UL1 - Book 10 - Chapter 16

“You need to go,” Jazzjak said. “To not could reduce the amount of DP that planet earns and right now it sits at right over seven thousand. It’s a tier two world and you’ve slowly been losing DP.”

“Should I expect combat? Can I bring the others with me?”

“I don’t know and no. You would also be a fool to bring Edward or any of the other adventurers.  This world is older and it will have stronger foes. I cannot tell you anything other than the message that appeared.

We both know there is nothing on that world that could be a threat. Besides you have the ability to return here at any moment.

It’s not that and you know it.

Being what you are means that you will face other gods at some point. This is an opportunity to practice what is to come. Not every meeting will be in the arena and not all encounters should come down to violence.  We both know the tower tested the way it did to weed out some.

That’s what bothers me and you know it.

I do and I can’t answer your nagging question. All I know is that the tower allows the black skills to continue. I would expect that they are as strong or stronger than us.  That means we should also consider fighting another. Even if you desire to use it as a trump card, the more worlds you acquire, the more DP you earn. The quicker we earn the amount needed, the sooner we can move to the next stage of all this.

Max sighed and nodded.

“Fine, I’ll go. I’m assuming there’s no telling where my Celestial Gate skill will put me?”

“No, but it should be near the capital for the race that was originally there. It might be Kherbann’s but I doubt it. No god would be foolish to do that, especially one that has been around for 10,000 years.”

[ Skill Description - Celestial Gate ]

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Celestial Gate - Tier 1: The user can travel between planets they are a god of. The location can be set and updated once a year. If no point is set they will appear within a hundred miles of the capital city that race they lord over lives. Citizens and beings from their other worlds may be brought through the gate, provided they are under that god’s power. No other gods may venture through the Celestial Gate unless they are also a god on the target world. Gate will stay open for up to 5 minutes. Its size is currently thirty feet wide and twenty feet tall.

*****

“Very well. Let’s see what kind of world I partially own.”

Jazzjak activated one of his skills, teleporting the two of them to the gathering grounds outside the castle and his home. A gentle breeze blew across the open space and a few children were playing a game with a ball at the far end.

“I’d go ahead and summon it. Before the children try to come over here and get you to join them.”

A chuckle echoed in his mind, Bob’s enjoyment of Jazzjak knowing he would give in if they did.

[ Celestial Gate ]

A line formed in the air, silver and white, spreading between him and the building he was facing. 

Noise came from the kids a few hundred yards away and he waved, eyes focused on the sight before him.

That is not what I was expecting.

Max nodded and strode forth, every piece of armor and item he wore appearing on him in an instant.

One moment he was standing on stone, the next he was in an ocean.

Fish darted near him, some inspecting perhaps if he was worthy of trying to bite, but Max ignored them, trying to sense a way to go.

It should be straight ahead… I can almost… feel it?

There is a thread of some sort, so yes, I would say you are right.

Water rippled out from where he was, fifty yards above the sea floor. The power of his movement caused even the sand on the bottom to create a cloud in the water, indicating his approach. 

Stealth wasn’t what he was going for and so he ignored it, watching as he moved like on land. The gift he had been given from the Merfolk King was one he doubted would ever be replaceable.  Still, knowing his bloodline carried a portion of it also made him feel more at ease in this place.

A city began to appear in the distance, colored lights and shapes that became larger.

When he was a few miles away, Max slowed, seeing life not just from sea creatures but of humanoids that were working the sand.  Beds of seaweed grew in sections, with swimmers entering them and pulling out chunks of the plant, which they deposited in nets.

It had taken him a moment before Max realized there were two different species before him.  One was an otter or some kind of creature, fur-covered and moving with grace through the water. The other wasn’t coral like he thought. It moved, slowly but steadily, helping the other to collect plants and more.

A whistle echoed in the distance, yet he could not understand it.

“It’s him!”

The otter-like creatures sped toward him while the coral ones lagged behind.

Max slowed down, coming to a complete stop.

A cloud of sand washed over him, hiding him in the cloud for a moment until he used Water Mastery to clear the space around him.

Dozens of the creatures approached, staying low, heads tucked down slightly.  More were coming and slowly the coral-covered beings were making their way.

“Hello,” Max said, unsure of how one was supposed to address a race he knew belonged to him.

“You’ve returned! Different but… still we sense the kindred bound,” one said, swimming a little closer than the others.  Bright blue eyes turned violet as they whistled. 

Their language is not spoken… so it carries better through the water due to the harmonics. Somehow, when you talk, I sense it happening also.

I wasn’t whistling though, was I?

No. I’m not sure if it’s due to your omnilingualism skill or because of a bond with them.

“Forgive me,” Max said. “I do not want to lie or base my interaction with you on a false truth. I am not the god who made you. I am one who defeated the god that killed their original one.”

