Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 433: A New Capital

Chapter 433 - A New Capital

Max had noticed the tracks for the train that Fipple had mentioned would take him to the town they were headed toward.

Rough stone covered a large section of the land, hundreds of mines that had eaten away at the world. Each one turned into a deep chasm, cut in perfect lines.

I wonder how much has been mined from this area. For a world to be as old as Jazzjak and Quilazmore had said, I wonder where the food plots are. It also makes me curious to know how big this world must be compared to ours.

In my memory, I see worlds and planets that would make yours feel like a simple boulder at the base of a mountain. Just as this one appears to be comprised of mainly stone, others are water or ice. Some burn with fire as the sun that they are near bakes them nonstop.

And to think there are creatures that live on them…

Imagine if one of them came to your world. How would one from a planet so hot deal with the temperature you think is normal? Would their very body melt everything they stood upon or would they perish from the pain of freezing to death?

Bob’s comments and questions helped Max to keep his rage in check as they streaked across the sky, watching the land beneath them never seem to change enough to gauge a real distance.

***

Large metal buildings once again rose up in various blocks, each set in a consistent pattern of squares, everything almost perfectly in place.

A few things he figured had to be some farms and livestock areas had been off to one side, but otherwise the city suddenly appeared on the landscape, an enormous mine miles away and sunken deep into the city with multiple tracks that ran to where it was and back to the city.

So their main part of this city must be that massive mine out there. It’s like watching ants move even from way up here. So much smoke is rising from it.

For the city to be that big, it must provide a large portion of what is needed and required. I’d be interested to see what potential materials for crafting are available after we solve our initial problem.

Snorting as the wind raced over his bald head, Max studied the city as Bob began to lower them slowly toward the sprawling area.

Movement was everywhere, and lights blinked constantly. The sun was on what he assumed was the last third or less of light for the day, and the brightness of the lights below seemed to almost twinkle like stars from above.

Slowly, the city’s composition and layout changed, and larger, less packed blocks began to appear in the center.

There it is!

Max knew immediately where the Flukepitch estate must be because the amount of space that was both open and yet fenced in stood out from above.

They appear to have…. nine city blocks worth of space. A large wall surrounds it, and all four main roads have gates. One of them appears to be more for guests, as no line of goods seems to be waiting outside of it.

He could see the line of metal wagons, or containers, as Fipple had called them, lined up along the wall, and occasionally, one would enter and move along the roads inside the massive complex.

Wealthy enough to have that kind of place, guards, influx of goods and what has to be crafting facilities of some kind based on the smoke that is coming from those three large buildings. The houses or personal property must be in the other fenced-in area.

A thread of agreement came from Bob as they hovered high in the air, looking down upon the section in the middle which was obviously the main house.

Rare trees and plants were inside the walled-in space and red foliage that had to be similar to grass covered a section where tiny groups of people tended to the purple, green, yellow and red trees and bushes scattered around the inside.

All that remains now is deciding how you want to announce yourself.

Max already had all of his armor on, and he was not concerned with appearing regal or businesslike.

Seeing the property beneath him caused his blood to boil. He wondered what kind of influence the Flukepitch must have and what he would have to do to retrieve the stolen item.

On it.

[ All Skill Cooldowns Reset ]

Thank you. I know you hate doing that.

Dislike… then again, what is the point of not preparing for the worst? We could use the ability on your equipment, but this is just as easy. Besides, part of me hopes we will easily replace what that cost.

Knowing he was about as ready to go as possible, Max considered what his sudden appearance would do.

How easily can we get there and use stealth? Nothing says ‘we’re in trouble’ than seeing someone suddenly appear before them.

Bob laughed, and they started to descend, moving toward the largest building within the inner complex.

Windows covered a dome section, and Max entered stealth as they approached.

Stepping off the wind blade, he glanced through the glass and saw a large room filled with over fifty different cases, each holding items that had a light shining under or around them to illuminate them. A bright orange carpet with black designs covered the floor, and metal and wood shelves were intermingled around the sides of the room.

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Hovering lights floated in the air and moved around slowly and steadily.

The glass is trapped, as you can tell.

Holding his hand out, his Trap Detection skill could sense an energy field.

That changes things… I can tell that we won’t be able to use your skills to teleport through it. Perhaps your planetary travel one might… but if it fails, it will inform them of our presence.

I guess we’ll need to find another way in then.

