UL1 - Book 11 - Chapter 072 -

That’s a big Jutonn…

It’s a good thing Fowl’s not here or we’d have to endure the joke that would arise.

Max grunted, the cold of the arena not even bothering him as he stared up at the two-hundred-foot-tall blue opponent.

Its arms and legs were covered in a black and silver chain but the blue of its skin was noticeable on Vyr Kjal’s hands and face.  A long, white beard was braided and easily over thirty feet long as it hung down over the black plate chest piece.

A hammer that mimicked the Jutonn’s height was resting next to it, the head of the weapon larger than a two-story house.

That thing is what probably breaks worlds. Imagine the damage it does when it strikes something.

Let’s make sure we’re not what gets struck.  There’s no way this Jutonn can be slow either. Jazzjak was also right. The kind of health it has will have to be immense.

“Today’s fight has gathered more viewers than in a while! There is only one minute left before we’ll find out if Max Hoste can do the impossible and defeat another world eater, or fall under the hammer of Vyr Kjal like so many others!”

Ignoring the announcer as they called out for the last minute, Max gazed up at the giant who was half a mile away in the arena.  Every inch of the floor was nothing but ice and Max knew someone like Fowl would have a hard time moving on this surface. With his skills and Bob’s control over them, he shouldn’t have too many issues moving.

How many miles are we guessing this arena covers? Five miles? Ten miles? And yes, I know you don’t know.

And yet you still ask it. Judging by previous arena’s we can assume it's at least five, but possibly a bit more.  Most likely, the sky will be capped to a certain point, limiting your ability to fly since any god with half a brain would have watched your fights.

We're going for the old ‘enter and attack from inside’?

Not at first. Something tells me that the inside of a world eater would probably be more resilient to us than many other creatures.  We’re going to have to try and wear it down but from what Jazzjak told us, this being can heal; he just isn’t certain how much.

I can always go Wildfire off the bat and see what happens.

Not our best opening move but one we can save for later if need be.  The problem is the damage it does to you. We don’t want to have that kind of problem in a fight like this.

“Where is your offer to me to surrender?” Vyr Kjal called out, his voice sounding like thunder in the cold wind. “You’ve ignored my other attempt to converse. Tell me, human, do you truly believe you can stand against me?”

You’re going to continue to ignore him, aren’t you?

I’m employing the Fowl method of pissing people off. We need him to be angry and to make a mistake.

I doubt we’re going to make him any angrier.

Lights flickered above the barrier in the sky. Max cracked his neck.

Let’s go all out on the first hit.  Aim for the neck, we’ll strike the soft spot and play against his larger size compared to our smaller one.

I’ll handle the spells. When the time comes, we’ll activate the bigger ones.

Both of his weapons appeared in his hands, each transforming into a spear, almost long enough to be considered a two-handed one.

Let’s see what Wekime’s tooth can do against something like this.

Three lights appeared, and then the barrier flashed with the announcement of the start of the fight.

Vyr Kjal didn’t move, his hammer still resting against the ice-covered floor as Max flew like an arrow at the Jutonn. Unfortunately for the world eater, he didn’t see it coming.

A frown appeared on the blue face of the god Max was about to attack, watching the fake show that was being put on.

[ Illusionary Magic ]

[ Stealth ]

[ Ultimate Form ]

[ Rampage ]

[ Magical Strike ]

[ Ghost Strike ]

[ Power Strike ]

[ Blink ]

Four images of Max all appeared where he had been standing.  Each one took off in a slightly different direction, appearing to try and surround the Jutonn.

As the towering god was distracted, Max appeared before its left eye, both spears thrusting forward as Bob unleashed an attack of fire.

[ Spell Burst ]

[ Flame Nova ]

Max’s weapons pierced the black iris, plunging deep into the giant’s eyeball.  Vyr Kjal let out a roar of agony as Max shoved the spears as far as he could into the giant’s eyeball. He sensed an oversized hand coming at him and used his ability to get away from the palm that was the size of a house.

[ Demonic Teleportation ]

Landing on the Jutonn’s shoulder, Max felt Bob refresh his skills and continued the barrage of attacks.

[ All Cooldowns Reset ]

Blue blood flowed as his spears pierced the thick skin of the world-eater, but Max could sense that the injuries he was causing weren’t doing any lasting damage.  Transforming his weapons to swords, he slashed and hacked, watching as Bob unleashed more spells upon the Jutonn as he carved off sections of flesh.

He’s healing! Almost as fast as I do.

Bob didn’t reply, sending lightning, fire and wind attacks at the exposed skin.

A sensation of force began to build around the Jutonn’s neck and Max felt Bob flying him away as the very air around Vyk Kjal started to grow thick.

[ Blink ]

[ All Cooldowns Reset ]

[ Blink ]

It took multiple uses of Blink to get away as if all space around the giant was frozen solid like ice.

What was that?!

[ Stealth Failed ]

His illusionary magic faded as a wave of power washed across the ice.  

A low chuckle emanated from Vyr Kjal as the Jutonn lowered its hand from his face. “That was a valiant attempt, little one, but now you shall see why you and I are not the same.” As it spoke, the world-eater reached over and grabbed the shaft of his hammer, lifting it easily from the ground.

