Chapter 86: Trading knowledge
Max explained the lack of success with the four bosses and mentioned his desire to find a library or bookstore that might have information that could help.
You sure thats a smart thing to do? Someone might wonder why you are asking such specific questions.
Max nodded, finishing a bite as Batrire waited for him to answer her question.
As the one who prepares for the dungeons we do, I want to know everything about the monsters and any possible skills we might encounter.
She huffed and crossed her arms, knowing she wouldnt change his mind.
I can still visit with the elves, Tanila repeated, ignoring the look Batrire now gave her. I will stay discreet and not give my real name.
Max turned and glanced at Tanila, and she saw his expression.
No, I havent hidden anything from you. Its just that elves have special names that are only shared with other elves.
Its ok, Fowl chimed in, a grin already appearing. She doesnt like to advertise it, but her real name is Miss Holy Perky Elf Tits.
Ow! Fowl shouted, having gotten elbowed and kicked under the table at the same time.
Chuckling, Max kept his mouth shut.
Im not sure what specifically you are looking for. You mention books on monsters and creatures' skills, but what about them?
Max didnt let the smile on his lips fade even though the librarian had frustrated him multiple times.
I know some bosses have various skills, and some have up to four. As we journey through the dungeons, Im trying to keep track of everything we encounter so that when I can join a Faction, I can provide them with a record of everything I find that might be useful down the road.
The man nodded, his orange robes hiding his hands. I understand, but I say again, we already have that information written down. Why copy it once more?
Would you say everything written down is absolutely correct, or that some other skills or powers might be yet to be recorded?
The librarian, Adam, left eye started to twitch, not wanting to admit that Maxs statement struck a hotly debated topic.
There are times that we learn of a new skill, but it takes research and review before we can add any of that to the academic books.
What if I could give you the name of a book lover who has evidence and verification of something not officially confirmed?
Adams eye stopped twitching, and his face scrunched as he tried to read Maxs facial expressions.
You must know of something, or you wouldnt simultaneously be so specific, yet vague, at the same time.
I do, and I promise you that what I will tell you can be verified and will be worth you helping me.
The part of his robe that covered his hands moved a little, alerting Max that the man was considering his offer.
And what must I do for such knowledge?
Max laughed and pulled a page with notes on it out of his storage.
At first, Adam balked at the number of books Max wanted to borrow, but after he mentioned the red-scaled lizard in the dungeon in Rumstant and its skill, Adam quickly gave in.
A stack of eight books was given to Max to borrow, and a sum of ten gold was held to remind him to return them.
Adam had scribbled furiously, asking questions and getting details from Max about the rare creature he had faced and the skill in question. When Max gave a broad description of the skill, he could see Adams lip curling in a smirk.
I, will gladly assist you in any other ways possible if you encounter something else you know isnt verified.
Max leaned over and, even though no one was within hearing distance, whispered, Perhaps I can tell you about a few other rares Ive encountered after I finish these books.
The mans jaw fell open, and Max nodded before turning and waving.
See you in a week or two, Librarian Adam.
Are we sure about this? Fowl asked as they stood outside the glowing blue portal. It's undead, and we all know how that worked out last time.
Max nodded, tapping his head.
Grumbling, Fowl moved forward, the feather on his plate helm swishing as he walked.
He whines a lot, doesnt he? Max asked after Fowl had portaled over.
Every day every day, Batrire muttered as she pushed Max toward the portal from behind. Now go. Warriors first!
Max couldnt believe his eye when he saw what the dungeon looked like. A bright sky, beautiful homes with manicured yards, and a town waiting to be explored.
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Good gods, this is going to be awful, Fowl told him. Why couldnt it be some open graveyard or something?
A groan came behind them as the women arrived, and Max turned to see both of them grimacing.
This is going to be a cluster Im not sure this is worth it, Seth.
Max nodded slowly, raised his eyebrows, and grinned.
There is a shade at the end of this dungeon, and I want to pay it back for what the last one did.
Thats a lie, stated Fowl as he equipped his shield and new mace. You want to try and consume its skill.
Well yes, that too.
Max ran at the last skeleton archer, his axe prepared to swing.
Two arrows had already struck him, but both had done nothing more than a few slight scratches. His armor could resist the attacks, and his constitution also prevented the most damage they did.
Max swung his axe and obliterated the skeleton, sending chips of bone flying everywhere.
Come back! Fowl shouted between swings of his hammer.
Max turned and was running back when he saw a bolt of green magic come out of a window on the house's second floor near Fowl.
Spell!
The shout had been too late, and the bolt of green magic struck Fowl in his side, dropping the dwarf to a knee and causing massive damage to his health.
Two swords swung at him, the two skeletons he had been fighting seizing the opportunity before them.
A clanging sound came as the swords bounced off his armor, doing no damage but keeping Fowl pinned to the ground.
