Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 310

“Are you sure you want another serving?”

Nodding as he chewed, Max grabbed the cup that had just been filled by one of the moth attendants, lifting it to his lips and preparing to gulp it down.

“That’s your fifth serving,” Kauakan stated as he motioned at the pile of growing plates. “How can you eat all that?”

“Mhm hungry…”

Jazzjak said something to the servant who was standing by, and they ran off quickly, headed toward the kitchen once more.

“You look… different. Did your robe shrink?”

Coughing as he guzzled the fruity liquid, Max wiped his mouth and shrugged.

“I’ll need a new one for sure. And I owe an apology to the mess they’re going to find in my room.”

Both of his patrons glanced at each other, and the vorpal rabbit said something that sent one of the last attendants standing idly in the room on a trip up the stairs.

“Accidents happen.”

Max grinned at Jazzjak and shook his head.

“Not like that.”

***

Having just jumped off the carriage that had taken the three of them to the inner-city gate, Max found himself staring at the sight before him.

Guards of every race stood at attention, and each of them gave off an aura similar to the fighters he had faced in this ring of the city. Plate, chain, and leather armor was on full display, and a few even wore robes.

“Is there a reason why they are all wearing gold colored armor?”

“It’s a symbol of Igarra. Every citizen of Quan Ma knows that if they speak, you act immediately or you will die.”

A few of the guards who were close enough to hear Jazzjak chuckled, and yet Max could sense the hesitation from all of them to come toward him.

“This is where I will say goodbye,” Kauakan declared as he gave a deep bow. “My life is yours. If ever I can repay it, know that I shall do anything I can.”

Max nodded and held out a hand, getting a cocked head as a response before the insect stuck out his hooked blade, and Max grabbed it, shaking it a few times.

“Tell my wife I shall return soon, and make sure she reads that letter,” Jazzjak said as he gave a single head bob in Kauakan’s direction. “If I don’t return in a month, there is a house set aside for you in the previous ring. Everything we agreed upon is there.”

“I am grateful for you keeping your word.”

Without waiting, the insect moved back to the carriage and jumped in, banging his blade on the side of the cart, and started to ride away.

“No real goodbyes…” Max muttered before snorting.

“Do your people do that?”

“Sometimes they can last for hours… I guess in some ways it’s better this way. Now then, are you ready?”

Rubbing his furry paws together, Jazzjak grinned, his sharp fangs appearing as his fur pulled upward.

“My whole life I couldn’t imagine this ever coming true. Now I can’t wait at all.”

Taking a few steps forward, Max moved before a lionkin who appeared to be in charge.

His long red mane looked well brushed and cared for, and the yellow eyes had never left Max the entire time they had been there.

A pair of large swords sat crossed upon his back, and the plate armor had three marks on it.

“We’re here to enter the inner city.”

“I was wondering when you might come,” the guard replied. His deep voice possessed an almost regal tone to it. “Will you need a guide?”

Max glanced at Jazzjak, who nodded.

“That would be helpful.”

“Very well. I am Evanlaka and shall escort you into the inner city. Know that when we are there, fighting is not permitted outside of the arena. Any creature or species who breaks this rule will find themselves facing Igarra herself, and none have lived to make that mistake twice.”

The lionkin turned and roared.

Every guard moved and parted as one of the gold forty-foot tall gates began to open slightly.

Max studied the wall. Up close, he could see there was a forty-yard boundary of no houses or buildings near it, and it was easily eighty or ninety feet tall. Stones the size of a house were stacked upon each other, fitted with no gaps.

“Follow me.”

***

As they approached the end of the space under the wall a shimmering surface was ahead, a blurred city appeared to be behind it.

“Before us is the protective barrier that keeps all of those who might harm our people out. Once inside, you may not leave without a special band being given to you.”

“You mean we are trapped?” Max asked.

Evanlaka stopped and turned enough so he could glance over his shoulder at Max and Jazzjak.

“Trapped is not a word I would use, but I guess you might see it that way. Everyone in our world desires to enter here. That vorpal bunny beside you would kill his own wife and children to get inside. Not being allowed to stay or having to leave is harder than you might think.”

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Jazzjak shifted slightly at those words.

“So can I leave to return to my family?”

A deep chuckle came from the lionkin as he shook his head, red hair moving like something magical as he did.

“If you can bring yourself to ask for a band, we will allow you to return. Just know I would wager a large sum that you never leave.”

Max could feel the hesitation in the rabbit’s body.

“The choice is yours,” he stated. “I’d enjoy having you with me, but I also understand the desire to not leave one’s family.”

“Decide quickly,” Evanlaka said, moving closer to the shimmering wall. “We do not have time to wait here.”

“I’ll… I’ll go. My wife will understand if I do not return.”

A chuckle came from ahead, and both Max and Jazzjak moved quickly to catch up.

The lionkin didn’t pause as they reached the shimmering wall, striding through and leaving the pair behind as they both had slowed down.

