Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 312

“This is your home until about eight hours from now,” Igarra stated as she motioned to the luxurious suite they were standing in. “A servant will come and summon you when it is time to join everyone else in the arena. Just note, you will have a special box like last time, allowing you to witness a fight before you go. I am certain you will be thoroughly entertained.”

“Is there anything else I should know about these fights?”

“Beyond that they are to the death?” she asked, grinning the entire time she spoke.

“Besides that.”

“Since it is your first time, I will tell you that the arena changes every fight. Unlike the ones you fought in, there is rarely a flat surface, and the space each duel takes place in is far larger than before. You might find yourself in an ocean, in a forest, or perhaps even on a mountain. Sometimes there may be no land at all.”

“I see… and how does that get decided?”

Igarra gave a shrug, and her toothy smile never left her face.

“Perhaps in time you will find that out. For now, rest. There is food in the container over there, and rest assured, nothing is tainted. It would not behoove anyone to remove you before a fight.”

With that she turned, moved to a section of the silver stone wall, and a line appeared, framing the shape of a door.

After it connected, the section opened, and she walked through it, her back still turned to him.

“Rest. You’re going to need it.”

***

This space… it is different. The fact we can communicate so easily and the lack of energy it requires means we are… closer to the source of something…

What do you mean by something?

Digging through a container of chilled food, Max pulled out some water and fruit, studying the green item before taking a small bite.

“Sooooo good.”

Sweet juice ran down his chin, and he didn’t hesitate to consume the rest of it while Bob worked on that question.

The name of it I cannot remember, but the system has power, and here there is much. Unlike your world, which acts as a barrier to the system, keeping you from being exposed to it, here that barrier is almost nonexistent.

Perhaps that is why so many of the ones we faced were stronger. The lack of the barrier allows them to acquire more of the system than your world does.

Why would the god of this planet want that? I thought gods used their worlds to grow stronger. Wouldn’t allowing the people or creatures on it to become stronger faster drain more power?

Max could sense Bob thinking.

I’m not certain how each world works. There are many variations to all systems. Something tells me this world functions differently… Perhaps as things die, the god here gains a portion of that power.

He could feel the frown on his face.

A god that desires death of their own…

It is far more common than you can imagine. Many gain power by fighting against other worlds. That is why some might have a barrier like your world does. This planet would give more power to the one who conquers it but would also provide a greater threat.

And any god could just attack?

I’m certain that answer is no, but… I can’t recall how it works. In time… Give me more time, Max. Let me grow stronger, and perhaps I shall remember. For now, focus on what we are about to face. Use the gift she has given of seeing the first fight as a chance to learn. I doubt we will ever get that again.

Knowing Bob was right, Max plopped down in one of the padded chairs and found himself almost completely relaxed the second his butt hit the material.

Ok… I need one of these.

In seconds he was dozing, knowing Bob had him covered.

***

Wake up.

Movement from where Igarra had made a door came, and Max rose, seeing the same shape appearing.

Four seconds later the stone had moved, and a very short and dark colored elf was standing before him. They were smaller than a dwarf, had eyes that glowed purple, and every part of them was black.

Even their outfit is black… what gives?

“Mr. Ifrit… I am here to escort you.”

His eyes studied Max, and the lips appeared to be turned downward, not appreciating how the fighter in the room was gazing at him.

“Sorry,” Max said as he moved to retrieve his staff that was leaning against the next chair. “I was caught off guard. You are an elf, right?”

The servant shook their head and sighed.

“You are asking me a question that would be about the same as if I asked you if you could speak, use your thumbs and might throw poop with your hands.”

“Forgive me, I did not mean to insult you.”

“And yet you did… greatly,” the servant replied. “To answer your question, though, some, albeit foolish ones, would classify me as an elf. Others might call me a shadow elf or a dark elf or some other term, always with the word ‘elf’ attached to it. First, my name is Quilazmore. What I am is something perhaps you might learn in time if you survive tonight. Based on how you speak, I hope you are much better at fighting, as if this was a contest of manners and intelligence, I’m afraid we would never meet again.”

By the gods, I love this one!

Clearing his throat, Max ignored Bob and moved till he stood closer to Quilazmore.

“Forgive me. I did not mean to offend, and this is my first time in such a place.”

The servant studied him before bobbing his head twice and turning.

“We need to leave. Soon the first match will start, and I have orders to get you there on time.”

With that Quilazmore moved toward the door, leaving Max to catch up and watch as they entered a large square room.

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The door that had been cut out moved back into position, and after the wall rejoined itself, Max sensed the stone prison moving.

He was grateful for a single light that hung from the ceiling. The nine-by-nine room felt tight.

We are fine. Relax.

Still… it feels like I’m trapped again. I don’t like how this keeps coming up.

Until the day you stand above everything, there will always be the chance to feel trapped. Even worse, some things that will trap you won’t be wagons or stone walls.

The room stopped moving, and the wall before Quilazmore began to draw the same lines, and a door appeared and moved inward. After the opening was clear, his short escort moved into the new room.

