Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 429: Powering Up

Sog’thollech tore off another piece of Kazrak’s corpse, lifting it to one of the many mouths on his misshapen body, and stuffing it inside.

“You are far too kind to me,” the demon said, one of the mouths on his shoulder speaking this time. “How did you know such a thing would benefit my recovery?”

“Honestly, I didn’t, but after talking about it with a friend, I realized it seemed like a good idea. If it didn’t, then all I would have lost was some blood, which is easily replaced.”

Laughter came from some of the mouths upon Sog’thollech’s back as his hands continued stuffing the ones on the front of his body.

“So, can you fight? I mean… like at all?”

“I can. It will just be… difficult. Those on my world who take moments like this to capitalize upon the falling of one like myself have been very… hesitant. It is not typical behavior, and the truth is that my king sent an envoy to let me know that there would be a moment of protection. Is this something you made happen?”

Frowning, Max wondered if that was even possible.

Thoughts?

It’s a potential theory… you and I are one… if someone could figure out who you are, then it would make sense that a god as old as this one could too. Perhaps…

He could sense the thoughts that ran through his mind as Bob considered some different things.

“Sog’thollech, are you able to… say smell my blood or sense it?”

“Easily. It is like a… an aroma I find very pleasing. Yours has a very distinct scent to it.”

If that is the case, perhaps then the Demon King can smell it on him. There would be no doubt that he smelled yours in the dungeon when we fought. Logic would dictate that we were and are different. No doubt, as Phaius and Ockrim have said, the other gods now know about the presence of the black skills.

If the demon could determine the world we came from and had some information about us being on that world, then he would know that Sog’thollech and you are bound together.

And he would want to keep that connection because it might serve him… which is why he might do such a rare thing to protect him.

Why not ally with someone you already know who does not like you? It makes sense, but it's twisted.

“Sog’thollech, does your king… is he… a god?”

Laughing again, the demon shook his head and paused the never-ending shoveling of body parts into his mouths.

“You ask that like you’re uncertain. Surely, you have learned enough from me to understand that my King isn’t a god but simply a demon who has risen in power. The true god of my race is far greater and does not talk with one like myself. He is…”

Sog’thollech’s multiple appendages spread out and covered as much space as possible.

“Words fail me as I consider how to convey this best, but perhaps the word ‘vast’ does the idea justice. If he chose, every one of my kind could be swallowed up by him in a moment. The hall I reside in wouldn’t fit a tiny portion of him unless he wished to lower himself to such a thing. Rules… rules are what bind my race, and his rules are absolute. Only a fool would risk upsetting him and bringing his wrath upon them.”

“So then the dungeon that I entered on my world, where I had to fight my way to his arena and defeat his champion, was that not him?”

Every eye blinked rapidly and four hands pointed clawed fingers at Max.

“That was you! I knew it!”

Suddenly, Sog’thollech broke out in a weird, bobbing dance as his misshapen body moved around. The entire time he howled with laughter.

“So many wondered who you were. I… I knew it had to be you! Who else could match your description and suddenly have the power to summon me!”

“How long have you known?” Max asked, unable to hide the grin he felt growing.

“Only in the last few months. It made sense as rumors swirled around my people, but my rise to power matched yours. To know that the one that I am bound to defied my own god…”

Sog’thollech shuddered and cackled again.

“Is this a good thing? Doesn’t this put a target on you?”

“Oh no it explains a little bit why some things have happened. You just confirmed why the king sent an envoy and why I was given some protection when most would be left to fend for themselves. Multiple times now you have protected me from impending death. Once again, I find myself in debt to you.”

Waving a hand, Max shifted from where he stood, just a few yards away from the open doors, watching as Sog’thollech stood near the partially eaten corpse he had tossed into the hall on the other side of the portal.

“So in a few days, I may summon you if you think that would work. We’ll be in the tower on this world, and if you are able to fight and kill them, perhaps the souls will help you recover even more.”

Bowing low, Sog’thollech slowly rose.

“I stand ready to come when you beckon. Be safe, Max, and thank you for the friendship you have given.”

***

“This place is amazing,” Fowl stated before tearing off a piece of meat from one of the three sticks he held in his hand. “So many new foods and drinks to try.”

Batrire nodded in agreement, using her sleeve to wipe the juices running into her beard.

“For once, I agree with Shorty,” Tanila said. “I feel like we’ve been missing out.”

Laughing, Max motioned to the different shops around them as they walked down another street in the inner part of the city.

Stares were a constant thing from all the species present, but everyone gave the man they knew as the champion of this world and his group a wide berth.

“Is this what it is like back home?” Max asked.

