Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 89

Max felt the presence of creatures all around him as he moved through the halls of the castle he was in.

A world filled with vampires, shadow creatures, and what I guess are something similar to a dark elf but worse.

Yet you’re a god to the shadow creatures. Imagine that.

Max fought back the chuckle that wanted to escape, his attention instead focused upon the hallway that was more shadows than light. Every so often, an archway off to the side would appear, leading into other hallways just like this one. A maze of darkness and shadows that could easily cause someone to get lost if they weren’t being led by a string that told Max where the room entrance to the god section was.

It’s ironic that while they’re technically my ‘people’ they fear me so much they won’t even come close. Perhaps the previous god wasn’t kind or something else.

The wind picked up and the magical green flames that burned in the sconces shifted their light again. In one of the shadows ahead, Max saw a pair of yellow eyes studying him before vanishing.

At least the bells have stopped ringing.

Max was serious about that comment as his sudden appearance in the city had set off a system of deep bells that had rang for a solid ten minutes. This entire world appeared to be in a state of night. The moon, which hung in the sky, hadn’t moved since his arrival. Every creature that had been near his arrival point had scattered, vanishing into buildings or beyond his sonar immediately.

After a few minutes of walking through a city with architecture that felt like someone had been very drunk while designing it, Max took to the sky, rising above the varied shapes and sizes of buildings, and flew to the castle.

Up ahead.

Max nodded to himself, seeing the glowing yellow eyes appear, always moving ahead of him and the path he took.

“You don’t have to hide,” Max called out again. “I’m not here to cause problems.”

The same reply came as it had every time before. No words, only a moment or two of staring before they vanished again.

Well, it would have to be a racial skill since every creature we’ve encountered here has done the same thing.

Being… not a creature. Remember, we’re on a world made of different entities that aren’t like you. Just like the coral beings we encountered, this world is filled with life. It’s just a different kind.

I remember why we didn’t stay long the first time we came. A place of darkness got old fast. Besides, I think the last time we were here, we saw what you called a vampire.

It was a vampire and you didn’t make friends with it either.

Max chuckled this time, not caring that his voice echoed in the hallway.

It had attacked first. In fact they all had.

Well, to them, you seemed like a buffet of blood, I’m guessing. Who knows how often someone like you shows up and they get a chance to eat.

Max turned down the archway to his right, following the thread that was growing stronger. Soon, stairs appeared, leading downward. They descended like a spiral staircase, except there were no walls around them. Darkness was instead the barrier and Max’s sonar told him the place he was in was filled with life that he recalled from before.

Screeches came as shapes moved in the darkness. Thousands of them swirled around him and yet not a single one made their way toward the stairs he was moving down.

Bats… the same ones from the tower.

It seems you might be right. Tell me what kind of world do you think we’re on?

Max knew the answer Bob was looking for. His skills thought made him wonder about just what kind of worlds were out there.

Something similar or worse than Igarras… a world built upon combat?

A world built upon rules that are different from what you know. This place is a tier 3 world and grants you a large amount of DP every day. We must be careful not to do something that alters the makeup of this place and affects its income.

And yet I still have to reach the panel so that Jazzjak can access this world's data from our home. It makes me wonder what each world a god gains through combat is like. How difficult could one be to…

Subjagate?

I’m not a fan of that word, but sure.

You are technically taking over a world by force and requiring its inhabitants to live according to the potential rules you desire. There aren’t many other words that might describe what you want precisely. Still if you have the power to take a world from a god, you easily have the power to make its inhabitants obey you. The real problem comes with what other gods might be present.

Jazzjak mentioned that since I own this world, my presence won’t be perceived as an attack. Still, it makes me wonder when or if the other gods will be present or on different worlds.

We’ll soon find out. You're going to keep walking down these stairs or just take the easy route?

Knowing Bob was right and that he was wasting time moving around and around the descending staircase, Max stepped off the side, letting Bob control their flight as they moved downward.

All of the bat shapes nearby let out a loud, high-pitched cry that seemed to go on for a while in many directions. Max’s Sonar served its purpose, announcing the floor that was below, and Max moved back to the staircase, which descended below the stone floor that was covered in a variety of bones. He was almost surprised by the number of shapes and sizes that he could sense in the remains.

Proceeding below the floor, Max found himself in a hallway leading to a set of metal doors, similar to those he had found on Radiant Steppes.

These doors had a mural of what Max would consider very grotesque images set into it. He didn’t want to see what his sonar revealed, wondering what kind of being would think such a design was worth having.

Different opinions and beliefs. It might be a warning or it might be considered a treasure.

Max said nothing, moving toward the doors and preparing to open them when a dozen shapes all materialized in the darkness around him. Red eyes glowed and his sonar revealed that each one of them held weapons. Something dripped from the blades and spear tips, a thick goo of some kind.

“You are not welcome here,” one from behind cried out. “Though you carry the spark of our kind, you are not us.”

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Max slowly turned, not summoning a weapon or acting hostile. He knew the one who had called out to him, sensing it was the shortest one of the group. Each was about eight feet tall but the one he needed to talk with was only about six feet tall.

“And what do you propose to do?” Max asked. “Attack me? I’ve done nothing to you or your kind. I’m simply here to claim what is mine.”

Hisses came from the group and Max sensed them shifting, their weight lowering as their weapons moved into an attack position.

“There is nothing to claim,” the same one said. “We will not work with you nor serve you. It would be better to die. Flee before the others arrive and come to drink your blood.”