Reaching out with his hand, Max felt a chill run through his fingers, but when nothing else happened he moved forward, his Sonar and eyes overwhelmed when he stepped through.

A… pocket world… no, a pocket city.

Max tried to come to grips with what he saw. The ground he stood on sloped downward, descending at a gentle angle for what had to be ten miles. Both suns were overhead, illuminating the city beneath them.

In the center was the tower, which rose into the clouds and vanished.

Blue grass, purple grass, orange trees, pink trees, and a palette of colors made up vegetation of every kind. Some sections were forests, some were fields, some had streams of different colored water or liquid that ran downward, all toward the center of the town.

Purple stoned buildings dotted the landscape near them, and more could be seen growing denser in numbers as they approached the city.

“How big is this place?”

“That is a hard question to answer,” Evanlaka replied. “You might think you can see it all, but there is much beneath us as well. Even above are a few things you probably missed at first glance.”

Max looked upward, squinting slightly and saw that there were clouds… no, sections of clouds, and something was descending from one down toward the center of town.

“Floating… land?”

“Does your world not have such things?”

Max shook his head and could only shrug when the lionkin sighed.

“It would appear your people are not as advanced as some. Here Igarra brings in many from various worlds. Wealth, power, treasure and wisdom is all available for those who can find something to trade for it or have the power to earn it in the arena.”

“Why does it always require fighting?”

“Who made your staff?”

Their escort’s question caught Max off guard.

He rarely thought about it unless he needed to use it.

“A gifted weapon smith.”

“It wasn’t the one who was killed,” Evanlaka stated.

Max tried to not frown, but he failed, and the lionkin turned, not looking concerned at how Max felt.

“You made it. To say anything else would be a lie, and we both know it. The one who died wouldn’t have been killed if he had that kind of ability. Trust me. Someone with your talent would be able to trade that kind of knowledge or even a weapon for something of value. You will just need to find with whom and for what.”

Once again, their guide began walking, not waiting, and Max found himself following behind on the path of purple worked stone bricks.

“This place,” Jazzjak muttered as he hopped beside Max, “is nothing like I imagined. It… it is far greater than anything I could have believed.”

“And we are still not at the city yet.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Max saw the wall far off behind them, at least half a mile away which seemed weird, since they had just moved through the shimmering wall.

No guards were present; no buildings were nearby in that section. Just this single path, which led to the entrance they had come from.

“Where are the guards?”

Laughter came from the lionkin, who continued his steady pace.

“No one wants to leave!” he called out. “Why would you guard that?”

***

Flying creatures… I mean species… Fish… or I guess something like a fish with bowls over their head and weird bodies? Brains with no body and just eyeballs? Is this what lies beyond our world?

There is life that goes against everything your mind can comprehend. Some planets have life that is so small you would miss it and yet they could kill you from the inside. Other planets are the opposite, and to them you would be nothing more than an insect, every creature there one hundred times your size… and now…

Bob paused his statement as Max gazed at the city and its inhabitants that passed by above him and next to him.

Suddenly I remember so much more. It as if seeing them has reminded me of things I couldn’t unlock. Memories I didn’t even know I had.

“Please do not fall behind!”

Evanlaka’s shout was almost lost in the sound of the city, different noises from so many races filling Max’s ears and Sonar. Smells, sensations, auras all assaulted him in ways he didn’t know was possible.

More than once he had gotten looks, weird and sometimes what felt like angry glances from the different beings that passed by.

One had sent his crafting skill crazy when an automaton far greater than anything he had ever imagined walked past him. The thing had lifelike facial expressions, with a downturned lip when its red eyes caught him staring at it.

Max felt the tug of Jazzjak on his robe, and he moved quickly, darting through the packed street and amazed at the varied colors of lights that illuminated everything.

They even have… signs or magic illusions above their buildings? I can’t read the language, but I’m certain that one sells something combat related, since an axe keeps banging against a shield.

Perhaps… or it is for something else. Regardless, move faster and ask your guide if he can assist with a ring or other device that will allow us to understand everyone here.

Max moved as he had been told, and when he was next to Evanlaka, finally noticed how the different species that were walking along the street moved to avoid the lionkin, who never once altered his path.

“Can I get a ring or some other item that will allow me to understand what everyone here is saying? This one only does a few back in the other part of the city.”

Max held up his finger and wiggled the ring before his guide.

“That is something you could trade for,” Evanlaka replied, barely glancing at the ring for more than a second. “It isn’t very expensive, but you would be wise to acquire one. For now, we are almost there. You have an apartment set aside for both of you. I will leave you two there, and later tonight you should expect a visit from one of Igarra’s servants.”

Turning his head slightly, the lionkin held Max’s gaze for a moment.

“Do not leave the apartment until they come, and do not explore the city just yet. It would not make a good impression if you were missing when they came looking, and Igarra does not like to wait.”

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