Ultimate Level 1 - Book 6 - Chapter 320

[ Substance KXY-420 Removed ]

[ Stats Debuff Cleansed ]

Finally… that took far longer than I had hoped.

Max breathed easier as the twenty percent debuff vanished.

[ Status Check ]

*****

Max Hoste

18-Year-old Human Male

Level 1

Exp 421/1000

Tower Experience:    40.00%

HP:                  24940/24940

MP:                  10020/10020

Stamina:         6235/6235

STR:                642+653

DEX:                617+630

CON:                698+703

INT:                 488+514

WIS:                495+521

Defense of the Dragon           - 20%

Defense of the Demon           - 20%

Demon Essence:                    - 176

Skills:

Baking - Common

Consume - Epic

Shield - Epic

Berserker - Epic

Stealth - Epic

Dual Wield - Epic

Sonar - Epic

Melee Weapon Mastery - Legendary

Power Strike - Epic

Backstab - Epic

Evasion - Epic

Haste - Uncommon

Festering Touch - Common

Death Magic - Rare

Conceal Self - Epic

Regeneration - Epic

Elemental Mastery - Legendary

Armored Warrior - Epic

Intimidation - Epic

Bulwark - Epic

Dark Magic - Rare

Ranged Mastery - Legendary

Poison Making - Uncommon

Trap Detection - Uncommon 

Rampage - Epic

Weakness - Rare

Demonic Magic - Rare

Demonic Summoning - Rare

Demonic Teleportation - Rare

Weapon Crafting - Legendary 

Armor Crafting - Epic

Magical Strike - Rare 

Formidable Mind - Epic

Ice Resistance - Rare 

Poison Immunity - Legendary 

Empowered Ranged Attack - Epic

Engineering & Tinkering Mastery - Epic

Power Core Crafting - Epic

Negate Death Blow - Legendary

Magical and Power Core Infused Weapon Creation - Epic

Protect Ally - Rare

Fire Familar - Epic

Quick Attack - Epic

Acid Resistance - Epic

Sand Mastery - Epic

Stone Mastery - Epic

Ghost Strike - Rare

Wood Mastery - Rare

Harden Body - Epic

Ultimate Form - Rare

Omnilingualism- Legendary

Spell Burst - Rare 

Arrow Volley - Epic

Blink - Epic

Mirrored Image - Epic

Phasing - Epic

Equipment:

Gold Walkers-                        20% Stat Increase

Merfolk King’s Gift -              75 STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS - Merfolk Water Attunement

Black Boss Band -                  20% Stat Increase

Ring of Growth -                    10% Stat Increase

*****

Perhaps I should have held my weapon for this. Still, those last few fights provided stats and abilities we both know will pay dividends down the road.

Yes… Not using them during the last few fights was a smart choice. I think Igarra was beginning to wonder how you were continually doing so many different things. There are other skills that mimic some, but they only last so long or have limited slots.

[ Skill Description - Blink ]

*****

Blink - Epic Skill: The user is able to relocate themselves with a thought up to twenty-five yards away. This action is instant. Cooldown is four hours.

*****

[ Skill Description - Mirrored Image ]

*****

Mirrored Image - Epic Skill: The user creates an exact duplicate of their current body, wearing a modified version of all equipment and weapons. This clone will act independently after receiving a mental command from the user. No skills will be transferred. Half of current stats and hit points are possessed by the image. Cooldown is twenty-four hours.

*****

[ Skill Description - Phasing ]

*****

Phasing - Epic Skill: The user’s body becomes intangible. During this time all physical, magical and energy attacks will miss the target. Psionic and mental attacks can still affect the user. The user may also move through physical objects or enemies. If they are inside a physical object when the ability ends, both targets will sustain damage based on the power level of each object. It is not recommended for the user to attempt passing through objects such as stone and metal, as they may find themselves weaker and end up dead. Against organic objects, constitution and other toughness perks will determine whether the user or object is destroyed. Lasts five seconds. Cooldown is twelve hours.

*****

Yeah… that phasing one was tempting for sure against the last fight. However, I’m not sure who would have won the battle of body types.

It is almost time for us to leave. Whatever happens next, know that I will be prepared for anything, and if we must fight, go all out. I will burn through every ounce of power I have gained to defeat her.

Sighing, Max rose from the stone bench and grabbed his weapon, sliding the whip onto his shoulders—he had taken to shaping it that way for easy carrying.

There is nothing like feeling you’re walking into a situation far beyond your control and there isn’t a thing you can do about it.

***

“I must warn you, this isn’t going to be an easy process,” Igarra stated as she handed the purple leather pack to Max. “Every tower across all the worlds is different. I have no doubt you will one day learn that after you return.”

Max nodded, his Sonar skill on full tilt, trying to read the woman, but her scaled body gave off nothing.

She knows you know there is no way out of this. For her this is a victory lap.

“How long will this take? To complete?”

“I expect you should be done within a week. I have food and water in the pack for about nine days, but based on what I have seen you accomplish, you might finish sooner than that. Just know there is a boss at the end of this floor. When you defeat it, you’re strong enough to return and face the next opponent in the arena.”

He was about to ask another question, but Igarra turned and moved to a pedestal that stood outside the tower.

Max had already tried to take in the sight of it as it rose into the sky and vanished. The way it was built reminded him of the one back on his world.

