UL1 - Book 10 - Chapter 19

[ Consume has Consumed 3486 Skills ]

[ Consume was unable to convert 3486 Skills ]

[ Power Stored for Future Use ]

Not that I anticipated getting anything from them, it feels a little unfair that you get to keep everything.

Bob chuckled as they stared at the massive blue dome before them.  It was over a few miles long and Max had swum above it, seeing that it stretched for over four miles in an oval-like shape.

The power coming from this domain is far greater than what I felt when we fought Savantus. You can feel the aura it gives off around it.

And that aura is at least twice as strong as being in the one that Tanila’s father had trapped us in.  If that’s the case, just how strong are the god ones?

It would appear that we have found ourselves a new level to try and achieve. Whatever power this domain gives, I cannot imagine fighting a god with this power right now.  Even with the stats you have, as well as the artifact made from Wekime’s tooth, we’re not going to be able to survive inside one of these.

Max knew his skill was right and even with the knowledge that Jazzjak junior was giving them, the sensation that was overwhelming him right now even when almost a hundred yards away, sent a shiver down his spine.

How long do you think this should take? I mean, I know you don’t know, but based on our other fights we’ve had.

Somehow, I think this will be a war of attrition.  When we fought Igarra, we had to drain all of the power inside her before we could stop her healing.  Fighting Kazrak was a battle that took time and was only won because of your dimensional space.  When gods of this power scale fight, I doubt there is an overwhelming one-shot killing blow.  Perhaps with your weapon and if it does level up it will help, but even then the amount of damage a god must be able to shrug off is intimidating.

Frustration and concern ran through Max’s mind as he considered his friends.

There is only so much you can do for them. Like before, when you basically carried them through part of the tower, a time will come when you cannot aid them.  Each must stand on their own feet and will have to gain whatever power they desire.  Sog is right, three hundred years will pass before you know it and you must be ready to protect yourself.  Tanila and Miranna are the two you will need to focus on the most.  

I know. Just… at some point, I want to know they’re safe. I mean really safe. The constant threat of what might come scares me like… what happens if a god challenges one of them to the arena before they can get to tier six? I can’t protect them then.

What will you do if a black skill holder challenges them? You cannot fight back, nor can you challenge that holder. There would be no retaliation until the moment comes and that final battle appears.  To worry about that is silly and you know it. I have warned you before and will say it once again. Love is a powerful and dangerous emotion. You, Max Hoste, must learn to control it and not let it control you.

Nodding even though no one was there but himself, Max frowned.

You’re right… For now let’s forget about this and see what happens.

Max used his Sand Mastery and created a glass chair, sitting on it as he watched the blue dome shimmer slightly, waiting to see what might take place.

***

It’s starting to crack… that can’t be good.

Bob didn’t reply as Max stood, weapons and armor ready, eyes locked upon the large cracks that were splintering along the dome.

Eleven days… The aura has diminished greatly.

Max started pouring mana into a large stone spear, increasing its size as he waited. Bob did the same with an ice and wind one, a trio of projectiles ready for whatever came next.

Hours passed and they stood there, three spells ready, each over thirty yards long, his body poised to react, yet all that continued to take place was more splinters and cracks appearing in the domain.

After almost half a day had passed, water and pressure rushed past them as the domain exploded. Tiny pieces of whatever had been the outside of the sphere flew nearby and Max glimpsed what lay inside.

Yukoreek was missing large sections of his black scaled body, half of his mouth and face were tore free, and it looked like an eye had been destroyed. Thick blood seeped out and stained the water around him as the half-mile-long leviathan roared, power radiating in the water.

He gasped as he saw Eyorakoa or what was left of her, lying on the sand.

One side of what Max assumed was her body was tore off.  She looked like some sort of black skeleton, with pulsing veins of a blue kind wrapped around parts of her, and a yellow orb in her chest.

All of the coral that had once surrounded her was missing as Max raced forward.

Careful!

All three spears flew at Yukoreek as Max reached the spot before the god he currently shared this world with.  Getting close, he realized that it was some kind of sea urchin that was inside the goddess’s chest. The tendrils coming from it were wrapped around the bones.

She’s that?

Focus!

“FOOL!” Yukoreek roared. “This is my kill, and you are not worthy of this place!”

A rush of power almost sent Max to his knees as the aura from the leviathan washed over him, its body thrashing as the head drew near.

“Back off!” Max yelled. “I won’t let you have her and this is my world too!”

A pained laughter came from the god as it swam closer, its body encircling them.

“Go,” Eyorakoa said, her voice almost silent. “I cannot… You cannot defeat him.”

Max frowned, slowly moving around the goddess as he kept his weapons pointed at the one who had attacked this world.

Plan? Thoughts?

We run.

Bob’s tone left no doubt where his skill stood.  Even now, Max knew the potential of winning this fight was almost non-existent. The wounds on the leviathan’s body were already healing. Thick strips of scales that had been missing were reforming and its jaw was starting to take shape again.

