Ultimate Level 1

He was grateful that no one was near him as he lowered himself off the two-story building, making no noise upon touching down on the ground.

Stealth provided him with the security Max sought as he made his way across the worked stone road to the round building. Lightstones set within its stone walls cast a warm light around the base of it.

Not wanting to waste time, he circled the structure, surprised to find that it was at least one hundred yards wide and only had one entrance. A large metal door rested at the top of the stairs, flanked by a few columns and a porch, illuminated just a little bit more as the stones near the entrance were brighter than the rest.

I’m not sure going that way would be our best option.

No traps have been detected, though. It does seem strange that no one guards the door, but then again, if they expect to spot or catch anyone trying to enter at the wall, it would be overkill to have guards posted here.

Seeing his timer show only ten seconds left on Stealth, Max looked up at the round building rising into the night sky. The barred windows were evenly spaced, and only one near the top had a light still on.

This stone. I could try to use my skill on it.

Perhaps, but you can feel the difference between them. There is a current of magic in all this. Once again, I will tell you that what I detect from the system here is different from what is seen outside these walls. Something is happening here that doesn’t make sense.

His speed made moving up the stairs, even in Stealth, take no time at all. Standing before the door, Max saw a large lock attached through a metal ring thicker than two of his fingers. The bolted-on ring was attached to the stone wall, large screws putting it firmly in place.

Ignoring Bob’s sensation, Max used his Stone Mastery skill to free the blocks holding the large metal ring to which the door was secured. With a gentle pull, he waited to see what noise might come as he started to swing the door open.

The hinges that fastened the door on the inside made no noise, and they were obviously well cared for and treated by how easily it moved. The ten-foot door opened into a hallway with only four small light sources giving off light farther inside.

Deftly, Max moved into the open door, pulling it closed as quietly as possible and then used his skill to secure the stone bricks once more in place.

I do not like this… something is off.

Through their bond, Max could sense Bob almost shudder, his skill reacting to whatever was around them.

A slight sensation of magic and power was there, moving through the floor and walls, yet he couldn’t tell what it was other than that it was present.

Not wanting to stand there any longer, he began moving down the hallway, noticing that the stones on the inside were an exact copy of the tan ones outside.

Everything uses the same stone. The road was just like these, but only a bit smaller. Do you think—

A noise came from down the hallway and to the right, and Max activated Stealth again, moving closer to the center, where the hallway made an X . Passing two sets of doors, he could hear the sound of boots against the floor. Standing near the intersection, totally hidden, he saw a figure emerge from the right, continuing toward the path she was headed.

His stomach tightened as Max recognized the figure before him.

Her build was the same as it had always been. Etched in his mind was her face.

Without realizing it, his heart beat a little faster, fists clenching as the woman drew near.

She cannot hurt you, and you know it.

Max simply nodded, watching the woman who had punched him on that frightful day, the day he had received Consume.

Her gait was one of unconcern, and she had a slight frown on her face as she plodded down the hallway. After reaching the first door on her left, she moved her hand over a panel, and it opened for her.

Gone was the woman whose name he hadn’t even learned yet just as quickly as she had appeared. Her tanned skin, short bobbed brown hair, and unassuming stature hidden in a red robe vanished behind the door as it shut.

Taking a deep breath, Max slowly let it out.

I… I know she couldn’t have hurt us but part of me—

Was frozen. Part of you wanted to kill her. I know. Maybe later. For now, we have another path to take. Go to the right from where she came. What we are looking for is down there. I can feel it drawing me… like a moth to a flame.

Needing only one more second to gather himself, he shook off the sensation that had infected him, a fear that seemed unreasonable, and yet it had been enough to make him freeze up.

Inside his mind he could sense the concern that was coming over from Bob as they moved down the path the woman had come, a tingling feeling in his head directing him where to go.

That door. On the left. You can feel it, too.

I can… only because it is causing you so much angst.

His hand moved, and for a moment Max wasn’t sure if it was him or Bob moving, but it hovered so close to the metal panel near the door.

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I will deal with this. Give me a moment.

Magic flowed through his hand, a sensation he couldn’t help but feel in awe of sometimes as Bob did what he did. Even though they discussed sometimes how his skill could alter things through him and use his abilities, the knowledge that it possessed and was able to draw upon and still unable to share with him was a mystery.

I can tell you are in that same place you took me when messing with my sister’s Choosing Day.

No response came, and Max just stood there, hidden from any who might appear, waiting for Bob to finish what he had started.

