Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 455: A Weird Request

Max couldn’t help but grin as Dagon appeared through the door.

“Not even a day… I guess you really do like getting your arse kicked.”

“Actually, I have a favor, and these four are a bit anxious if you can’t tell.”

Motioning to his friends, Max waited until the King stood beside him.

“We talked last night after what you put me through, and we all realized they need to get better as well. It’s not like we haven’t trained before, but as you said, those other fields aren’t like this. If you’re willing, I’d like to borrow some of your elite Guard and have them fight against me and, finally, the five of us against you.”

Dagon’s hand slowly reached up and ran his fingers through his beard.

“That is an interesting opportunity not just for you but also for my warriors. Is there a limit to how often you wish to do this?”

“A day? Maybe two tops? We need to get back to the tower, but I think we both agree that doing this would help us prepare for such a thing.”

Slowly, the King’s head began to bob, and his grin grew as he faced the other four.

“So you’re all on board with this? Knowing you’re going to die and experience pain like never before?”

“Max is right,” Fowl stated. “We need to learn to fight like our lives depend on it, and we can’t hold back. If you’re willing, it would be an honor for all of us to face your Guard and yourself.”

Sniffing once, Dagon pretended to wipe a tear from his eye before winking.

“Remember that when I crush you beneath my hammer, but the honor is mine more than you know, Fowl Hammerfall. Now then, go get prepared, and I’ll summon my guard. You five are in for the beating of a lifetime.”

“And you’re certain that Tanila dying and our child will be safe?” Max asked.

The king nodded.

“Ockrim ensured the first king who was given this room that no one would suffer any consequences, including a pregnant woman. As you know, we dwarves are used to fighting alongside our wives even when they are with a child.”

***

Max grimaced, hearing Dagon make a noise like he had been punched when Tanila’s ice spear tore through the midsection of the guard she had been facing.

“She’s improving,” the King muttered. “If I’m right, she’s the next strongest one. Your archer is tough, especially with that pet and her bow, and Fowl is a different kind of warrior. It’s your healer who is lacking.”

Gazing from behind the crystal window, Max nodded.

“Honestly, if Tanila and I went all out, I’m certain it would be a good fight. We just have never done it.”

He could feel Dagon frown and turn toward him.

“Neither of you has done that because you're afraid of hurting each other. Is it because she carries your child?”

He couldn’t help but blink a few times.

“You know?”

“Boy, I’m old, not ignorant. I can tell what a baby bump looks like. I’ve kept my mouth shut as I won’t even imagine what you must deal with, having both the woman you love and your child in the tower. Still, if you want to keep her safe, help her be the strongest she can be. If that means the two of you need to fight, then do so.” ᚱ𝘈N𝖔ΒÊṧ

“How… how do you hit the one you love?”

Laughter echoed through the room as Dagon pointed a hand toward the combat taking place below.

“Everyone in that room I love like a child. It hurts when I crush one of my warriors beneath my hammer, but I also know it makes them stronger. You mean more to me than any human ever has because I see in you something only rare stories from long ago speak about. A man who cares about everyone and doesn’t see race. You, Max Hoste, see people. I’m guessing your heart has gotten you in more trouble than you would want to admit.”

Nodding slowly, he looked at the fight between Cordellia and a caster, watching the dwarf continually block the attacks from her bow while keeping her wolf at bay. It was a close fight, and if things continued the way they were going, she would probably lose against this dwarf.

“Tell me, do you really love her?”

Dagon’s eyes looked hard when he turned to face the King.

“I mean, you know that I do.”

“No,” the dwarf replied as he shook his head. “No, I don’t. Because if you loved her and were committed to what you say you are, you would go out there and crush her. You wouldn’t hold back. Every ability you threw at me you would throw at her. Maybe not at first, but the fight between you two must be ugly and nasty. Each of you must scrape and claw to win. Neither of you can allow yourself to hold back. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I’m not sure if she can do that… I’m not sure if I can do that…”

He felt the oversized hand on his shoulder and the gentle squeeze from it.

Dagon’s tone was softer, like a father trying to give advice to his son.

“Then you’re not ready to face the tower. Because if you can’t, someone will die… and if she is the one that does…”

The King took a large breath and let it out slowly.

“If she is the one who dies, I’m afraid for everyone else around you.”

He’s right, Max. You need to do this for both of you.

The war of his heart and mind raged, but hearing a King who had lived hundreds of years and had a skill he knew was even older tell him the same thing finally tipped the scales.

Shaking his head, Max frowned but nodded.

“You’re right. I’ll do it.”

No smile came from Dagon, who gave him one more squeeze and nodded.

“Then go show me how much you love her.”

***

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“You’re serious… I mean… you don’t understand what you’re asking from me.”

Max shook his head and held Tanila’s hand, not letting her pull it away. He could see the pain on her face and the fear behind her trembling eyes.

