Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Max’s blood dripped all over, sliding off the feathers he couldn’t grasp with his fingers. Bob had figured out he could use magic to remove them, but it required them to stay still and not dodge as he currently was.
It appears he’s slowing down on that feather attack. It’s been over fifteen seconds since he last used it.
We need him to land. I can’t lock him in place without showing more of our abilities.
Sirocco came at them again, doing another dive bomb attack, both swords taking chunks out of the stone floor before the falcon god swooped upward and away.
He’s a bird and fighting like one. I can try my best Fowl impression.
Do it. I’ll set up another small trap, but I don’t think he’ll fall into it again. He’s avoided the areas we’ve tried before. Almost as if he can sense it. I’ll spend the power to help keep you going.
[ Cooldowns Reset ]
Max appreciated the aid and used his friend’s uncommon ability to upset others. “I guess you’re just a chicken!” he taunted. “Perhaps that’s why you had to obey the real rooster!” A screech echoed above, and Max kept weaving around columns, doing his best to keep the bird from making straight attacks.
“You know nothing! I shall pluck your—”
“Sorry, I only talk with the alphas!” Max shouted, dodging past a pillar.
Sirocco came at him, and when he did, Max knew that the bird had employed some kind of skill. Power began to swirl around the falcon god as it dove toward him, and a reddish hue surrounded Sirocco’s body.
A terrifying screech emanated from the falcon god’s beak, waves of power and pressure all calling for Max to kneel and accept his defeat.
[ Formidable Mind ]
For a brief moment, Max bent a knee, as if he were about to do what the shout had intended. Sirocco came at him, swords held wide, ready to cut him down. There wouldn’t be many chances like this one, so he took it.
[ Haste ]
[ Power Strike ]
[ Ghost Strike ]
[ Quick Attack ]
Max hated burning four skills, hoping that the speed of them all would be confused for something different or fewer, but the truth was this fight would only get worse the longer it went on.
Sirocco’s approach slowed down, not because the god had been affected by any spell, but because the gains of Ultimate Form and Haste had changed the dynamics of the fight. Max was finally faster than the bird that had made him bleed. When the chance for the falcon to dodge was gone and both blades were coming at the spot he had started to kneel, Max lunged upward, his weapon transforming.
[ Blind ]
It was a spell Max rarely used due to his skill’s rank being so low. There was only the slightest darkening of those yellow eyes, not enough to have worked completely, but just enough to help set up this next part.
Max’s artifact transformed into a weapon that he felt embodied him. A simple spear, yet with a tip that didn’t hide the appearance of a bone. Air and wind from Bob sped him up even more.
Sirocco’s body tried to react, the bird swerving to the left, his body going upward as a pair of wings flapped downward for lift. Against most gods at this level, it might have been enough, but Max wasn’t most gods.
Max’s artifact drove home with precision, piercing a layer of protection that had given him the tiniest bit of resistance before shattering under his attack. The tip traveled into the god’s chest, finding his heart, the shaft continuing until Max’s hand, still gripping the weapon, butted up against Sirocco’s feathered chest.
Together they flew upward, twisting sideways, two gods almost face to face. The falcon god careened toward a pillar, his body having gone rigid.
Max would have pulled back, freed himself from this spiral, but he couldn’t. His hand was clenched like a vise around the shaft of his artifact as a cold he always hungered for washed over him.
Max’s body and mind struggled to react as the only notification he ever got that something had died by his hand ran through his body.
[ Consume has…]
Max blocked it out, feeling himself suddenly slam into something. Pain came as the feathers that were still in his body exploded. Those wounds quickly healed as Regeneration was finally able to seal the damaged area of his body.
He blinked a few times, finding himself under a wing, the scent of blood filling his nostrils as he tried to stand.
You did it. One hit.
The weapon did it. I just—
No. A weapon can only do as much as the one who wields it. You set the trap and used his own ability against himself. Now finish this part, and we shall look at the rewards in a minute.
Freeing himself from the embrace of Sirocco, Max glanced down at his defeated foe. The feathers had already lost some of their luster. Gone was the healthy appearance, the dark colors turning muted by the second.
Looking around, Max saw one of the swords nearby and went to pick it up. As his fingers touched it, the weapon vanished, and Max cursed internally.
Bound…
They’ll pay you for them, eventually, Jazzjak said. For now, wave at those watching.
“It appears Max Hoste has done it again! To those of you who took the risk and bet on him, congrats on your gains! For those who didn’t, well… better luck next time!”
Looking up and seeing his face on the large screen that appeared overhead, Max waved once and waited. A few seconds later, a disc of light appeared under his feet, and he was back in the waiting room.
A cough came from Jazzjak as the rabbit approached. “That was… closer than I had expected. Probably closer than those in charge had expected, also.”
“You mean you don’t think I was holding back?” Max asked, turning his attention toward the wall he knew would change in a moment.
“I hope so because it looked like you were getting hurt out there.”
Max nodded and held up a finger. Three seconds later, the door formed in the stone, and a red gelatinous being moved inside.
“Ahh, Max Hoste! You win again!”
I have no clue if this is either of the two I have met before…
Nor do I, which means something.
“Uh, thank you…” Max replied with a pause. “Forgive me if I offend you, but can I ask your name? I appear to have problems getting it right.”
A wet laugh came from the creature before him as it jiggled slightly.
“Ahh yes, I am Hoekamona. I believe Houkeeno mentioned a mix-up last time. Don’t worry, I do not get offended by this. It does happen more than I prefer to discuss, but that is not why I am here!”
