UL1 - Book 10 - Chapter 21

“I’ve narrowed your choices down to these three,” Jazzjak said.

Max nodded, sitting in his chair at the table back in the main meeting room. Only he and their helper were present, everyone else having returned to their cities to help their people grow stronger.

He studied the list, seeing that there were creatures he hadn’t ever imagined or considered and wondered what their worlds were like.

Let’s avoid a golem again. Even if we killed it we may or may not get power from it.  The Storm Crow, Dai-Tengu is interesting. I’m guessing that one or the glass scorpion goddess, Empress Kh’azra are our best ratio for betting.  Either would be a tough opponent as both are supposed to be over ten thousand years old.

Yes, but one changes the order of things somehow. The other has multiple copies of itself, and it appears some kind of… major fire attack. The information listed doesn’t reveal much beyond their true potential and the danger they pose.

“So these three rarely fight? As in, they don’t challenge that often, or no one challenges them?”

“Correct,” Jazzjak replied. “They are often left alone because when they have battled, it was a one-sided event like yours against Kherbann. From what I can deduce after analysing betting odds and potential acceptance of the challenge, they would be the ones most likely to accept. You also would have a better chance of success in negotiating their surrender at some point.”

“But if we do fight one and defeat them either through combat or surrender, wouldn’t that then ruin my chances of being challenged?”

“Max, tell me, where are all those who had wanted to challenge you at the same time Kherbann did? All of them withdrew those offers. You are an anomaly to them. They saw how you defeated your first opponent, and that made them question how strong you might be. The only advantage you have is that you showed only a few powers and abilities.”

“Which I still need to upgrade my existing ones,” Max replied. “But as you said, that will come later as I can’t bother spending points on them for now.”

Jazzjak nodded, his fingers moving across his panel, removing the golem that had been on it.

“So what will you choose? A god that can rewrite laws or a goddess who appears to have a fire spell far more potent than any I have seen.”

“You don’t have to decide right now,” his helper replied. “Take some time. Talk it over with Tanila or the others. Just know you can always put up a different world and as long as you are willing to sacrifice it, the option to flee or surrender is there.”

“But only if they accept it,” Max said. “I didn’t take Kherbann’s surrender. They don’t have to take mine.”

“Correct, but as I also mentioned when searching, the options I provided are more than likely to accept it. Some gods are like yourself, not seeking to destroy all life. Eventually, you will need to find allies like them in the coming time. There is a game outside of these first five tiers that you cannot begin to fathom.

“The fact that someone gave up the world you used to have with Eyorakoa is a testament that you are already part of the game most never touch until reaching the sixth tier of godhood.  Someone is pulling strings and moving pieces and attempting to adjust your path.  The only reason I can see this happening is because you are a black skill holder and the nine know of you.”

Max rubbed his eyes, knowing what Bob was thinking even as his skill voiced it.

We know that Wekime, Phaius, Ockrim, and Thujya all know you have me. Whoever chose to unleash me upon this world would most likely know as well. This helper is correct. We are facing a group of gods who believe that we are a piece in whatever cosmic game they are playing. All that we can do is try to figure out the direction we want to go.

It’s not that simple and you know it. While I have the pact with Wekime, we both know the wording on it is very suspect.  It is impossible to know what is considered a direct attack on either one of us and yet I doubt he will have any problems bending that to his will if need be.  I’m still not certain why he ever took the path that he did.

Phaius and Ockrim, I don’t believe, are going to be a problem. While that might seem naive, knowing that Phaius is getting 3% of all DP I earn will make him want me to stay alive and be successful as long as possible.  Likewise, Ockrim didn’t strike me as a god who would want Fowl and Batrire tossed away like trash.

Yet you also hate how Thuyja is gaining DP from Tanila and Cordellia.

Bob’s words rubbed a sore he still carried.

“Jazzjak, what would happen to a god who attempted to kill a black skill holder before they completed the tower and knew the other two were free?”

His rabbit friend blinked a few times and then shook his head.

“I’m sorry, that question… it is very specific.”

“That’s because I was attacked and beheaded by a goddess of our old world even after the other two gods tried to remind her not to attack me.”

Smacking his mouth a few times, the vorpal bunny tapped his chin with a single finger.

“I… don’t know the specifics as I haven’t had the opportunity to interact with that problem or situation before. However, knowing how the system works and when one breaks or bends its rules, the consequences can be very harsh. For a god to willingly choose to ignore a rule like that, I would expect they are suffering heavily for such an action.”

“But how would they suffer?” Max asked. “I’m only asking as Tanila and Cordellia would have to be giving 3% of all DP they earn to her. While it might not seem like a lot, considering if she has others like them, surely it adds up over time.”

