Ultimate Level 1

Max constantly had to convince everyone in the inn's main room that he was fine. It got so bad he finally took his food to his room to eat in peace and quiet. Tomorrow, he needed to run an errand after the dungeon, and right now, he wanted to research the boss for the one they were in.

They hadn’t planned on killing the boss yet; instead, they were farming the dungeon and waiting for everyone to decide what skill they wanted to choose for level twenty-five.

The kemonomimi boss had four possible skills listed. The book recorded that the boss only had three skills, but Sam had handwritten a report of a fourth one in his book. The fact that the dwarf was letting him use his personal books meant something; someday, he would have to give the dwarf something in return.

That thought reminded him of what was buried deep in one of the backpacks.

That book… but how would Sam handle that book…

Putting the thought aside, Max read over the list of skills over again.

The boss was believed to have a martial art style of fighting, with a power kick or slash as well as one or two other skills. Each one was listed as delivering a blow that was twice its normal strength. It also had a skill that was rarer but more dangerous. The skill listed was Flurry, and gave the boss six attacks over two seconds. The two rarest skills that were highly unlikely to be present were Ten Punch and Beastial Fury. Both were recorded as having been used by leveled-up versions of the boss centuries ago. The Ten Punch was a single move that sent ten attacks at once, all spread out a little bit from each other. Bestial Fury’s description stated the boss attacked twice as fast and hit harder. It sounded to Max like Berserker but without mentioning the boss losing all control or attacking wildly.

Putting the book back in storage, Max took a moment and dug out the book he had gotten from Serhmy. Looking at the language that made no sense to him, he knew Sam would be his best chance at figuring it out.

“You seem more focused,” Fowl stated as he cut off a pair of ears from a corpse. “Like maybe losing an eye was a good thing.”

Max shook his head, trying not to laugh, but couldn’t help from grinning. “Perhaps you should lose one, and we could pretend to be twins.”

“I would offer to do so, but we both know three eyes are better than two.”

“Would you two shut your talking and just finish up!” Tanila shouted, tired of the constant back-and-forth Fowl and Max had been doing for the last two hours.

“Let them be. It’s how they work this all out,” Batrire said, waving the elf off.

“Men…” Tanila replied, growling as she spoke.

They cleared the dungeon to the boss portal again, shaving almost an hour off their run yesterday. Tanila and Batrire hung back, watching Max and Fowl act like two teen boys, working through the harsh words they had yelled at each other the day before.

“What is it about men, and how that works? They beat the snot out of each other, blew up, and then it's like nothing happened the next day. With women…” Tanila glanced at Batrire, who was smiling at her, waiting for her to finish. “Well, you know.”

She nodded, not saying a word. Both of them knew. Sometimes, a lifetime was spent making another person suffer if they felt the offender deserved it.

“Gods, Seth,” Sam whispered as he glanced inside the book Max had given him. “Do you have any idea what this is?!”

Nodding, Max didn’t bother looking around. He could tell that no one was around them who might hear or see the book he had given Sam. “I do have an idea. I almost died because of the elf that had it.”

A frown formed on Sam’s face. “Damn zealots,” he muttered under his breath. “Well, since I have the book and you’re standing there, I can imagine how that played out.”

“But can you read it?”

Shaking his head from side to side, Sam had a partial frown as he looked at a few pages. “Some… I can read some words, but it would be painstakingly slow. I could maybe ask… Wait. Why did you give this to me?”

“I don’t want it, and I feel I owe you something for the books you’ve been sharing with me. I know they are your books and not the stores. The notes have been extremely helpful.”

Sam smiled and tapped the book against his palm. “I won’t lie… one of these is extremely rare. Most who carry one are not to be trifled with. The fact that you have it says the same thing about you. Are you sure you don’t want to sell it? I would gladly pay.”

Stolen ; please report.

Waving a hand, Max smiled and shook his head no. “Just one friend gifting another.”

Sam’s white beard rose as a smile appeared. He extended his hand and chuckled as they shook. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a friend who didn’t piss me off every day. Let’s see how long you can keep up the streak.”

“Well, I’ll add one more day to whatever the count is then. I need to run. I got a friend to help out. Until next time.”

Max gave a slight bow, adding a hand gesture and trying to be fancy as Sam laughed and shooed him away.

After Max had disappeared from view, Sam opened the book again, running his finger along the lines of text. He shivered, even though the warehouse was kept at the perfect temperature. The line he read chilled him to the bone.

“Until the land is cleansed, every man and dwarf must be killed.”

Shaking his head, Sam stored the book in his secret dimensional storage with all the other books he didn’t want anyone to find.

