Chapter 277

The empty floor that had separated them was still there, and his captor had that same grin as before. Like a wild animal coming to devour an animal, stuck in a bush or unable to move.

His silver eyes were locked on Max, sparkling as he drew close.

“Tell me, Max. Do you want to play a game?”

As he started to open his mouth, a thin stone band gagged him.

Tsking his tongue, the silver eyed man shook his head.

“Wait… just wait. I’m only going to give you one chance, and I would hate for the wrong answer.”

A collar appeared in his hand, and the man began to spin the silver band around like a ball.

“I can kill you right now. There are countless ways, and I won’t lie, I might take months doing it, just to see how close to death I can get you. Even if you didn’t break then, I might keep going, healing you each time, seeing how many years it might take before you finally succumbed.”

Max’s eyes were bulging, and inside him his skill felt like an animal. It was angry and ready to lash out, but both knew right now there wasn’t a chance they could win. Not even if he could use every skill he had.

“Or I shall put this collar on you and set you free in my world. I’ll give you a week to try to…” He paused, tapping the silver band against his chin as he looked at the ceiling. “Escape? I mean it’s not possible, but at least you can believe until I catch you that it is.”

His captor was now just a few feet away, and he leaned over, tapping the silver band against Max’s bald head.

The sound of metal on metal surprised the man, who began to laugh.

“A helmet! With a built-in ability to hide itself! I love it!”

Howling, he turned around in a circle, seeming lost in his own thoughts.

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll let you keep two pieces of armor and one… no, two pieces of jewelry. No weapons, though… That would be too easy.”

The man was looking him up and down, studying Max.

“You’ll have a seven-day head start. You can use those items, and everything else I’ll lock inside your storage. Attempt to take anything out and…”

His captor made a face and shook like he was being hit by lightning.

“It won’t be pleasant. Perhaps you can escape, even though no one else ever has. Regardless, I’ll busy myself with something else and return, trying to find out where you have gone. I’ll give you one chance to answer. No questions, or that option will be gone.”

He leaned forward, so close that his breath could be smelled, the scent of something sweet reaching Max’s nostrils.

“Do you want to die or hope to escape?”

Take the chance. We can find a way.

The band vanished, and Max closed his mouth, getting some saliva to remove the dry-mouth feeling.

“I’ll escape.”

His captor laughed, splattering spit upon his face as he did.

“Oh I do love a strong spirit. So much better when I get to break it. Very well, let’s see how this goes.”

He lifted the silver collar to Max’s neck, and it began to separate, and then the cold metal touched his throat.

Like a snake constricting around its prey, the metal circle squeezed for a few seconds around his entire neck before loosening slightly.

“Ahh, that’s the perfect fit. Now, for the real fun. Ten seconds. No more, no less. Take everything off, store it, and then only the two pieces of armor and jewelry you desire may be worn. Everything else must stay in storage. And remember…”

Once more the man’s face came close, those silver eyes trying to peer into his soul.

“Do not believe for a moment I won’t make you suffer if you break any of my rules.”

Max nodded as best he could.

“Good, decide now!”

Ten fingers were held up before him and then one was lowered.

Boots, pants, growth ring, and boss band! Now!

Seven seconds remained, and Max knew his skill was right. He needed stats, and those were his best items for it.

In an instant, everything vanished except his God Walkers, the Merfolk King’s Gift, the Ring of Growth, and the Black Boss Band.

“Three seconds left. Impressive! Now for the next part.”

The man pulled something out for a moment as he turned.

Horrible pain lanced through his body where the necklace of storage was.

Turning around, his captor frowned, moving to where the necklace was and tugged. It wouldn’t budge an inch.

“That many… so many I can’t even take your storage necklace.”

He scratched his chin, studying Max as he took a step back.

“You are quite a specimen I will say… such muscles and so toned. I can see why that elf likes to look at you how she does.”

Rage filled Max, and if he could have broken free, even the power difference between them wouldn't have mattered.

Calm down! He is riling you for a reason!

Taking a slow breath in and letting it out, Max said nothing.

Snorting, the man turned back around, frowning as he did.

Another wave of pain hit Max, and a burning sensation from his storage necklace grew. A few seconds later it went away.

“Very well, I have sealed your storage. You won’t be able to access it as I mentioned before. I had hoped to take it, perusing whatever I might find, but that will have to wait till later after I find you.”

Snapping his fingers, everything shifted, and Max felt the portal above and below appear.

Rich, earthy, and humid air reached his nose.

The sounds of animals and the moving of tree branches filled his ears.

As his eyes focused, the bright light that came through the canopy above felt amazing on his skin.

A jungle… similar to the ape one and some of the others.

Max lifted his hand and realized that he wasn’t bound. Next to him was his captor, and when he turned, crouching some and holding up his fist, the silver-eyed man laughed, shaking his head as he rolled his eyes.

