Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 471: Dragon Loot

Rakonath slowly lifted the lid with a single claw, turned his head sideways, and peered into it.

“So are all these mine?”

“Nobody likes a greedy dragon,” Fowl teased.

“Ignore him,” Batrire said as she moved around to the other side of the chest. “Let me see what’s in there and… holy elf tits!”

Her rare outburst and description of the elf biology caused everyone to quickly hurry over and see what had caused her to do so.

“Two items each,” Cordellia said quietly. “I… I can’t even imagine what they have.”

Max nodded as he looked at the wide range of equipment and saw that two blue spheres were locked for Rakonath.

“So, put two talons in the purple area like you’re going to pinch them and just think about getting what is yours,” he instructed the dragon. “Like this.”

He reached in with his hand and pulled out a bone helmet.

“That looks scary as heck,” Fowl muttered.

Rakonath didn’t wait and mimicked what he had seen putting in two of his talons, managing to barely get both tips in and a blue orb appeared in between them.

“Oh… that’s… an essence orb.”

“What’s an essence orb?”

“I think he’s supposed to eat it,” Batrire told Fowl.

Carefully their newest party member lifted the orb to his snout and sniffed it, silver eyes going wide and quickly deposited it in his maw, smacking loudly.

“Oh… oh…. Oooohhh! That is wonderful!”

Without waiting he repeated the process letting out another round of moans.

“Awkward,” Cordellia whispered.

“What about those crystals?”

Shaking his head, Max sighed.

“Those are for the Faction. I also use them for crafting, but now we will have to let everyone else take their items. Sorry.”

“Do not apologize. I can already feel the power of those two rewards coursing through me. I feel… alive.”

As if to demonstrate his point, Rakonath backed up a few steps and lept into the air, sending a spray of sand at everyone as he shot upward into the sky. S

Coughing a few times, Fowl brushed the sand from his beard.

“Yup… he’s still a baby.”

“I dare you to say that to his face,” their archer teased.

“Uh… no. I have enough intelligence to not do that. Besides, I’m still waiting on Max to tell us how good his helm is.”

Realizing he was holding it and still hadn’t inspected it, Max didn’t wait any longer.

[ Inspect Helm ]

*****

Helm of the Tidal Lord

+75 Strength, Constitution, Dexterity

Invisible State

*****

“Wow… um… yeah. Everett and Tom are going to flip.”

Swapping out his old spider helm, Max immediately felt the power rush through him.

Everyone quickly reached in, taking out an item, with smiles appearing immediately.

Tanila was excited to upgrade her pants and armband while Fowl replaced his belt and bracer. Cordellia couldn’t stop bouncing up and down after getting an upgrade for her chest piece and bracer like their warrior.

“Twinsies,” Batrire said as she showed off her matching armband and traded out one of her earliest earrings.

“You still got one more,” Tanila said.

Taking his out last, Max nodded and inspected the bone-looking bacer resembling Fowls.

“Seventy-five to Strength and Constitution?”

“Yup. Finally, replacing my wurm bracer. Hard to believe. I mean… that was our first boss together, remember?”

Everyone got a little teary-eyed as he held up the bracer he earned from that fight.

“Well thank the gods I don’t have to see your bones or your bone… er… well you know.”

A groan came from their healer.

“Thanks for ruining the moment, babe.”

Storing the item, Max deposited the three large crystals, watching as the chest disappeared and a portal took its place.

“I guess all we need to do now is leave,” he said. “Who wants to go out first and ensure everyone is ready for us?”

“I’ll do it.”

Watching their archer go, Max sent two fire bolts into the sky and waited for Rakonath to return.

“I guess we can all go,” Fowl stated. “See you on the other side.”

As the two dwarves left, Tanila moved to his side and took his hand.

“Feels weird watching him fly like that in here. You ok with what happened?”

“I have to be. I’m a little scared and unsure what Bob has gotten into, but if I know him, he’ll return to normal soon. At least I know he is still there. Which reminds me…”

Max pulled out a journal and ran his finger along some lines, stopping and jotting down a number.

“You think that’s the max stats for this level?”

“I’m missing a whole bunch of numbers which is going to make this hard to figure out. Hopefully I’ll be able to gain a few more soon and finish this up.”

“But… do you think the tower will let you share that with Everett or anyone else?”

Max winked at her.

“I won’t say anything, but I may have a way around it. Until I try, I don’t want to say anything lest the tower gets mad at me and stops me.”

Her eyebrow rose, and then she chuckled, kissing him before moving toward the portal.

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“Don’t stay too long.”

“I won’t.”

“Lies!” she yelled before vanishing from the floor.

Rakonath spiraled down toward him, and Max could feel what had to be joy coming through their bond. His scales sparkled in the sunlight, and for a few seconds, he ignored the fact that this wouldn’t happen again for a while, if ever.

***

“You look happy.”

“I am! More so than you can realize! I sense a change between us! Can you not?”

After a moment, Max realized that he had sensed a change. Where emotions had previously felt like a small trickle, they were now much deeper and less muted.

[ Bond ]

*****

You are bonded with Rakonath.

Rank 1 of Bond Unlocked: Rakonath gains 20% of your stats.

