Chapter 329

Chapter 329

Max reread the descriptions for the two skills he had acquired from Ezreal.

[ Skill Description - System Travel - Planetary ]

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System Travel - Planetary - Common: The user is able to travel between planets they have visited once a month. Travel is instantaneous. Anyone or anything they are touching may be transported with them, provided they have the strength to carry the object. In order to add other locations to travel to, the user must find another means of arriving on the planet. One location may be set for arrival on the planet. Location may be changed once a month. Unable to use this skill to travel to the arrival point on the current planet. Some abilities and locations will prohibit travel to planets.

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[ Skill Description - Planetary Travel - Waypoints ]

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Planetary Travel - Waypoints - Uncommon: The user creates four waypoints on any planet they have visited. While on that planet they may move between those waypoints. Travel is instantaneous. Anyone or anything they are touching may be transported with them provided they have the strength to carry the object. Waypoints may be changed but require two weeks to be reset. No waypoint may be within ten miles of another. Each waypoint may only be visited twice per 24 hours. Some abilities and locations will prohibit travel to waypoints.

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So… I can leave right now…

You can, but you need to consider what you are going to do. Will you simply abandon these two so soon?

Max frowned as he watched the pair arguing about how different things should be handled.

“Enough… I’m tired, and I need to leave.”

Both Jazzjak and Quilazmore immediately went quiet, turning their attention from each other to where Max was slouching in a chair.

“But… there is so much that must be in place,” the dark elf stated. “You do realize the whole city is in a state of flux!”

Clearing his throat, Max forced himself to sit up.

Exhaustion finally hit, and the bottoming out of all that energy Bob had run through, then the sudden resurgence of it to where his skill was waiting to evolve had been a tiring ordeal.

The weight of all the death he had caused felt crushing, and knowing more might come was even worse, but all he could think about was Tanila.

“Jazzjak, you need to handle the administration side of what I gave you. Quilazmore, you need to manage the arena and the other areas you’re familiar with. Each of you has skills and experience that will allow this world to continue to function.”

Standing up, Max pointed at the wall where dozens of large dragon teeth were leaning against even more golden scales.

“Those are how you will ensure people follow your orders. The guards are loyal to you all. None of them felt the need to question my orders, and they will keep most of the people in place. The rest who want those items will do whatever is required to get them. You two must ensure that everyone knows that only by obeying the rules I laid out, will be how they can get them. If need be bluff that you will summon me.”

“But we can’t,” Jazzjak replied. “You yourself said it will take a month before you can return here. Will you return here?”

“Hopefully in time. But do not forget the tower appears to be open and no longer set on that floor that killed anyone who entered it. Tell them that is my gift. All who are strong enough may enter.”

A snort came from Quilazmore, who was grinning.

“That alone will earn the obedience of most.”

“So make it happen. You two are the only ones I can entrust with things here. While this world is hard, you have been given a chance to thrive. I expect”—Max paused as he held both of their gazes for a moment—“each of you to work together. Gather your families, keep them safe, and help them grow stronger.”

The vorpal bunny moved to where Max was and bowed low.

“I am grateful, Max Hoste, for your friendship.”

Chuckling, Max held out his hand and smiled as the rabbit shook it.

“Friends don’t bow; they shake. Quilazmore, come here and shake my hand.”

Immediately the dark elf moved, grinning and held out his hand, almost giggling the entire time they shook.

“Now then. I need to go. Somewhere is a woman I love and family I need to find. Be safe, and hopefully when I return, I won’t have to kill anyone.”

Each of them chuckled and took a few steps back, unsure what was going to happen next.

Alright, Bob. Let’s go home.

No flashy lights or magical powers that sent waves of energy came. Instead a simple portal blinked into existence and then was gone, leaving a white, furry vorpal bunny and a black-skinned dark elf to manage a world that had always been built around killing.

***

Sunlight hit Max’s face, and the air seemed sweeter as he breathed it in.

Sounds of weapons were ringing out with shouting, and Max spotted Tom with about twenty people on the sparring ground, working through attack patterns and other techniques.

Tanila… I’m home.

He began to walk toward the group. His armor hadn’t changed at all, which was why when someone spotted him, they froze, getting a shield to their face from their sparring opponent.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? Don’t stand around! You should be—”

Max couldn’t help but grin as he saw Tom’s eyes find him, and the man rubbed them a few times before he sprinted toward Max, leaving everyone on the field in shock.

“SETH! SETH!”

Laughing, Max nodded and held out his arms as the older man didn’t pause his charge, grabbing him in a bear hug and shaking him.

“You! You’re alive! She always said you were, but I wondered if… my god you’re bigger! What the heck has happened?!”

“One question at a time, please. Tell me Tom. Where is Tanila?”

Faction members began jogging toward the pair and Tom stood there shaking his head, stepping back and looking Max up and down a few times.

“Tom. Where is Tanila?”

“The tower. She’s in the tower with Dexic and the others. The forty-eighth floor if I am correct. Everett is going to flip! You need to come inside.”

Max shook his head, smiling at those who were slowing down and coming to look at him in shock, hearing the stories of how he had vanished for months.

“When did they leave?”

“What?”

“Tanila and the others. When did they enter the tower?”

Shaking his head, the trainer finally realized what Max was wanting to know.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Oh gods… two days ago, I think? Surely it’s only been two days. It’s been taking weeks for them to clear each floor, so you won’t see them for at least five more days. Plenty of time to—”

“No. Tell Everett I’ll be back. I need to go and find her.”

“Find her? How? You hadn’t finished the fortieth floor in the tower. There is no way—”

Tom saw the smirk on Max’s face and stopped, finally understanding the aura he felt coming from Max.

