Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 445: To Realize One's Weakness

“I’m impressed with your choice. Part of me expected you to face me.”

Resisting the temptation to change his mind, Max nodded.

“I’ll announce to the world that you will be the new champion. Then, by tomorrow evening, I shall have left this place. Tell me, Zogooruth, what do you fear?”

The aura that always radiated from the colossus faltered for a moment and then returned to normal. It was the only noticeable change Max could pick up on with his sonar.

“Your question… was not one I expected. Why do you believe I must fear something?”

“We all fear something. My greatest fear is those who I love getting hurt because I was foolish or couldn’t protect them. That is why I decided not to fight. Every creature, being, even a god must fear something.”

The ground shook slightly, and waves of force assaulted his ears. The being before him appeared to chuckle.

“What I fear is one day I may regret the choice I gave you. I stand by my word and can see a spark of something dangerous inside you. Still, had your fame not spread across all the worlds, I would have never known about this place. The good news is you’ll not have to worry about anyone challenging you over this speck of dust again.”

“Until we meet again then.”

***

“My storage is full as well,” Batrire said as she pointed at the last row of chests laid out before everyone. “I can’t get any of these to stay.”

“I guess that means we’ll just use my dimensional space if you think we can stack them up without a problem.”

Jazzjak bounded up from behind as Max summoned his personal vault.

“So… the wife said yes… and you’re certain you want to bring eleven rabid vorpal rabbits to your world?”

A cough came from Everett, who gave him a frown.

“Only if you want to come. I can’t promise you an easy life or that none of you won’t end up on someone’s mantle someday, but provided you all behave, I’m certain we can find you a place of your own.”

Squeaks came from the rabbit as he held his chest.

“Behave? My litter? They don’t know that word, but perhaps they will figure it out before too many of them get in trouble. Still, we are grateful for this offer.”

Max shook the outstretched paw and then moved to grab a chest like the rest of his party.

“Tell Quilazmore that I understand his decision. We’ll be out of here in an hour. After that, I’m afraid we’ll not be able to see him again.”

Clearing his throat, Jazzjak nodded, one of his ears drooping slightly, a sign of his frustration Max had learned.

“He regrets not being able to come, but his wife was adamant about not coming to a world where all the elves are… fair-skinned. He mentioned some blood feud or something between them.”

Tanila’s laugh caught them off guard, and they turned to see redness spread across her cheeks.

“Sorry, there are so many stories about how the dark elves are… well, let’s just say I can imagine why they might feel that way. It’s a shame, really. I was rather fond of Quilazmore.”

“As was I,” Jazzjak stated. “Still, part of me had always wished Sog’thollech had eaten him, but since he didn’t. I had to endure his poor puns.”

Fowl froze mid-stride and turned to where they were talking.

“Wait, you’re telling me I missed out on learning some new jokes?”

Cordellia groaned and used her foot to push the warrior inside the dimensional space.

“Gods, please don’t let him learn anymore,” she pleaded.

***

Sighing, Max closed the dimensional vault door and knew the organized stacks they had made would be destroyed after watching the eleven vorpal bunnies start playing jumping games the moment they got inside.

“Did you see the size of his wife?” Fowl asked once he knew they were safe from prying rabbit ears.

“For once… I agree with him,” Cordellia muttered. “She’s a beast.”

Max chuckled and nodded, motioning for everyone to gather close.

“Who knew she would be twice his size? And those teeth! They appear to be able to bite through a person’s neck.”

Their healer’s comment got a few head bobs as everyone moved to where Rakonath was resting.

“Time to go home. Make sure you’re touching me, or I’m going to guess you’ll find a new world to live on.”

No one laughed at his joke, and Max sighed.

[ System Travel - Planetary ]

****

Their eyes quickly adjusted to the setting sun and saw that Tom had managed to keep the faction grounds from being destroyed.

Only a few members were walking the yard, and the moment they saw a silver dragon and a group of people appear, they took off running.

“I’ll be back in a couple. I need to get these two home.”

“Don’t stay long,” Tanila whispered as she kissed him. “You owe me.”

Everett bowed before Aerthen.

“It has been an honor. Perhaps one day you’ll be able to spend a little more time here and share some of that knowledge we discussed.”

“Maybe in a decade or two when I’m free from my current task,” she replied. “Surely you’ll still be around.”

“Unless that one gets me killed before then.”

Both of them laughed, and Max shook his head as the rest of his party made their way toward the main Faction building.”

“Let’s go,” Batrire called out. “If we don’t hurry, I’m certain an army will be here in a moment to fight off the great silver dragon.”

“At least you realize how powerful I am!” Rakonath shouted.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“He’s been hanging around that dwarf too much.”

Grinning, Max nodded at Aerthen and held out his hand, waiting for hers.

“Dwarves have a way of rubbing off on you,” he replied.

Putting his other hand on his dragon, Max watched as half a dozen adventurers poured from the two large doors of the Faction building.

“What are we waiting on?” Rakonath asked. “Me to get attacked?”

“Oh, just giving them a few more yards to get a good look at you before we leave. Trust me, it will make for a great story later.”

A low thrum came from Aerthen, and Max sensed her shape changing.

“If that is the case, then allow me to give them something to talk about.”

The sound of two dragons and the strongest fighter in the faction roared before flying low over the gates walls of the Golden Axe Faction.

***

Both dragons were still laughing as they appeared in the sky, high above the volcanic area below.

As they fell for a moment, gaining speed and using their wings to prepare for flight, Max maneuvered himself into position on Rakonath’s back, right up against his neck.