“Now this is what I was talking about,” Jazzjak said. “You are looking at the games gods play in the higher tiers. If a god breaks a major rule and the system imposes a punishment upon them, it might make them susceptible to attack from other gods. They would run out of planets to go and hide on.  If that ever happens, they become a rogue god and depending upon any alliances or trades they might be willing to make, they could either seek refuge on another planet or simply spend an eternity on the Archon world.”

“What would that look like? Not having a place to go?”

“A terrible existence, but I have heard of one god who did such a thing for almost forty thousand years. At some point, they had earned enough DP through trading of knowledge, items and favors to create a new planet and slowly start their existence over. In the end, it didn’t matter as a god with a grudge found them and killed them. Remember, forty thousand, or even a hundred thousand years, isn’t that long of a time to hold a grudge when eternity is a real thing.”

Drumming his fingers on the wooden table, Max frowned.

“That’s another question that bothers me. How do you manage to handle being as old as you are without getting bored or bothered by it? I can’t imagine life without my wife, child, or friends.”

Jazzjak sighed, his left ear flopping over.

“It… has not been easy, but at the same time it also has gone by fast. I know that seems impossible to believe, but what is ten thousand or a hundred thousand years if one lives to be over a million years old? Your kind often doesn’t live past ninety years on the world you came from. Only those who are extraordinarily strong and have gained power in the tower can. But tell me, Max, do you remember the first ten years of your life? What about the first fifteen? Do you focus on them or more upon the day you have right now?”

That is one smart bunny.

Max chuckled and nodded.

“I get it… I mean, I do and I still struggle with it, but that does make sense. Part of me wonders what it will be like for Miranna.  She’s growing so fast but how does that work if she’s still a toddler and yet a god? How do I–”

“I don’t know,” Jazzjak said, holding a furry paw up. “Get to level six, seek the archons or perhaps the one you say has a bond with you. Just know that all you can control right now is the moment before you.  Enjoy the time you have with those you are with.”

His helper paused, teeth clacking together for a moment.

“I… I am enjoying this moment and while part of me is scared of how quickly it might vanish, in all my time as a helper, this is the time I look forward to the most.”

Taking a deep breath, Max let it out slowly and stood. He moved to where Jazzjak Junior was and held out his hand.

“Thank you for everything. Your advice, friendship, and listening.”

A smile appeared as the rabbit shook the outstretched hand.

“No worries. In some ways I think I see you as you view your daughter. The only difference is I’m trying to raise seven kids while you only have one.”

***

Rakonath and Sog both stood there, neither saying a word as they stared at him. The wind from the sea blew against his back as the duo stood on the sand facing the water.

“You do realize one of you has to speak first,” Max said.

“Oh, I don’t mind speaking, but you won’t like what I’m going to say,” his dragon replied. “Strong or not, I don’t like the idea of facing something with the power to overwrite laws as you called it.  Without a way to see it in action or knowing how it works, you’re facing an opponent like nothing you’ve ever faced before.

“Fighting a scorpion goddess seems like a far better choice in my opinion. Just go at them, bash a few times, and move on.  Even if she used that fire skill you mention, you’ll either heal from it or not die the first time.”

“The first time,” Sog said with a chuckle. “I agree with Rakonath. While part of me would love to see the kind of power you mentioned on that tablet, I don’t think it’s the best decision at this time.  Besides, you and I are also about to test something and I know you’re anxious enough to have us so far away from any of the cities or kingdoms.  You did ask Tanila if she was okay with this, didn't you?”

Max chuckled and nodded, causing his demon friend to relax a little bit.

“You’re scared of her, I can sense it.”

“You bet your dragon nuts I’m scared of her,” Sog replied. “I’ve got no doubt that in a fight she would probably defeat me, even with the boons I get from being bonded with you. She has a… power inside her that she doesn’t use often but when she lets it out, I know it will be dangerous.  Like you, she exudes a threat, masked and hidden beneath smiles and kindness. Like a… dragon mother who lets you play with her child, make no mistake, she will eat you if you hurt her offspring.”

“A good analogy,” Rakonath said. “Still, I agree with Sog. Tell me, what is it that bothers you so much about testing this ability?”

Max held up his arm and summoned his blade staff in the other hand, changing its shape to a short sword.

“It’s because, as Sog once said, my blood is the key to the demonic summoning spell. I’m not sure if he’ll be summoned or if something else comes and if it does…”

“You want help while not risking the others,” Raknoath said. “Thank you for trusting us.”

The demon snorted and shook his head.

“Or we’re here to be sacrificial lambs.”