness for not striking you down led to her demise.

So if I run him through, I can go home?

He has a skill. No matter what, I shall acquire it. We shall figure out how to get you home, that is my promise.

Max chuckled, smirking as he stared at the confused look on Ezreal’s face.

“You know… that question you asked before about a black skill. I guess I can tell you about it. It’s called Consume. Everything I kill, I gain their abilities. Tell me, would you like to meet my skill?”

“Meet?” Ezreal asked, his voice trembling as he spoke.

“Yes… Bob is anxious to meet you. You see… Bob is never satisfied and always hungers for more.”

Kicks came, and Max could see panic in the hunter’s eyes as his face contorted, trying to punch the man who held him by the throat.

He’s all yours.

A deep booming laugh came, and Max watched through his own eyes the look of terror that appeared on Ezreal’s face, both eyes fully exposed, lips apart and pulled back as a grimace became present.

“Ezreal, was it?” Bob asked, his voice a combination of Max’s and his own. “You said you were a hunter… I don’t think you truly know what a real hunter is. You see… when a hunter has their prey, when they capture them. They do not play with them. Since, however, you like to play with those you hunt, allow me to show you how I like to play.”

The spear vanished, and Max realized that he could now access his dimensional storage, things having changed with the passing of Igarra.

His fist pulled back, and Max knew there was a malicious smile across his face.

“Let me show you my favorite game. Watching your own heart stop beating.”

Even with the walls having the ability to block out most sound, those boxes closest to Max’s heard a scream that would give many of them nightmares for years.

***

“Guests and citizens of Quan Ma! Your new champion has a message for you all!”

Max fought back the groan he felt rising inside.

Quilazmore had been right, there was chaos as none could depart this place as long as his skill was active. Apparently, it created a barrier around the inner city as well, somehow focused with the way Igarra had built this place.

He stood now on a solid metal floor, Igarra’s corpse still behind him, the arena base even with the lowest boxes that were filled with those who came ready to watch his death.

“You are all stuck here until I wish it otherwise. Know I will release you from this place in a moment, but before I do I have a warning.”

Moving slowly in a circle, Max made certain his eyes gazed upon as many boxes or in their direction as much as possible as he turned around.

“This city will change some in the coming days. I will not be present as often, but I have two who will serve as my front runners. There are a few worlds I need to visit, and I need to bring about punishment to those who tried to harm me. I suggest no one else find themselves added to my list.”

He tried to glare, and look menacing, letting Bob help him control those facial muscles as Max lied through his teeth.

Two silver discs appeared next to him, and a second later Quilazmore and Jazzjak flanked him on both sides.

“These two are my eyes, ears, hands, and feet. They will serve as my mouth and let everyone know that if you choose to not heed their instruction, you shall end up like her.”

His thumb was all the attention Igarra’s body received.

“There shall still be fights, and there shall still be trade, but I shall show more mercy unless you cross me. Then I shall tear your heart out like I did hers!”

“Now then, I have many things to get in place. Go if you wish, stay if you desire. Do not try to bother me, as I do not need to meet you or want to. Two have died today by my hands, and a third is about to find themselves suffering the same fate. Bothering me might find your name added to the list.”

“Now go!”

[ System Travel - Block - Deactivated]

“Ready?”

Max nodded as he sensed lifeforms all over leaving quickly.

“Yes, Quilazmore. It is time.”

***

“Going somewhere?”

Aimee froze as she attempted to get out of the second most inner part of the city, unable to convince the guards to let her through.

Turning slowly, the lizard woman saw Max standing there, bald headed, a spear in his hand and a pair of eyes that burned with rage.

“Ifrit… I… I had not expected you to be here. Congratulations on your victory over Igarra. She was a—”

“Enough!”

Max’s shout cut her off, and he motioned to the doors where the dark elf was already leading the guards away, the well-kept and manicured street become desolate except for the woman he had saved and himself.

“You killed Romandis.”

“What? No! Why would I—”

“Igarra told me,” Max said as he held up a hand and moved toward her.

She started to back up, glancing around, and saw that she was alone.

“You wanted power. You wanted more power. I should have seen it. I know the look of one who seeks only for themselves, and yet I ignored it. Every part of me wanted to believe you were different. I was wrong.”

“You don’t understand! My whole life I was nothing! Now… now I have power!”

“Then show me. Show me what the life of one has given you. Impress me, and perhaps I shall let you live.”

A snarl came, and Aimee didn’t hesitate as her eyes narrowed. The gray scales of her arm glowed, and Max could sense the power she was drawing.

Glass came from under her robes as did stones, puncturing the cloth, and raced toward him.

Inches from striking him. They stopped.

“That’s it? That is all you have? Surely there must be more.”

Aimee roared, charging at him, pulling a larger block of stone and forming a spear, jamming it at his chest.

Max didn’t move. He didn’t dodge. The stone hit his chest and shattered.

A tail whipped around and slammed into his legs, a cracking sound coming as the scales on it shattered.

Before she could recover or howl in pain, Max had her by the throat.

A growl rose from inside him. Anger, pain, hatred. Like a volcano that was about to erupt he was seething and overflowing.

Don’t give in. Remember who you are and what you are going home to.

Max lifted the kicking lizard woman upward and yelled, his voice echoing off the empty street.

Everything he felt was raw. He was angry but even worse was the betrayal he felt.

Lowering her so that her feet touched the ground, Max shook his head, ignoring the bulging eyes.

“I won’t kill you. I saved you. Had you just trusted me and waited, you would have been far stronger than you are now, and you could have seen true power. But you didn’t. Still punishment must come.”

His spear moved with surgical precision, shattering both shoulder sockets, breaking each hip socket in a moment.

Tears and howls came as he dropped Aimee to the street.

“You have been found guilty of so many evils. As such your life has been forfeited.”

Max turned and started to walk away.

“Jazzjak… she’s all yours.”

From the shadows of a building, the white rabbit appeared, glowing red eyes sparkling as his teeth grew about four times their normal size. Each of his padded paws grew, and six-inch claws formed.

Gone was the tiny rabbit that had looked so cute. Replaced in a moment was the vorpal bunny he had been warned about.

A single scream made it from Aimee’s throat as Jazzjak carried out the punishment.

Each step away from the carnage behind him felt lighter as Max knew what would come next.

I’m ready… we need to get home.

‎