They arrived as one, and Max let his sonar move out as far as it would, seeking anything nearby.
All of them wore their armor, each ready for combat, having prepared before coming through.
Nothing moved toward them and the air was void of all scent except their own.
When his eyes worked, Max saw they were stretching for miles in a large flat area.
Simple stone, each block purple and similar to the ones in his dimensional space.
There, about a hundred yards away, stood Chromie, feet slightly spread and his hands behind his back.
“Welcome. You have made it, and the final tests await!”
His words washed over them, and Max felt a new power coming from the one who had spoken to them many times.
“The hour has come, and the last test is before you. A fight like nothing you have ever faced before. There is only one way to win: by defeating me.”
“Fear not. It is only one foe and I shall be it, but it will be against your worst enemy.”
[ Final Tower Trial Initiating ]
Max saw the words appear, and he glanced at the others, seeing their eyes move. Each of them was reading what he guessed was the same message as his.
“Yes,” Tanila said, cutting off Fowl.
[ Body Type - Measured ]
[ Body Type - Exceeds expected Parameters]
[ Equipment - Error ]
[ Weapon - Unable to Identify ]
[ Weapon - Replaced ]
[ Skills - Quantity Exceeds Parameters ]
[ Skills - Determining Potential Skills ]
[ Selection Complete ]
Max had one eye on the information that appeared and the other on Chromie.
The being made of reflective metal began to shift and change.
It became like a liquid, twisting and turning, forming into something new, and as it began to finalize its appearance, Max felt his heart stop.
“It’s… Max,” Cordellia whispered.
There before them stood a twenty-five-foot-tall version of him. It wore the same armor as he did, and the only difference Max could tell was the weapon it carried. It wasn’t the artifact Zisathass had made. Instead, it was the one that he and Buwingrid had crafted. It changed shapes a few times, finally stopping on a long sword. Even its shield was the bone one Max held in his hands.
“Are we fighting you?” Fowl asked.
“You are correct, Fowl Hammerfall,” Chromie replied, his voice having not changed. “The real test comes now. You shall face the greatest one in your group. I have a portion of his skills and abilities. We shall begin this final test in one minute, and you shall rise or fall. Prepare yourselves! Know that I do not receive the advantage of your group, but I am one hundred levels higher than Max.”
A snort came from their healer and ranger.
Max’s mind raced with the speed of everything that had to happen. There was no time to argue or discuss. Too many questions were present, and he needed to solve as many as possible immediately.
“Do it,” Tanila said.
Cutting himself with his weapon, Max carried out the first part of his plan.
[ Demonic Summoning ]
Laughter came from Chromie as the world shifted and the kaleidoscope walls began to form.
The black gate appeared and no time was wasted as it flung open, two shapes standing at it.
“Finally,” Rakonath huffed. “You have no idea how horrible it has been!”
Sog shook his head, a frown appearing as Max’s dragon moved forward, his humanoid form covered in silver dragon armor.
“You say that like I mistreated you. Nothing bad happened while you were here.”
“There’s no time,” Max said, stopping the discussion that was going in a direction he didn’t need to go. “Look. That’s what we’re facing.”
Sog and Rakonath grunted, each seeing the larger image of Max a hundred yards away.
“Oh that’s a bastardly move,” the demon said. “I mean, I can respect it, but tell me, is that thing just as strong as you?”
I don’t know. Ever since I saw those notifications, I have tried to dig deeper and gather as much as I can but the system blocked me. I can only assume that your weapon is our greatest trump card. It doesn’t appear that it could copy it. That gives you a boost in stats. Whatever skills it may or may not have, I’m not certain.
So we’re facing a slightly weaker version of myself, yet with an unknown number of abilities? Advice?
Bob was silent for a moment, and a thread of emotion grew. He could feel his skill caring about something.
Trust your allies. You can’t protect them all and must believe they can handle themselves.
This fight isn’t against some creature which just rushes head first and tries to smash its way through whoever pisses it off. Fowl’s taunt might work, and it might not. Every spell it uses will be as if you cast it.
The only way to defeat this is to focus on it as a group.
Let your warrior do what he does best. Absorb damage and protect others.
Trust Cordellia to harass it and cause injury to the boss. She may piss it off more than Fowl and come after her faster than you expect.
Batrire will do what she has done since the time you all grouped. She’ll heal and keep everyone going to the best of her ability.
Can take care of herself and the others. You know that. She’s proven herself time and time again. I think I finally understood what Phaius was trying to warn you about.
I’m uncertain, but had you come in here alone and faced this test solo, we could have easily defeated it. Without worrying about the others, I see no path where it could pose a real risk to us. With my reserves and the ability to refresh cooldowns, we could win.
Had your group come in without you, they would have faced one of them, and I am confident they could have defeated that trial without any major problems.
