Reincarnated at Level Two Million - Chapter 103

Zell opened his eyes to find Kaitlyn and Kilgon leaned over him in a panic. “I am fine.” Zell said as he got back to his feet. “This new power of mine can be too much to manage sometimes, and this was just one of those times.”

“Well, are you alright now?” Kilgon asked. “You gave us a scare there, lad.”

“Yeah, I just can’t let my emotions get the better of me.” Zell replied. “While I was out cold my mind met with the fox woman again. She told me that until I undergo the ritual with the dragons there is a chance the power could overwhelm my body and cause the entire multiverse to cease.”

“Then you have to wait to rescue your mother.” Kaitlyn said. “If you get emotional, it could be the end of all things.”

Zell sat and thought about what Kaitlyn had just told him. He knew she was right although he did not like making his mother wait a second longer than she had to. “You are right.” Zell said reluctantly. “It is too much of a risk right now for me to be put into a stressful situation.”

“So should we head back to Tarm then?” Kilgon asked. “There is no point hanging around in a village void of life.”

“I will open a portal for you both.” Zell said. “I will return to the isle of dragons and await their return. The moment they do I am having this ritual and saving my mother.”

“How many days is that?” Kaitlyn asked.

“A few more.” Zell said. “Three days until their return I think.”

“So, you want to go and be alone with your thoughts for three days?!” Kaitlyn replied. “No, you are coming with us, and you will spend time with us to keep your mind off of it.”

“The lass is right.” Kilgon said. “You need to keep your mind free from thoughts that cause you pain.”

“Fine.” Zell agreed and began to open the portal back to Tarm. After he successfully made it Kaitlyn and Kilgon went through, but Zell closed it behind them and did not follow. He instead wished to vent out some of his anger and frustration.

He teleported to the crossroads inn he met Maximus in all that time ago. He hoped Maximus would be there for whatever reason. He did not care about the logic of the situation, only cared at his chance for vengeance. He struggled to keep his emotions under control so that he would not pass out or explode, but he managed.

He walked into the inn and all of the nonhumans sitting and drinking stopped and stared at him. “Where is Maximus?!” He yelled.

“We would never tell a human!” one of the random demons yelled.

Zell wasted not a moment and launched a small fireball at the demon as a demonstration of his determination. As the fireball hit the demon he engulfed into pure flame and turned to ash within a second.

“Where is Maximus?!” Zell yelled again; the entire tavern reeled in fear from his previous display. This was not the same kind Zell who had visited them in the past, the one who was fresh on his adventure full of hope.

“He isn’t here.” The barkeep yelled. “Now please refrain from murdering any more of my paying customers if you please.”

“Do you know if he is coming back?!” Zell demanded to know.

“Yeah, he is due in tonight.” The barkeep replied. “Should be here in about an hour.”

“You sure?” Zell asked.

“Yeah, he is holding the beast kin near here and forcing them to do physical labor, building roads, bridges, farming and the like.” The barkeep replied. “He comes in like clockwork to get a drink and relax from his arduous work, at least that’s how he puts it.”

“So, he is there now?” Zell asked.

“Should be.” The barkeep replied.

“The direction?” Zell responded.

“South.” The barkeep said.

Without even a thank you Zell turned around and left the inn. He used his flight magic to lift himself into the air and headed due south. Just a small ways away from the inn he found an encampment with several makeshift tents. Beast kin were dressed in rags and doing labor just as the barkeep had told me.

There were twelve demon guards scattered throughout the encampment. Each demon guard had black plate armor from head to toe and a large black claymore. Zell landed in front of two guards at the entrance. “Where is Maximus?!” He demanded loudly alerting all of the guards to his presence.

“You, we know you!” The guards yelled as they charged with their swords drawn. Zell easily dodged the two guard’s attacks. As one of them swung their large blade at him he moved in close and grabbed their hand. With control of their hand and weapon he used it to kill the guard next to them by chopping him in half. Zell then punched the guard he was holding causing the chest plate over his chest to become flat against the back, crushing the guard’s chest and internal organs into paste that oozed from the smooshed together pan.

Two more guards yelled as they approached. Zell asked his question again, “Where is Maximus?!” But again, they ignored his inquiry. This time as he dodged their attacks, he touched both their chests and used his gravity magic to take away their gravity. They started to float helplessly and yell as their bodies got higher and higher eventually leaving the planet.

The other eight guards rushed all together to increase their chances of victory. However, since they were grouped together Zell decided to use wind cutter and decapitated all of them with a single spell. Their bodies fell to the ground limp and their heads rolled around still encased in their plate helmets.

All the guards dead, Zell yelled again. “Maximus! Get out here!”

Maximus eventually exited the large tent in the center of the encampment. He never wanted to fight Zell, he had hoped that Zell would rush to the demon lord’s caste and ignore him along the way. Maximus knew how powerful Zell was and how much of a threat he was.

“Long time no see little hero.” Maximus said, trying to keep his bravado. “I see you have taken diligent care of my guards.” He said while looking at all of the bloodied corpses.

Zell wasted no time and used a barrier around Maximus, trapping him inside. “You will tell me why you attack the beast kin village, and where my mother is.”

“No need to be so aggressive.” Maximus said. “We simply needed some extra labor for our war effort. When we found your mother we took her to the demon lord, he is caring for her as an honored guest in his castle.”

“Is that the truth?” Zell asked, reducing the size of the barrier around Maximus.

“Yes, of course, would I lie to you?!” Maximus said, fearing what Zell might do.

“Yes, you would lie to me.” Zell said. “You have before, and you would again.” Zell continued to shrink the barrier around Maximus.

“I am telling the truth!” Maximus said. “Honestly, she is being treated like royalty!”

“You know there are lots of fun things one can do with barriers.” Zell said. “You can use them for so much more than just defense. For example, I can set the rules inside the barrier I have trapped you inside to exclude air. That would mean no new air would be allowed in. Tell me how long can you hold your breath?”

“How can I convince you?!” Maximus pleaded, completely horrified by this new Zell.

Zell thought about it and could not think of a single way Maximus could prove he was not lying. “You cannot.” Zell replied. “Because of your past tricks I simply cannot trust you.”

“I only did that for my lord!” Maximus cried. “I could not let such a powerful person snuff out his life! I had to protect him! He is such a unique soul! So much different than all of the other demons, I must follow him, I must see where he leads us!”

“So, was it his orders to capture my mother?” Zell asked.

“Yes, but he also ordered us to treat her like an honored guest! There is not a demon in the kingdom that would not do as he commanded! Please believe me!”

“What of the beast kin here?” Zell asked. “You have them dressed as slaves and force them to labor against their will. You destroyed their homes and their lives and took away their freedom. Why should I let this go? They are my friends and I care deeply about my friends.”

“It was all my idea!” Maximus cried.. “The lord only wanted me to capture your mother! I decided these beast kin would be better off in service to my lord. It was me! If you have to punish anyone for this, punish me and not my lord!”