UL1 - Book 11 - Chapter 074 -

Max blinked, his eyelids having reformed, and the sensation of skin and nerves returning.

A slew of notifications were waiting for him to look at but instead, Bob’s voice called out first.

We did it.

You did it. 

No, Max, we did. I… feel different. Connected in a way I have never believed possible. That is because of you. Thank you.

Rising from the slush, Max saw that he was once again wearing all of his armor.

Thank you for that.

We don’t want to show everyone out there what you look like without armor. Tanila might not be happy about that.

Laughing, Max turned and stared at the body beside him.  All that was left were some smoldering bones, steaming in the slurry of ice and water beneath it.

“Our Winner… and a fight… like none we have seen in so long… Max Hoste!”

Giving a small wave, Max smiled, unable to hold back as he waited for the white portal to appear.

Odds on us getting challenged for a while?

None, I would bet on. And I’m afraid we may never get another fight again, either.

When the glowing disc appeared beneath him, Max gave his fallen foe one more glance.

“Rest well, Vyr Kjal. You were a worthy opponent,” he said.

The arena vanished and the starting room took shape around Max.  A few feet away stood a trembling shape.

“I’m okay,” Max said, smiling. “I told you I’d win.”

Jazzjak didn’t say anything, tears having created wet lines down his white face. The pink nose wiggled a few times before a paw came up and wiped away the liquid leaking from red eyes.

“You… won. I… I thought…” Jazzjak said, pausing between short breaths. “I thought we were… I was going to lose you.”

Max moved to where his helper and friend stood, knelt down and gently patted the vorpal rabbit’s arm.

“I made a promise,” Max said. “I’d win, and I’d stick around. I always try to keep my promises.”

Jazzjak sniffed and then laughed.

Summoning a handkerchief from storage, Max handed it to his friend and laughed when the rabbit blew his nose hard and long enough that Fowl would be proud.

Turning his attention to the wall that began to move, a door appeared. Max stood.

“Ahh, Max Hoste! Winner once more!” the red gelatinous shape proclaimed as it entered. 

“Hoekamona, it’s good to see you,” Max replied.

“Is that a guess… no… your voice is certain,” Hoekamona said. “How do you know it’s me?”

Shrugging, Max smiled. “Can’t I keep a few secrets? I mean, I did reveal most of the ones I didn’t want to share today.”

The creature before him began to bounce and a rumbling sound Max recognized as laughter filled the room.

“Always the surprising one!” Hoekamona said. “I tried to warn them, but the others… they didn’t believe you could win. Based upon the bets, it appeared most didn’t believe it either. Once again, you have made us very rich!”

“And what do I get from all that?” Max asked. “We both know I’m nearing the end of this run, and it doesn’t appear I’ll most likely get to fight here any time soon.”

Hoekamona’s body shifted slightly and the creature appeared to turn, saying nothing until the door that had appeared was gone, only a solid wall now remaining.

“Your problem is a common one; some like yourself face. Some grow stronger than others at a rate most cannot believe, and you would be surprised to know that sometimes, fights can still come but they do so at a cost.”

“What does that mean?” Max asked, crossing his arms.

“He’s setting a trap,” Jazzjak growled. “I’m certain I know what he’s talking about and we don’t want any part of it.”

“Bah, you say that and yet you risk nothing, helper,” Hoekamona replied. “It isn’t your decision to make; it is his, and we both know why he seeks to fight as much as he does.

“I’m right here,” Max said, snapping a finger. “Don’t talk like I’m not. What is this offer?”

The gelatinous creature turned slightly. Max could now sense that it was studying him.

“We can pick your next fight for you,” Hoekamona replied. “You wouldn’t know who or what you were fighting and they would be… stronger than the one you just faced.”

“How much stronger?” Max asked.

Laughter came from the arena attendant. “Does it matter? We both know you need a fight and I have little doubt you would turn down any offers that came your way. Even if it was another Void god.”

This almost feels like a trap.

Beyond the fact that it is most definitely a trap, the real question is what they are offering. We may have no choice depending on how things play out.  You and I both know there will come a time when we have to make a decision and it all comes down to reaching the sixth tier.

“I might be willing to take you up on that offer,” Max replied. “Is there a time limit to when I have to do so?”

Hoekamona’s whole body shook in a weird, jiggly way. “No time limit, except you cannot be above the 5th tier. Just know that we’ll want about a month's notice before the actual fight takes place.”

“That’s so they can promote it,” Jazzjak muttered. “How long has it been? Sixty thousand years?”

“About that long,” the arena attendant replied. “You remember that one, do you?”

Max watched as his friend shuddered and nodded in agreement. “Those who saw it would never forget it. That is why you offer them.”

This sounds worse than I might have imagined.

“Can I view this fight that took place?” Max asked. “That way I can decide if I want to get involved in such a thing?”

Hoekamona laughed. “You can. I will grant your helper permission to pull up that recording. Just know we’ll only give you one chance like this.”

“And what do I get for winning?” Max asked.

The red creature shifted and moved closer to Max than it had ever before. Slowly, its body stretched, and the two eye stalks that floated inside the gelatinous body rose until they were eye level with Max’s.

“Enough Divine Points to reach what I assume you are pursuing,” Hoekamona replied. “It is obvious what you are attempting to do. Few manage it. You might.”