Max chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not sure they’re going to succeed. The last group that attacked found out I’m not weak. You know it and I know it. The twelve of you can’t kill me and unless you’ve summoned another god, I doubt anything here will give me–”

Max spun, his artifact in his right hand, and his shield in his other.

The creature that had been hurtling towards him stopped about ten yards away.

Power radiated from this one and Max could sense the difference between it and the other creatures that had surrounded them. All but the short one had vanished, leaving him flanked on both sides.

That one’s a god.

A weaker god, perhaps. Or able to hide its power.

Max could sense the aura coming from the creature he called a vampire. It was taller than him by a few inches and carried a pair of swords. Flowing long hair was tied neatly behind its head and it wore plate armor that seemed to absorb even the darkness around it.

It smiled at him, two sets of fangs detectable by Max’s sonar.

“You should run… unlike the rock god, your flesh will not break my teeth.”

Max chuckled and shook his head. “You do realize that if I beat the rock god, then I’m a lot stronger than him. I’m also fairly certain you probably know who I am and are trying to stall… I’m guessing another god is coming, or perhaps two.”

Even without light, Max could get a better read on the god he was facing thanks to his Sonar. Gone was the slight smile, replaced with a scowl.

“This world doesn’t serve your kind. We seek to remove all like you!” the vampire hissed. “To stand here is an affront to all we believe.”

Thoughts?

Fight? We should win if he can’t get away or we’ll make it through the door and activate the panel. But we also have to remember that by doing so we might also give them a location of our world.

A chuckle came from Bob as his skill spoke.

Though I’d be interested to see that world matchup. Darkness is their ally and yet they’d be facing seven different gods. Dragons and demons would most likely be a very difficult thing for them to overcome. Not that I’m saying you're kind and the others would be either.

No… I get that. Still, if I want to have better control over my worlds and try to keep the DP from stalling or decreasing, I can’t just avoid all conflict. How about you have a little fun instead?

Bob’s chuckle turned into a roaring fit of laughter inside his head and Max grinned.

“Well, I tried,” Max said, winking at the god that looked ready to pounce. “I guess I’ll let you talk with the other part of me.”

“The other part of–” the vampire god said, jumping backward the moment Max gave Bob control.

Darkness swirled around Max as Bob equipped the Bone Ring of Darkness. At the same time, his skill activated an ability that they had only used once.

[ Death Magic ]

Max felt like someone was pouring dirty oil that had been frying stuff for a month over his soul. A part of him that had been kept safe from corruption flared and he sensed a change in his skill.

Fear not. The hunger that once consumed me is not in control, but yes… this is only a taste of what would have been had you not somehow changed me.

Bob’s words felt absent of hope. It wasn’t his skill trying to be evil. It was as if everything that made Bob different was removed and all that was left was the skill Max had first started with.

“What are you!?” gasped the vampire god as it pulled back even more, both swords held up, ready to defend itself.

Bob laughed through Max’s mouth and the sound that came from it was different than usual.

“I am what you should fear,” Bob said. “I am the darkness you will never approach but wish you could.”

Max sensed the shorter shadow figure vanish from his Sonar the moment Bob had started speaking.

Silence was his skill's answer as the god before them seemed to glance around, apparently able to sense that whatever aid it might have expected had they fought was gone.

“You… how?!” the vampire exclaimed.

Bob moved.

Max knew his skill had activated different abilities, including Haste, but everything happened faster than he had anticipated.

His hands held the other god’s wrists, and Max’s body grew as Ultimate Form kicked in.

“You will not force me to consume you,” Bob hissed. “I shall pass into the other room and I will take what is mine, or I will ravage this world and claim every life that is here as mine. Do you understand?”

Those words were followed by the sound of bones breaking as Bob used Power Strike, squeezing harder upon the appendages he grasped.

A pained cry came from the vampire who was caught, both arms spread wide, his face being pulled closer toward Max’s.

“Let him go,” a deep voice called out. “You may take what is yours.”

Bob cackled, still holding on as he slowly turned around.

Max and his skill had sensed the presence of another being behind them appear. Unlike the one who was caught in Bob’s grasp, this god wasn’t hiding his presence or his potential strength.

“Ahh, the real power in this world,” Bob said, staring at a pair of green eyes that were the only thing showing the god who had just appeared. “It appears there is one smart enough to know when to give in.”

Max felt the creature, which was humanoid and yet not, bow. Its wings on its back tucked into place as a muscular body dropped to one knee.

“Forgive him. He does not know the power of what this body carries. Enter the room of the one whose claim you hold and acquire what you are here for.” Updates are released by n0velfire.net

“And what if I am here for more than just a simple connection to my current world?” Bob asked, pulling the trapped vampire closer.

Max could smell the death that this god gave off. There was also the scent of true fear as it tried to fight against the grip that held it.

“You do not act like what you should… and you appear wise enough to know the need of Divine Points. I am Camazo. I will ensure our world gives you what you need. If, at some time, you feel you need more and return, seeking other power, please remember I have done what I can to aid you.”

Bob roared with laughter and then tossed the vampire god into the darkness. “Camazo… I shall remember your wisdom. Very well. I shall take what is mine and expect no problems from this world.”

The god that was kneeling a dozen yards away said nothing, simply bowing his head.

Laughing like a madman, Bob spun, moving toward the metal doors and ripping them open.

What was that?!

A being who understands what I am and am capable of. Let’s do what we came for. I’ll need to stop drawing upon this skill and let you take over sooner than later.

The corruption?

Yes.

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