Rank 2 of Bond Unlocked: You may now communicate with your thoughts alone.

Rank 3 of Bond: Pending.

Know that Wekime is watching.

*****

“Our bond has evolved again,” Max said.

“What has changed?”

Closing his eyes, he concentrated. Having spoken with Bob countless times and not needing to learn how to do so, he felt the thread that connected them and grabbed it in his mind.

Can you hear me?

I CAN! YOU CAN TALK TO ME LIKE THIS?!

Holding his head and wincing, Max groaned

“So loud… you don’t have to shout!”

“Forgive me! I…”

Rakonath pulled back his head and sat down, moving his neck slightly as if glancing around them.

“What is it?”

“Since we came in here, I have felt different. Aerthen warned me of this, and I didn’t realize how much it might impact me. You are… always positive. Even when things look bleak, you don’t give up. Almost all of the emotions I feel from you are so strong, and you keep a positive and cheerful outlook.

“Even worse, you and your friends are always laughing, and I think… or I know that it has affected me. Just as I get a portion of your stats, I get a part of you… of who you are. Right now, I cannot help but be optimistic, and it makes me… I believe you use the word—giddy.”

Unable to help it Max started to laugh, and his dragon growled before starting to thrum.

“See! Even now you laugh, and I cannot help but join in. You are infectious, which is why your family is how it is. You also affect them.”

Smiling, Max shrugged.

“I guess that beats being like Cordellia or Batrire.”

“Oh those two are funny in their own way. Still, we should leave. I know they are waiting on us, and you have much to do. I must head out and tell Aerthen. She will be excited to hear the news.”

Walking to the portal, Max held out his hand.

“Let’s go then. Time to show everyone how great you are.”

Rakonath thrummed as he pressed his snout against his palm.

A flicker of energy radiated from where the mark Wekime had given him rested against a silver scale.

***

Everett sighed, taking another sip from his drink as everyone relaxed in his office.

“You know that was one of the most stressful moments I’ve had in a while.”

“Even compared to the stuff on the other world?” Fowl asked.

“Absolutely! You don’t realize all the problems I’ve had that came up as word spread about a dragon entering the tower. Every human, dwarf, and elf wanted to come and get a peek, making life incredibly difficult.

“And don’t forget how those poor adventurers who exited the tower before you reacted when Rakonath appeared.”

Chuckles came from everyone, including Tom as that memory played out.

“That poor archer pissed himself,” Fowl muttered. “Good times.”

“Is there any other secrets you need to share with me?” Tom asked as he stared at Max. “Demon women perhaps?”

“No… no demon women, but that is a specific question. Do you need to tell me about any demon women?”

“Bah, go hump a troll,” the trainer replied as he looked at his empty glass. “Are you sure you gave me as much as last time?”

“I did. You might just be learning to withstand it now,” Everett informed him. “Still, you look like you might pass out soon.”

“Nah, I’m good!”

“I do have one thing that I need to do,” Max said as he rose. “I meant to give this to you a while ago, but I am glad I didn’t as I used it already.”

The sword he had crafted for Everett appeared in his hands, and he held it out to the Faction leader.

“Don’t worry, I already gave Tom two.”

“Two! He gave me two!”

Both dwarfs snorted as the trainer's words started to slur more. He snuggled down on the couch, leaning his head against the plush corner.

Setting his cup down, Everett stood and took it from him, eyes widening at the stats upon inspecting.

“This… is… thank you. You didn’t have to, but thank you.”

Max nodded and shook the older man’s hand and waited, watching as Everett spent a few more moments inspecting the actual weapon and not just its stats.

When he reached the blade's bottom near the guard, he paused and drew it closer to his face.

“You didn’t need to put that there,” the man said, his voice trembling.

“I did because it’s true.”

“What’s it say?” Fowl asked, leaning forward slightly.

***

Everett

A part of every one of us is in this sword.

When we pass the tower, we will always be with you.

***

“Gods, way to make an intoxicated dwarf sappy,” their warrior muttered.

“You’re a special man, you know that?” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Max nodded and moved back to where Tanila was.

Sighing, he looked around the room.

“Where did Cordellia run off to?”

A slight chuckle came from the Faction trainer as his eyelids opened momentarily.

“She was flirting with some elf ranger today. Probably off celebrating her win.”

“It’s about bloody time,” Batrire stated. “That girl was so wound up she needs a good…”

Her words stopped when she saw Fowl smiling at her, motioning with his hand to continue.

“Ahhh… yes… well she needed a good friend.”

“Bah, you speak dirty all the time! Don’t act like a prude just because we’re before these men!”

Their healer's hand snaked out and grabbed his beard, pulling him close.

“How about I talk like that here or show you instead how I really am somewhere else?”

“We need to go!” Fowl exclaimed. “See you tomorrow!”

As the pair of dwarves raced out of the room, Max motioned to the door with his head.

“I’d ask if you wanted to join them, but that sounds really bad.”

‎ “It does, but I know what you mean, and yes, I would love to.”

As the door closed, Everett held the sword, tears running down his cheeks as a slight snore escaped Tom’s nose.

‎