But–

Not our fight. Jazzjak told you, fleeing is the wise move. If you die here… 

He knew his skill was right. Letting someone die or not helping wasn’t who he was.

What if?

Quickly. There isn’t time.

Max didn’t hesitate.

“Forgive me Eyorakoa.”

As he said those words, he went for broke.

[ Ultimate Form ]

[ Rampage ]

[ Quick Attack ]

[ Ghost Strike ]

[ Berserker ]

[ Power Strike ]

His artifact weapon transformed into a spear and Max plunged it into the chest of the yellow lifeform inside the goddess’s chest.

Power and pain came as Bob activated the other ability, a loud roar coming from Yukoreek.

[ Regeneration ]

[ System Travel - Planetary ]

A fire that wasn’t heat, but of some other kind washed over his body as the leviathan god attacked.

His vision went black as the world shifted.

***

“Max!”

Tanila’s voice brought him back and Max saw a notification waiting for him.

[ Negate Death Blow - Activated ]

“I’m fine,” he said, blinking his eyes, sensing the presence of his wife and Jazzjak around him.

“What happened?!”

You died to a single attack. We also didn’t get the kill.

“Ogre shite,” Max muttered as he rose to his feet, taking the hand his wife held out to him. “That god I told you about, Yukoreek. He used one attack on me and it killed me as I tried to leave.”

“Impossible,” Jazzjak replied. “If you had died, you wouldn’t be here!”

“He has a skill,” Tanila said, frowning.

“A skill? That stops death? Only–”

The vorpal rabbit stopped himself, putting a soft paw over his mouth, red eyes fixed upon Max.

“You… you have a skill like that?”

“I do,” he replied. “Sorry if I didn’t mention to you everything I have. Secrets and all.”

“No… I get that. Still… I wonder what Yukorek will think. He must have believed he killed you and yet the fact that he didn’t will make him wonder why. What tier was he?”

“Seven, I think,” Max said. “It would appear he was far stronger than I expected or believed. Now that I think of it, the spells I sent at it when I rushed to help Eyorakoa didn’t do anything.”

A snort came from the rabbit, ignoring the frown Tanila gave him.

“I still cannot believe you stood before a tier seven god and survived. The power scale is beyond what you can comprehend at this level. Even with the stats you told me I don’t think you truly grasped what I warned you about.”

“It’s like the tiers of monsters back him,” Tanila said. “Remember how they upgraded every so often and you had to increase your offensive and defensive skills to stay even?”

Max nodded and squeezed his wife’s hand.

“I do… but where is our daughter?”

“With Batrire and Fowl. They didn’t want me to have to handle her all by myself while I ran a city alone.”

She just used that you're in trouble tone.

Yes… yes she did.

“I’m sorry for scaring you and for leaving you all alone,” Max replied. “I guess it’s good that I stayed and learned a little bit about the world and gods that I did. To say we’re fortunate is an understatement. Seeing a world where only one god tried to manage it and knowing they had lost a friend and been alone for thousands of years was… difficult. 

“How common is that, Jazzjak?”

Their helper’s left ear flopped over and the rabbit frowned.

“Common enough. Most gods who defeat the tower stick together. Some strike off on their own. You know what you faced to beat it. Not every party makes it through.  The loss of someone is enough to drive even the closest parties apart.

“Your question, however, is the hardest part of seeing a world like this one. In most worlds, someone dies and then they are replaced by whoever defeated them. Occasionally, the one who kills them is strong enough to wage war and defeat the others. Kherbann wasn’t so he left that world you own part of alone.  When gods reach certain stages of power, they are hard to predict.

“Didn’t you mention facing a void world champion on the planet you owned for a little while?”

“I did,” Max replied.

Jazzjak nodded his head, tapping a finger to his chin.

“So, gods like that one or like the Leviathan you just faced are what we call world consumers.  Unlike you, who wants a planet to thrive for a long time, growing more and giving more DP as it goes on, there are a few races that focus on destroying worlds for their power.  It has a different approach, giving an initial boost of DP for the planet they destroy as if it were still living.”

“What happens if I were to challenge Zogooruth and defeat him?” Max asked. “What happens to his DP then? Do I gain DP forever?”

“No,” Jazzjak replied. “You would only gain a set amount based upon the number of worlds which have been consumed. Consider it like a… bounty. You gain a considerable amount of DP, much higher than normally but won’t get anything after that.”

The sound of a throat being cleared made both men turn and look at Tanila who was standing there, arms crossed and frowning at them.

“Are you two done?” she asked. “It appears you both have forgotten that I’m not happy with my husband almost making me a widow and leaving me alone with our child.”

“Well, I have things to do, you both be safe!”

Before Max could protest, Jazzjak’s feet were illuminated by a white circle and the rabbit was gone.

“So… if I told you that you look amazing and I love you, would that help any?” Max asked.

“No… no, it would not.”