Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 466: Judgement

As soon as the five of them were seated, four worlds appeared behind the being. Each one floated and turned.

“Those are where we were,” Batrire whispered.

“Correct. You five have made choices that have impacted the future of each of these worlds. There are things in place here that I cannot tell you because your minds wouldn’t be able to comprehend the implications meaningfully, nor are you yet in a position to possess that knowledge. For now, let me reveal to you what has happened.”

The first floor they had been on was covered in mountains and forests. The image of the world moved closer to them, spinning a few more times before stopping, and a glowing circle appeared on it.

“You passed this test in a time most cannot begin to hope for, even on subsequent attempts. Not only that you killed some of the fewest number of beings on it. Rewards were granted for such feats but then something else happened.”

A duplicate image of the wine Max had given the elder appeared on the ground.

“A gift was given. Even more so, a gift that carries weight further than many might believe. As such, that gesture and act has impacted a tribe in ways that have not yet been seen. Even now, we are unsure how this will affect that thread until it is played out.”

The circle began to expand, and soon the whole planet was covered with cities, some rising and some falling, but a steady progression appeared to take place.

“It appears this thread has many paths. Perhaps we will see what the next ones to come do with it. For now, know that your actions have been recorded and noted as something unique.”

A loud snap came as two fingers pressed together and came apart, causing the first world and the wine to vanish.

“What did you do?” Tanila asked.

“I gave him some wine.” Max responded hesitantly.

“Now on to the second world.”

Before them now stood a frozen planet covered in ice and stone.

“Many might think this a place of suffering and death but on this world many tribes survive, each one battling for control of the magic within. Once again, you were able to complete this task in an impressive amount of time. You also placed at the bottom of ending lives.”

A copy of the giant Max had struck down appeared.

“It is recorded that you were able to strike down this creature with a single blow, and yet, with that kind of power, you left an entire army that sought your death alive. Many wouldn’t hold back, using that kind of power to end these creatures' lives and seek the treasure they might drop as well as the experience they grant. You did neither.”

The being paused, and its reflective face showed no hint of what was happening inside it.

“Rewards were granted based on your actions. This thread changed again in a way we had not seen in ages. The group you faced moved across this world, striking down other species and claiming the planet for themselves.”

“So what? I needed to kill all of them?”

Max’s question got no answer as another snap rang out and the world vanished.

A planet filled with green water and soil was put before them.

“The third floor–”

“What about my question?!” Max shouted.

The being leaned forward, pointing a finger at him.

“You will wait for everything to be judged, and then you will be given a small moment to ask a few questions. Do not interrupt me again, or you will not like the consequences.” ꭆＡＮȎ₿Εș

Suddenly an aura of tremendous power erupted from the metallic being, and everyone was crushed beneath it, struggling to breathe as its finger swept across them all.

“Here you are weak. If you wish for this kind of power you will learn to respect those who already hold it.”

Just as quickly as the aura had appeared, it vanished, and they all gasped for breath.

“The third floor was one you placed in the top areas in some ways yet did not stand out on the first pass. Your second attempt once more put you in a very small group of beings able to complete it quickly. Rewards were granted.”

Images of the mud golems rose on one side of the spinning world. On the other side, a being appeared that they knew as some kind of troll.

“You slaughtered a whole section of one kind and left the other alone. This group has conquered most of the world with no one to oppose them. Soon all the food on it will be gone and even their own race will die off, leaving this world lifeless.”

Max wanted to scream, but Bob helped him hold his tongue.

Do not push it. We are dealing with things we do not have the power to withstand. The lesson is obvious, and I know you see it.

But how could we know what our actions would cause at those moments? How could we know that killing one race would cause another to take over and eventually run out of food? I get that they are trying to help us see that our actions have consequences that we may not understand, but then again, hasn’t every part of our journey so far been mindless killing?

No.

Really? Max thought with hope.

You gave some non-humans some wine.

Oh…

Just wait. There is a reason for this, and we will learn soon enough.

“Here we see the importance of balance. Good, bad, evil, heroic. Those words and meanings are often lost when one does not know the whole picture.”

Once more a finger pointed at Max.

“I can sense your mind understanding that. Proof of one who might be worthy.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Glancing at his friends, he could see their faces, each frowning, some chewing on their lips or clenching their cheeks.

As with all the other times, a snap sent that image away, and the last world to appear was one covered mostly with water.

Cities rose from it in different spots, and Max blinked a few times, wondering where those had been.

“Our favorite world for every group that is attempting what you are. A choice was given, and you picked a side. As with every other world, you achieved victory; in this case, it was even more so, a stunning victory. Your complete decimation of the other two races created a chain reaction, allowing the kind you supported to grow dominant. Now, through diplomacy and order, they have peace, keeping two races which seek blood held back.”