Different floors had a variety of stone, sand, glass, and other colored structures. No water ran outside this one, as far as he could see, but there were vines on a few floors. Unlike his, the size of each floor looked larger, spanning hundreds of yards each.

“It’s ready,” Igarra said, as Max felt the portal start to shimmer with his skill.

A moment ago, nothing had been where the portal usually was between the arches, and now a purple one vibrated with power.

“Thanks again. Hopefully, I can return soon, and you’ll gain just as much power as I find a way to keep fighting and return home.”

Her grin grew, and she nodded, motioning with a gold-scaled hand.

“I look forward to that.”

A memory came to his mind as Max moved toward the portal. He recalled it now, though he had been only nine. One person in his hometown had been found guilty of murder and was led through the city, walking on his own toward the executioner who would remove his head. Now that memory came, and Max remembered how the man had moved.

He hadn’t shuffled or cried, glared at people, or shouted back at them as they yelled at him.

Instead, he had his head held high and walked as if he was going to the market to purchase something.

Today, Max walked the same way. Each step he took was as if this was nothing more than a dungeon run like he had done hundreds of time. Inside would be Aimee…

I wonder what happened to that baker…

Focus.

He had reached the portal, and he reached out and touched it with his hand.

Expecting a display and a selection screen to appear, Max was surprised when instead he felt his vision go blank and his Sonar reveal he was no longer outside the tower.

Now he was inside it.

Nothing showed up in his skills range, and when his eyes returned, Max saw that he was in a long tunnel, seventy yards wide, and it ran for as far as his eyes could see.

There was light, the ceiling above giving off a faint yellow glow, just enough like a morning sunrise, and the only thing else he could see was the worked purple stone that surrounded him on all sides.

What is this place?

“Max. Forgive me if this is the last time we talk.”

A floating head appeared of Igarra about thirty yards away, easily twenty feet tall, her glowing golden eyes fixed on him.

“I spoke with Ezreal, and he wouldn’t talk about you much, but he told me if I could remove you, he would make it worth my while. So consider this my trade. You’ll die as every tower climber should. Inside the tower.”

Max’s head felt like it was going to explode, and he wanted to yell, but Bob held him back.

Don’t. Let her speak.

There was a thread of concern that even his skill couldn’t hide.

“I was tempted to face you, to fight you myself, but to do so would lower me in so many ways, and I would rather not risk any more of my soldiers. I should have listened to that lizard-woman companion of yours, but I thought she was simply foolish. Now I see she was correct.”

“Aimee? What about her?!” Max exclaimed, taking a few steps toward the floating image.

Laughter came from Igarra, and it reflected off the walls, almost causing Max’s head to hurt.

“Oh, that one is a snake… well perhaps not a snake, as she would find that offensive, but she played you so well. Her plan to motivate you to give her more than you promised was surprisingly effective.”

Max felt his eyes go wide, and his heart began to pound within his chest.

“What… what did she…”

He didn’t need the master of this tower to tell him what his mind already started to figure out.

“No… she couldn’t have… that’s not—”

“Possible? Oh yes,” Igarra replied, her teeth all showing as she snickered. “She approached me, as dangerous as it was, sent a message, and since you intrigued me, I listened. Your companion had that weapon crafter slaughtered and made certain none would find out who ordered it. She might have had an Acting skill, the way she played you, begging you for more power so she could be safe. Don’t worry. I rewarded her well. Your transformation to a killing machine served us both. Now she is carving her own path, making a name for herself in blood. She wanted me to tell you the day before I promised to kill you what she had done.”

Pain in Max’s chest threatened to bring him to his knees.

Don’t! Don’t give in to her and this!

“She… she killed him… for what?! Power? Strength?! Doesn’t what I did mean anything?”

“Oh you are naive… just like she said,” Igarra replied with a snort. “Max… you’re a fool. Everyone in this world kills to get ahead. No one gets stronger by being nice. Eventually that weapon smith would have—”

“NO!” Max roared, glaring at the image before him. “You’re wrong! I’m going to escape here and kill you! I’m going to end your life, and as I watch the spark of everything inside vanish, I will remind you of what you said!”

Even as he stood there, shaking with fury, his face feeling warm and a throbbing sensation in his neck, Max was more enraged at the way Igarra shook her head.

“Max… Max Hoste I believe it was. Believe what you will. Just know that no one has ever escaped the tower. When you die under the endless horde of creatures that are already on their way to assault you, know that you failed. Know you were just another weak creature who hoped they could stand beside me.”

She paused, her floating head moving closer to him, and both eyes filled the space he saw.

“You are simply a bug, and I have chosen this method to squash you.”

A cry came from down the hallway, and it turned from a small noise to a growing one. 

The sound of feet, hooves, or other objects pounding stone and coming down it began to rise like waves on a sea during a storm.

You can see them. Can’t you?

Max couldn’t help but see what was approaching. A thick line of enemies was coming toward him. So many different sizes and shapes, all with purple eyes that were fixated upon where he was standing.

“Now then, while I’m sure you’re going to last for a while, I’m required elsewhere. In that pack you will find food and water for about nine days. Know that while I hope you last that long before your mind and body breaks, eventually the horde will break you.”

Her full face appeared once more as she leaned back from whatever object she was using to send her image.

“Still, even if you manage to somehow to defeat those things, just know this. At the end of all is a creature who sees what you are about to face as nothing more than a fly and will swat you just the same.”

The image faded, and one last taunt came as it did.

“Good luck, you foolish human. Die well.”