“It was just one more day,” Tanila said, rubbing his shoulders. “We can afford one more day. Besides, we weren’t sure how long we’d be on the 99th floor.” Max nodded and let out the breath he had been holding. “I know… It’s just my list–” “Doesn’t have to be done. If you don’t accomplish everything on it, you’ll be fine. No one but you set that hard time frame.” “But our child,” Max protested. “You can’t tell me you aren’t worried they may come sooner than later.” She squeezed his traps tight and he laughed as all it did was move his skin a little. “It’s not fun when you remind me that you don’t feel it.” “Oh I feel it,” he replied, looking over his shoulder. “I still enjoy you doing it.” Sliding her arms around his shoulder and neck, Tanila hugged him, kissing his bald head. Squeezing her hands, Max kissed her arm, hating that she let go because he had things to do. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” “Oh you will, don’t you worry. Someone is going to be on night duty for the first year.” Max chuckled and made his way toward the door. You know she hasn’t forgotten you don’t need to sleep. I do… still I find it kind of funny. Rakonath disconnected the last cable and then gave him a thumbs-up. Flipping the switch, the stolen crystal power device went silent. “I… I’ve seen you craft multiple times and yet it’s thrilling to watch every time,” his dragon stated. “You are… excited. I can feel it exuding off you.” Max cracked his neck and grinned, storing the crystal that had dimmed slightly. “For so long I wanted to be a baker. Then adventuring was my thing and now… getting to work with all these items… I understand how some smiths lose themselves to the craft. I could spend days, weeks here, just trying to make new things if I had the time.” Max watched as Rakonath picked up the dragon scale armor he had crafted from the scale Wekime had given him. Part of it had felt weird, using it right now while it appeared the dragon kingdom or race or whatever it was was angry with him. Still there was no time and he needed to use the skill he had been given from the tower. “Uh… I know we’ve spoken about equipment before, but this can’t be right,” Rakonath said. “What do you mean?” Max asked, moving to where the last piece of armor he would make on this world was. Taking the gold-scaled chest piece from his dragon, Max held it up and inspected it. Five orbs glowed red in an X pattern on the front. He had infused them and the entire scale with the core from Bekat. It had shrank quite a bit, the amount of power the scale could seem to absorb almost seemed limitless for a moment .[ Inspect Chest Piece ] Scale of Power - Legendary  25% to all Damage Dealt Power Strike - Holds 10 Charges. Takes an hour to recharge each charge. Use of the ability causes 300% bonus damage. Max froze, holding the armor in his hands, feeling them tremble. “You get it? Right?” Rakonath asked. I mean, if it's bonded, how could I lift it? I almost tried it on, but that wouldn’t have seemed right.” Even though his dragon was talking, the words didn’t register as Max tried to consider what he had made. What if I had used this instead for the artifact? Now, that would have been an item I would have loved to have seen. Still, you didn’t have the ability to create those power orbs. Each one is different from the others, so who is to say it would be greater than your weapon? Uh… are you ignoring me? How was I able to lift it? Shaking his head, Max cleared the fog he felt and turned to see Rakonath frowning. “Sorry… these stats… I was in shock. You’re right, though. Try to put it on.” As his dragon reached out and grasped the armor, it seemed to hesitate for just a second before coming free of his hands. Laughter came from Rakonath as he sniffed the chest piece. “I can smell the power coming off this. Part of me wants to try eating it, but I would prefer not to have that create a rift between us.” Groaning, Max watched as his dragon stored it, the item vanishing into the dimensional necklace they had given him. Then it appeared on his chest, tight and yet moving with no restrictions. He had used a single fire forge bar, carefully segmenting the scale into unbroken pieces and then lining those segments with it. It had taken almost four days of nonstop work to complete that one task. “Scaley dragon nuts,” Rakonath cursed. “This feels… unbelievable. I’m… Now I know why you act like you do when equipping your gear.” This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Nodding, Max frowned. “Why… how can you wear it? It’s a good question.” He should try and transform, see if it stays on him. How about we give him my other armor instead of that one? I’d rather not test that out on the greatest equipment I’ve ever made. That is a good test! Let’s trade here, and I’ll go outside and do that right now! Max retrieved his Black Beetle armor and held it out, waiting for Rakonath to give him the new one. As they traded, Max didn’t wait. He immediately stored and equipped it, feeling his body flooded with power. Equip everything and then check. His dragon stopped moving and turned around, watching as Max equipped all of his gear, including both weapons. [ Simple Total Stat Check ] Even with