“I’m stronger, faster, and a little bit more powerful,” Max informed Sog and Rakonath. “Bob’s not sure what skills it might have or how many. Those will all be learned the hard way. You two need to be smart and harass. Don’t get close and don’t risk yourselves.”
The demon laughed and shook his head.
“There you go again, always trying to make sure that I am safe and alive. Forgive me, Max, but this is one fight I will risk everything for you.”
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“No. I will not. You taught me what friendship is. A concept foreign to my race. We take advantage of friendships, manipulating other races into doing what we want because of their bonds with others. It has always been seen as a weakness, yet you have shown me it is one of the strongest things one can possess.”
Sog stepped forward and looked down at him, placing a large black hand on his shoulder.
“You have always looked out for me. Even on the first day you summoned me, you saved my life. Most would have allowed me to die, choosing that moment to escape or strike down their foe. You didn’t. Today I shall look out for you, my friend.”
He wanted to reply and say the demon was crazy, but Max couldn’t. He wouldn’t take away what was being offered, not just because he felt he could use the help, but because he understood how much this meant to his friend.
“Then handle yourself and do whatever damage you can. Just know, I’m not weak.”
Sog laughed and nodded, pounding his chest with a fist.
“You do realize we have never fought each other. I think you often forget I possess a portion of your power. I know you will win if we fight head to head, but this isn’t that kind of fight, is it?”
“Don’t even think about asking me to do the same,” Rakonath announced. “I’ll do my part but I’m not going to sit back or return to his home.”
“Again, it wasn’t that bad, so stop saying it was.”
Max’s dragon shivered, his humanoid form prepped for battle as he stood there.
“I think we have two different definitions of what is acceptable. Now, I’ll focus on pestering from the sky, but I can’t use my fire if you are near him.”
“Just do what you can and be smart.”
Rakonath laughed and smiled.
“Do not worry. I shall not pull a Fowl as you all call it.”
Max sighed and nodded.
“When I end this, we have one minute. I’ll get Batrire to buff Fowl with her big buff and then make for the boss. Anything else?”
“Just thank you,” Sog said as he held out his hand. “Not just for trusting me with your dragon but for everything.”
Max laughed and shook his demon’s hand, ignoring the scowl on Rakonath’s face.
We are as best as we can be. Tell Tanila what you want her to do, and trust the rest. No matter what, they are ready for this. You did everything you could to get them this far.
Max chuckled and nodded.
With her bloodline perk, she has an almost two-thousand intelligence stat. Part of me is glad she’s never hit me with a spell yet.
Laughing, Max took one more second to see how he stood.
19-Year-old Human Male
Tower Experience: 99.0%
Base Bonus Items Total
STR: 1865 +8047 +655 10,577
DEX: 1778 +7672 +590 10,040
CON: 1831 +7901 +665 10,397
INT: 1431 +6175 +165 7,771
WIS: 1429 +6166 +165 7,760
Defense of the Dragon - 50%
Defense of the Demon - 50%
Demon Essence: - 1026
World Champion: - 20% Stat Increase
Bloodline: - 90% of the required 100% unlocked
Tower Stat Bonus: - 12.5%
Blessing of Ockrim - 10%
Max nodded, and the door to the demon domain shut. The fractured glass around them began to shatter.
The laughter continued for a moment but was cut off when Chromie saw the appearance of both the demon and Rakonath.
He didn’t bother to wait to see if their opponent would comment on the new arrivals, choosing not to waste any more time.
“Batrire, buff us all with the big buff right at the end. Hit Fowl with your single one. Cordellia use that pet and keeps pestering. Agro here isn’t the same as the other bosses, so go all out but make the shots count. Tanila, you’re free to do whatever you think is best.”
He spun and turned to face his dwarven friend and smiled.
“Time for you to nutt up and be the warrior we both know you are.”
“Bah, that’s a horrible speech if you’re trying to convince me that doppleganger of you isn’t going to kill me.”
Punching his friend's shoulder, Max shook his head.
“You’re not going to die. Use your skills, defend the team, and remember what you did against Sylvandra. Toss in your newest ability and you might outdo me.”
Fowl chuckled, stored his hammer, and punched Max back.
“True. I’m kind of a big deal. Last I heard, they made a few statues of me.”
Groans came, and Max could sense a little of the concern leaving his friends as they focused on what would happen in less than a minute.
“Rakonath, if you would.”
His dragon laughed and nodded, moving a few steps away and began to transform. As he grew, the scales of his father stretched and covered his own. Each one seemed thicker and glossier. Armored ridges formed around both eyes, and his tail now had a small spike on it.
“Holy dragon nuts,” Cordellia muttered. “When did–”
“Later, after we defeat this,” Max said. “Right now, we do this. As a team and as a family.”