Something like the sound of a chuckle came for a single second.

“A well laid out plan was hatched. You then obliterated the power of the opposing sides. You played a difficult game, defeated it within their rules, and forced them to fight. A glimmer of hope was still held on to by a single race that if they won the last match, they could win it all. Yet like a predator, you revealed your true power and decimated your opponent.”

An image of Nereid appeared, and Max started to rise from his seat, only able to stop when Bob called out.

DON’T!

The being paused, waiting until his arse was firmly placed against the flat surface.

“A gift most could never imagine to receive this early on was bestowed. That action changed this world in ways you cannot believe. Now, the names of your party are etched in stone that does not fade, and many bear them with pride.”

His heart ached, and Max felt a tear in his right eye. With a steady hand, he brushed it away.

“The tower has taken an interest in you, Max Hoste. We know what you possess. The skill that lives within you. Never in our–”

Its voice was suddenly cut off, and the being's body jerked twice.

Just as quickly as the jerking had started, it ended. A loud snap echoed round the room. As the sound dissipated, Nereid’s image and world vanished.

“Finally, the last floor. Tell me. Why did you strike down the creature in the volcano?”

As the being spoke, an illusion of the creature they had faced appeared before them.

Each of them looked at each other yet none spoke.

“You are permitted to speak.”

“It was the boss of the floor… We thought… I thought…”

Sighing, Max realized what had just happened. He had deemed what they would face a menace before even attempting to converse with it.

“I never checked to see if it was aggressive.”

“No, you did not. What if that had been a protector of innocents or a guardian of a great evil, keeping a whole world safe? Would you still have attacked it?”

“Not if I knew.”

“So you assumed that it was evil because of how it looked? Because of where it lived?”

His mind raced, already knowing the threads of where this would lead.

Answer it honestly.

“Based on our experience in the tower and how every creature we faced on certain floors was a creature that sought out our destruction, I… assumed, knowing what that spells, that it was the same. Not once did I consider what it might be. Instead I chose to act based on my previous experience.”

“That was to be expected. Here is the lesson you all must learn. Everything you believe you know and trust to be true will not be so after the tower. If you pass it, there are consequences for acting how you did.”

Max’s head hurt from the loud snapping sound that came.

“Judgement has passed. You may continue on this journey. For a brief moment, I will answer any questions that I can. There are some things I cannot tell you.”

They all looked at one another, and Max’s mind ran with thousands of topics he wanted to know more about.

Tanila’s hand shot up, and the being gave her a small nod.

“Is it true that if we complete the tower, we can become a god and start our own bloodline?”

“Wise people often ask many questions at a time. The answer is yes to both, but the timeline for such is different. I cannot give more details. None are allowed to share what they know of after the tower. To do so… causes pain you have yet to endure.”

He could see Tanila’s lips begin to move as she turned to him and smiled even more.

“Will we be judged again?” Fowl asked.

“An even better question. Not for some time. Know that after this floor things will change again. If you complete enough of the tower, we will meet again as you near the last few floors.”

Sometimes, that dwarf surprises me. Hurry up and decide what you’re going to ask this thing. I’m almost certain we won’t get many more questions.

“Are… are those real worlds? I mean, worlds that people… or beings live on and did we really affect them?”

It gazed at Cordellia, who shrank back a little in her chair.

“That… I cannot answer in a way your mind would understand. We could discuss philosophies of life, death and what is real. Are all the creatures you faced in the dungeons before real? Did they have a home? If someone kills you, are you real?

“Some lived better lives because of you. A world died because of you. But also know there is a world where many call them by your name. That knowledge should thus tell you that these places exist. Perhaps not in the way you consider them to be but the tower and the system count each of those lives as one just like you count your own.”

Ask it!

Bob’s will almost crushed him, as Max knew the question he wanted to ask but feared it would be one he could not get answers to.

“I have a question,” Max stated. “You said the tower knows the skill inside me and has noticed me. Why me? And does it also know of the other two who have a skill like mine, and has it taken notice of them?”

Silence came and the being jerked a few times.

“I can answer only certain things, and this will be all I can say. You, Max Hoste, have more eyes on you than most human minds can hope to grasp. Conflict and wars occur because you and the two others who have similar skills. Power on a level you can not comprehend is–”

A large jerk came, causing the being to slam into the back of its chair.

“You are –”

Another jerk sent the metallic body back. And then another.

A single flicker of light, so fast one might have thought they had blinked, came and the being sat straight in its chair.

“Our time is done. What comes next will be much easier for a few floors. The tower has found you worthy.”

A loud snap rang out and Max’s head ached.

The wind blew against his skin, and his sonar started to tell him about his surroundings.

“Back so soon? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

The voice of a dwarf he knew immediately told him where he was.

“Aye, Bidforo. It appears that floor was easier than we thought.”

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