Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 307

[ Milestone Upgrade Still Pending ]

Trying not to sigh, Max waited anxiously in the chair of the dining room.

He could tell Kauakan was anxious at well, but it was a different vibe he detected.

The insect had barely eaten the plate of raw meat before him, usually having consumed it within a minute.

“Nervous?”

Tapping the bladed claw against the metal plated, Kauakan bobbed his head.

“If Jazzjak is correct, the dynamics are going to change in our group. She may treat me as I had treated her.”

“Like a red-headed stepchild?”

“I’m not certain what that means, but based on our conversation I would most likely say yes. While you protected her from me, I do not have that same agreement, and as such she can act without fear. I would—”

“Don’t worry about that,” Max stated, pushing his plate of fruit and vegetables away. “I won’t allow it.”

Bowing low, Kauakan made a sound Max knew was a sigh and then dug into the food, apparently no longer concerned for his impending doom.

As they waited, time passed, and finally the metal door to the room swung open, and both men jumped to their feet.

Max saw Aimee with his eyes, but what he felt from his Sonar was an aura that radiated from around her.

Even Jazzjak moved differently, staying behind her, not leaving his back to the improved lizard.

“Aimee!”

He moved toward her, and she held up her hand and shook her head.

“Please don’t. I am still sore and not recovered yet. I need a few more days.”

Her tone had changed, and Max wondered if she had changed.

Gone was a gaze he once saw when they were alone. Now it was an expression of stone. Almost none of her usual facial muscles moved or twitched. Even her nostrils were steady.

“I understand. How was it? Did you get everything you hoped for?”

The faintest crack came in her facade as she nodded, lips that almost formed a smile before they returned to her new look.

“I did. Thank you for that. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you have done.”

Motioning toward one of the chairs, Max moved to pull it out.

“Please don’t. I can’t stay. Jazzjak will tell you more, but I wanted to tell you thank you in person. But now… I must go. All my life I have dreamed of what I have now, and if I stay by your side, I may never be able to acquire what I truly desire.”

Pain like a knife stuck into his gut for a moment, and Max turned, nodding as he tried to read the one he had called a friend now leaving as if they were nothing more than passing acquaintances.

“You’re certain?”

“It is our way. With power comes opportunities, and I have waited my whole life for this moment.”

She moved toward him, her gait different, confident, strong, and steady.

Bowing just a few inches, her eyes never left him.

She is a predator now. For the first time in her eyes she sees you as they all do. Someone that can kill her in a moment and take away everything she holds dear.

And yet I would never do that.

Max, you can say that all you want to them, but inside, each of them is feral to a degree. Does a person in your world hope to find an injured wolf and nurse it back to health, expecting it to no longer be a wolf? No, they know it will always be a wolf. It will always have desires, and if they ever give it the chance to act like one and are weak before it, the wolf will strike.

Bending his neck just a tad, Max returned the gesture.

“Thank you for guiding me here, Aimee. I wish you the best.”

“You are welcome, but please, from now on call me Kouarta.”

He felt in the translation what her new name meant and was barely able to keep from frowning.

The destroyer of weakness.

She glanced at Kauakan, who hadn’t moved from behind the table. Smirking, she turned and strode from the room, walking past Jazzjak, who shut the door behind her.

“Did you know?”

“About what she just did? No, but I guess I expected it,” the vorpal rabbit replied as he moved to an empty chair at the small wooden table. “She is a hunter. She always has been but never had the tools or power to hunt. I fear for those who she finds victims.”

“And you can’t tell me what ability or skills she has now?”

Hopping onto the chair and letting his feet dangle above the ground, Jazzjak shook his head.

“I took an oath. Just like I will keep mine with you and Kauakan, I will not break it.”

Frustration and pain overtook the joy he had been feeling for a bit.

Gone was the excitement and anticipation he had been looking forward to upon reconnecting with Aimee, or Kouarta.

“This is the way it is,” Kauakan stated as he sat back down before his empty plate. “I left those I knew in my ring just as she did now. There is no turning back. Her path is one that will end in death of others or herself.”

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Pounding his fist on the table, Max winced when it cracked the solid wooden piece almost in half.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have done that.”

Chuckling, Jazzjak shook his head and shrugged.

“No one would think you have done anything wrong. Channel that anger and pain. Use it in the next fight.”

With his plans to spend time with Aimee gone, Max grunted and pulled his chair out, dropping into it.

“Tell them I’m ready.”

“Are you sure?”

Nodding, Max ran his finger along the crack he had just made, feeling the wood. If he wanted he could mend it, but he chose not to.