All of its wounds are healed. Even the one we inflicted upon his eye. We’ll need to–

Bob’s words were cut off as the hammer swung far faster than Max could have imagined.

The metal tip of it glowed and no matter what Max tried to do, every skill he attempted to activate to move failed.

[ Consume is attempting to – ]

Before the words could finish being read, Max watched as the head of the hammer, bigger than a two-story house, came at him, somehow preventing his escape.

Every air wall Bob tried to summon was shattered as the two-handed hammer slammed into Max’s body, obliterating every bit of his body.

[ Negate Death Blow Activated ]

[ All Cooldowns Reset ]

RUN!

[ Haste ]

The weapon that had struck Max stopped immediately as Negate Death Blow took effect and in that moment, Bob and Max flew to the far edge of the arena, putting space between them and the god that had just killed them in a single strike.

Laughter rolled across the frozen wasteland as the Jutonn set the shaft of his weapon over his shoulder. “A trick! You survived what most could never hope for! Well done, little one! You are like an insect, given a skill that most would give anything for, but we both know that it doesn’t work but once.”

Finding the edge of the arena, Max’s mind raced as he and Bob considered their options.

Wildfire… we have to go with it. And spellburst as well.

I cannot imagine the toil it will take on us. You do not realize how dangerous that is.

We cannot keep taking those hits and we don’t want to show every skill that we have.  It knows we used illusionary magic and can defeat it. Whatever effect that weapon has, it prevents us from escaping and will kill us every time. I doubt if I activated every defensive skill I have that we could survive it.

As they moved around the barrier that surrounded the icy terrain, Max watched as the giant took slow, steady steps toward him.

“Come now, little one,” Vyr Kjal called out. “Beg for your life. Perhaps if you offer me all your worlds, I might grant it.”

“I doubt that!” Max shouted, knowing that surrender wasn’t an option.  Every bit of DP he and the rest of his team could wager was risked and taking that kind of loss meant they wouldn’t stand a chance of reaching the tier needed when the three hundred years expired. 

Another loud laugh washed over Max as the Jutonn stopped its approach and held out a hand, motioning with fingers toward itself. “Come, attack me. We shall take turns. You strike me and then I shall strike you.”

“You’re just going to stand there and let me attack?” Max called out, sensing the ideas running through Bob’s mind.

“What do I care if a bug pesters me. Eventually, I will squash it between my fingers. It has been a while since one has been foolish enough to challenge me. For that, and surviving my first attack, I will entertain those who watch. They will see why the Jutonn are considered the strongest of our kind!”

Max stopped moving and studied Vyr Kjal, who set his two-handed weapon back down on the ground, his arms spread wide, and closed his eyes.

“Come, little one. I’ll count to ten and then take another turn. One…”

Bob…

“Two.”

We’ll do it your way. I just hope we can survive the damage that spell will do to us.

“Three.”

We can’t drain all your power resetting Negate Death Blow. The cost is too much. Eventually, we’ll have to find a way to drain Vyr Kjal’s healing ability.

“Four.”

Max sensed his skill grunt in frustration.  

Fine. Go for the ear.  That stupid horned helmet doesn’t cover anything beyond the top of its head.  Stuff your hand inside and wedge yourself in as much as possible.

“Five.”

Stay inside its ear? What about the wildfire?!

“Six.”

We’re going to burn from it as much as he does. When he brings his hand up to his ear, it will spread. Everything we do from this point will be an unknown and I cannot imagine the pain we’re about to endure.

“Seven. Eight.”

Just keep me alive… 

“Nine.”

Always. For Tanila, Miranna and the rest.

Max flew across the distance as the Jutonn’s lips moved, preparing to speak the last number it had offered.

[ Blink ]

[ Festering Touch ]

[ Weakness ]

[ Spell Burst ]

[ Wildfire ]

[ Regeneration ]

Max shoved his hand into Vyr Kjal’s ear, his entire body fitting in the hole that led toward its eardrum. As the spell unleashed from his hand, Max understood then that Bob had been right. Whatever pain he thought he knew was nothing compared to that moment.

Magic ate away at his very being, the spell that consumed all life erupted inside the head of the giant and the roar that had come the first time was nothing compared to the ear-deafening one that Vyr Kjal let out now.

Max could sense the hand that was coming toward him, slapping at the flames and magic that were spreading across the blue skin.

[ Armored Warrior ] 

[ Bulwark ]

[ Harden Skin ]

Right before the oversized hand slapped into the Jutonn’s ear, Max felt Bob activating the one skill that he did not want to show.

[ Phasing ]

Vyr Kjal’s hand struck his own head with enough impact to stagger the Jutonn.  Max could sense Bob moving them away from their opponent.

Max’s own body was covered from his feet to his shoulders in wildfire. Only his head wasn’t consumed at the moment by the magical flames that were eating away the muscle, tissue, and flesh.  Those watching this fight now saw a skeleton with Max’s head on it flying through the air, trying to gain distance from the white flaming inferno of Vyr Kjal that was staggering as the magical fire moved across its body.

A howl of pain and agony roared from the world-eater.

Yet Max knew it wasn’t alone. His voice cried out in pain as the spell he had used claimed its portion from his own body.

Hold on! I’ll take control!

For the first time in so long, Max was willing to let go. The pain was overwhelming and to let Bob take the reins was a blessing.

Darkness came as Max let his skill take over.