“Damn zealots,” he muttered again before moving toward the store's entrance.

“Where’s Aimee?” Max asked Mr. Wright, who was apparently waiting for him.

“Dealing with some friend troubles. She told me to tell you she was sorry she couldn’t make it today.”

Hearing the tone in which Mr. Wright spoke, Max understood enough to know there was no chance she would show up today.

“Well, would you like to take her place? One more level, and we can get you that skill up.”

Glancing around the shop and seeing things under control, the [Baker] grinned as he took his apron off and started to fold it. “I’d be a fool not to.”

“I’m serious, Seth. Anything you ask that I can do, just tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”

“You’re doing it. I can see how you love your daughter and your employees. Keep on taking care of her. That’s all I’ll ask for.”

The older man nodded and held out his hand. Max shook it, smiling as he saw Mr. Wright bouncing excitedly.

“Well then, consider it done. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go level my skill!” His voice was as high as Max had ever heard it.

Waving as the [Baker] took off at a brisk pace, Max couldn’t help how his smile grew. Things couldn’t be any better.

Just as that thought finished, Max froze. He could feel the people in the adventurer's hall moving around him. It was still weird how he could sense them, their weapons, and even some of their facial expressions and bodily features. Slowly, it was getting better, almost like he saw them with his eye and not just knowing they were there.

Max knew exactly who approached him quickly from behind, faster than most, when they were two yards away.

“Adventurer Seth, can I ask for an autograph?”

Turning slowly, Max saw Caleb putting on the best smile he could as three other adventurers came up behind him quickly.

“Oh… your eye,” Caleb said, cringing at the sight of it. “Are you ok?”

Max nodded, taking his helm off and storing it in his storage. “Dangers of adventuring. Perhaps one day, I can get it fixed. Now you asked for an autograph?”

Caleb nodded, motioning with his eyes to the men behind him. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

Nodding slowly, Max looked and pointed at a counter where some paper and pens were nearby. “Let me grab a piece of paper quickly, and I’ll give you one.”

As Max strode to the counter, he heard Caleb tell the men who must be in his team to give him just one more minute as he wanted this. He could sense Caleb coming after him.

Max grabbed a piece of paper and pen at the counter, leaning over and preparing to write.

“What is wrong?” he asked, not letting his face show concern.

Caleb smiled, acting like everything was ok. “One of the men who helped our group is missing. The others in my group are worried and sent word to someone. I’m not sure, but they seem overly anxious. The way you stormed out that day… he never returned. Should I ask?”

Laughing, Max waved his hand as if telling Caleb something, and then Caleb joined in for a second, realizing what the charade was.

“No. A man named James is dead because he followed and attacked me. What do I need to do?” Max asked as he started writing on the paper.

“Run? I don’t know. It may take a week, but I’m sure someone will come at some point. I just hope it's not Trina… she’s the one that knocked you out.”

The pen froze. Max couldn’t help it, but that memory flashed through his head.

Picking up the paper, he sighed, tore it up, grabbed another one, and started writing again.

“They're coming closer. You need to get back to them. If we are friends, Caleb, don’t try to find me again. They won’t care who they hurt to get to me.”

“Why, though? What’s so special–”

“Here you go,” Max said, interrupting Caleb as the men got close enough to hear them. “I hope it somehow helps make you a better adventurer.”

Taking the paper, Caleb smiled and gave a slight bow. “Thank you again!”

Max had walked away as casually as he could. He felt the men’s eyes on him for a moment, but then they focused on Caleb, who seemed ready to start the dungeon they had planned to go hunting in.

Once outside the building, he kept the same pace, going over the south bridge, taking his time, and buying snacks while constantly scanning behind him. He didn’t spot anyone as he spent an hour making twists and turns, going into shops, and trying to be inconspicuous.

When he decided no one was following him, he increased his pace, heading to his room.

Max realized he was panting. He was scared. The memory of the woman, Trina, who had knocked him out with a single punch, flashed through his mind again.

Caleb had seemed afraid of her and Max did not consider him weak. That scared Max even more.

“I understand. Do what you need to do, Seth. Just know you’ll always have a place here.”

Max watched as Big D walked away. He could see and hear the man was concerned. Tomorrow, he would have to tell his party the news, and they would decide what to do. If everything was still on pace, Bardunac should have the elixir done by tomorrow. That would allow them to determine if it was time to leave for the capital.

Heading back to his room, Max felt the life he had built starting to crumble again.

One random thing. One string of fate pulled Caleb to him and had endangered everything he thought he had built up.