No click or other sound came, but the door began to slowly open without any fanfare.

That was harder than I expected. Whatever this place is, they have access to things I have not seen on this world. Tread carefully.

When their path forward was open enough, a light turned on inside, and Max saw a room that left him almost breathless.

Rows of stone slabs lined the room, his Sonar skill sweeping across the new open area.

Dozens of them were packed inside, only a few feet between each, just enough for one or two people to stand side by side.

On top of four of them were corpses.

Like someone had drained all the life from them, tight skin clung to bones, creating a display of death that looked pained, all four of the lifeless bodies with mouths open.

What is this place?

As he moved into the room, weaving his way toward one of the bodies, a cold chill appeared, now noticeable. When the door shut, Max couldn’t help but wonder what they were getting into.

They are young… look at them. Bodies are not tall; they are all obviously human. I suspect we have found where those like yourself end up.

Standing over one of the corpses, each of them naked, stripped of clothing, he could see that before him was once a woman.

He couldn’t help but wince, seeing the state of her body, scars marking part of her skin. His Sonar showed him what it took a moment for his eyes to find.

Those holes. Like a metal tube was stuck in them.

Yes. One in the artery in the neck and the other in the groin. They were drained. For now we need to move on. You can sense the direction we need to go.

Nodding once, Max spun on his heel and moved to the other end of the room, where a stone table was slightly different. Had his Sonar not been so good, he might have missed it, but Bob’s sense of whatever it was they were searching for led him straight to it.

Underneath the lip of the table was a small hidden panel, and with his fingers almost touching it, Max could feel his skill once more doing what it did.

Like the door, it began to move, sliding along the stone floor, no sound coming as it revealed a set of stairs downward.

Dread like nothing he had ever experienced washed over him as warm air flowed upward, brushing against his skin.

It is down there. We need to decide. Are you going to do this alone or with your friends?

What do you recommend?

Bob said nothing for a few seconds, and Max stared down the stairway, seeing the light that washed over it from the bottom, a crystal softly pulsing and giving off light.

Neither of us knows what lies below. We are strong, and yet it would be foolish to believe we are the strongest on this world. Everett told you that he believes at least a dozen or more might be able to stand against us. While most would be in the royal families of the other races, we would be foolish to believe that such a place like this can exist without someone who possesses real power.

Which means it is a threat to my friends by bringing them here.

Correct. But tell me, Max. Are you going to do this alone? What if you did need help? Could you deal with the truth that by bringing them here, you might endanger them, unable to protect them? But what happens if we are caught in something and cannot accomplish this alone?

He knew he was frowning, but Bob’s questions were causing him problems.

Behind him lay four people, all dead because of whatever had taken place here.

Something was going on, and it was hidden from their own kingdom and possibly the world. He couldn’t shake the feeling that had he not been rescued by his sister and Caleb, his own body would have been on one of those slabs.

So I risk those I love on the chance that I might need them or keep them where they are, wanting not to endanger them?

And face their anger at being left behind once more. Do not forget, at some point you must either leave them behind and do everything alone or trust that they will be strong enough to fight alongside you.

It felt like a dagger had been plunged into his heart, but Max knew Bob hadn’t done it to be mean or evil. He had simply been told the truth.

Decide quickly, though. The longer we stand here, the greater the chance of someone coming and finding us. You already know the answer of what you must do. Now, you must admit it to yourself.

Swallowing felt difficult.

Emotions were fighting against each other, and seeing the mystery woman who had knocked him out a year ago made all this harder.

Glancing at the body of the woman he had looked at, a chill ran up his spine.

That could have been Stacy if we had not been there to stop them from taking her.

She would have been fine. She only has those skills because of what I did and the power I gave. But yes, had she been given those and you were not there… most likely your sister would be dead soon.

With his decision made, Max moved to the stone table that had slid across the floor to reveal the stairway beneath it. Bob did whatever he did, and it began to return to where it had originally been, hiding the descent into whatever lay below once more.

No more people get hurt if I can help it, but you’re right… I can’t keep doing everything by myself.

You’re never alone, Max. I’m here. Listen carefully to what I say now. This path you are finally committing to means that death may come at some point to one of your friends. It also means that you won’t walk it alone. Choosing between the two means a life of loneliness and pain. The other can have the same outcome and memories of a time worth living.

A twinge of pain washed through him as Max felt the same emotion from Bob that he had when forced to leave home and run.

Never again shall you be alone. I’m here as well.

They retraced their steps silently, and neither said another word as they headed back to where the others were waiting.

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