In stealth, he approached the front of the monster hunters based undetected, remaining out of sight till he drew closer.
He strolled ahead unsuspectingly within the belly of the beast, throwingbeast throwing in the old whistle which never failed to ward off suspicion.
Max's senses had incredibly increased since he entered the dungeon that even from this distance he could still hear a bit of the noise the students were making back there.
But it didn't look like the hunters could at all hear what was going on a few meters in front of them.
Even though the sound was quite minute, with the advanced calibre of the A-rank hunters, it should be easy enough to detect.
So why only him?
Don't get it wrong, even at level one, Chris' A-rank Illusion Concealment was exceptional and perfectly non-defective, so Max wondered why he was perfectly able to hear them but those of higher ranks couldn't.
He had his Inertia reaction to thank for that, making him completely immune and unaffected by skill, technique or whatsoever came at him from a magical perspective.
"Makes sense."
But why then alone? Did the skill not perceive Chris feign as Leo a while back. Could it be that it was defective or was bugged?
"I'll figure that out later. Right now, it's time for a little chaos."
"Did you hear? Titan wants all the hunters gathered immediately," a guy in an adventurer outfit asked excitedly with two sword sheaths and their swords tilted casually on his back.
"Probably some boring speech before the big break," said a girl with red bright eyes and flame hued hair graced with a hint of blue at its tender ends. She wore a bow across her torso and strapped along her backside was a loaded quiver and a sharp rapier.
"An SSS-rank skill. I still can't believe it."
'An SSS-rank skill,' Max awed.
"You better and I hear that it is a special kind, able to grant its yielder any skill of his choice. Almost like a wish."
"Ya. It's gonna be awesome."
"So awesome. Let's hurry. We don't wanna keep Titan waiting," she concluded as the two walked off speedily for the urgent gathering.
A special SSS-rank skill that can grant its yielder any power he chooses.
Now Max was intrigued.
'That's my kind of skill.'
This was no look-over opportunity. Once in a lifetime kinda stuff here.
If Max could get his hands on that kind of power and have a skill of his own he'll for sure be one of the top ranks.
This was his chance and he wasn't gonna let it go just like that.
'Change of plans. I'm gonna get that skill.'
He already had a plan but a few things were needed to make it work.
First a disguise.
Even though he was dressed almost like one of them he was afraid that someone would easily notice he wasn't.
He looked around and not many adventurers were around him.
He spotted a guy walking into a dark corner of the base alone.
"That'll do."
He dashed forward ahead of the guy and waited at the darker opening end of the space.
He leaned casually on the adjoining wall and said with feigned familiarity and an unholy smirk on his face.
"I'll be needing that. Thanks," he stated in demand which was quickly followed by an unexpected punch to the face knocking the guy out cold.
"Thank you very much," he sarcastically thanked after stealing his cloak and gear.
"Fits like a glove."
He walked unsuspected out of the dark corner and into the centre of attention of the clan.
There were a number of them present. In total, he estimated about 20 hunters, all of which ranged from Level 5 to 7.
Max was only Level 1 and if by any chance he eventually got compromised, an escape plan was to be put in order.
The centre of the operation wasn't as formal as Max thought it would be as the scenery was stained with ruins all around.
All the hunters– mages didn't wait for too long before they were addressed.
A young guy looking in his late twenties mounted the stage-like structures set up and as soon as he did, a veil of silence descended on the formally rowdy but enthusiastic congregation.
It showed that they truly respected their leader or maybe it was just because he was a Level or 2 above them all.
"Listen all. It is good to see you all again after. After a daylong search, I and Blade have discovered the double dungeon where the scroll is hidden. Just beyond this wall, numerous and precarious beasts lurked within and we both battled them all till the end and travelled deeper into the dungeon, probably a bit too deep. Turns out that such in-depths tunnelling into the dungeon's foundations had greatly destabilized it. We speculated about an hour till it all comes crashing down."
'An hour! Oh no. Chris and Leo,' Max worried.
"I know many of you were looking forward to seeing the glory of an SSS-rank skill and you still can. The skill is hidden in a secret chamber, the final compartment we couldn't reach for reasons we can't explain. The beasts are way above our ranks but I'm sure you'll pull through. Just keep fighting for the clan and I'm sure you'll find it. There is a …..
'Men, they are so firm on finding this skill. I wonder who gets it in the end.'
"You all know what you are supposed to do. Destroy the monsters, search for the scroll and report back as soon as possible. That's all we need right now. Any questions," he conclusively asked.
An arm was raised up behind the crowd.
"Yes," Titan pointed.
It was Max.
"Who gets the skill in the end?"
It caught him by surprise but he didn't let it show in his expression. "Well, ehmm… the skill scroll when found would be a … clan property and …. and it will only be used in time of dire need," he jumbled yet still stern in quotes but a bit raged.
Ya, his shock definitely showed in his words.
"Understood."
'Just like I thought. He's gonna claim it for himself while the rest of us go do the hard work for him. Not if I have anything to say about it.'
Meanwhile, Max's unprecedented question awarded him a few abhorrences in the crowd as to dare question the trust they have in their leader.
Suddenly, a guy ran into the assembly ground in an alarming but calm manner. He was a level 7 guard.
He held a guy.
The guy Max beat up.
He held him in his hands and reported. "I found him hidden under a pile of rocks. His gear's not on him and he's beaten pretty bad. I think we might have an intruder among us."
"An intruder! Within my clan," he raged. "Go search around the camp– the valley. He couldn't have gotten far. There's bound to be something killable out there."
That was where Chris and the rest were. If he found their bunker they didn't stand a chance against a Level 7.
"And if he's still here, I'll personally finish him off myself," Titan, the Level 9 Shadow assassin directionlessly threatened