Tanila sent a fireball toward the window where the spell had come from, and Max saw the house erupt in flames as it exploded inside the room.
A weird shrieking sound came from the house, and Max kept glancing between the house and the two skeletons that he was only a few seconds away from.
Reaching both of them, he swung his axe, taking off the head of one and breaking the shoulder of the other.
Its a caster!
Max nodded that he had heard and kicked the skeleton, recovering from the blow to its shoulder, sending it to the ground.
Fowl was starting to stand, but Max could tell he wasnt moving as fast as usual and that Batrires heal hadnt been as effective.
Another fireball from Tanila flew into the already burning building, and Max finished off the skeleton with a final chop of his axe.
You ok?
Fowl grunted and used his shield to help get himself to his feet. Feeling weak. Whatever that spell was sucked.
Get to Batrire and let her check you out. Ill keep an eye out for this caster.
Moving toward the burning building, Max waited off to the side of the house. He could hear something crashing around inside.
One of the windows exploded as a skeleton with green glowing eyes and a black robe burst through it, landing on the ground. Its robe was on fire, and Max didnt hesitate, running toward it and chopping.
A shield shimmered around its robe, cracking and shattering, but the impact sent Maxs axe flying back over his head with tremendous force, almost ripping it from his grasp.
What the
The skeleton turned its head, green eyes burning hot. It raised its hand, and Max saw green flames form around its bony fingers and pointing at him.
He tried to get his axe back in position in time for another attack but knew he wouldnt beat the spell pointed at him. Flames came at him, following Max as he dodged to the right.
Pain of a different kind than he had ever experienced before enveloped him. Beyond the fire and sense of his bones wanting to shatter from the inside out, something was fighting for control of his strength.
[ Consume has detected an attack by the Spell: Drain Essence ]
[ Consume is trying to defend ]
[ Drain Essence has attempted to drain IXHPzhZiM ]
[ Consume has resisted attempt ]
Confused by the random string of text that flooded his mind, Max felt the pain suddenly subside.
What in the gods was that?!
Not waiting for the caster to get another chance, Max shouted, swinging the axe again in a chopping motion at the casters waist.
This time, no shield stopped it, and Max heard the satisfying sound of bones shattering underneath the power of his blow.
The lower half of the caster was destroyed, and yet the robe it wore didnt have a mark on it, even after the power of his attack.
An awful wail came from the skulls open mouth, green tendrils of magic flowing out over the ground.
All around him, bony hands started to rise from the ground, moving dirt as skeletons began to climb up through the perfectly cut green grass of the yard.
Finish it!
Max knew Tanilas voice well enough to know she was worried. The waver in her voice carried across the space between them.
Max jumped up, dodging the rising hands, trying to grasp at his feet and legs as they continued rising from the ground.
Spinning in the air, he brought the axe head down on the skull of the caster.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment as his blade hit the white bone at the back of its head. All the power and force of his attack met with an invisible barrier that began to slowly crack under the weight of his axe.
The skull began to bulge, and a fracture appeared first, tiny and thin, before finding one of the natural joints in the skull and shattering it into a dozen pieces.
A loud roar of unnatural wailing assaulted his hearing, causing Max to stumble as he landed. His sonar skill was overwhelmed by the noise.
Time passed, Max wasnt sure how long, then he felt all the air suck toward him before suddenly exploding away from the corpse, sending him tumbling backward.
A wave of cold filled him, and his head felt a pain similar to when his eye had been shot.
[ 2 Intelligence Consumed ]
[ 2 Wisdom Consumed ]
[Consume has successfully Consumed a skill]
[ Skill does not match beings body type ]
[ Consume is adjusting skill ]
[Would you like to learn [ Death Magic ]?]
[ Yes / No]
Max considered accepting the spell when, suddenly, the choice was made inside him. His mind was filled with an overwhelming sense of dread and destruction. Power like no other he had was his to control.
It was then Max realized he was on his hands and knees, axe still gripped in his right hand.
All around him was a white cloud of dust across the grass, slowly burning away with an awful smell. The skeletons that had been climbing from the ground were gone.
Looking at the corpse of the caster he had fought, Max saw nothing but a black robe, empty and lying flat on the ground.
He sensed the others coming toward him, standing to face them when he saw all three of them freeze mid-stride. Their mouths hung open, and Max could see Talina shaking uncontrollably.
Seth her voice came, faint and trembling.
Dear gods, Fowl muttered as he stood there frozen like a statue.
Batrire said nothing, instead raising her hand and making a motion with them he had only seen once before. She was praying to her god.
What is it? Max asked, wondering why they were behaving like this.
Its its Tanila tried to speak but just pointed at him.
And then he saw the tears coming from her eyes.
What the heck just happened?!
The voice came from inside him. It was laughter at first before it actually spoke.
We have grown stronger.
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