“This is your private viewing area,” Quilazmore stated, his tone matching one of someone who didn’t care if you listened or not, simply doing their job. “That wall before us is a screen and will display the battle. Outside of this room are millions more like this, each varying in size, shape, environments and other oddities. Those who come to watch and bet on these fights come from all over the system.”

Max nodded as he moved through the twenty-by-twenty stone room, ignoring the two couches and one chair, coming to stand before a large screen that immediately showed an image of a large expanse, easily a mile across in each direction. Trees were growing, a small stream was starting to carve itself through the stone floor, and dirt was appearing.

“Is that the arena area?”

“Yes… it changes every time. Each fight is terraformed into a new design. The options are limitless, but most cannot take place in all environments.”

Quilazmore paused and turned his head, glancing up at Max.

“How long can you hold your breath?”

Cocking an eyebrow and glancing down at the tiny escort, Max snorted.

“I’ve never checked, but why do you ask?”

A grin appeared, and a row of sharp purple teeth ground against each other for a second.

“Some fights make take place completely in water. Others might… has your kind ever left your world? Moved through the sky and into where the moon and sun reside?”

“Uh… not that I know of,” Max replied, his confidence wavering a little internally.

A frown replaced the smile, and Quilazmore pointed at the screen.

“Then you will most likely be fighting in areas you are used to. The arena will not handicap an individual too much. Some who fight here, however, can survive in the cold and vastness of space.”

“Space?” Max asked.

“The… domain outside your world. Your world floats in space. All planets are in space.”

The very thing you see when we gaze down upon the planets and systems. All that darkness and empty area. That is what he is talking about.

“Oh, I know what you mean. All the empty area and darkness between the planets and systems.”

Quilazmore’s right eyebrow twitched a few times.

“Yes… space… was there another name you knew it by, or should I ask how you know so much about what I am talking of?”

“We all have our secrets,” Max replied, focusing on the screen and ignoring the scowl he sensed appear on his guide’s face.

“Very well. I shall return when it is time for your match. Until then, please do not attempt to leave the box.”

With that Quilazmore turned on his heel and moved to where the open doorway was, the stone returning to its original place.

We are in a whole new world… and I didn’t mean that as a joke.

Still, it was funny. Now tell me, what are we going to face?

That, Max, I have no idea about.

***

Most of the forest was on fire, and large chasms ran along the ground.

Both fighters were injured, and the one who had been winning for so long appeared to be on the ropes.

Max couldn’t take his eyes off the screen, watching the two and the destruction they each brought.

An energy attack… how he can still focus that much from just one hand…

While Max spoke, the fighter he was speaking of, Starshine, held up her left hand, another powerful blast of bright white light racing at her opponent.

The quarter of a mile between the two of them was gone in a heartbeat as the ray of power raced toward its target.

As soon as the blast of energy came, the blue-skinned opponent transformed once more, turning into a clear being, and held up their right hand, taking the blast to their chest.

Gruogaroa’s outstretched hand returned the same bolt of energy again, the bolt now blacker than it had been before.

Cheers came as it struck Starshine’s black armor, tearing it apart and removing a section of the woman’s side as she tried to dodge.

The blue one is able to change into so many things… it appears they have learned how to become something that absorbs and redirects the attack back, changing the power in some way.

Yeah… the first few were white and did nothing. Only the last two have done any damage to Starshine.

Crumpled on the ground, blood seeping from her body, the energy user struggled to get up, her white hair no longer in the neat braid behind her, but burnt and everywhere.

A tinge of pain came as Max remembered how he loved Tanila and her hair, especially when it was loose and lay all over the bed or in the tub.

The end is soon; you can sense it as can the rest of the watchers.

His box shook from the vibrations and the muted noise that came from around.

A battle that had looked one-sided at first changed so quickly.

Gruogaroa had been attempting for the first half to dodge and adapt, shifting itself into different materials, pieces blown off or completely evaporated.

Slowly, stiff steps from the crystalized being brought it closer to the woman that had darted and dashed around it with ease. Gone was the speed or the few taunts Starshine had hurled.

Roaring, the woman held her hand out, and it grew brighter, far brighter than Max had expected was possible.

From the open wound light spilled forth.

Sensing a change, Gruogaroa charged, its crystalized body moving with haste, but as it drew close, not moving fast in the form it had taken, Starshine moved her hand to her chest.

Oh my… can you sense it?

Max nodded, the power that now came from the injured fighter somehow radiating as the entire arena floor began to flood with light, the screen he was watching on almost flickering as it appeared to struggle to keep the view working.

One last scream came, and a ball of light raced outward in all directions from Starshine, destroying any tree, dirt, or other matter still standing.

For half a mile it raced outward, and when it was gone, the screen was focused on the spot where the woman had been.

A crater fifteen yards down was there, and about forty yards away Gruogaroa stumbled, its crystal shape changed, no longer clear, now blackened.

“WINNER BUT NOT BY MUCH! YOUR FAVORITE SHIFTING FIGHTER! Gruuuuoooogaaaroooaa!”

She killed herself and almost killed the other.

How are we going to fight that?

Together. Now get ready. We’re up.

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