NOVPUB
Chapter 472: What's Wrong With Bob
[ 50 Strength Consumed ]
[ 50 Dexterity Consumed ]
[ 50 Constitution Consumed ]
[ Consume is Locked ]
Yanking his spear free from the eye of the cyclops, Max tried to ignore the pain of what he felt inside.
“Anything?!”
He shook his head at Tanila and quickly got to work, hacking off fingers and any part he could of the sixty-foot-tall boss.
“I thought we’d never beat that one-eyed freak,” Fowl muttered. “It’s a good thing you could get past its helm.”
Max nodded as he watched the corpse fade away.
The ruins they were in towered above them, and long shadows created an eerie feeling from the sun's angle.
“Part of me hates that they wouldn’t talk back. Still, I did get some points from the boss which means we’re approaching at least some changes in the power levels.”
“Changes he says?” Cordellia called out. “As if the last four floors didn’t have a sudden uptick in how much stronger everything became?”
“And bigger,” Batrire added. “Don’t forget bigger.”
Fowl chuckled but apparently resisted the urge to say anything as he waited for the chest to appear.
“They’re right… I mean, we’re all right,” Tanila stated. “It was a big jump from the 69th floor to the 70th. While I’m grateful for the stat points we got upon entering the 70th floor, I’m not looking forward to waiting till the 80th to hopefully get more. This is why I’m excited to see what’s inside.”
All of them turned to see the stone chest she was pointing at.
It appeared near one of the toppled buildings the boss had flattened when Max had managed to trip it.
“I do love a good upgrade,” Fowl said as they jogged to it.
Inside the chest each of them found they had acquired two more items and excitement broke out as the new upgrades either had seventy-five points to three stats or ninety to two.
“That’s a nice boost to everything,” Batrire said as she spun the new ring she had acquired around on her finger. “Looks ugly with this big eye, but I’ll take it.”
“Ugly is that cloak on Max,” Cordellia stated. “I really am starting to understand that fashion sense or lack thereof of you all talk about.”
“What? You don’t like this?” Max asked as he twirled around, showing off his red cloak with a big eye on the back of it. “I mean, I’ll always be able to see behind me.”
Groans came as they watched him pull out two large pink crystals and store them.
“What’s ironic is how I expected nothing less from you,” Fowl declared.
“Okay, that was cornea, and you need to stop,” Batrire managed to get out before starting to laugh.
“That’s it!” Tanila exclaimed as she held up both hands. “I’m out of here before this gets worse.”
Max couldn’t help but enjoy the light mood as everyone gave their best one-liners as they left.
“Seem’s someone couldn’t see a good joke if it poked her in the eye,” Fowl said before taking the portal.
A groan came from all three as they followed after him.
***
Tanila looked up from her book, watching Max work on the bow he had been trying to create for Cordellia.
“It’s almost finished, isn’t it?”
“Uh… I think so, but I’m not sure. Usually I get a little help from Bob with this kind of stuff. He handles the magic side so I can focus completely on the crafting side. It’s not that I can’t do both, it just takes at least twice as long.” ꭆᴀℕóＢƐṨ
“You’re struggling without him, I can tell. Not like you’re not as good when it comes to fighting, it’s more… like a part of you is missing.”
Setting the tool down, he took a deep breath and nodded. “Part of me is ok with him being gone because it’s making me be a better fighter. While that sounds wrong, I don’t have the ability to just go crazy because he can reset all my skills. It’s made me see where I used to rush in without thought and just depend upon him to shore up my weak points.
“With him also handling the casting of so many spells, I could focus on fighting or other things, and now I have to really pay attention to every detail, and my timing has been off. I’m nowhere near as fast as I used to be, juggling all the spells and abilities. It sounds wrong, but part of me would almost say let's go use Dagon’s room again and reset our abilities.”
“Not that he would probably allow it.”
He nodded and picked up a precision point hammer and spun it a few times in his hand.
“I know… plus us needing to wait for cooldowns has given me time with my family and the chance to craft. Even Cordellia is out there enjoying whatever friend she found.”
He watched as a small smile appeared on Tanila’s face.
“You want to share that thought with me?”
Shaking her head, Tanila didn't hide her satisfaction at knowing something he didn’t.
“A girl has to keep some secrets. Besides, if you haven't noticed, she is more focused in the tower lately.”
“Oh, I have, which is why I’m trying to complete this.”
“Then don’t let me distract you.”
Max groaned as she lifted her book and started to read again.
Bob, I could really use your help.
While working on the weapon, he split his attention between trying to get the power cores in the perfect position and finding a way to interact with his skill.
The thread that had always connected him was there, but it was like it fed into a stone wall, and he couldn’t bash through it or find an opening.
Fear occasionally gripped him at the thought of Bob being caged up, knowing how difficult that was to endure when he had his skill, not wanting to imagine what it would have been like alone.
Max’s crafting skill called to him, and he pulled his attention back to his current project, knowing he had almost messed it up.