Tanila shook her head.

“I wasn’t allowed to just walk down the street like this. To do something like this without an honor guard would be considered bad form. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to get away. To see life and experience other cities like this.”

“All these shops, what is it they offer?” Batrire asked.

“Can’t you tell from the signs?”

Their healer shook her head and summoned another meat kabob from her inventory.

“Some of the moving signs give a good description, but I can’t read all the words on some of them. Others make no sense… I mean, a molting shop? Someone helps an insect molt?”

All Max could do was shrug as he knew exactly the sign she was talking about.

“It’s like that shop back in Nalgrun that offered birthing help,” he replied. “I asked you why someone had to have a shop for that, and you told me because . Does that mean it’s limited to a specific need I’ll never understand? There is likely a need, and obviously, it is big enough that someone can afford a shop space and offer it.”

Batrire grunted and bobbed her head before taking a bite of her kabob.

“Wait… you understood what he just said?” Fowl asked, glancing between the pair. “I… bah forget it…”

They took their time moving through the city, Max occasionally talking with a few who felt brave enough to offer thanks or congratulations on reclaiming his claim on their world.

Eventually, they arrived at the shop he had been headed towards this entire time.

A bright sign had a box that would explode, turning into a mechanical creature like a clockwork that danced for a minute before vanishing and replaying again.

Nimyn’s Mechanical Wonders

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“That’s what we’ve come for?” their ranger asked, glancing at the building which appeared just like all the other standard ones except for its sign.

“Yup, I”ve been meaning to find a shop like this for a while and Jazzjak did some research and told me this is the best one in town.”

“And that’s because you feel you need help to create something?” Fowl asked. “I mean… you’re the one who never seems to have problems creating the impossible.”

Max knew he was frowning a little as he nodded and motioned for everyone to gather closer. He pulled out the sound-dampening device Everett had given him and activated it.

“I spoke with Aerthen, and the core inside Rakonath is growing and soon the window of opportunity to borrow it and try to create a power core from it may pass. There is a lot of risk, and everything I know and have learned from talking with her is that my skill and knowledge isn’t enough.”

As he spoke, Max pulled out a core he had crafted like the one in Dexic’s sword.

“I could charge this with one of the crystals from the tower, but the difference in potential and magical power… or energy is immense. Jazzjak did me a favor and reached out, talking with others casually about who the best person for this job would be, and it appears we’re outside the shop that has been here the longest and had the best reputation.”

“And Rakonath is okay with this?” Batrire asked.

“When I mentioned it, he immediately volunteered,” he replied with a sigh. “I didn’t want him to feel pressured, but he believes that if I think it’s worth doing, then we should try.”

“Another one committed to you,” Tanila stated as she winked at him. “Don’t worry… soon worlds will all sing the praises of your name.”

The others all laughed as he groaned and deactivated the bubble of silence.

Still chuckling, Cordellia moved to where the door was and grabbed the metal handle.

“OH MY GODS!”

Her scream made everyone react, a hammer appearing in Fowl’s hand as she tried to pull away from the door but couldn’t.

Max started to laugh, and the others joined in after they noticed the handle had turned into a hand. It grasped hers and kept Cordellia locked in place.

“Get it off! Get it off!”

Tell her to open the door all the way.

“Why don’t you shut the door or open it all the way?” Max asked as he moved to where she was dancing on the sidewalk, getting a few reactions from those who passed by.

Quickly, their ranger pulled the door till it stopped, and the metal hand vanished, and the silver handle returned to normal.

Laughter came from inside, and Max didn’t wait, moving past the elf whose cheeks were bright red.

Inside, lights of all different colors were moving around the ceiling, some swirling like the planets and stars that Bob had shown him a few times in his dreams.

“Welcome! A new visitor it seems!”

All over the shop were boxes and small mechanical contraptions, lifting and moving items and taking them to shelves that lined the walls.

At the counter, the one who had greeted them was a gnome, her brown hair tied back and mechanical glasses that adjusted as she stared at them.

Max could see a metallic frame running along her shoulders and arms and down to her hands, where three fingers each were covered in some kind of metal glove, different tips on the end of each one.

“Uh… Nimyn Flukepitch?”

“The one and only,” she replied with a grin. “Now tell me, why does a walking joke enter my place, even if one of them happens to be the champion of our fine city?”

Her smile was infectious, and Max moved quickly to the counter, sensing the rest of his party following him.

“Word has reached me you’re the best one to talk to when it comes to power cores. Is that true?”

She nodded and lifted her hand, lifting the pair of goggles which covered her blue eyes.

