Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 440: No Carrot, Just the Stick

“Lower them. We saw that it didn’t affect him.”

All around the room, dozens of firearms were lowered slightly, and the remains of two automatons that had tried to attack him still sparked, crushed under just the single strike of his fist.

“Good, now then, let me tell you what you need to relay to someone.”

***

The apprehension in the room could be felt, and Fipple was shifting nervously next to Max as he leaned against the wall, watching the council members who had arrived. Only two dwarfs, two goblins, and one gnome represented all three races.

He got his first look at one of the three world champions, surprised that the goblin he was facing was barely seven feet tall, but every bit of him screamed death.

That aura… he’s intentionally doing that.

Which means he has most likely passed a specific level in the tower. Dagon said we were closing in on it but seemed to enjoy not giving a specific number.

Two black eyes never left him since the red-skinned goblin entered the room. Earrings, nose rings, and nipple rings were on display as a simple toga-like outfit covered his muscular body.

Part of me wonders what all they can pierce… for magical items, that is.

Are you thinking about changing races?

Gods no… still it makes me wonder how items work between different worlds and races. If we brought earrings here, could they use them on other parts of their bodies? Is armor limited?

Standing there and completely relaxed, he considered that idea until the second gnome council member arrived and everyone turned their attention to him.

One of the dwarves motioned at them, and Fipple cleared his throat.

“They’re ready for you,” he whispered.

“Are they not going to talk with me?”

Wincing, the dwarf shook his head.

“Not until you prove your worth. In many ways, you’re dead to them already. The fact that Troogmado is here most likely means there is another world champion outside. If you fail to impress them… well, just let me escape before that happens, okay?”

Smiling, Max nodded and summoned his dimensional vault, keeping the door closed when he did so.

“Inside here, I have a few guests. One is a gnome which helped me uncover a plot to cause conflict on this world. Know that Niziver Flukepitch is under my protection.”

The council members glanced at each other, eyes narrowing he said that last name.

“I’ll also be taking out Raszu Demlabick who–”

“You have captured a council member?!” one of the gnomes who was wearing a green suit, shouted as they jumped from their seat.”Do you–”

“He tried to build a zero gravity bomb.”

Max’s words cut the gnome off. The man stood there, eyes wide and mouth wide open.

“You have made accusations, but where is this proof?”

Max looked at the pair of goblin council members. Both women wore multi-colored outfits, almost making his eyes hurt as the yellows, greens, oranges, and purples clashed.

“The bomb is inside here, but do not worry it is can’t do anything inside my dimensional area.”

“You have a dimensional space? Interesting… and you’re only a world champion?” the shorter of the two goblins asked.

“That is correct.”

Her black eyes narrowed, and he could feel almost a tingling sensation against his skin.

She is using a skill… I’m not sure what, but I can sense it.

With no other questions coming, Max willed the door open and gasps came as Niziver stood near it, a lightstone in his hand.

“I was wondering how things were going,” the gnome said as he grinned. “I think I’m way outside of my element in this crowd.”

“It is a Flukepitch!”

Motioning for the gnome to come, Max’s newest ally passed through the invisible barrier and bowed at the gathered leadership.

“What is the meaning of this?!” demanded the gnome in the green suit.

“Forgive me, Councilman Longinus. This man has uncovered a plot by those in my family to create a black hole bomb and use it to cause strife between the other races.”

Niziver’s words silenced the room completely and for the first time since the goblin champion had entered this space, those black eyes were now locked on the gnome next to him.

“They what?!” roared one of the dwarves asked as both rose to their feet. “How–”

Max clapped his hands and imbued a little air control with it, creating a louder-than-normal sound.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“Don’t. I’ll answer the questions, but we won’t get anywhere if each of you starts shouting and talking over each other. For now, sit down, and I’ll go over the specifics of what I have witnessed. After that, you can ask any other questions.”

Grumbles and snorts came from both dwarves, but the older goblin woman tapped her wooden staff several times.

“Sit… he’s young but wise. Perhaps smarter than us if he’s uncovered such a truth.”

Giving a slight nod of his head, Max took a deep breath.

***

All six council members were seated again, each holding a drink that the automaton servants had brought by.

It appears seeing a bomb of that size really drove home the point.

Part of me wishes we could stay here and watch the trial of the Raszu and the punishment, but we’ve been here long enough. This side quest is taking precious time from what we need to accomplish and you know it.

“I have one last question,” Oleen, the older of the two goblins, said as she set down her cup. “You believe you can disassemble that bomb?”

Smiling, Max nodded.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“As I already mentioned, I won’t hand this over to anyone. The potential destruction of it is too great. Even if I couldn’t, my storage space is the safest place for everyone here as well on other worlds. If I die, this space will vanish, and no one will ever retrieve it.”

“Not necessarily,” Councilman Longinus muttered.

“I’m sorry, what?”

He waved a hand at Max and shook his head.

“There is a theory out there that all dimensional spaces are potentially connected, though some deny that it is true. Rumors had once said that travel was possible between them, and some have speculated that if that was possible, then others might have a way to access someone's vault like yours. Again, it’s all highly theoretical, and none of the attempts anyone in this room would admit to attempting has ever succeeded.”

A few grunts came, and the rare smile on the others appeared at that statement.

“Still, would you agree that even if I can’t disassemble it, there is no better place?”

The dwarf nodded slowly.

Oleens tapped her staff and then grabbed a metal necklace with a green gem on it.

All the other members present then did the same, the dwarf touching a broach he had seen but ignored while the gnomes pulled an object from their pockets.

They’re communicating. You can see it in their eyes.

Max noticed that Bob was right, watching as slight nods or head shakes came, eyes shifting from one member to the next.

As one they all let out a long breath and Oleens stood.