Moving along the metal roof, Max occasionally had to step sideways or jump slightly, avoiding areas he sensed a trap was set.

Arriving at the edge of the eight-story building, he glanced down and saw that workers were still moving in and around the residence.

His eyes fell upon a small enclosed wagon with a charger attached to the front with two gnomes overseeing a dozen advanced-looking clockwork automatons unloading it.

Over there. A door that some are bringing in supplies. It's probably the best option right now.

Dropping to the ground, Max’s stealth never broke as Bob used their Wind magic to move them quietly.

Without waiting, they came to the ramp the clockworks were moving through, each a foot taller than him, much slimmer and compact than before. Their metallic legs moved more precisely than the swaying stride of the ones back in Nimyn’s shop.

His speed made him fly past them, sneaking past the gnome worker who was looking at a tablet, having just looked at some writing on the metal crate being carried in.

The doorway led into a large warehouse where dozens of other creations were moving around, each tasked with a job that appeared to require organizing crates.

Half a dozen gnomes were busy, some shouting orders while a pair were comparing tablets. They all wore purple outfits that seemed to clash with everything.

Bright lights, shining metal floor, and rows and rows of shelves with crates filled the fifty-foot-long area at least twenty feet high.

Max’s eyes swept the space and saw a door across the room that looked different from all the others. Unlike most, which were at least nine feet tall, this one was smaller, barely five feet tall, and had a crest of some kind on it.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

Sometimes I forget how fast we move, even while stealthed.

One second, he was tucked away near the entrance, gathering information on the space he had infiltrated, and the next, he stood by the small door, holding his hand out, trying to sense any traps.

There’s a lock of some kind… mechanical or similar to the ones back in that city we… I destroyed. Let me have a moment.

Moving his hand over a clear piece of crystal, Max could sense Bob doing something. After a few seconds, a click came, causing the door to swing open on its own.

His sonar told him no one was coming toward them and as the door moved open and into a hall barely six feet tall and had floating lights along the ceiling, Max moved from the warehouse section and quickly pulled the door behind him.

Immediately, the noise of all the working automatons was cut off and replaced by a few sounds he could detect much further down the hall.

Dropping stealth, he reactivated it as soon as he could, moving down the hall to where he knew it was taking him toward the heart of the large building.

Dozens of doors flew by as he passed them. None had marks of any kind and all were made from a blood red-colored wood that didn’t clash too much with the green carpet under his feet.

These gnomes… what is it with these colors?

Perhaps the whole world is color-blind?

Chuckling to himself, Max reached the door at the end, pressing his ear against it. Upon hearing nothing, he slowly opened it a crack, letting his sonar reveal anything he could learn about it.

Movement was evident and the sound of metal on stone alerted him to an approaching automaton.

Green gems flared up as the creation pulled the door open and seemed to stare into the hallway that was a foot shorter than it stood.

Spotting a staircase across the room and beyond the metallic obstacle, Max made his move.

[ Demonic Teleportation ]

He was fifteen yards past the apparent guard, and his ability and eyes revealed a three-story opening with stairs that ran up one side of the large room and then around to another floor.

A pair of automatons were standing near a hallway he deduced had to be from another entrance, and a few more were dusting different objects set upon furniture crafted from the same redwood as the doors.

Black stone steps led upwards, and Max moved up them silently, skipping the second floor with exits on both sides and continuing to the third-floor landing.

Large paintings hung on the walls above the stairs, some looking so old that if he touched them, they might die. Each one was filled with gnomes that apparently didn’t know how to smile and wore various goggles, glasses and other metallic contraptions.

They all wore green and purple suits, with the same crest on the door that led him in.

Reaching the top he stopped, seeing a twelve-foot painting that confirmed he was in the right place.

Seven gnomes, four men and three women, were arranged next to each other, all dressed as fancy as the rest of the other pictures.

At the top row on the left was the gnome that had brought him here.

Sharp blue eyes seemed to stare at him from behind a pair of goggles.

I’m glad to know we’re in the right place.

How far are you willing to go to acquire what we’re seeking?

Bob’s question tugged at a place he had finally mastered.

A calmness was there, as was the rage of what had been done and the pain he had felt at being tricked and risking the development of Rakonath.

This building… this property… as much of this city as I have to, and even most of this world… I’ll burn it down until they bring her to us and beg to take that which she stole from me.

Then, let us begin.

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