New Potential characters

Also known as Seth Pendell

Appears from the start

A tower climber held in a stone cell by a silver-eyed captor of overwhelming power. Max masks the extent of his abilities, stays calm under pressure, and waits for an opening while worrying about Tanila and the companions from whom he has been separated.

Appears from the start

The sentient ability bound within Max. It speaks to him internally, assesses magical dangers, and counsels patience while he is imprisoned. The entity shares his concern for Tanila and the companions from whom Max has been separated.

Appears from the start

The immensely powerful man holding Max behind a magical barrier. He tries to frighten and provoke his prisoner, but Max suspects that fear lies beneath his anger. His strength makes a direct escape attempt too dangerous.

First appears in chapter 8

A lizard woman freed by Max from slavers in a mountain cave. She accepts the name Amy and agrees to guide him toward a city where someone may be able to remove his collar, giving him vital local knowledge during the hunt.

First appears in chapter 10

Amy's blind mother, who is wary when her daughter arrives at their glass settlement with Max, an unfamiliar smooth-skinned outsider.

First appears in chapter 15

The powerful insect who runs the third-ring arena and negotiates a contract giving Max a share of his winnings, with improved terms for victories and a champion defeat.

First appears in chapter 15

The arena identity Max adopts when he begins fighting for tokens. He presents Ifrit as a fire-wielding combatant while concealing his wider range of powers and his real reason for trying to advance through the city.

First appears in chapter 15

A local craftsperson whom Max approaches for a strong but unadorned staff. The weaponsmith is willing to consider the unusual commission, opening a possible route to equipment suited to Max's needs.

First appears in chapter 17

Max's bonded partner and a member of his tower party. Two months after his disappearance, she leads the group's continued climb and trusts the unchanged sign of their bond as evidence that he is still alive.

First appears in chapter 17

A returning member of Max's tower party who continues climbing while Max is missing. After the group clears the floor-45 boss, Fowl supports Tanila's conviction that their absent companion remains alive.

First appears in chapter 17

A returning member of Max's tower party who helps defeat the floor-45 boss during his absence. Batrire stands with Tanila and the others as they continue the climb without abandoning hope of finding him.

First appears in chapter 17

One of the tower climbers traveling with Tanila's group during Max's unexplained absence. Cordelia takes part in their successful floor-45 battle as the party presses onward without him.

First appears in chapter 17

An ally fighting alongside Tanila, Fowl, Batrire, and Cordelia while Max is missing. Dexic helps the group defeat the floor-45 boss and remains with them as they continue their tower ascent.

First appears in chapter 23

A promoter who provides lodging when Max and Amy reach a wealthier ring of the city. He also agrees to search for suitable premises for the weaponsmith.

First appears in chapter 25

The golden-scaled ruler who controls the city and its arena system. She intervenes when arena protections are violated, recognizes that Max was brought to her world by the hunter, and postpones a private discussion with him.

First appears in chapter 26

A formidable Vorpal hunter who becomes Ifrit's representative under a profit-sharing agreement. Despite his rabbit-like appearance, he makes clear that he can defend the new arrangement and supplies practical support as Max advances.

First appears in chapter 30

The private name Max gives Consume, the sentient ability within him. Their bond has developed through danger and Max's choices, and the name marks a more personal understanding between them that Max does not extend to anyone else.

First appears in chapter 32

A red-skinned extraplanar fighter called through Max's demonic summoning. It recognizes Max and says his blood altered it, then accepts a tightly limited bargain to kill seven arena opponents before the contract expires.

First appears in chapter 34

A lionkin arena champion matched against Ifrit. Shamina enters heavily armed with sword, shield, and armor, presenting a physically imposing challenge as Max reaches a more dangerous level of competition.

First appears in chapter 38

A servant of the city ruler who takes Max alone to her portal-filled residence. The attendant rejects being reduced to a simple elf label.

First appears in chapter 42

An experienced craftswoman from another world who recognizes the unusual nature of Max's bonded staff. She privately agrees to exchange materials and instruction for access to his uncommon crafting knowledge.

First appears in chapter 47

The unidentified traveler whom the dragonkin ruler says paid her to remove Max. This disclosure reveals that his imprisonment in the local tower is part of a deliberate arrangement extending beyond the ruler herself.

First appears in chapter 50

A collared dragon imprisoned beyond the tower horde. He tells Max that the dragonkin ruler compels him to guard the exit and kill anyone who survives long enough to reach him.

Appears from the start

A Golden Axe leader connected to Max's climbing group. He is part of the established support structure surrounding the tower campaign before Max's disappearance in this volume.

Appears from the start

A Golden Axe trainer and operational leader associated with Max and his fellow tower climbers. His role in their established organization predates the events of this volume.