Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 479 - Burning Things Down

“Thank you.”

Max nodded, gently squeezing Cordellia’s hand as he smiled at her.

“You’re family. Never forget that.”

Her eyes began to leak again at those words, and she nodded, their healer on one side of her and Tanila on the other.

He could only imagine how she felt and what she was dealing with. Hundreds of questions ran through his mind, but none needed to be asked right now. Max also knew he or the others would never ask most.

“So she got away?”

Sighing, Tanila nodded.

“I forgot about the bracelet’s last function. Part of me thought I had everything locked down. While I want to believe she didn’t make it, I have no doubt she’s alive. Like a bug, she just won’t die.”

“We return to Peltagow and make sure everyone is safe. From there…”

Max’s voice trailed off as he tried not to assume how things would go.

“The tower,” Cordellia said quietly. “We need… I need to get stronger. I…”

Her voice cracked, and both women gave her a gentle squeeze.

Tears ran down her cheeks, and their archer sniffed, shaking her head.

“I won’t let them take anything else from me. It’s bad enough they managed to take my storage item and all my equipment.”

“How did they do that?”

She shrugged at Fowl.

“I don’t know… I was drugged… Lh…” Taking a deep breath, Cordellia appeared to steel herself. “Lhoris gave me a drink, and the next thing I knew, I was surrounded and far away from you all. Everything was gone.”

Her voice trembled at those last words.

“I’m sorry… all those items, they–”

“Don’t apologize,” Max said, shaking his head. “They’re just items. You are worth far more than any of them. Besides… I wasn’t sure how or when to give you this, but I made this before… all this.”

The bow he made her appeared in his outstretched hand.

Cordellia gasped when her eyes locked upon the bow he had crafted.

A total of four large cores, two in both the top and bottom limbs, shimmered with a power that most couldn’t imagine.

Damn Bob, I wish you were here to witness this.

A single string that looked like gold but was from a metal he had acquired from Igarra’s vault made the weapon ready to fire.

“You… made that for me?”

Smiling, he nodded and motioned for her to take it.

“I’ve been working hard on this. For so long, I knew you needed an upgrade, and well… Nimyn was kind enough to donate to that cause. Go ahead and take it. See what it can do.”

Her eyes widened, and she took it from him with a trembling hand.

Her eyes began to blink repeatedly, and he was glad Tanila and Batrire were beside her, keeping her legs from buckling.

“Max… it’s…”

“Gods, now you got to tell me what it does,” Fowl said with a chuckle.

He saw the look Batrire gave, but Cordellia started to laugh, shaking her head and clearing her throat.

“I’m good. I can stand. Really.”

Both women gave her a little room as their archer took a few steps away.

Rakonath thrummed slightly as the elf moved so that she was clear of the others. The field they had landed in and exited Max’s dimensional space was surrounded by trees on all sides.

Slowly, she held the bow out with her left hand, reached for the string, and pulled it back.

An arrow appeared on it, causing their warrior to curse.

The shimmering white arrow grew brighter, and when Cordellia let the string go, it streaked across the field, covering a two-hundred-yard gap. It then hit a tree, shattering the thick trunk and traveling through it to the next one.

“Holy elf tits!”

Max smiled as his friend repeated his usual curse.

The same things happened three more times, and soon, well over a dozen trees fell to the ground, causing a loud crashing noise even from this distance, sending birds into the air.

“It takes time to recharge,” Max said as he pointed at the orbs. “Each one holds a charge. Still, it’s nice to know you can–”

Cordellia was upon him, arms wrapped around his chest, her new bow smacking him in the back and burying her face against his shoulder.

“Thank you!”

He smiled, gently patting her back and using his other hand to brush her unbraided hair.

“Like I said, you’re family. Besides, I like you better than Fowl. So I wanted you to have something better than him.”

“Bah, you suck!” their warrior exclaimed. “I just want to know the stats!”

Laughing, Cordellia gave Max another squeeze and let go. Turning to see everyone staring at her, she coughed.

“Uh… sorry… I got a little overwhelmed.”

“You’re fine, dear,” Batrire replied. “Just promise me you don’t tell him. I like watching Fowl pout.”

Everyone laughed as their warrior held up his middle finger.

“Bah, just know when the time comes, and he finally gives me something good. I’m not saying a word.”

“So what I already made you isn’t any good?” Max asked.

“Bah.. ah... “

Fowl started sputtering, trying to backtrack.

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“You’re fine. I understand, and maybe later. For now, let’s head home. I know we could use a good night's rest, and I want to let Everett know how things are.”

Summoning the dimensional space, he motioned for all of them to enter.

“I’ll teleport us home in a minute. If you’re okay with being inside.”

Cordellia nodded, letting Tanila lead her in by the hand, eyes still locked on the bow he had made her.

Fowl came up beside him as all three women made their way inside.

“So… any chance you’ll tell me?”

Smiling, he shook his head.

“No… but I’ll try to make something like hers for you later. Perhaps I can branch out if you end up with weapon mastery.”

Snorting, their warrior let out a sigh.

“You know… for a moment, I wasn’t sure how she would do… I can’t imagine what she’s endured and yet… to see that smile on her face after you gave her that weapon. It… it makes me think that Ockrim might love us all.”

Putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, Max gave him a gentle squeeze.

“I’d agree with that statement. Now, go inside and try to behave. I don’t want to lose my bet with Tanila.”

“Bet? About what?”

“How many times will Batrire hit you?”

Laughing, Fowl gave him a wink.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Closing the space after they were all inside, Max turned to see Rakonath’s silver eyes fixed on him.

“You and them… it is a strange thing. That woman is hiding it well. You know that, though.”

“Who knew a dragon could read people so well?” Max asked, moving to the outstretched snout. “But you’re right. We all know it, and she must feel she has to be strong. I’m… I’m not sure how she’s going to handle it all. Tanila told me she will stay with her for a few nights. Something tells me Cordellia will need her more than I will.”

“You still feel ready to slaughter another hundred elves or more. I can sense it.”

Sighing, Max exhaled slowly.

“Right now, I’m about a moment from doing something I know I shouldn’t, but there is going to be a reckoning. Whoever was involved in this will learn what happens when you mess with my family.”

Spreading his wings and shifting slightly, Rakonath started to thrum. “It would appear that you are exactly like Aerthen said you were.”

“And what is that?”

“Dangerous,” his dragon replied. “A few months ago, she told me that the day you arrived in her home she was actually terrified. Not only did you bear our Father's mark, but you also gave off an aura she could detect.”

“What do you mean? Like the one from the tower?”

Shaking his head, Rakonath snorted, sending mucus flying.

“No. Those dragons you fought. Could you sense the danger they presented?”

Taking a moment, Max considered all the times he had looked upon Igarra, knowing she was dangerous. Even in the tower, when he faced Kuneoss, there was a presence.

“I could.”

“Do you sense that from Aerthen?”

Frowning, Max realized that he didn’t.

“No… why is that?”

“Because you are stronger than her, and you know it. You do not fear her. Deep down inside, you knew you could kill her if it were required. She knew that as well. When we were attacked by Kemruss, I could sense his aura. We were outmatched only because Aerthen had to protect me. She chased him off and suffered for it. Somewhere out there, that gold dragon is most likely planning his return. And like you feel toward these elves, I feel the same about him.”

“So you’re going to kill him?”

A growl made Rakonath’s lips rise, showing a maw full of teeth.

“I’m going to rip his wings apart, drive him to the ground and then tear out his heart. When I’m done with him, he’ll learn the mistake he made that day. In the same way these elves are going to learn the mistake they made.”

Max couldn’t help but laugh, ignoring that his dragon was still growling, eyes narrowed slightly.

“You find this funny?”

Shaking his head, Max just smiled.

“No… far from it. I’m just laughing because you and I, it appears, are very much alike. Together, we will teach this world and everyone else that comes after us that we’re not to be trifled with.”

Rakonath stopped his growling and started to thrum again.

“Then let us head home. I can sense the plan you have already.”

Putting his hand on the silver scale of his friend, Max felt his jaw tighten.

“You know me too well.”

***

“You can’t do this!”

Max ignored the pair of elves trying to stop him, his foot connecting with the doors that groaned under the second kick he delivered.

They were beginning to buckle under the weight of their size, hinges having been torn from the stone.

“Do not get between me, or it will be your last mistake.”

His voice felt dark, yet he didn’t care.

Five elves were dead already, foolish enough to attack him. Each of them died to a single strike from his fist.

“But–”

“You’re princess attacked my friend. She threatened my family. I am here for answers, and if you attempt to stop me, I shall consider you one of the zealots like those!”

His voice boomed out in the hallway, and the pair cowered.

Once more, he kicked the doors, causing them to split apart.

Behind them was Niccolo, frantically stuffing things in a pouch.

Max could see that something was in his hand.

[ Demonic Teleportation ]

His hand was a blur, his weapon passing through the elf’s wrist, cutting off the hand that held a crystal shimmering with power.

Not missing a beat, Max caught the falling appendage and stored it.

As blood squirted from the wound, he withdrew a healing potion and held it out.

The Faction leader of the Enlightened Souls cried out in pain, dropping the pack he had been holding.

Max reached out, grabbed the older elf by the collar, and brought him before his face.

“Drink it, or I’ll force it down your throat,” he growled.

It took a moment for Niccolo to recover from the actions that transpired in less than two seconds.

“I…”

“DRINK!”

Without needing to be told again, the Faction leader grabbed the potion Max had used his thumb to uncork and drained it, causing his wound to start to regrowing his hand.

“That potion is worth more than you are, but I need you to understand that I will tear you apart and rebuild you countless times if you don’t do what I say.”

His sonar detected an arrow coming for him, and without looking back, Max’s now free hand reached out, catching the arrow mid-flight.

Through the doors was an elven woman, her lips in a sneer as she began to lose another arrow at him.

[ Stone Mastery ]

The sound of her body being crushed between the stones he had pulled from the ceiling in the hallway and the floor echoed into the room.

He could feel the aura of an attacker, sensing the change in his body.

Shaking his head, Max turned his attention back to Niccolo.

“You and I need to talk, and I don’t want to deal with all this.”

A cry came from the older elf as he activated his Planetary Waypoint skill.

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