“I am, and I do—Dagon’s right. Every time my spell hits you and you bleed, I will feel it ten times. When I kill you, my heart is going to break, but I know I’m going to have to do it multiple times. Eventually, you must be willing to embrace what is inside you and use the power you don’t want. Because if you don’t and the day comes when we need it and you hesitate, it might make the difference between someone in our party living or dying, maybe even our child.”

Her free hand went to her stomach, and a frown grew upon those perfect lips.

“The power… the way it feels… you know how it grows.”

“I do,” Max replied. “And I also know you’re stronger. Like you were there for me, I’ll be here for you. Face me as Tanila Gilmenor, Elven Princess and owner of a red skill. Do not be afraid to hurt me because, as you’ve seen, death doesn’t matter. All that is important is learning to overcome and grow.”

Tanila made a raspberry sound as she blew the air out of her lungs.

“Gods, sometimes you sound so smart… and you’re certain you want me to do this?”

“I need you to. Just like you, I need to learn not to hold back.”

Her face grew hard as her jaw muscles tightened and she nodded.

“Fine, then prepare yourself for the arse-kicking of a lifetime.”

Max laughed as she winked at him and turned away, moving to the spot she would start on.

Part of me is looking forward to this.

And the other part?

I am not sure how this is going to go down.

***

The horn sounded, and Max dashed in, sensing walls of air appear and dodging them. The moment he moved, his spell came down.

Her new ability allowed her to teleport out of the way of his lightning bolt. A wave of ice was washing out from around her as a Fire Nove started to join it.

She’s improved a lot!

Multiple spells were being cast simultaneously, yet he knew she wasn’t serious because her eyes and hair were not gold.

Do it. Don’t hold back. Show her the way.

Clenching his jaw, Max nodded and allowed Bob to unleash every spell they had.

Sand and stone dropped from his inventory, turning into daggers and flying after the woman he loved.

Her face changed, and as the first spell of his to land cut her, he could see that she wasn’t going to play anymore.

Her hair and eyes quickly changed, and the gold glow started to radiate from her.

Yet Max didn’t let up, knowing she should have started like that and not waited to use it.

He closed the distance again, trying to catch her as she blinked in and out of space all around him.

Each time, his sonar told him where she was, and the problem wasn’t finding her. It was actually reaching her.

I’ve got this but you need to–

[ Blink ]

When the spell he had been sensing dropped its load, ice fell from the roof of the room, over half of it covered in a cloud that continued to spread out. Each one was only the size of his hand and as thick as a piece of hay, but hundreds of thousands of them fell in a torrential downpour.

[ Demonic Teleportation ]

Almost a hundred of them were impaled in his upper body as he barely made it to the edge of the storm. Slowly, his body pushed them out as Regeneration did its thing, but he could feel the power of her magic grow.

You need to get close and end this. We both know there are ways to minimize or avoid this spell, but the goal is to make both of you stop holding back.

Max sighed as he moved along the floor, watching the spell continue to reduce the safety of the area he was in.

Strike her down. Do it because she needs to see what an opponent who wants her dead would do. If you need to, pretend it’s her sister, mother, or father.

Immediately, he changed his direction and ran toward the woman he loved, shield held above him and his sword out by his side.

[ Berserker ]

[ Ultimate Form ]

[ Harden Skin ]

[ Bulwark ]

[ Armored Warrior ]

[ Evasion ]

[ Rampage ]

[ Power Strike ]

[ Magical Strike ]

Time slowed as he came at her, his shield sending cascades of ice shards everywhere.

He could see the change in her face, the tightening of her jaw as she once again used her new ability to change positions.

Bob was prepared, immediately casting his root ability and ice prison simultaneously.

Tanila had the same idea, using an ice prison on him, but his step never slowed as he changed direction. The woman he loved was now unable to move as both spells started to hold her in place.

Elemental walls appeared before him, and Max simply plowed through them, each one shattering under his charge. As the last few steps came, his sword swung downward and across.

The slightest frown began to form as his blade cut her in half.

Immediately, the storm began to vanish, and Max stopped on a gold coin, storing his weapon and shield. He caught the woman he loved as her eyes dimmed for a moment.

Seconds ticked away as ice daggers bounced off his oversized body and hardened skin. Yet, in his arms, he carefully held the woman he loved.

Finally, she spoke.

“Gods that sucked.”

The most enormous sigh he could ever remember letting out came right before he kissed her forehead.

“Yes, it did.”

Her golden eyes looked up at him, and he saw a fire growing in them.

“You need to let me go.”

“What? Why?”

“Because if you don’t get off of me and let me stand up, I’m not going to be able to kick your arse this next time.”

Max couldn’t help but laugh as he stood, his body still dwarfing her as his Ultimate Form was active.

“Sure you will. I’d offer to wager on it, but I can see you won’t hold back this next time.”

Tanila shook her head and wiped off her robe.

“No, this time I’m not.”

‎