Chapter 306
“Stand here,” Max said as he pointed to the spot his elemental had been at. “I’m going to pretend to be tired. Don’t worry, if someone makes it past you, I’ll be fine.”
Taking a step and turning, the demon grunted.
“None shall pass.”
Time stayed frozen as Max waited, wondering why they were still waiting.
“Tell me, what is your name?”
A grunt came, and Max saw the demon shake its head.
“You should make that part of the bargain next time. Now it is too late. But fear not, I know who you are. None shall know my secret, and when I return to my home, I shall count the seconds until you summon me again.”
The rainbowed glass shattered, and the world returned to normal.
“WHAT IN THE—”
Four bells rang, and the sound of the announcer was cut off.
Max dropped to one knee, clutching his staff, holding on to it like he couldn’t stand at all.
His actions didn’t seem to matter because the seven opponents who were prepared to charge, froze at the sight of the demon before them.
Unlike the seven, the demon didn’t hesitate.
Max couldn’t believe how fast it moved, its black swords cutting down two in a heartbeat, each step it took bringing it to the next. As it moved away from him, he noticed the wings on the demon's back, folded, another secret for another day.
Four were down before the first reacted, and as the vorpal bunny vanished, a sword cut through the air, chunks of flesh suddenly appearing a few yards away, two ears flopping into the sand.
Less than ten seconds.
Max didn’t even really count but knew that was all the time it took for all seven to die.
Even the insect that was closest to him hadn’t moved.
It crossed both bladed arms, trying to stop the black blade that came down upon it, his body flashing a color before the blade hit.
A cry came as both legs snapped, shoved into the stone beneath its feet.
The second sword came, and there were no blades to block them.
It had lowered them, or perhaps they had fallen on their own.
A crunch came, purple blood splattering everywhere as the sword squished a bug beneath it.
“Go,” Max whispered, sensing already the presence coming.
Without delay the portal opened up behind the demon, and it jumped backward into it, eyes locked upon a presence that was speeding toward it.
The sound of metal on metal was deafening, almost as if Max had put his ear next to the anvil and someone hit it with a hammer.
Igarra was there, a giant axe colliding with both swords that were raised in a block, knocking the fleeing demon into the portal, laughter coming as it began to close.
A flood of notifications were waiting, and his body was alive.
Suddenly his body gave out for a second, and he had to grab on to the staff and really hold himself in place, his muscles feeling like they had just broken for a moment.
As soon as it had happened it was gone, and his body tingled with power.
It took everything Max had to not dance for joy and check out each of them, but the moment his demon was gone, Igarra was before him, axe leveled at his face.
“WHAT WAS THAT?!”
“A demon. I—”
“I KNOW IT WAS A DEMON! HOW?!”
Pretending to still be recovering, Max used the staff and stood, his eyes never leaving the axe before him and knowing that one wrong move could cost him everything.
“A bargain... I made... I wasn’t sure if I would live or die, but I knew that if I didn’t risk it, death was almost certain here today.”
“It still might be!” Igarra exclaimed.
Her head snapped in every direction, and Max could hear the crowd.
Ifrit! Ifrit! Ifrit!
A low growl came, and the golden lizard who towered above him glared.
“You are lucky... so lucky... we shall talk, and it will not go well for you if I think for a moment you are lying. Do you understand?”
Max nodded and finally stood tall, still leaning slightly against his staff.
“I will answer your questions.”
She snorted, her nostrils flaring for a moment.
Her axe vanished, and Max watched as the barrier that had been surrounding the arena faded away.
The noise of the crowd felt like an assault.
Every part of his body could sense the vibrations of their stomping feet and their voices.
Ifrit! Ifrit! Ifrit!
Igarra snapped her fingers, and the place went quiet.
Max felt his own vocal cords feel tight, yet if he tried, he knew he could still manage to say something, even if it squeaked.
“I hear your cheers!” she shouted, moving to where Max was and grabbing the hand that appeared to be not using the staff as much, yanking him upright.
He feigned a little bit of weakness, moving the staff quickly, and let himself be lifted up, almost to his tiptoes.
“Ifrit told me he had made a pact and took a gamble, risking his life with that demon! As you saw it was stronger than even our winner today and seemed content to secure victory for him. It is a shame that we shall never see it again.”
Max could hear her tone change at those last six words.
“Now cheer for your champion a few more times! It would appear he needs to get some rest!”
She let go of his hand, and Max pitched forward, selling the part as best he could, believing in that moment he deserved the Acting skill.
The crowd called out his name for what seemed like forever, and finally he was forced to leave, directed by a gold-scaled hand that pointed to where Kauakan waited at the entrance of the tunnel.
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]
[ Skill does not match being’s body type ]
[ Consume is adjusting skill ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]
[ Skill does not match being’s body type ]
[ Consume is adjusting skill ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]
[ Skill does not match being’s body type ]
[ Consume is adjusting skill ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Dual Wield - Rare has been upgraded to Dual Wield - Epic ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Backstab - Uncommon has been upgraded to Backstab - Epic ]
[ Consume has successfully Consumed a skill ]
[ Skill does not match being’s body type ]
[ Consume is adjusting skill ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Skill Consumed is Equal to Rank of Current Skill ]
[ Power stored for future use ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Higher Rank Skill ]
[ Bulwark - Rare has been upgraded to Bulwark - Epic ]
[ 1 Greater Soul Consumed ]
[ 1 Greater Soul Given Away ]
[ 1 Greater Soul Consumed ]
[ 1 Greater Soul Given... ]
A stat milestone?! Holy elf tits! And all those upgrades! No new skills but still. And what is a greater soul?
I have no answer for that right now, but I cannot tell you how much closer I feel to the next step. Like the barrier that holds me back is soon going to burst.
Max wanted to dance, he wanted to shout to the heavens, yet what scared him was the knowledge of what had just happened.
[ Base and Bonus Stat Check ]
*****
Max Hoste
18-Year-old Human Male
Level 1
STR: 507 + 531
DEX: 445 + 476
CON: 469 + 497
INT: 331 + 373
WIS: 314 + 358
*****
Wait a second. Did that insect really have a strength over five hundred?
It did... which means what we are about to face must also hit like you do. The fact the hunter felt cocky and let us keep a few pieces of equipment is what allows us to stay above these opponents.
If we were naked...
We’d die...