Ultimate Level 1

Sog’thollech frowned as the demon gazed past the barrier of time they stood in.

“A being as strong as you… tempting, and yet the risk of death is so great. Tell me, do you mean to fight this one with me or use me as a distraction while you run?”

No emotion was visible as those red eyes stared at him.

“I am not the kind of person to casually throw a life away, especially when one like yourself has been an ally of mine.”

Nodding, the demon turned, and his nostrils flared as he took a deep breath.

“Like all of my kind who have offered ourselves up to be summoned, we know that one day always comes when we will die. It is the price we pay to gain power.”

“So you can die? Like I can?”

“Before, had I fallen in battle… it would have been different,” Sog’thollech replied. “Had I died early on, I could have potentially escaped before my soul was torn forever from my body. Many hope to do that, but the stronger we become, the more dangerous it is to accept the summoning again. Now I am bound to you forever, unable to resist the call even if I wanted to, having accepted the call three times. I have become strong enough to reach the rank of royalty in my realm, and many under me now feed me part of their power to stay protected.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Do not your worlds have kings, champions, or warlords who offer protection but for a price? Some call them taxes. Others call it slavery. Still, some beings demand flesh for their protection. None of that is different in our world. To be a demon without a lord or someone to watch over it opens them up to abuse and death. Now, I can choose my battles unless the king demands I act. Each time I have grown, he has gotten a portion of my power, and as such, has granted me much after our last adventure together. This body before you might not look like much, but only a fool would attack me.”

Both of them stood there in silence for a moment.

Ask him about the bond. Does it feel different to him?

“When I call you and use my blood, does it feel different?”

His red eyes grew as the skin above them moved upward a little.

“It did… At first, I was shocked at the difference in power that came and wondered if someone had for a moment killed you. That kind of growth does not typically happen so fast, and only the ending of one’s life could do that.”

“Someone else could use my blood?” Max asked, cringing slightly.

“Had another summoner slain you, drained your entire life force, and used your blood, they could then summon me,” Sog’thollech replied. “That is one of the dangers of this ability. If you encounter another one with it, be careful. The power your blood possesses and what another summoner could do with your blood is dangerous.”

“How much time do we have before the barrier comes down?”

Sog’thollech grinned.

“Days… maybe a week in your terms. This is the advantage of your power. Time to strategize and prepare, for what we face increases.”

A chair appeared in each of Max’s hands, and he offered one to Sog’thollech.

“Grab a seat, my friend, let’s talk tactics.”

***

“Max… thank you again for this.”

Shaking the demon’s hand, he smiled.

“Thank you. Without your help, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“I doubt that… but still. You treat me like an equal, but I can clearly tell you are not. For that, even if my death is required today to fulfill the bargain, I will gladly give it.”

Sog’thollech bowed his head briefly and then rose to full height, cracking his neck as he grinned.

“Now then, let’s see if what we discussed can actually succeed.”

Max nodded and grinned, watching his ally pull two swords from thin air. Each had a blackness to the blade that almost seemed to suck in light. Neither seemed thick, almost like a rapier when staring at them, but his Sonar told him differently.

Part of the blade is hidden. A very dangerous weapon.

“I’m ready when you are, Sog’thollech,” Max said, retrieving his halberd and shield.

Like rain, the wall of fractured light shattered, and time began to speed up, a pair of swords coming at Max momentarily before his opponent’s eyes caught the movement of the demon charging her.

As she prepared to jump backward, the stone blocks prevented a true escape. A wall now thirty feet high towered over her, never having intended to crush her but simply to box the elf in.

Waves of air rushed out from her, pushing her upward and into the air.

Max didn’t hesitate. The stones near her at the top left their perch, sliding outward and catching her movement.

She flashed black, and the rocks exploded as a sword pressed upward, cutting a path for her through the large block.

Hot on her heels, Sog’thollech moved through the air after her. A pair of shadow-formed wings had appeared and launched him after his foe.

Let’s join this battle.

Rocks were already encased around Max’s boots, and he propelled himself into the air, watching a bolt of lightning arc from above down upon the elf.

It struck, slowing her for a moment, and then arced off her, growing in power, and was flung back at him.

Striking his shield, the pain of the spell flowed through his body and bones, yet he shrugged it off, his resistance high enough to handle the pain, letting his regeneration do its job.

Ice bolts, fireballs, stone spears, and air blades began to pepper their elven foe from every direction as the demon engaged her in combat, swords creating sparks that drifted back down toward the desert.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Purple flames began to surround Sog’thollech, stretching over his body as the demon’s weapons moved with a speed that no one but Max and the elven woman could track.

He’s doing his job, now do yours!

Bob’s words finished as Max blasted past the pair, his Stone Mastery skill sending him flying at a speed that made the world below blur.

He saw her eyes track him as he blew past, attempting to shift her position in order not to get pinched between him and the demon.

Yet Sog’thollech never slowed down his assault, deflecting most of the elf’s attacks.