Without waiting, he moved to where his trainer was standing and grabbed his hand, yanking him close and giving him a quick hug.

“Tell Everett I’ll be back soon,” Max whispered.

“But—”

A rush of air was all he felt as Max jumped into the air, and none could see the spear of air he grabbed on to, taking off across the city like he was flying.

***

“Wait!”

Ignoring the guard who had held up a hand, Max fell from the air and landed outside the portal.

“You can’t—”

“Seth Pendal, don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

Touching the portal, a window appeared, and Max selected the fortieth floor.

***

It is a good thing I have so much power that the small amount required for one spell means nothing.

Or the fact I can easily fly across most of these floors or simply run through and slaughter everything.

Or that… it is a shame you cannot collect all those gems.

They mean nothing to me right now, and you know it. Only one thing does.

Max heard a chuckle in his head as he raced through the portal, ignoring every creature that stood in his way. None were fast enough, none were strong enough, and even without his weapon they were dead if he simply ran through them.

“How?!”

Max ignored the guards who stood outside the portal, the number of them having increased by dozens.

“Seth!”

He recognized the voice and the one who had called it.

“Major Greyson, I’m afraid I don’t have much time. I’m trying to find my friends. I’ll be back in a moment, I need to go fight the forty-fourth floor real quick!”

“But, you’re alone! Where have you been and what do you—”

“Just wait, I’ll be right back!” Max shouted as he ran past the older man, seeing the confused expression as those blue eyes studied him.

Take the chest… do not waste it.

Sighing, Max nodded and waited, the ten seconds it took for the body to vanish and the chest to appear felt like an eternity.

Two strikes, not even empowered. I almost felt bad for it.

No you don’t…

Bob laughed.

No… I really don’t.

Two purple crystals found their way into his storage, which Max had forgotten was incredibly full of dragon remains.

A new black cloak was tossed into storage, and Max hit the portal moments after it appeared.

“Seth?! How… how did you? It’s been only a few minutes at most!”

Nodding, Max jogged to where Major Greyson was standing between the portal and the area everyone left the tower from.

“I know. Like I said, I’m looking for my friends. I don’t have time as I need to reach the forty-eighth floor.”

Murmurs came from all the guards and a few adventurers who had appeared.

“You… you can’t be doing what I think you’re doing… the tower… it’s not—”

“Possible?” Max asked, finishing the older man’s words. “Just hang out here if you want. Grab a book and a chair. In fact, take mine.”

A chair appeared in Max’s hand, and he set it down, tapping the cushioned seat.

“I need to go. We’ll talk later. I’m sure you and Vella will want to talk with me as always, but I need to find the woman I love,” Max shouted as he ran up to the portal.

***

“Impossible.”

“Seven floors in so little time.”

Max’s hand trembled, and he shook his hand, trying to breathe and settle himself.

“You ok, son?”

Those words made fighting back tears even harder.

“It’s been so long… every day all I could think about was returning to her… to see her face… to hold her, kiss her and tell her I love her.”

Max sensed the hand that came, patting his back and felt the meaning of it all.

“Then stop standing here like a fool, and go tell her that. I have no doubt she is thinking the same things.”

Sniffing, Max nodded and wiped the tear that had somehow escaped and touched the portal.

There, in just about seven hours, the forty-eighth floor was an option to enter.

***

Max stood there, stealthed, as he found the group fighting four scorpions that were fifteen feet tall. Dexic was working side by side with Fowl, handling one of them while his dwarf friend blocked, parried and struck the two that were focused completely on him.

Tanila sent spell after spell upon the one Dexis was fighting, and Cordellia’s arrows pierced weak points in the beast, striking the joints and small eye sockets.

It appears they don’t need me… Is being a part of their group an option anymore?

You cannot tell me that you do not plan on joining them again.

No… I… I know I need to, but still… they are fighting like a real team. All I want to do right now is rush down there and slay everything so I can go to Tanila but if I do… then what? How… how do we move from here? And what about Dexic? She has helped them continue on in my stead. Who will be with her? Does her journey in the tower end?

No reply came from Bob as they watched the one Dexic had been fighting die and the trio engage the one that had been frozen.

Max could see that the fight was already well in hand, and a twinge of pain and guilt struck him as he waited, knowing the moment he went to them, he would destroy so much.

Stop being a fool, and go see the one who has kept you from becoming the monster you always feared. I’m tired. I need to rest. All this power is overwhelming, and it is going to take me a while to evolve.

You would leave me? Now?

Max felt the howl of laughter in his head as Bob let loose whatever emotion or feeling he had for a solid ten seconds.

My friend we have slain a world champion. You have become one. This tower right now means nothing. You do not need me to be in here, and you do not need me for what is going to come next. When you walk down there, you will find the woman you love. Everything you desire is there. Even…

Max waited as Bob paused for a few seconds, watching the second scorpion fall and the group move to the third.

Even when I tempted you with the power to be this way long ago, you resisted and turned me down. Because down there is a woman. An elven woman! Someone the world says you can’t love and yet you did! I… I am not what I have always been. I’m something different, and… I’m okay with that. Whatever I am, whatever we are… we shall grow stronger, and we shall make those who threaten us or those below regret their words and actions.

For now, I’m going to make you move ahead. I’m going to evolve now. So you will either have to go alone until I return or move down this rocky terrain, stop hiding behind rocks, and be the hero these people think you are. You picked the name of one. It’s time to give some honor back to him.

Max sighed.

Thank you, Bob. Go evolve. I’ll be here whenever you return.

Be safe, Max Hoste.

[ Consume is Evolving ]

Taking a deep breath, Max saw the notification and took a step toward his friends.

“I guess it’s time for me to grow up also.”

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