all those intelligence points, Max blinked multiple times, staring at the information listed for him. His mind understood, but it struggled to comprehend just how to ascertain how strong he was. Now those are stats worthy of a god. Whatever the tower throws at us, it will not be able to withstand the power we hold. Max could feel Bob almost oozing satisfaction inside his head or something like that. Can you share the stats with those of us who can’t read them? Ahh yeah… Forgive me, Rakonath. Same order as always but they’re 10531, 9,996– Max leaned back as his dragon shouted that word out loud, flooding the whole room with his voice. “TEN THOUSAND?! TEN THOUSAND STRENGTH!” His dragon went silent, stopping his outburst and began to shake his head. Laughter replaced the yelling, and Max stood there, unsure of the reaction and change that had just occurred. His dragon let out a long sigh and took a deep breath, nodding as he smiled. “A dragon like Aerthen. She is strong. Very strong. Yet I do not believe she has over 2,500 strength.” “Four times as much?” Do not forget the natural defenses granted by higher-tier monsters. While her strength isn’t as high, her size and power from that come into play. “It doesn’t matter, Bob,” Rakonath declared. “I do not doubt that if he were to attack her and land a single hit, not empowered or anything else, the blow would be devastating.” “I need to test something also,” Max said, moving quickly and storing the dragon core down to about two-thirds of its original size. “Rakonath, up for traveling with me?” “So you’re going to what? Just attack it?” Max nodded at Rakonath, who was hovering in the air. His silver chest was now adorned with black lines, and the upper section of his body looked almost in shadows. “Just stay up here. I want to try something.” “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not getting close.” You’re sure it's safe to try around here? We flew in a circle for fifteen miles. Other than animals, none of us saw elves, dwarves, or humans around here. Nodding, Max pulled both weapons out and jumped off Rakonath’s back. He plummeted like a rock for a bit, and then Bob did his part, using Wind magic to direct them toward the mountain. It was mostly rock, far enough away from where some came to mine. Out here, no one should get hurt and Max needed to see what he could do. Transforming both weapons into spears, he smiled as the top of the mountain came close. He thrust his weapons forward, driving himself deep into the immovable object. The stone gave way, erupting around him as his weapons pierced the side. Bob continued to press the strike, driving Max downward into the stone. His sonar struggled to keep up with all the pieces that erupted around him and Max unleashed a tornado of air, erupting from around the edges of his body. Over and over he channeled, driving deeper and deeper until Bob told him to stop. Enough! We do not want to get buried underneath this. Even though you can travel out from under it, that is not the purpose of this. His descent stopped and Max kept his eyes shut and didn’t breathe. Dust was everywhere, and rocks were falling on top of him. Another tornado of wind blades erupted from around him. Max spun, using the free space to turn back the direction he had come. Flying upward, his spear shattered whatever stone it struck, the current of air around him grinding others that got close and shoved them aside. Eventually, the amount of loose stone began to give way and Max could sense a crack forming. You need to see this… The tone in Rakonath’s message made him wonder and as he continued upwards, Max began to see the destruction he had caused. A section of the mountain was gone, and ravines had formed in multiple directions, sending one side of the mountain falling downward. Still flying higher, Max stopped near where his dragon was. A cloud of dust was rolling across the countryside, and the forest that had been butting up near the mountain's base was now covered in an avalanche of stone. Almost a third or a fourth of the one side where he had struck was gone for miles. Finish up the last few items on your list, Max. The time has come. Nodding, he flew onto his dragon’s back and sat down, still in awe of what kind of power he now possessed. Do you want me to fly us home, or do you want to travel via your own ability? “Fly,” Max replied. “I need to think.” Rakonath turned and started the trip home, and he sat there, trying to wrap his head around what he now possessed. About ten minutes from the capital, Bob broke the silence they had been in since heading home. Max, you need to talk to Tanila and tell her what I think you should do. I’m not sure how I can even begin to broach that subject. Blame it on me. I do not care. Tell her it's my idea. But you cannot argue with the truth. That is the final step before the tower that remains. Nothing else on this world will help you grow beyond killing Aerthen and hunting down the last of her kind. Even then, the time and effort it takes is too much. His chest hurt, and he was torn. Bob was right. Only one thing left in this world could make him stronger. The only question was whether he could sacrifice a part of himself to do it.