Chapter 54 - Christie and Plans

They woke up early to a gentle shake. A woman in her early thirties looked at Max who had been laying on the floor of the hut with curiosity. Not even in his sleep Max had let go of [The Maverick].

“Morning,” Max muttered.

“If you want to call it that,” the woman chuckled. She had a throaty, confident voice, with a hint of upper crust on it. “I can't believe you wanted to voluntarily wake at the asscrack of morning.”

“No choice,” Max said, rubbing his eyes. He had a bit of a headache, but that was to be expected. “I need water.”

“Brought you some, darling,” the woman said.

“Wow, good service,” Max said.

The woman let out a throaty chuckle. “Least I can do. I’m Christie.”

Max grabbed the hand that was extended. Initially the hand must have been soft and delicate, now it was calloused and toughening.

“I’m Max.”

“Oh, I know who you are, darling.”

“I suppose you do, but it’s polite.”

“Like taking up a hut for yourself, so that ten people have to sleep outside?” Christie asked with a smirk quirking her mouth. She was a beautiful woman of full lips, intelligent eyes and a sleek black hair pulled into a ponytail behind her head.

Max hadn’t realized he had indeed done that. “I wasn’t…”

“Relax,” Christie said. “Nobody is blaming you for that. The way I see it, these are your huts and you can decide what goes on with them.”

“Nah,” Max shook his head. “They were a gift. I’m just pulling my weight and adding to the pile like everyone else. But I suppose I did need one for now. And tomorrow.”

“You’re pulling more than your weight, darling,” Christie said and put a hand on his shoulder. “The way I see it, you’re pulling us all forward.”

“Thanks. I like to think I do.”

She smiled at that and just looked at Max, squatting next to him. Max waited to see if she had anything else she wanted to say. Max didn’t want to be rude, and he would entertain her for a few minutes if he had to. But what he really wanted to do is get back to Cultivation. It was going to be a long day, and he needed to start now.

Christie’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Max, and then she smiled. “Alright, darling. I’ll leave you to whatever you’re doing here. Have a grab at me if you need help some time.

“Thanks Christie.”

“I’ll see you around…”

She got up and gave a little wink at him before she sauntered off in long confident strides. Max wondered what her story was as she went. She had definitely been some upper crust cocktail-party kind of a deal. She seemed to handle this new reality with more poise than most people.

“I can’t believe she didn’t even say a word to me,” Maverick huffed. “Afterall it is I who brought all these good things to this community. You’re just the packmule.”

“She was probably intimidated by your awesomeness, so she talked to the packmule.”

“Ah yes,” Maverick said, completely lapping it up. “That must be it. Ah but I have such magnanimity for the hearts of maidens. If she only knew what a disappointment you are compared to me.”

“Yeah I’m sure she will love you…” Max said between gulps of water from the black stone jug. He put it on the floor and took a nice position, sitting cross legged with his back against the wall. “Let’s start.”

They popped their pills and got to work. The cycling might have been ever so slightly smoother than it was yesterday, but it was hard to tell. Focusing was hard. It couldn’t have been more than four or five in the morning, and Max was still groggy and annoyed. By the great god Anubis, did he miss coffee…

Whenever a part of him was getting tired or unfocused, he reminded himself that there was a massive bounty on his head, chased by billions of creatures. Yeah, that was a pretty powerful motivator.

Leveled up Quartz-level Cultivator (greater) to 4

+2 free attribute point

Maverick gave a cheer at that, but even he was too tired and strained to go on a megalomaniacal rant. Max could have actually used his peppy attitude now, but he would do without.

But it was hard work. Pushing the Spiritual Energy up and down inside his body was starting to become something Max was practiced at, but now that he had obtained a higher advancement level, it was like someone had sneaked in and racked in heavier weights.

That made Max really happy with all the tools he had. His new cultivation treasure on the ground was perfect for this stage of his advancement. The [Celestial Illumination Pills] were a powerful advantage, not to mention that he was pretty much advancing at over double the speed, combining Maverick being able to cycle and their [Twin Souls Cultivator] talent.

Regardless of all this, Max was starting to feel greedier and hungrier for something that could make the progression faster. Strong as he might be, he had a mountain to climb. He needed to be stronger than anyone he faced. And preferably by a large, comfortable margin.

With these thoughts at the back of his mind, Max Cultivated ceaselessly and tirelessly. By noon Max could hear the distant bustle of the camp outside. To his gratitude nobody came to bother him. That enabled him and Maverick to push out another level.

Leveled up Quartz-level Cultivator (greater) to 5

+2 free attribute point

Talent Upgraded: [Twin Souls Cultivator I] -> [Twin Souls Cultivator II]

[Twin Souls Cultivator II]: When both parties of [Path of Divine Soulbond] are using a cycling technique simultaneously, the effectiveness of the technique is increased by 20%

New Talent obtained: [Natural Mana Affinity I]

[Natural Mana Affinity I]: You have a basic ability to wield Mana.

“Nice!” Maverick said. “Upgrades.”

“That improved cycling system is nice,” Max said. “We’d really benefit from getting a better cycling technique. We should visit Durum soon. Maybe he can give us pointers.”

“That greedy king will want something in return,” Maverick said. “I don’t trust him.”

“I trust him enough,” Max said. “But you’re right. If we go there, he won't just give us handouts. Still, we need him. He could also tell what the hell that [Natural Mana Affinity I] thing does.”

“I vote no,” Maverick said. “And my vote as the leader of this duet should count more.”

“Well it's either that, or trudging along like we’ve been doing…”

“Well…” The Maverick considered. “Maybe I did judge the king too fast.”

“We should go there. Maybe today or tomorrow. I think it’s not the worst of ideas to keep pushing today. Then we’ll have a break from all this tomorrow. Go kill a few monsters and meet a king.”

“That does sound like a plan,” Maverick said. “Hey what’s this new sensation?”

Max raised an eyebrow. “What sensation?”

“You don’t sense it?” Maverick said. “I suppose you are rather slow on the uptake sometimes…”

“Just tell me what’s going on,” Max said, not even trying to hide his exasperation.

“It’s like I have mana ready to use at my fingertips,” Maverick said.

“You don’t have—”

“I know,” the gun said impatiently. “Look. It feels like… I can almost…”

A loud bang echoed in the hut. A magical bullet cracked the wall and ricocheted a few times, pinging around Max, who covered his face.

“Goddamn it, Maverick!” Max yelled. “What the hell was that?!”

“That was awesome!” Maverick exclaimed in triumph. “Finally I am getting some agency. Soon enough I don't need you to carry me!”

“I’m not sure if I dread or wait for the day you sprout little legs.”

“If I won’t receive the ability to soar through the air majestically, I want my money back.”

“What money?”

“Unimportant,” Maverick said. “What we need to do is wrap this up and go to the dwarves to see if Durum can tell us how we can upgrade me further. I can feel this is only the beginning.”

“Upgrade you?” Max asked.

“Imagine all the augmentation I could have!” Maverick said cheerfully. “Maybe I could have a rocket launcher. Or two— no wait, three barrels!”

“Yeah, I am definitely starting to dread the day…”

“Oh! Oh! And a laser sight! I need a laser sight!”

“I need a break,” Max said, grabbed Maverick and went outside. “And lunch.”

“Oh! A detachable lunchbox for my minion!”

“Wait, I thought I was your sidekick, not a minion.”