“Are you giving odds to make it worthwhile?”

The elongated shape shook and Max tried not to react as the attendant made that gurgling noise.

“They will be worthwhile. Do not worry. We know about your friends and will do everything we can to give you and them a chance to reach your goals.”

“Max,” Jazzjak said, shaking his head once.

“Send the recording and I’ll decide,” Max replied. “For now I guess I’ll take the DP I’m owed and the world that was put up as collateral.”

“Very well,” Hoekamona replied, lowering himself and moving toward the white wall where the shape of a door began to appear. “We will be in touch. Hopefully, we’ll see you sometime soon.”

Max waited until the arena attendant was gone and the solid wall had returned before glancing at his helper.

“What am I missing?” he asked.

“I’ll fill you in when we’re back home,” Jazzjak replied. “Don’t tell the others, especially not your wife.”

“I don’t like to keep secrets,” Max said. 

“You’re not keeping a secret,” the vorpal rabbit stated, pulling out his tablet. “You’re preventing a fire from igniting in a room filled with dry straw. See what you’re getting yourself into before you take such a risk. For now, let’s get back to the others. All of them are waiting for you.”

***

Almost half a minute passed before Tanila pulled back and Max didn’t rush her.

“That was so close,” Tanila whispered. “I could almost feel the pain you were going through.”

“But Bob and I worked together,” Max replied, his eyes locked on hers. “No matter what, we’re going to make it through.”

She nodded and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. “You say that every time, but it never gets easier.”

“That fight wasn’t easy at all,” Max teased, winking at her. “But I came out on top and you all managed to make out well from it.”

“That we did,” Fowl stated, breaking the mood.

A few chuckles came from the others as Tanila frowned at their dwarven warrior.

“Ignore him,” Batrire sighed. “He wants to hug Max just like you are doing.”

“He better not,” Max said. “That’s why I always lift him from his armpits. To keep from getting those kinds of hugs.”

All the other gods came forward, each giving Max a handshake or slap on his back, congratulating him on the success of the fight.

“So… we goin to talk about what you gained?” Fowl asked. “I tried to get Rakonath to tell me but he won't share any details.”

[ Consume has Consumed 16 Skills ]

[ 10 Skills Do not match entity type ]

[ Consume is attempting to adjust ]

[ Failed to adjust skill - Power Stored for future use ]

[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]

[ Skill adjustment in process - Godhood detected - Updating skill ]

[ Harden Body has been upgraded from Legendary to God Tier 2 ]

[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]

[ Skill adjustment in process - Godhood detected - Updating skill ]

[ Ice resistance has been upgraded from Rare to God Tier 2 ]

[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [Guaranteed Strike]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has Consumed a Skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [World-Eater]? ]

[ Warning: Accepting Skill Will Alter Being Type ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has Consumed a Skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [Air Freeze]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Consume has Consumed a Skill ]

[ Would you like to learn [Rhime Walk]? ]

[ Yes / No ]

[ Bonus Stats Consumed ]

[ 250 Strength Consumed ]

[ 250 Dexterity Consumed ]

[ 250 Constitution Consumed ]

[ 250 Intelligence Consumed ]

[ 250 Wisdom Consumed ]

“Holy human balls,” Cordellia muttered. “That many stats gained in a single fight.”

“And those skills,” Sog added. “What kind of power can they provide?”

“You know you cannot take the World-Eater skill,” Jazzjak stated. “You don’t understand what would happen to you if you did.”

“What’s that?” Max asked.

Their helper shuddered. “Doing so would alter the very being of your body. You couldn’t live here any longer, as you would naturally start to consume the power within the world you are upon. World-eaters do not visit other worlds. It is a very lonely existence, but they are often driven by the power that such a thing grants them.”

“And why would anyone take it then?” Rakonath asked. “I mean, besides the thirst for power?”

Jazzjak shrugged. “Some races are designed to be world-eaters. I don’t know all the specifics but as you’ve seen the Void gods, they aren’t designed to be party-type beings. A Jutonn can be either, if I remember correctly. Some become world eaters, forsaking their own kind to grow in power, while others work together to create chaos across galaxies. When you reach the Archon’s you’ll all finally realize just how vast the cosmos is and how many beings there truly is.”

“Well, that makes it an easy choice,” Max replied. “Still, I can’t imagine a life built around being alone.”

We would be alone if it weren’t for your personality. I can guarantee you that the other two hosts for the black skills are more likely to take a skill like that. Even with that potential, I doubt they would, though.

Because you believe they would work with others?

Work with? No. Use is the correct term.  Command most likely has an army under its control. Devour has what you might consider livestock that they feed off of for power and growth. Unlike you, their lives are filled with one purpose unless their host can somehow keep them at bay.

Something which apparently doesn’t happen often.

Correct.

“Bob talking?” Tanila asked, poking his side.

Max nodded. “We were discussing whether the other two black skills might take World-Eater. Right now, the verdict is most likely not.”

“Well, now that I feel like Max has once again been kissed by the gods or the System, I’m going to head home and keep working on my ale for the celebration,” Fowl said.

Max winced when his dwarven friend mentioned the celebration, and both Rakonath and Sog groaned.

“That’s right!” Batrire exclaimed. “We’ve got stuff for you all to do!”

“I swear I’m going to sit on him,” Rakonath grunted. “And not in my humanoid form either.”