[Lirra's POV]
During the clearing of 2 labyrinths and 4 dungeons, I observed Max's annihilation, which wasn't much help because all you see is monsters dying around him in bunches and elements obeying his command like lost puppets.
However, watching Fiona fight was a good experience for me; I was able to observe her moves and able to deduce the reason behind them. This type of observation and comprehension I didn't have before—was this also because of my race change? A doubt took hold in my mind.
I opened my system profile to check if there was something I missed in my new memories; my system affirmed what I knew from my memories when I evolved. Then my eyes went to the intelligence, stamina, and mana section, and there I stopped because it showed the sign of infinity.
How was that possible? I checked my profile panel from top to bottom, and the title section piqued my interest.
It had three titles: Progenitor of Bloomshade, Keeper of Vault Nexus, and Boundless Nexus.
The first one I knew; the second and third were new. I opened both of them one after another; I stopped in my tracks after reading their descriptions.
Max's voice reached my ears: "What happened? Are you coming?"
I looked up to him, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. I gathered courage and stuttered, "M-Mr. M-Ma-Max, I am so sor-sorry for my behavior."
He looked at me with confusion. "What happened that you stopped so abruptly in the middle of the tracks?"
I answered while still looking down, "I tho-thought you w-were some powerful pla-player, but you granted me such a title. How's that possible? Are you some divine being from one of the highest floors?"
He laughed slightly, and Fiona chimed in, "I knew you didn't see the title; otherwise, this would have been your reaction. Welcome to my world."
"No, I am pretty sure I am no such being you mentioned," he answered, "and as I told you before, stop saying sorry."
"Yeah, sorr—okay," I nodded.
"Let's hurry up; this dungeon is almost finished. We need to clear Domain next," he suggested, and we continued, but now I had a new image and an even bigger enigma in front of me as Max.
[Max's POV]
We cleared one dungeon and labyrinth after another. When Lirra evolved into a new species, I got 200 RI because I influenced the life of a native of Tower, which basically means 10000 RI for me.
A player needed to pay 100 RI to access all the labyrinths, dungeons, and domains on this floor, but with my balance, we didn't need to worry about it anymore. Thank the stars for my innate ability.
As we walked out after clearing the dungeon, someone with malevolence entered my OGS senses. I gestured with my hand to stop both of them.
Fiona asked, stopping beside me, "What happened, boss?"
I didn't need to answer, as the cause himself answered, "Well, look at that, my beloved daughter is on a team with strangers. Did you miss your father?"
He was really giving the whole 'I am the villain here, fear me' kind of smile. Lirra was shaking; I didn't know what he did to have her lose her balance by just being near her. I conveyed my thoughts to the system: 'Will there be any penalty for killing Tower natives?'
[Yes and no, it depends on the situation. The system would like to suggest an alternative instead of killing]
'Okay, I am hearing, but hurry up.' I accepted to hear the system suggestion.
[You could make him sign a subordinate contract, crafted by me, which will not cause too much chaos, and you will get what you want]
'Ahh...submission, huh? Guess I would have to use my hands here. Okay, ready up your contract.' I concluded my business with the system.
In these few seconds, he came close to 4-5 meters from us. He has a muscle-packed body, with signs of rot on his skin but controlled, not actively decaying. His height was about 7 feet, so slightly taller than me.
I didn't actively use my OGS, but I got the sense that he was stronger than any monster I faced, with cunning and intelligence added; making him submit will be fun.
I transferred my cloak and gloves to my vault. I turned to Fiona, who was attentive for any sudden attack. Nice, she is learning to depend on herself. I said, "Fiona, you haven't seen me fight, have you?"
"Hmm...no, Boss, wha-where's your cloak?" She questioned, probably for the first time, seeing me without my cloak.
"Well, you will see today. Choose from any element you have seen me using," I asked.
She tilted her head, then answered a second later, "Ice."
"Okay, stay back and look after her," I insisted.
"So, Rotface, what's your name?" I asked as he stepped forward.
"My name is Hidayat 'The RotKing.' Who are you, and why are you interfering in kingdom business? You could lose your reputation points over this. So just be on your way, and I will forget this ever happened." He tried to demean us by showing his authority as king, like that mattered, I chuckled.
"Why are you smirking?" He asked again, with a frown on his face.
"I was thinking what it would be like to have a king as a chaperone," I taunted.
"You are cocky, aren't you? I think I would have to teach you some manners, kid." He shot back, visibly infuriated.
"You didn't tell me....." He wanted to continue, but I interrupted.
"Look, I don't want to drag it out. You don't matter as much as you think," I commented and readied myself in a boxing position with ice covering my hands as gloves; using equipment against him would be overkill.
He gritted his teeth and readied his punch with a black smoke-like substance covering his fist, probably his decay element, and dashed towards me at his full speed.
He threw his punch, aiming for my head. I liked his thinking.
I ducked down. Easily. And delivered an ice-covered gut punch.
He skidded back, surprise all over his face.
"We have someone with skills here; I could use you...." I interrupted his monologue again.
"Quit giving monologues, man; you are not important." I was infuriated now due to his useless villain speech thing.
I streaked forward. A feigned jab to his left shoulder. He put up his hands to guard. I followed with an ice-padded kick to his abdomen at the side.
He clutched his side, which was freezing slowly.
"Who are you?" He had a slight fear on his face now.
"I said quit yapping." I pounced at his head.
He was wide open. Thwack. His face went through all motion as he landed on the ground.
I walked over to him; he tried to get up while holding his dislocated jaw.
"I thought you would provide a good challenge or at least a decent fight. But I guess you can only show your strength by trampling on the weak," I commented and punched at his face again as he tried to stand up.
He lay there splayed; he still tried to stand up with his hand.
I stood over him; a slab of ice brought him to hands level at a slightly bent position. I punched his face left and right. After 8-9 punches, he has almost lost his will after being subdued by a new player.
I yanked his black hair and asked, "So willing to sign a subordinate contract under me?"
"I am a king...I will nev..." He still looked infuriated.
I pumped mana into my hands and a layer of ice over my hands and grabbed him by the leg and floated a little above and used his body to flatten the uneven ground.
After a few rounds, I asked again, "Ready yet?"
"No...I am...ki..." His voice was very slow and forced; I didn't let him finish and totally flattened the ground around using him as a plank.
In under a minute, his voice reached my ears, "I wi-will...pl-plea-please put me do-down."
"Nice." I let go of his leg; he crumpled onto the ground. All his earlier bravado and majestic kingliness were nowhere to be seen.
I sent him the contract made by the system; after reading it, his eyes widened for a sec, probably after reading the contract. System was pretty ruthless in this contract; I would be frightened too.
He showed hesitation.... I moved my hands to grab his legs again.
He flinched and tried to go back. "I am signing; please no more."
Seconds later, a system panel appeared before me.
[You have gained Hidayat, King of the Favella kingdom, as a subordinate]
[According to contract stipulations, you own the Favella kingdom]
[Congratulations on a feat worthy enough to be featured in the Myth List]
'So I own a kingdom now,' the thought crossed my mind. Fiona started walking towards me with Lirra in tow.
The former king lay there defeated on the ground; he asked in his weak voice, "Who are you?"
I looked at him and replied with a smile, "You didn't see it in the contract. I am Max, Max "The Limit Breaker."