You seem to enjoy that spot. Thank you for not requiring me to ask.

Laughing, Max ignored the smell of the sulfur as both dragons made their way toward the opening, which was the entry point of Aerthen’s home.

The red dragon took her time, circling slowly, her head constantly checking every direction as she prepared to land on the stone platform that led inside.

She says we can land now.

As the immense body entered the opening, the silver dragon followed behind, coming to a very smooth landing.

Hopping down from his position, Max easily kept the set pace as Aerthen led the way.

“She’s disarming the traps?”

“Yes,” replied Rakonath with a slight thrum. “I’m not sure I would want to risk getting near the ones she placed. Each of them had more power than usual placed in them. Some are deeper inside, which could collapse a section of the mountain.”

“She fears that gold dragon that much?”

“I do not fear him!”

Her head was looking back at Max and for the first time in a while, he saw something in those gold eyes.

“You do not understand… perhaps cannot understand how I feel about his actions. What he desired was–”

“An unwilling mate.”

His words stopped Aerthen completely, and the smoke that had started billowing out of her nostrils stopped.

“I can only imagine how you felt, and it bothers me that you had to worry about yourself and Rakonath.”

“Did he tell you?”

Her voice seemed angry as she began to shrink, returning to the humanoid form she had spent more time in lately.

“I did not,” Rakonath proclaimed, his chest swelling some. “That was a promise I made and kept.”

“He didn’t have to. I often wondered,” Max said as he moved slowly to where she was standing. “I didn’t want to pry, but I figured that was most likely the real reason Kemruss came here. His coming for a smaller male dragon might only be because Rakonath was viewed as a potential threat for… you.”

Her hands shook, and the sharp nails ground against the red scales of her palm.

“I know your kind deals with the same thing. Many races do. Some female dragons have done the same to males, but I am not like that, nor will I lie down and allow that to happen to me. Forgive me for lying. I am not proud of my weakness.”

Max could feel the chasm between them even though he was only a few feet away.

“You aren’t weak at all. You’re one of the strongest dragons I’ve ever known, and don’t forget I’ve met the strongest dragon of all.”

Aerthen began to blink rapidly as she smiled, and a single tear formed briefly before evaporating.

“Sometimes I forget just how skilled you are with words, Max Hoste. Your woman is lucky to have a mate like you.”

Chuckling, he shook his head and just grinned.

“I’m not sure that’s always the case, but I’m glad for every minute I get to spend with her. Now tell me, what are your plans?”

Rakonath’s snout poked him in the back, and Max moved a little and scratched it.

“We’re going to fly toward the great waters. This youngling still has much to learn and explore. I know he has grown stronger, and soon, you should be able to take him with you on some hunts.”

“I am right here.”

A low growl came from Aerthen as she shook her head.

“While you think highly of yourself, do you truly believe that your power can stand against any of the creatures we avoided while we explored the other world? Could you face off against Kemruss and win?”

Max could feel the frustration that his dragon had at those questions. The displeasure of the answer all three knew was true seemed to stir a hornet's nest up inside Rakonath.

“I am not even a year old, yet we all know I am stronger than most would ever be at this age.”

“And yet that is nothing compared to true power. Tell me, who would win in a fight? Max or me?”

He stood there, his hand resting now on the silver scale he had been scratching, sensing the raging emotions within the young dragon’s body.

“Max would.”

“And he wouldn’t need to draw a weapon if you two fought. The fact that he can gently touch you and scratch as he does without injuring you is a sign of real power. Surely you have seen how he and Tanila touch each other, and only once have I seen him hurt her, frustration and anger finally overcoming the control that he has.”

A twinge of pain pierced his heart as Max recalled that moment she was talking about. It took effort, and yet he had learned just how much strength to use. Occasionally, he didn’t guess someone's power and killed them with a single strike or blow, yet with Tanila and his friends, he knew exactly how to touch them.

“I have… we have discussed this before. Why bring it up now? Why before him?”

“Because you both need to see the difference in power!” Aerthen shouted, moving to where Rakonath’s snout was and bonking him on it.

His head snapped back and a growl came from the silver dragon that caught Max a little off guard.

“You’re angry! Good! You need to be angry, and you need to be ready to listen and obey because like Max, there are many things out there far more powerful than either of us. He wasn’t a coward for leaving that planet and those who lived there behind! One day you might need to escape and leave me if that means you can survive. Do you understand?”

Max wanted to say something, yet Bob's calm presence held him back.

These are dragon things. Much like a father might tell you if someone attacks the house, your job is to allow your mother and sister to get away to safety. Even if it means death for him first and you second.

But… does she really believe they are in danger?

Every day we are all in danger. Part of me is glad Zogooruth came. It reminded us both that we are nothing in this system. As she is telling your dragon, we have a lot of growing to do. Aerthen is doing this because she is trying to tell you the same thing without being direct about it.

He sighed once and then chuckled.

“Thank you. I needed that lesson.”

Aerthen’s lips slipped, and a smile appeared for a second before her stoic face returned.

“I’m not certain what you mean, but if the lesson Rakonath needs to learn is one that you need as well, then perhaps I have not wasted my breath at all.”

Moving closer to his dragon, Max motioned for him to lower his head.

“She loves you. Never forget that. Go and learn from her, and I will find you. If you need me, call. I will blaze a trail across the sky as I follow the thread that binds us.”

Nuzzling Max, Rakonath thrummed for a moment.

“Perhaps next time, she can hit you instead.”

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