“Seriously? You really want to attempt that?”

The disdain for Max’s action was evident in the tone of his voice.

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“Habit,” Max said as he stood, watching his captor as the man shrugged, both hands clasped behind his back.

“Either way, it doesn’t matter. Seven days, Max Hoste. Try to impress me. Find a way to hide and survive. Know that what is out here… it is strong. It is deadly.”

The man bent down, dragging his fingers in the dark brown soil. It was soft, and ferns grew everywhere but the small clearing they were standing in.

Thick trees, thin trees, and everything in between were all jammed in tightly around each other.

Insects started to buzz around, some coming and landing upon Max’s skin.

A few stung him, shocking Max, as nothing had been able to do that in so long back home.

They can pierce my skin?

This isn’t our world, and the feel of it is much stronger. We need to be careful.

His captor stood up, a small map drawn in the soil.

“I’m going to leave. One last gift, though, before I go.”

A single water skin appeared in his captor’s hand and was tossed to Max.

“That’s worth more than you know. I don’t want you dying of dehydration, and even you, as strong as I can tell you are, know eventually water will be your downfall. Enjoy the map and the gift.”

A purple portal appeared next to the man, and as he stepped halfway into it, he stopped and looked back at Max with that same malicious grin.

“Make this hunt interesting. Maybe if you do, I’ll give you another chance with a few more days.”

With those words, he vanished in the portal as it disappeared.

Glancing at the sketch, Max and his skill studied it for a moment.

A never-ending forest… mountains… a desert, and a… gorge?

Those are not good things for us. Mountains often house dangerous creatures, and without a solid weapon we are going to be in trouble.

Max was already moving, working to rectify that as he went to a tree about fifteen feet high and grasped the six-inch-thick trunk.

He tugged on it, expecting it to come right up and was surprised when it didn’t rip free.

“What in the gods?!”

Quiet. Try again.

Getting a better grip and using his feet and hips, Max pulled with everything, and this time the roots began to break, tearing and snapping off as it finally came free from the ground.

It felt heavier than Max thought it should.

[ Status Check ]

*****

Max Hoste

18-Year-Old Human Male

Level 1

Exp 406/1000

Tower Experience: 40.00%

HP: 13,920/13,920

MP: 5440/5440

Stamina: 3480/3480

STR: 696

DEX: 674

CON: 696

INT: 544

WIS: 544

Defense of the Dragon - 20.0%

Defense of the Demon - 20.0%

Demon Essence: - 293

Gold Walkers- 20% Stat Increase

Merfolk King’s Gift - 75 STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS - Merfolk Water Attunement

Black Boss Band - 20% Stat Increase

Ring of Growth - 10% Stat Increase

*****

I am so weak…

You are not weak, just weaker than what you are used to.

Max couldn’t help but stare at the numbers. In a moment he had been stripped of almost a fourth of his stats.

Items are important. I realize that even more right now, but what if I didn’t have you? I wouldn’t have the stats I do.

You would be dead… or baking. Either way, we need to move. Pick a direction and go. Don’t worry about a trail for now. Something tells me we won’t be able to hide it, and the time spent trying isn’t worth it. For now put distance between us and this spot. I’m not certain of the game, but I would expect our hunter to play by rules he didn’t share completely. He enjoys the hunt, and we are something he hasn’t faced before. That challenge will drive him mad with excitement.

Glancing down at the crude drawing once more, Max wished he had a coin to flip.

Choose and move. Something is getting closer—the birds are getting quieter.

Snapping off a branch, he tossed it into the air, spinning as it went upward. When it landed it pointed in the direction of the desert.

I guess I’ll trust the gods on this path.

Hefting his tree onto his shoulder, Max began to jog, dodging trees as he went. His skill was right. Each step crushed a plant of some kind, and his feet left indentions in the soft soil.

I’m going to focus on this metal object around your neck. I’m not certain I can do anything about it, but I’ll try.

Saying nothing, Max simply kept moving, running through the forest as quickly as he could, his Sonar skill struggling to keep up with the speed at which he moved.

***

Two miles later, a loud roar from behind him announced that something was definitely on his tail. Each time the creature roared, the jungle would go silent for a moment before coming to life, loud trills and shrieks coming from the trees and overhead. Other animals or monsters answered from different directions, and Max began to slow, not wanting to find himself running into a pair of whatever he might face.

He started tearing off the fronds at the top of his tree, trying to make his weapon a little faster and possibly pokier.

Within thirty seconds the sound of trees breaking reached him, and the plodding of something heavy could be heard.

Shite! What are we about to face?

No reply came, and for the first time in so long, Max felt alone when his skill hadn’t replied.

Setting his feet, Max lowered himself, crouched near one of the bigger trunks of a tree and waited for whatever was coming.

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