Max didn't spend much time on celebration and went towards Charlotte with a big smile on his face. Though, at the start he almost tripped because a sudden gain in strength unbalanced him.
Fortunately, his Adaptation skill helped him.
"Congratulations! What's your level now?" Charlotte smiled and asked, as she patted her side lightly.
"Level 8!" Max answered, slumping on the ground beside her. "I'm sure Stelle will reach the peak of Level 9 with this."
"Yeah, this will end our diving on the first floor," Charlotte nodded, giving a side glance to Stelle who was still busy absorbing the Mana Shard.
She turned back to him and smiled, "But we'll help you in getting Level 9 first. We can do that on the second floor and it'll be faster there."
"That was my plan, so thanks," Max said with a nod.
Just then, Stelle finished her work as a powerful aura burst out from her for a moment, alerting the two of them. It signified that she had reached the limit for Bronze Rank and would need to do the required rank-up before diving on lower floors.
She pumped her fists and came towards them with a big smile on her face. Without saying a word, she hugged Charlotte tightly and said, "Thanks a lot, Big Sis. I only reached here so quickly because of you."
"Oh yeah? Then where is my hug?" Max asked with a sad look on his face.
Stelle stuck out her tongue at him and said, "You already took advantage of me before so nothing for you."
"Tsk! Ungrateful brat!" Max clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Stop acting and tell me what did you get from the Baron?" Stelle asked, releasing Charlotte from her grip.
Max smiled, as he had been waiting for them to ask. He stretched his hand and muttered, "Then, watch it carefully!"
Under their heated gaze, a dark gloo like substance slid down from Max's arm and began to take the shape of a blade similar to Max's dull blade.
In just two seconds, the dark substance transformed into a long, slim sword looking like a sword carved from obsidian. When they tried to touch it, they found it incredibly hard and flexible at the same time.
Their shocked expressions satisfied Max's heart as he explained the effects of Everform to them, "This is Everform, a Soul Bound Artefact. It can basically take the shape of anything I have proper knowledge of and have enough Mana for it to work."
He sliced down the sword, making a whopping sound from cutting the air, "For example, I knew my dull blade properly and also had enough Mana to make it so I was able to make it instantly."
A smile formed on his lips as he dropped the last bomb, "And its best thing is that I can transform it as many times as I want as long as I have enough Mana. And lastly, its rank depends on my rank."
"Bullshit!" Stelle cursed out loud before she said. "No wonder you were willing to give up so much for it. It's just ridiculous."
Charlotte didn't say anything but her eyes reflected the shock she was feeling. The first shock was obviously it being a Soul Bound Artefact since they were incredibly rare even on lower floors.
Then, it was about its functions which just shocked her to the core.
"So, you mean, you will forever have a weapon of your rank?" Charlotte asked, trying to suppress her shock.
"Yup! And it's the peak of every rank so if I'm Bronze Rank then the things I make will be of Peak Bronze Grade!" Max said with a nod.
"This..." Charlotte had no words to speak, as she just thought, 'This confirms my suspicions. He really is a regressor and that's why he knows so much. Maybe he knows our future too....'
However, she didn't ask about it for her own reasons. She just shook her head and said, "Congratulations! Now, I'm glad I made the decision to travel with you."
"Told you I'm good at this," Max smirked and then turned to look at Stelle. "What about the Skill Shard? What did it drop?"
"Ah! About that, it's the Skill Shard for [Phasing]. The description says it can basically turn physical things into incorporeal for a moment," Stelle said, reading out the description from her system interface.
"It's a good one!" Max muttered. "Did you learn it? It's good for all three of us anyway."
"That reminds me, can we take the Skill Shard with us?" Charlotte asked, playing with her fingers. "I'll give you good compensation for it."
"Sure! Skill Shards are good for clans and guilds anyway so I was thinking of selling it anyway," Max shrugged, having no problem with it.
Skill Shards were very important for clans, institutions, guilds, and other organisations because of their ability to give skills to others.
Normally, one could either simply learn a skill by themselves which took too much time or hope that the Mana Shard they absorbed gave them a skill.
However, in that situation, it was just a one-time thing since the Mana Shard would only have one skill which would be absorbed.
Skill Shards were different since they were like a storage device for skills and could store one or more skills. They could then be passed down to others.
All organisations collected the Skill Shards to strengthen and reward their members. Clans were the same so Max had no problem in giving it to the Sinclair Clan.
Charlotte gave a thankful smile at him and said, "I'll make sure the clan gives you enough compensation."
"Thanks for that. I'll need it as I don't have anywhere to go," Max sighed. "The Palace has probably already declared me dead and I also don't want to go back."
"Just come with us then," surprisingly it was Stelle who offered him. "We will dive in the Labyrinth together anyway so it's better we stay together."
"Let's see when we get out," Max didn't give any answer and changed the topic. "For now, let's get out of here."
Saying that, he began to walk towards his left, but Stelle's shout stopped him, "The exit is that side, dummy!"
"Who said I'm going there?" Max flashed a grin at her and said. "I have something to settle with that bastard from Shamal Clan!"