Heads swiveled as the others looked at each other, whispering.

“Other gods?”

“Is this not him? His spirit feels the same.”

“Perhaps our brothers will know and can tell us.”

Max waited, watching as the first of the corral beings made it to him. They were twelve feet tall, over twice the size of their smaller companions. One drew close, his body a living painting of living stone. Tiny fish swam around his body and there were slugs and other living organisms attached to different parts.

“You… are welcome.”

His words were slow and low.

“Thank you. Tell me, is your maker in the city?”

What Max took for a nod as the creature bent over slowly.

“She shall come soon. We sent word of your arrival.”

Oh, this might take a century if she moves as slowly as they do. This is beyond crazy.

It's a little humorous, if you think about it. Imagine a society that doesn’t use sound and must communicate through other means.

Minutes turned into ten and soon after about fifteen minutes of him standing there, trying not to look bored, a swirling object sped toward him through the water.

Now that’s impressive.

He nodded, watching as a being that matched the others before him arrived.  They were a quarter mile above them, a jet stream of water churning bubbles as they twisted.

Max turned to watch as the object flew past him, slowly circled and then stopped, sinking deeper until it touched down.

“Greetings,” Max said. “I am Max Hoste and received a notification that you wanted to meet.”

The god before him radiated power and he could sense the others behind him backing up. Coral that was sharp and dangerous-looking covered most of their body like armor that would inflict pain upon one who struck it.

“I am Eyorakoa, goddess of my people and you are the god of our brothers and sisters who we watch over. Thank you for answering my call.”

At least her voice isn’t slow or low.

Max ignored Bob’s commentary but agreed, she sounded like what any normal person would back home, and her speech wasn’t affected at all.

“Your face. Does my voice and tone surprise you?”

“A little. I wasn’t sure how you might sound after hearing your children speak.”

Her body shook, a school of purple and black spotted fish emerging from beneath her coral body, swirling around her before vanishing back to their original location.

“I can tell you have the same skill that I do. It is a boon to beings like mine where others find the speed at which we speak problematic.  Now tell me, did you truly defeat that horrible rock god?”

“Kherbann? I did.”

“And yet you have not came to claim your people or force them to do as you wish.”

“Is that a question?” Max asked.

“Simply a statement of the obvious. You are… new. I can sense the difference between us and yet you are not weak. To crush Kherbann is no simple task. Had I known for certain that I could return the favor I would have done so, but the rules of the arena is that he chooses the battlefield if I challenge. Thus I stayed silent, frustrated to know that I had to work to ensure the growth of both our people.”

“And he came and did what? Enslaved? Tortured?”

“Made them leave their pods to seek out treasure and other objects for him to take to his other worlds,” Eyorakoa replied. “He had no concern about what happened to the thousands who died. Even worse he thought he could force my children to serve him. A lesson that ended quickly.”

She is dangerous in the water. If a rock god like Kherbann didn’t challenge her on this world in this domain, I wonder just how strong she is here.

And I doubt she was showing her true potential as she came.

“I am not here to do that,” Max said. “In fact all the worlds that I have acquired because I defeated him have been left alone for now.”

A laugh washed out from her again, fish appearing as she shook, waves of pressure in the water going out in a circle.

“Defeated? You humiliated him! I might have cheered and celebrated upon seeing his defeat. My friend was foolish, always wanting to play and have fun. While I toiled and worked to grow our planet, he and his children spent more time playing games.  Like so many he thought that there is no concern for speed. It’s ironic that one who is slower than most recognized the need to grow stronger, faster.”

“So you focused on bloodline, sparks and rising through the tiers?”

“It would appear either you are gifted with intelligence or have a teacher, perhaps both. Yes, that is the greatest path and the safest way to protect one's children and world.”

“Should I ask what tier you are or is that not allowed?”

“You can but I shall keep that hidden. I know your name and you know mine. While I think you might be one of honor and trust, I will not give away something that weakens my position.”

“I understand. So tell me,” Max asked. “What was so important that you needed me to come?”

“Both of our children and this world is at risk. Another has come, seeking to claim this world as their own. If I am to protect it, I need help.”

If another is here to attack this world, then she has to be at least tier 6.

Can we even fight a tier 6? Or would they be a tier 7 or 8?

“Before I give you my word to help, which I will try, tell me about the god who is attacking. Are they tier 7 or 8?”

Eyorakoa laughed again and a small, black bone extended from some of her coral armor, tiny fish swirling around it almost like flesh.

“You are wise, Max Hoste. They are tier 7.”

He smiled, knowing the sensation he felt inside coming from Bob.

“Well, tell me about the one who threatens this world. I’m willing to listen and help if I can.”