Ultimate Level 1 - 219 - Only A Few Secrets Remain (Patreon)

Only one other statue was another Faction member that they could tell, and with just one ring left, they brought back a human woman named Sulenda, who towered over all of them.  Her arms were bigger than their legs, and she shared a carriage with Batrire and Cordellia, taking up half of it.

-----

The Faction house was ablaze with joy as the news of two long-lost members returning spread like wildfire.  Mustuck, absent for over forty years, and Sulenda, missing for about eighty, were back among them. The disbelief in their eyes was palpable, realizing they had been encased in stone for so long, yet someone had managed to rescue them.

Drinks were flowing, and everyone was coming up to the five of them, celebrating their success.

When it was time to sleep, most found that the sun came up only a few hours later.

-----

Everett was tapping his fingers on the desk, looking across at Max.  

His face was a canvas of conflicting emotions, at times furrowing in deep thought, at others breaking into a faint smile. The uncertainty of what to say next was etched on his features, a testament to the gravity of the situation.

“You killed a gorgon… something no one should see before the thirty-fifth level. I’m afraid I can’t keep that a secret, as your Faction members are already telling the news to everyone in town. The good part is Tom created the story ahead of time about how you had a large mirror on you because of moving and shopping. Luring the gorgon around the corner, where it saw its own reflection, is what won the day.”

Max nodded, still impressed that both men had come up with a story so quickly.

“That mirror now resides in the main hall, and those fools already want us to place it on the wall of honor.

“I want to know how… you could defeat something that Tom and I are not sure we could have defeated unprepared. One wrong move means death.”

“It took everyone.  Talina used walls to wedge it in place.  Cordellia shot only when able to look at its back.  And–”

“Don’t lie.”

The faction leader’s tone was hard.

“I’m tired of the lies, and what scares me even more is that right now, I’m not certain if we were to fight that I would win.”

Leaning against the desk, Everett’s eyes narrowed.  

“You give off an aura of death while hiding it because you aren’t a killer. Inside, I see a person capable of great destruction and great potential. What scares me is which of those you will become and the role I play in that.

“Ever since the day you walked into that door, you’ve been lying.  I realize it now.  Part of me wanted to believe that you were Seth Pendal, skilled with a spear. I needed to believe there was a hero waiting to rise again and help our land.”

Shifting in his seat, the older man’s eyes never left Max’s.

“You do things that aren’t possible. You craft legendary weapons! You hold a dragon’s tooth that I know is worth more than anything we have in our vaults! You push through the tower like a good party does the early dungeons in a small town!”

His voice continued to get louder as Everett talked.

“And now! Now you bring back two heroes this Faction lost without any thought about the money those potions were worth or how they might save your life in the future! None of this makes sense for someone with your power!”

Grunting, he leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, sighing as he let it out.

“I’m not sure I can keep this charade going,” Everett said quietly.  “This Faction is everything to me, and if you want to be a part of it, we’re going to have to find out how to work together without the lies.  Are you willing to do that?”

The moment Max had been dreading had finally arrived, only much sooner than he had hoped.

“I’m not sure you can handle the truth,” he replied, watching every reaction Everett made as he spoke. “If you can provide a way that will bind you to never reveal what I will share, then I will be honest.  Without that, I’ll ask for my leave, request any payment owed plus items back and we will be forced to find a new Faction it appears.”

Snorting, Everett shook his head, closing his eyes and rubbing them with his fingers.

“You say that so casually.  I believe you would.  Whatever your secret is, it must be so great that you would rather leave what I know you care about, displayed by your actions today.”

Rising from the chair, Everett moved to one of the shelves behind his desk.

He did something with a series of books, and Max saw the pattern with his sonar skills.

A wall moved, sliding to reveal a chest.  Pulling the key from his storage, Everett unlocked the chest and pulled out a clear piece of crystal.  It was eight inches long and about an inch thick.

Closing the chest, he motioned, and the wall slid back into place.

“This,” Everett said as he held up the crystal stick and moved toward his desk, “is a binding rod.  One promise.  It will stop me If I attempt to break that promise in any way.  The punishment is not fun, and continued attempts will lead to death.  Tell me Seth, is this truth you promise worth me using this?”

Max stood up from his chair and took off his Ring of Growth.  

“This… this is a ring we got in the tower not long after we started.  It gives ten percent to all my stats.”

Everett’s hands fumbled the rod, but thankfully, his speed and dexterity were enough for him to catch it before it hit the floor.

“Impossible! I mean that’s… you’re serious… I can see it on your face.”