“I know there’s another one in this city who claims to be good with them, but if you’re looking for the highest quality and strength, I’m the one to seek out,” Nimyn declared. “Still, what I offer is a bit of a rare thing for many. Those who stop by here are often travelers, not the ones responsible for keeping our city from being overrun by petty champions looking to make a name for themselves.”

… “Do you know anything about dragon cores?”

Coughing once, the gnome blinked a few times and then slowly bobbed her head.

“I’m… aware of them and how desired they are. Perhaps you’re coming here to try and sell one? One you took off, Igarra?” she asked, her eyes almost twitching as she waited for an answer.

“That would be too easy,” Max replied, turning to see Fowl following a pair of the robotic helpers moving around the shop. “Don’t break it, we can’t afford it!”

“He’s right! You’d have to either pay for fixing them or be my lackey until you earned off how much it costs.”

Immediately, their warrior stepped back from the tiny clockworks that moved as if he wasn’t there, each with a metal box filled with random parts.

“Now then,” Nimyn said, “what do you want one for?”

“It’s more of an information-gathering moment. If someone had a dragon core, could they turn it into a stable power core for use in something like a weapon or armor?”

She chewed her lip and shook her head back and forth, drumming three metal-tipped fingers against the stone counter.

“Yes… but what you’re talking about doing isn’t easy and requires a specific skill just to make the power core. After that, you’d have to find another crafter who would be willing to work with said weaponsmith or armorsmith to create such a thing. If you could find two people with a skill required for that and use one… it could be a wonderful thing. The potential item would be… powerful.”

He could see the excitement in her eyes and the way she fidgeted as she stood.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

“What kind of weapon would be best suited for something like that?”

“Hypothetically?”

Max nodded.

She brought both hands before her mouth and tapped her fingers together several times.

“One would need something with some weight and mass. A gun of some kind would be a wonderful thing, but good luck finding a crafter who knows how to make those here. The people of this world don’t seem to want to upgrade their technology that far. Of course I understand keeping those things in working order isn’t easy or cheap.

“Don’t think I’m stalking you, but a wise gnome keeps tabs on the current leader of the world they live on. I know you have been to Buwingrid, and she can’t even create firearms. On this world, there is one in the city but his stuff is… ehh, let’s just say not worth the coin or the waste of materials. I know a few on other worlds, but you’d have to travel there, and doing so might cause problems with their current world champion unless you sent a message beforehand and got approval.”

Max felt the other four move to the counter, each leaning against it as Nimyn continued spouting out whatever came to her mind.

Her eyes fell on him, and she paused for a second.

“Part of me wants to know if those two dragons you brought offer sharing their cores. Lots of tokens to be earned that way, and you could easily create a few dozen power cores from one. Then again, most dragons aren’t willing to let them be handled by anyone for obvious reasons.”

“You still haven’t given me the answer I’m looking for,” Max stated.

“That’s because there isn’t an easy answer,” she replied, throwing both hands up. “The truth is whatever you make from an item with a core like that would be… unique. You’d have to plan the weapon around it. Are you hoping to add a specific skill to the weapon or simply want to have it discharge part of its power as damage?”

“Perhaps both.”

Sighing, the gnome scratched her head.

“Both could be done… it would require a high-quality power core. So, I’ll ask the question I want answered before we continue this dance. Why are you specifically here in my shop, asking me very specific questions about something most would never know to ask?”

Grinning, Max raised his eyebrows a few times.

“Because I have access to a core, and if you’re willing to let me stand guard and watch as you work with it to create what I want, I can provide you with what I understand is the chance of a lifetime.”

A high-pitched squeal came from Nimyn as she leaned over the counter and drew close to Max.

“You’re serious! You would… let me create something from one!?”

Taking a small step back, he nodded slowly.

“Understand I won’t let it out of my sight, and after you’re done, I’ll pay the price we agree upon and take both the dragon and power core with me.”

A small frown appeared as she huffed.

“What if I wanted a second power core as payment?”

Thoughts?

We both know that such a thing is needed for the weapon you want to create. If you’ll have any chance of doing so, you’ll need to be willing to barter. Aerthen told you there would be plenty of power for two cores, already knowing that whoever crafted one for you wouldn’t do so simply for tokens or other items.

“That would work,” Max said, holding up a hand as the gnome started to speak. “Just remember, I won’t let you handle the core more than necessary. It’s more valuable to me than you know and nothing will keep me from returning it to my friend.”

Nodding once, the gnome spat in her hand and held it out.

“I accept those terms then.”

Smiling, Max repeated the gesture, ignoring the wet sensation against his skin.

“I’ll return soon.”

Laughing, Nimyn turned around, dancing as she did.

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