“We have come to agree you shall keep that terrible weapon for many reasons, and we hope you can successfully disassemble it. None of our people would be willing to try as one mistake would set that off and… well, you can imagine the destruction that would follow. As for the Flukepitchs, you have a claim on Nimyn, but as we said before, we need her mother to stand trial. The people will demand blood.”

“I’m fine with that. I appreciate your wisdom and understanding that I felt I had no choice but to act the way I did.”

She laughed, and Max saw a twinkle in her black eyes.

“Youth rushes in but often does not understand the danger of doing so. You, Max, are young but understand those dangers. While we would have preferred this to have worked out differently, each of us knows that Raszu would not have been caught, and there is no telling what else he has planned. Fear not. We’ll make him suffer as we learn about them. Our world owes you a great debt. Return in the coming months, and we’ll have some items that might aid your growth. In the meantime, we might be open to Niziver finding a position on the council after a decade or so. His honor for all the people will carry many to look past his name and his age.”

“I appreciate you doing this for him.”

She bowed and tapped her staff, causing the large red goblin to look at her.

“Retrieve the prisoners, and be nice. You can stop holding in your breath.”

Laughter came from the other goblin woman as the champion shrank slightly, grinning as he did so.

I think he was afraid of us…

They all were. Now, let’s head home. We’ll need to take care of a few things.

***

Rakonath growled as his silver eyes peered into the dimensional space, seeing the gnome tied up near the sphere encasing his core.

“I wish you would let me eat her… slowly…”

“After I’m done, you can have her body,” Max said, gently scratching the scales. “For now, I’ll need you to give me some time to do what I must.”

“He has been anxious since you left,” Aerthen stated. “The loss has been painful, but thankfully, you have returned quickly. Already, I can see his scales losing the luster they once had.”

Max also realized that was what he had thought, believing it was perhaps the light in the room.

“So that was why your scales looked like they did when I came after you had used up yours.”

Clearing her throat, the older dragon nodded.

“We don’t talk about those things, but yes. Some consider it an insult to say one's scales are dull.”

Tanila squeezed his hand and pulled him towards her.

“You’re going to be okay, right?”

“We’ve talked about this. Inside there is the safest space to do what I must. Anywhere else, I risk damaging the world and the lives around it. Besides, we both know I’ll be fine.”

A huff came from Fowl who was sitting at the table a dozen yards away.

“Just tell her you love her and will return soon. That’s what she’s worried about.”

The sound of a metal cup clanging on the stone floor made everyone look at Batrire, her mouth hanging open.

“You okay, dear?”

“I… I am… it’s just… when did you learn what a woman wants?”

His middle finger came up, and everyone laughed as Max embraced Tanila and kissed her.

“Fowl’s right. I’ll be soon. Nothing will ever keep me from you. Or our child.”

She nodded and, after one last embrace, let him go.

“Don’t worry either,” Max said as he scratched the scales on Rakonath’s jaw. “I made a promise, and I’ll get that back for you.”

A low thrum came from his dragon as Max moved into the dimensional area and willed the door to close, pulling out a few more light stones so his prisoner could see what was coming.

Moving to where she was, he set them down on the table he had retrieved from the bottom of the hidden floor. Tools of all kinds were on it and a few extra had been given by one of the council members who said he might need them. Some made sense but most were incomprehensible.

The notifications from his first kill on the world were still waiting, yet he didn’t care about them. Instead, he focused on the gnome tied up, mouth gagged, and eyes wider than her broken fists.

“It’s time… time to learn the truth.”

He bent down, undid the gag and removed it.

She stretched her jaw, but Nimyn didn’t say a word, eyes still defiant as she glared at him.

“You going to undo that? In here it doesn’t matter if it goes off and as you might have guessed, I can live through it.”

“Go hump a–”

His hand backhanded her, and both lips split.

“Don’t. Trust me, this won’t play out the way you want.”

Nimyn started to laugh, leaning against the corner she was stuck in, still tied up.

“You don’t have any power… even here… I’m the only one with the knowledge you need to dismantle that, and I’ll never do that. I’d rather die instead.”

Max stood and laughed.

His voice echoed through the hall and this time he let himself go.

Lifting his head, his whole chest and body shook as the most humorous joke known only to him and Bob played out in his head.

Finally, after almost a minute, he wiped the tears in his eyes, grinning like a fool.

“You don’t get it… there’s no way you could, but I will let you in on a secret.”

Bending down, he could sense her shift back just slightly, blue eyes staring at him as if she didn’t understand what had just happened.

“You’re going to dismantle that but you don’t realize why.”

“I told you–”

His hand grabbed her throat, stopping the words she had planned to say.

With care, he lifted her till she was on her feet, their eyes almost at the same level as his fingers slowly flexed against her skin.

“No… I told you. You see Nimyn… I have a black skill. A skill called Consume.”

Both of her eyes went wide, and she started to try and shift on her feet, attempting to pull free from the vice that held her neck.

His smile grew as he drew her closer.

“You see… when I kill you… I’m going to get every skill you possess… had you only done what I asked and not played me for some fool or weakling, you could be alive, rich and doing whatever the hell you wanted back on your own planet… Instead…”

He lifted her upward, his other hand grasping the rope as he carried her toward the stone table with the bomb on it.

“Now you’re going to be just a tool for me and food for my dragon.”

Laughing once more, Max sighed.

“Goodbye Nimyn. If only you knew how much I’m looking forward to this next part.”

Her eyes trembled, tears running down her cheeks and over his fingers.

Yet he didn’t care. For the first time in so long, he wanted this kill in a way that felt so primal it scared him.

Do it.

Max’s fingers barely moved, but the bone in her neck still snapped like a dry twig.

A moan escaped his mouth as the cold rush came once more.

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