Nodding, Max slipped it back on.

“What I’m going to tell you if you bind yourself to that promise will be worth far more than you can imagine.”

Everett nodded, and within thirty seconds, he had made the pact, binding himself to the truth, even unto death.

-----

Five minutes had passed since Max had finished telling him most of the whole story.  He couldn’t share about the deal with the dragon.  Showing the dragon scale had almost caused Everett to die from choking on his drink.

Now, the older man was slowly turning his glass of good alcohol on the desk.

“I can’t imagine,” he muttered. Everything you've been through, the potential of what you could become, the fact… that you have a skill—I would strike you dead if I could and didn’t know the real you. Yet you’re the kindest soul I have ever met.”

“Listen to me, Everett. I didn’t ask for this skill.  I wanted to be that happy baker, getting fat and having kids with a cute redheaded girl from back home.  None of that matters.”

Setting the empty cup he had long since drank on the desk, Max stood up, seemingly taller even though he hadn’t grown.

“Only one thing matters, and that is protecting those I love. You already know I love this Faction, and every day, it grows on me. It pained me to do what I had to do to Baldin… more than you will know—but we both knew it needed to. Often, I wonder if the gods made all that happen just so I could have the skill, so I could provide what no one else could. 

“Does that suck? Yes!” Max exclaimed, banging his hand on the desk, making sure that he didn’t break it. “I’m done playing their games.  If the gods want me to get strong, then I will, and when we beat the tower and get to go against them, they will regret the day they messed with my family and friends. I will make sure they suffer for causing innocent people to die!”

Max was breathing hard, his eyes shaking as he clenched his fists.

“The skill you worry about has changed because it has realized what the gods will one day realize.  I am my own person. No one will force me to become something I don’t want to be.  When I find the gods responsible for killing people we care about, be certain I will beat the life out of them. I will make them regret ever involving us in whatever game they are playing.”

Everett nodded, seeing the truth and conviction in Max’s eyes. He knew there was only one thing he could ask him to share.

“I’m going to ask.  You know what it is.  Do you trust me with that knowledge?”

“My stats and skills?”

“Just your stats… I’m… I don’t think I could handle knowing everything you possess.  There are ideas already running through my head, and knowing the truth… It would probably break me.”

“Very well,” Max replied. “I’ll tell you my stats, just the base. That way you’ll have some stuff left to wonder and guess about when combined with my items.”

Grinning, Everett nodded.

[ Simple Base Stat Check]

*****

Max Hoste

18-Year-old Human Male

Level 1

Exp 76/1000

Tower Experience: 14.91%

HP: 1900/1900

MP: 1500/1500

Stamina: 950/950

STR: 180

DEX: 160

CON: 190

INT: 150

WIS: 150

Defense of the Dragon - 7.5%

Defense of the Demon - 7.0%

Demon Essence: - 308

*****

Everett said nothing for a moment.  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  Doing the math in his head told him things he couldn’t begin to imagine.

“One hundred and seventy…”

“None of my stats are one hundred and seventy,” Max replied.

“No… your level… for that many stats… you could…”

Everett froze, his mouth still open, and he looked up at Max in shock.

“You could have beaten Dexic in that duel.”

Wincing and frowning, Max shook his head for a few seconds and then finally nodded.

“Yes, but only if I used skills.  She is strong.”

Scoffing, the Faction leader leaned back in his chairs, eyes wide as he gazed up at the ceiling.

After a few more seconds, Everett regained his composure, took a breath, and cleared his throat.

“Very well. I will protect your secret and help you and your team complete the tower.”

Rising to his feet, he held out his hand and extended it toward Max.

“Know that not even death will pry this truth from me.  Just promise me one thing.”

As Max shook the man’s hand, he felt the grip getting tight. He was pulled forward slightly, almost leaning over the desk.

“Kill whoever made Baldin die for me.”

Max nodded, and Everett let go of the man’s hand.

“Protect the ones you love, Seth.  Without them, the world is a very painful place.”

Turning slightly, Max pointed at the door.

“Out there are three people I would give my life for in a second, but if someone hurts them, rest assured, there will be no place for them to hide.”

Neither said another word, and Max made his way out of the office.

-----

With the door shut, Everett sobbed for a moment, realizing that someone he loved had been hurt in some game of the gods.

Wiping his tears, he looked at the door and grinned.  There was a dark gleam in his eyes as he stared at the door.

“Whoever made up this game, you better run. That boy is going to kill you all.”

And then Everett laughed so hard that the room was filled with a sound so pure it hadn’t heard in a decade.