***
“It’s been four days,” Max stated as he waited outside the Faction hall with the rest. “She knew we were supposed to go back yesterday, and yet Cordellia is still not back. Will you tell me who she is with and where they are at?”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Tanila and Batrire both bobbed their heads.
“His name is Lhoris Gilric. Where they go, I don’t know as it often changes places. Sometimes they stay in the city and sometimes she says they go off into the woods.”
“The woods? Why would –”
“She’s a ranger and an elf,” Tanila replied. “It’s better out there.”
Max tried not to react and ignored the question he wanted to ask, choosing instead to focus on the issue at hand.
“Okay so we’re supposed to what? Just wait? I mean… how… never mind. What should I do?”
Both women shrugged.
“We’ve had our moments where we spent a little too much time having fun,” Batrire stated, gesturing at Fowl with her thumb. “So I can’t blame our archerl who hasn’t had a friend or fun in a while, enjoying herself. I mean… you remember how much you and–”
“He does!” Tanila exclaimed.
Grinning, their healer nodded.
“Fine,” Max said with a huff. “Is there anything you would like to do today since we won’t be going into the tower?”
Tanila smiled and nodded.
“Oh, I can think of some fun stuff to do.”
Max smiled as she raised both eyebrows.
***
“This wasn’t what I had in mind.”
“Shush, you're ruining the moment.”
Lying there in a bubbling tub of mud, he tried to understand how she thought this was a perfect way to spend a day.
I mean… we were on a tower floor covered in mud and everyone complained… but no… let’s get naked she said… then let’s get in a tub of mud…
He picked up another slice of cucumber on a plate next to him with his clean finger and popped it in his mouth.
“They’re for your eyes, not to eat.”
“I know but I don’t like the way they feel.”
Tanila groaned and he sensed her lift one of the cucumbers, turn her head and look at him.
“You do realize, I’m trying to relax and not listen to you complain. If I wanted that, I could have invited Fowl.”
He started to chuckle at that thought. “Yeah, mud in his beard, he’d–”
The door to their room burst open, and Max stood upright, holding his weapon in a moment.
“Uh… Max…” His sister’s hand covered her eyes and he groaned.
“What?!”
“You need to get back to the Faction house! Now!”
He could hear the worry in her voice and without giving a second thought the mud flew off his body as he used his mastery on it.
Stepping out of the tub the rest of the mud was stripped off, and he was clothed, ready for battle.
“Wait a moment outside. I’ll take us back.”
Tanila was standing on the floor next to him, mud dripping from her until he stripped it off of her in an instant.
“Thanks.”
All he gave was a simple nod as he moved to the doorway.
“We’re ready! Let’s go!”
The second his sister and Tanila touched him, he activated his skill.
***
Everett didn’t say a word as Max set the arm of the chair he had just broken on the desk.
“When?”
“As soon as I read it, I sent for you. It hasn’t even been an hour.”
“And the messenger?
Tom cleared his throat.
“One that was hired through a service. I already sought them out. The information they gave was false. I already checked the inn where they were supposedly staying. None who matched that description is there.”
Taking slow and steady breaths, Max tried not to growl.
Behind him, he heard Tanila and Batrire crying.
The letter on the desk before him left no doubt what had happened.
***
Max,
The time has come to decide if the elf you call Cordellia means anything to you.
You have one week. Come to Mylho Alora.
Beg for my mercy.
Or the pretty archer dies.
- Atheila Gilmenor
***
“There’s… there’s nothing we can do,” Tom said quietly. “It’s a kingdom issue. However, I doubt the queens will do anything even if you threaten them. What… what are you going to do?”
His heart hurt. Something he had always been afraid of had just occurred, and part of him had played this moment out a thousand times.
What if someone took Tanila or his sister?
What if it was Fowl or Batrire?
Even still, he had wondered what if it was Cordellia.
“I’m going.”
“Max,” Tanila called out from the couch. “You can’t! It’s a trap! Trust me, she will use her against you until you can’t fight back and then… then she’ll do things… I…”
He stood and turned, looking at three people he loved, all huddled together on the green couch.
It looked the same as it did the day they first came to this office, as if time hadn’t touched it somehow, no matter how many people used it.
His friends, however, bore the marking of time.
He could see Fowl was pissed and knew he was trying to be supportive as the women felt guilty for not saying something earlier.
The woman he loved looked at him, her eyes pleading for him to go, her words begging him to stay.
Even their healer knew what this meant if no one acted.
“We’re going together. I’m going to bring Rakonath, and we will save our friend.”
Tanila’s eyes blinked rapidly, and the tears stuck in them were forced out.
“You… you’re going to bring a dragon?”
“No… I’m going to bring my dragon… and maybe another, and when I’m done, anyone else in this damn world who thinks they can mess with someone I love better prepare for what I’m about to bring.”
“Max… what are you going to do?” Everett asked.
“I’m going to burn down a fricking capital.”
