Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 448: A Choice Made

Chapter 448 - A Choice Made

The silence had been a bit awkward, yet Max never flinched. The three who remained with the greybeard stood there studying him.

His attempts at talking were cut off with a grunt and a single apology that they were not allowed to speak now that the elder was coming.

Minutes passed, and soon, a ten-foot goat-man, towering three feet over the rest, was approaching him. Even without the added height, the red hair and skin stood out compared to the tan or dark skin and hair.

His horns were twice as large as the rest, curling almost twice, and black eyes locked on the man standing in the vineyard's torn-up section.

Behind him came a dozen white-skinned and haired goat women, each wearing almost nothing on their upper half and all with staffs that seemed to sparkle in the light of the day.

Based on their frowns, I’m not certain any of them are happy to see me.

While everything we know is speculation, they believe it's killed or be killed. You haven’t been injured by any of their attacks, which tells them that it wouldn’t be a fight if they forced one. Happy or not, they didn’t have a choice.

Slowly, the group slowed down and the twelve goatwomen spread out around him as the elder approached.

“Word has reached me that you speak our language and do not seek our deaths. Forgive me if we find this hard to believe. All those who have come before you slaughter our kind without care.”

“I’m not like them,” Max replied, studying the musclebound elder. There was no fat on his body, and he ignored the comments Fowl would have made, already knowing that roasted goat meat smelled wonderful. “All I seek is the exit to this place. A portal.”

“We know of what you seek… tell me… why have you chosen not to slaughter us?”

The elder pointed to the area of the woods where trees had fallen over. “It is obvious that you could easily do such a thing.”

“Because I prefer not to kill if I don’t have to. If your warriors hadn’t stopped their attacks, I would have crippled a few and continued my approach to your village. The entire time I would have sought peace, but if anyone had managed to draw blood, I would have not hesitated to retaliate.”

A bleat from behind him came, and his sonar told him that one of the goatwomen had lowered her staff and pointed it at him.

“She can try, but as I said, if she manages to draw blood, there will be nothing left of her body when I’m done.”

Max’s tone was harsh, and he glared, forgoing the softer facial expression he had tried to hold.

With a wave of his hand, the elder shook his head, and the staff slowly pointed upward.

“You knew what she was doing even without looking… your aura is weak and yet… it isn’t. Tell me, warrior, if I promise to show you the portal and do no harm, will you swear to harm none of my people?”

“I will make that promise, but you must also understand that I have others with me who won’t attack either. If any of your people were foolish enough to attempt to attack a single one of them…” Max paused and leaned forward as his tone became gruff. “I’ll burn this entire town to the ground and promise none shall live, even if I have to burn down the entire forest around us.”

He could sense the trembling of a few guards taking a couple of steps back.

“No one will attack yours. I, Ruuchalb, swear on my life.”

With those words, he pulled a dagger off the leather belt at his waist and made a mark on his horn, causing the other goatmen to gasp.

“Then I will abide by our agreement.”

With a nod, the twelve women raced off, heading toward the city.

“Come, walk with me. I am curious about what makes you different from the others we have faced.”

Together they walked slowly as Max felt Ruuchalb relax slightly.

“How many have you faced here?”

“In this place?”

“Do you travel a lot or stay here?”

A grunt came as the elder snatched a ripe bunch of purple grapes off a vine and plopped a few in his mouth before holding the food out to Max.

Taking them and trying a few, the sweetness of the fruit was surprising and with a grin, Max took a few more before handing it back.

“We have been in this place for a while. Not many have come and the few that made it past our patrols in the woods did not breach our walls. Still, we have lost many, and there have been moments when the trees became our home before we could rebuild.”

Both of Ruuchalb’s shoulders slumped for a moment at that last statement.

“Are those you face all like me? I mean in appearance?”

Chuckling, the elder shook his head.

“No, many different kinds come, all trying to prove their strength. Some like you, pointy ear folks, short and hairy ones, as well as non-hair ones. Many are creatures like ourselves. They are often harder to fight as they know how to use the woods and tactics, making it difficult to pin them down.

“Still, we have faced many challenges in the time of our people. One day, I hope to return to our home and prove we have protected that which we have sworn to defend.”

“The portal?”

A deep guttural grunt came and Ruuchalb frowned.

“Yes… you will be the first in a while to reach it. Only twice before has anyone managed to access and use it. Each of those times was… costly.”

“Can you tell me what you get from defending this? What if you die?”

“That… I cannot. Our home…” Ruuchalb paused and the pained look Max recognized began to form.

“Don’t force yourself to endure the pain. I understand. Somethings are not allowed to be spoken of.”