There are still some secrets I must keep. Especially if others are this quick to abandon me so fast.

“I am. There is no point waiting. I need to unleash what is inside.”

***

“You’ve been quiet. Why?”

Kauakan didn’t look away from the window in their box, watching the crowd that continued to stream into the arena.

Max saw the same thing. Every seat was full this time, and there were others packed in along the walls, some sitting on laps of others. There were new people near him, and others that had been in the same seats each fight were gone. He could even see children with what Max assumed were the parents, all pointing at the arena and looking excited.

It’s like they are about to go to the zoo or see some magic show…

Except instead they have come to watch someone die.

“This is the greatest fight of your life. Everything you have prepared for, everything I have dreamed of will either happen or fail in a few minutes. Standing here, watching all of this, I’m not afraid like I thought I might be.”

Kauakan turned and bowed before Max.

“May you consume the enemy they place before you, and I pray to my god that you will be able to grow strong enough to return home.”

“I won’t lose,” Max stated as his last companion returned upright.

“There is no doubt about that. That is why I am not afraid.”

Both of them chuckled and focused on the crowd before them.

He is right. Do you still wish to fight, or shall I take over?

No… this is on me. I need to win this.

***

“Some have lost everything, while others have risen to new heights! While you might not like him, Ifrit has torched generational wealth and ignited desires within many of your loins!”

Groaning as the announcer continued what felt like a five-minute introduction, Max focused on the arena floor. His opponent would be announced once he was at the bottom.

“Two more lines, and then you can start walking.”

Max nodded at the tigerkin who stood with their hand out, glancing at a metal tablet that displayed a language he couldn’t read.

“So put your claws, paws, and whatever else you have together and cheer for our newest rising CHAMPIOOONNNN!”

A large pause came as the crowd started to roar, chanting his name.

“IIIIIIIIIFRRRIIIIIIIIIIT!”

The tigerkin motioned with their claw, and Max started down the steps, leaving the small box, and as he exited the stone tunnel to the first one, the crowd’s cheers and shouting hit him like a gust of wind.

Part of him hurt to see the rabid excitement in the eyes of everyone next to his long path of stairs. What was even worse was the younger beastkin and insects who seemed more excited than most of the adults.

Steel yourself. Use that pain. Use the anger. Do not allow yourself to be distracted. Fowl, Batrire, Cordellia, and Tanila are waiting on you. This is what you must do to return to them.

Max felt his face change. It mimicked the one he had seen on Aimee’s face. Knowing she had changed, it hurt even more, and his face became harder, a snarl almost appearing as his lip curled slightly.

As his face showed up like that on the floating crystal, the volume of the arena became louder.

***

The shield was set around the arena, and Max didn’t pay any heed to it.

Instead, every bit of his attention was focused on the woman before him.

So many times the idea of killing a woman had been foreign. It wasn’t easy. His mother had raised him a certain way, and now it didn’t matter who or what they were.

All that mattered was they wanted him dead, and he wouldn’t hesitate to stop them.

She was a lionkin, and yet Max could tell from the pressure that came from her that she overshadowed the pair of males he had faced two days ago.

Red chain armor covered her body, yet he could see how thick she was, with legs with large quads and bulging biceps and forearms.

A circlet of green metal sat on her head, looking natural upon the burnt orange color of her fur.

“Sheemena, are you ready?!”

The roar she let out sent waves of pressure, and Max almost smiled, wondering if she had used a form of intimidation as he felt the dredges of something trying to affect him.

Banging her red sword and red shield together twice, she lifted them high and roared once more.

“Ifrit, are you ready?!”

Waving his staff in the air, not releasing fireworks or anything else, Max never moved from his slightly bent position.

“Let the drums of battle sound!”

The moment they rang out, Max summoned his fire familiar, listening to the roar of the crowds, and he could feel pressure coming from the box where Igarra was sitting.

No longer did the curtain that was usually there hang.

Today she was on full display, sitting alone on a white stone throne, her gold scales shimmering in the light.

When Max didn’t do anything else, the crowd let out a groan, obviously hoping for another show.

Even the yellow eyes of his opponent had widened slightly, as if she were unsure of what might come next.

Bob… thanks.

We do not have time for this. Focus.

Seconds ticked by as both fighters waited on the bells to sound.

I know. Still. I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you thank you for helping me.

If you want to thank me then let me have control; otherwise, stop this prattling.

Unable to help himself, Max laughed out loud, his body shaking and his smile growing.

The crowd’s cheering increased as they could only wonder at what was going to take place next.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

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