The gelatinous creature moved toward Jazzjak, two eye stalks focused on the rabbit. “I will have details of the equipment sent over after we have identified what can be traded or sold. Any special requests?”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Max stood there, watching the pair.
A few moments passed, and Jazzjak coughed. “He’s asking you, Max.”
“Oh, sorry. After-battle fog,” Max lied, telling Bob the truth. I couldn’t tell he was talking to me! “So I guess anything with bonuses to all stats, or is there something I’m not aware of yet that might be worth keeping?”
“Oh, that’s right,” Hoekamona replied. “This is your first run-in with loot in the arena. Well, never fear, I’ll have your helper here get you a list in the coming days, and you can learn some things from it. You do realize that sometimes there are racial items that just won’t work for others?”
Max nodded, not aware of that, but knowing it made sense.
“Good,” Hoekamona said. “Well then, I congratulate you on winning your 20,000,000 DP wager again, and also regret to inform you that Sirocco had no DP on him upon his defeat.”
“Wait, what?” Max asked. “How is that possible?”
A small gelatinous nub formed and moved slightly. “It would seem that all of his DP was spent before the battle. Some do that to try to be as strong as possible or to stick it to the one who defeats them.”
Max felt Jazzjak’s head moving up and down. “So…”
[ 20,000,000 Divine Points has been deposited ]
The notification came, and Max sighed slightly. “I guess that will do.”
“We are happy to be the mediators between all of these battles! Just know you did well, and we are grateful it ended how it did.”
“That I won?” Max asked as Hoekamona started moving toward the open door.
“Yes, of course!”
“Don’t believe that,” Jazzjak whispered after the stone sealed shut. “Come on, it’s time to go home.”
***
Max stared at the notifications that he had waited to look at. Everyone was waiting to hear what he had gotten, and it was easier to just do it once.
You do realize that we may face another fight in a week.
I do. Hopefully, this might help.
[ Consume has Consumed 13 Skills ]
[ 8 Skills do not match entity type ]
[ Consume is attempting to adjust ]
[ Failed to adjust skill - Power Stored for future use ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Skill adjustment in process - Godhood detected - Updating skill ]
[ Intimidation has been upgraded from Legendary to God Tier 1 ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Skill adjustment in process - Godhood detected - Updating skill ]
[ Melee Mastery has been upgraded from God Tier 1 to God Tier 2 ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Skill adjustment in process - Godhood detected - Updating skill ]
[ Dual Wield has been upgraded from God Tier 1 to God Tier 2 ]
[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]
[ Would you like to learn [Ghost Blade]? ]
[ Yes / No ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Skill ]
[ Would you like to learn [True Flight]? ]
[ Yes / No ]
[ Bonus Stats Consumed ]
[ 150 Strength Consumed ]
[ 150 Dexterity Consumed ]
[ 150 Constitution Consumed ]
[ 150 Intelligence Consumed ]
[ 150 Wisdom Consumed ]
“Holy elf tits,” Fowl muttered. “It never gets old.”
“I knew it was good because I felt the growth the moment you landed the blow,” Rakonath said, a permanent smile etched on the dragon’s face.
“DP and stats!” Sog exclaimed. “Who can argue with that?”
Max shook his head but smiled. “It’s hard to complain about anything except the fact I had to show more of my tricks. That battle was far closer than I wanted to admit.”
“So what do the skills do?” Cordellia asked. “I mean, one seems obvious.”
[Skill Description - True Flight]
*****
True Flight - God T1 Skill: The user has an innate ability to fly, not dependent upon magic or racial type. Their speed while flying will match their top speed naturally. This ability can be aided with other abilities and spells to increase speed. As with all movement spells, restrictions may apply based on the location used in and physics.
*****
[Skill Description - Ghost Blade]
*****
Ghost Blade - God T1 Skill: When activated, your next attack will ignore armor. Damage is decreased by 75%. Cannot be used with any other offensive spell capability. The cooldown is 5 seconds. Drains 2% of max mana every use.
*****
“Ignores armor?” Fowl gasped. “That’s broken!”
“Not really,” Jazzjak answered. “While it looks to be dangerous, the damage mitigation part is troubling. I’d have to do research, but I think one’s natural resistance to damage can also impact it.”
“So, like I could say not take any damage if my resistances were high enough?” their warrior asked.
“More like… it would be lessened. It’s something I’ve pondered for quite some time, how certain skills work versus others. The truth is, unless one spends lifetimes stabbing someone over and over, measuring each one with…” Jazzjak paused as he saw Max grin and raise his eyebrows at Fowl.
“No! No, I’m not going to do it!” the dwarf exclaimed, standing up from his seat. “I don’t want to be a pincushion for learning. Use Sog! He likes pain!”
The group laughed as their helper shook his head a few times before joining in.
“So, can we relax for a moment?” Tanila asked.
“Not completely,” Jazzjak replied. “Maybe you can ask one of the other gods who are older after you reach the Archons. Maybe they will tell you that you can, but I doubt it. If I’m honest… life before the top of the tower was easier.”
And yet that wasn’t an option for me.
It was not. Worse, it’s that your friends wouldn’t let you do it alone.
As Bob said those words, Max remembered what Phaius had told him.
“If you care about them… leave them. Before the end… trust me… the pain…”
Max shivered, a realization of what he thought the god had really meant.
He wasn’t warning me about the last floor of the tower… he was warning me about what would happen if we defeated it together.