Chuckling, the elder nodded and slowly started to smile.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You are different. Much different than all the others. For a smooth skin with no hair, I am impressed with your power and your mind. Surely, you could have easily killed all of us and taken everything we have. Knowing that… having heard of what you did and then seeing it… It made me realize that perhaps my god had found me lacking and sent someone to punish me.”

“No one sent me,” Max replied. “I”m simply trying to complete–”

The words seemed to catch in his throat, and no matter how much he tried to say it, he couldn’t

It would appear you have found what you cannot talk about in here.

A chuckle from Bob echoed in his head as he shrugged.

“Let’s just say I have my own reasons for finding that portal.”

Both of them nodded and said nothing else as they drew close to the outer city.

***

Every goat-man, woman, or child was gone, except the occasional guard standing along the path Ruuchalb was leading him. In the center of the town was a simple-looking tent, but Max could sense power coming from inside it.

Coming to stop about thirty yards from it was a circle of crystal, six inches thick and forming a perfect ring around the tent.

“We cannot enter it. We are not allowed. If you had crossed this boundary, none of my people could have followed you.”

Bending down, Max reached out with his hand and felt the power that tingled yet did nothing to him.

“May I?”

Nodding, Ruuchalb motioned to it.

“I am still interested in when your friends will arrive. Was this simply a story to strike fear in our hearts in case we decided to attack?”

Chuckling, he shook his head and stepped over the ring and then summoned his dimensional space.

And nothing happened.

[ Dimensional Access Blocked ]

What in the gods… it’s blocked?

So this might not be good. It appears the tower has ways to stop people like yourself.

Returning to the other side of the crystal ring, Max saw the look Ruuchalb was giving him.

This time his dimensional space opened up and the elder took a few steps back in surprise when the other four came to the doorway.

“You… have them with you? Hidden? A secret place?”

Bobbing his head, Max beckoned for his friends.

“It’s safe, don’t attack, and we can go.”

Fowl came out first, decked out in full armor and keeping himself between the others and the red goat-man that towered over him.

“What’s he saying?” their warrior asked.

“You need to go over the ring, and we can take the portal.”

“You’re sure it's not a trap?”

“Completely. After all, you’ll go first, and if something is wrong and I don’t hear from you with our ring, I’ll burn this entire village down.”

“I swear! They will be fine!” Ruuchalb proclaimed, waving his large hands in the air. “I swore on my horn and bare the mark! To break it would cause it to fall off.”

Fowl glanced at Max and the goat-man, who was making animal noises in various tones.

As he started to open his mouth, a wooden staff bonked their warrior in the helm.

“Don’t. Let’s go. Max has this.”

Grumbling, Fowl gave a slight bow and backed up until he passed the crystal ring with the others.

“Go, I’ll be there in a moment.”

In his inventory, Max found what he was looking for, and a bottle of wine that was over two hundred gold appeared in his hand.

“I’m guessing your people enjoy drinking the fruit you grow?”

A smile bigger than the sun appeared on Ruuchalb’s lips.

“More than you know!”

“Then take this as a gift. I pray your god knows you have done the best thing possible for his people. May you one day be able to return home.”

Carefully, the elder held the clear glass bottle with the dark red liquid inside and swished it around.

“Our skins do not have this kind of feel and the color is very beautiful. You’re certain you want to give me this?”

Max nodded and held out his hand.

“Where I am from, we shake hands and sometimes offer gifts. Thank you for keeping your word.”

Ruuchalb quickly grabbed Max’s hand and started to laugh as they stood there, shaking each other for a moment.

“Who would have believed it?! One who seeks peace and offers the drink of our god! Be safe, warrior, and know that I shall tell all my people of your kindness. Tell me, what is your name?”

“Max Hoste.”

Bending down onto one knee, Ruuchalb bowed low.

“Be safe then, warrior Max Hoste. May you protect yours and may the vine's fruit provide the strength you need to pass any obstacle.”

With a slight nod, Max turned and moved past the crystal barrier, still able to sense that the elder had not yet risen.

You have a way with people… and goats… if such a thing is possible.

Unable to help himself, Max started to laugh as he went to the tent and found a swirling blue portal inside.

We need to catch up. No telling what trouble Fowl is getting into.

An icy chill touched his skin as the world shifted, and Max felt the cold immediately, even though it didn’t bother him.

When his vision cleared up, large mountains covered in snow were before them, a single pass leading up into them.

“It’s about time,” their warrior muttered. “My balls are about to turn blue from how cold this is.”

Tanila held up a finger and pointed behind him. Twenty yards away was a portal.

“If we take it, does it lock us out?” Max asked.

“Beats me,” Cordellia muttered, her teeth clattering together, pulling a thick fur cloak around herself. “All I know is it's far colder than I expected.”

Frowning, he tried to figure out what to do.

Do we keep going or pull out?

I’m assuming we’ll keep going, as you’ve never been one to pull out.

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