A few wind blades made it past his swords, their spells touching the purple flames and winking out of existence.

He’s going to run out of time on that ability. How much further?

Seconds. Get ready.

Twisting in the air, Max’s hands came up, and the rifle he had taken from the tower floor was now in his hand.

Even though he hadn’t really used it more than a few times, his Ranged Mastery weapon skill told him exactly how he needed to use it.

The butt of the rifle was set perfectly in his shoulder, and the stock was resting against his cheek. A scope sat on top, and when he looked through it, his mind quickly tracked the trajectory and distance of the elf.

With the softest touch, his finger pulled the trigger, sending a bullet at the elf, and she twisted, her body somehow even in the air able to move just enough that his shot didn’t hit her chest where he had aimed, instead only striking her shoulder.

A spray of red filled the air, and as Max prepared for a second shot, the sky around him grew dark.

His second shot rang out, her sword catching it, splitting the projectile in half as she reversed her course momentarily, plummeting toward the sand below.

Move!

Bob’s instructions didn’t need the mental command, as Max could sense the air around him turning dangerous, a power of magic and electricity coming from the half-mile he was in the air.

Like a rock, he changed directions, gun out, still trying to get another shot as both he and Sog’thollech attempted to catch the elven woman.

Above Max, a red portal began to appear. Sensing the magical energy, he glanced upward and saw something started to claw its way from the very space he had been near.

Is that a demon?

That… is death…

Max could see that whatever was coming from the portal had a dangerous aura.

Even with the distance between him and it growing, a smell of decay came as what looked like an undead dragon of some sort ripped the portal open wide, and a giant dragon skull with taut skin and yellow glowing eyes emerged from the space.

Wings of bone, small pieces of sinew, and rotting flesh came as it fell through the opening and began to come at him.

Its mouth opened up, and a red-greenish glow began to appear, forming like a ball of gas.

I got this, you deal with her! Get Sog’thollech to handle this!

Already, his ally and the elf were on the ground, both of them engaged in combat, and the flames around his demon friend were starting to go out, her swords getting closer as he slid through the sand, leaving burnt trails of where he traveled from the impact of each blow.

“Sog’thollech! Take the other! I got her!”

Laughter came from the woman as Max attacked from above, his halberd moving, shield out.

“Fool! You have no idea!”

The purple demon said nothing, his red eyes locked upward on the descending undead dragon, and a small bob of his head was the only acknowledgment of Max’s command.

When his halberd connected to her crossed swords, the concussive blast of the attack sent a shockwave over the desert, a crater forming under the woman as sand washed away in droves.

Air and fire flew from whatever Bob was doing to keep the dragon at bay, and it was now that Max truly appreciated how special their bond was.

He could focus on the woman before him while his skill took care of the dragon above.

“Max Hoste… black skill user! The power! It shall be mine!”

The woman’s face was wild with excitement. Her lips were curled in a smile, her teeth partially separated, and her tongue flicked out just a little.

He was sure she was enjoying this—the thought of winning was most likely a guaranteed thing in her mind.

As their weapons traded blows, Max went for it all, ready to finally see what she could do and handle.

I’m going all out.

[ Dark Magic ]

[ Mirrored Image ]

[ Rampage ]

[ Quick Attack ]

[ Ghost Strike ]

[ Magical Strike ]

[ Power Strike ]

[ Berserker ]

His vision changed slightly, not letting the true rage overtake him, but as everything went active at once, Max saw her body and swords flicker a half-dozen colors as well.

Gone went her smile, replaced faster than a heart could beat with a grimace as his weapon came at her.

Both swords had gone to intercept his halberd, yet his strike bypassed them, the combination of speed and everything else too much for her to overcome.

His blade struck her collar. Only the abilities of whatever she had used kept his blade from cutting through the blue armor that protected her body.

Still, the power of the first strike drove her deeper into the ground, sending up more waves of pressure and sand, widening the hole they were creating. The crater was now easily fifty yards wide and as deep as a two-story house.

The next two blows came again, the second one finding the same spot, a cut appearing in the armor before the third one was stopped completely, her swords now in a position to block.

Yet as her weapons blocked his strike, her body pressed toward him, his mirrored image landing blows against her back, the two of them juggling her in that space between them.

The real Max’s weapon hit harder and faster while his copy provided a distraction and damage.

Above him, the roar of a dragon sounded, but he didn’t care. It was outside his sphere of detection, and all Max could focus on was the elven woman, whose eyes were narrowed and her face pained.

Each strike dug them a place down toward the planet’s center, acid worms sent flying from the embrace of the sand they lived in, the two beings of power that could destroy most creatures fighting with everything they had.

Seconds felt like hours as the barrage of attacks never stopped, his power overwhelming the woman, sounds of bones breaking from the impact.

Yet she never cried out and continued to hold against him.

And then Max saw what Bob had warned him about.

She smiled as her body glowed red.

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