The Max Level Hero Returns Novels & Stories

"Mommy told me he was a traveler who drowned, so you cannot possibly be him." Zarek lowered himself slowly onto one knee, bringing his eyes level with hers while completely ignoring the way my entire body tensed up. "Your mother was trying to protect you, little one, but she told you a story that is not true," he said softly. "The sea did not take me. I am very much alive, and I am the Alpha of the pack your mother belongs to." Naya did not reach out to him; instead, she looked up at my face, wordlessly searching for permission, waiting to see if she should fear this stranger. I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break down in front of our daughter.

] [New Mission: 'Destroy the Superior Mutant Formula Project'] [Objective: Deactivate the 'Superior Mutant Formula Project' at the Biology Research Center. Reward: 'Anti-Zombie Acid Herbal Blueprint' & 'Indomie Supreme Level Up'!] "Indomie Supreme Level Up?" Bima gasped. That was the highest level of Indomie! But 'Superior Fitness Mutants'? That sounded far more terrifying than a Titan Freak. "So Kevin isn't entirely defeated," Bima muttered, realizing the true stakes. "His old Master AI still has power. And it’s likely going to create an army of mutants."

I turned slowly to face him. Alaric looked at me. No accusation in his eyes, no pity. Just something I couldn't name—part confusion, part confirmation. "You're fifteen. Your mother says you're a talented fighter. Your bloodline is Alpha-level." He paused. "A wolf like that shouldn't be decaying like this." He didn't directly ask "why," but the question hung between us, heavy and unspoken. I gave a bitter smile. "I've seen as many battles as you have."

After Elodie returned to the real world, it took a while for her to accept that she'd returned to reality. The events with John felt like a dream, yet no matter what, she could not forget them. "Host, your mission reward has been deposited in your account, so you can live the rest of your life without any problems. Go and live your life the way you want." The system's voice appeared out of nowhere, and Elodie nodded. "Also, there's someone who wants to see you, so I've arranged for you to meet."

"You need to distill your entire journey into the most important parts. What's the one message you want people to remember?" I thought about it. "That victory isn't destroying your enemies. It's building a life they can't touch." "Perfect. That's your through line. Everything in the talk should support that message." We spent weeks crafting the talk. I wrote draft after draft. Practiced in front of Marcus. In front of Emma. In front of the mirror. The talk was structured simply: Part one: The betrayal. Brock's fake death. The destruction of my life. Part two: The revenge. Building an empire to destroy my enemies. The satisfaction and the cost.

My new weapon. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Both of us bore the same name, but this Max had been forged differently. Scarred knuckles. Calloused palms. Eyes shadowed with exhaustion, with the hollow disappointment of parents who never saw him. A man who built empires just to prove himself worthy—and was told, again and again, that he was not. A hollow man. And now, he was me.

Now that was a straight A' and he sure deserved it, it was because of him that the team remained together. Nex's LEVEL 1:Responsibility: 89%, exceptional self-defense skills 80% attack skills 99% emotional mastery 80% respect 50% honor 90% discipline 99% courage 99%. He only scoffed at his scores, his father would have just manipulated them and given him straight A's just like Linthorn. He got a very low C in respect, how on Omania was he supposed to respect his team mates when he was the leader. This will affect his boosting in this new level badly, but he still awaited the reward for the first team that got to the bridge and followed the light because he was certain it was his.

She looked at me, hoping that I'd change my mind. But I met her gaze without hesitation, pulling my hand away from hers, the one she had gripped so tightly. "It's too late, Luna. Everything you've said is too late." Her face crumpled into despair as tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, she seemed to accept the reality of it. "Alright, I understand," she whispered. After she left, I focused on strengthening the team, blocking out all outside distractions. Madison had hired a PR team to control the public narrative, but the results weren't as effective as we had hoped.

Anastasiya Van Houten Paralyzed. That was the only word that could explain my situation at this moment. Paralyzed with fear—not just of Malcom, but of the sheer fact that I might not be able to save my body. Because behind Malcom stood one man. Not just any man. Agent Fourteen. Maxwell Richter. Before I climbed my way up the ranks in Nova Command, I endured thousands of defeats. I had been thrown off my feet so many times by masochism, cruelty, and power struggles that I knew exactly when to admit defeat.