Hero

by Paul Bellow

  Two of the four remaining men each threw a Minor Magictology Box of their own. Both explosions hit near Josh, pushing him over the edge.

  “Feel the wrath of the half-orc!” he yelled, running toward them with his hair on fire.

  Josh killed two of the men with wild swings of his sword. Only the man in the red helmet and one of the other players remained.

  We got this.

  Both remaining enemies ran into Ryu’s room, slamming the door behind them.

  “Get out here!” Axelrod yelled. “You cowards.”

  I glanced over at the blue force field, wondering when it would die out.

  “Get that door open,” I yelled.

  Josh turned and hit Axelrod on the arm with his sword. The dwarf retreated as the barbarian continued going crazy due to his rage.

  With a maniacal scream, he rushed toward me with his sword high in the air. Derringer stepped out of nowhere, bravely blocking his path.

  The barbarian swung to get him out of the way, but Derringer took the hit like a champ, barely budging. Did he have magic armor?

  “Come on, big guy,” Derringer said calmly. “I’m not the enemy you want to hit.”

  He waved his black gauntlet covered hand in front of his face, palm out.

  “You’re not the enemy I want to hit,” Josh screamed at the top of his lungs.

  Confusion poured off him like maple syrup on a stack of pancakes.

  “The door is your enemy,” Derringer continued then pointed at the door.

  Josh glanced over his shoulder. The flames had gone out, but he looked like he had the same barber as Axelrod—not a good one.

  “The door is my enemy,” Josh said then attacked the wood.

  It broke off its hinges and crashed into the room. Josh twisted around, looking back at Derringer like a puppy wanting to know what to do next.

  “That’s some powerful magic,” I muttered to Bernard. “We need to watch this guy.”

  “He’s helping so far,” Bernard said.

  Neither of us took our eyes off Josh.

  “Go get ‘em, boy,” Derringer said.

  Josh howled then jumped through the doorway. An explosion boomed as a flash of fire lit the tunnel.

  “Josh!” Sarah screamed as she rushed past.

  “Don’t do it,” I said, running after her.

  The smoke cleared as I got closer. Inside the room, I heard Josh battling the last two warriors. Or were they new and unknown Dark Knights too?

  I pushed the question aside as I rushed into the room behind Sarah.

  “We need to save Josh,” she said. “That wasn’t right sending him in here as cannon fodder. I don’t want that ever happening again.”

  “No time to talk about it now,” I said.

  Standing in front of her, swords drawn, I saw Red-helmet through the smoky haze.

  Josh and the other man struggled near the mirror in the back of the room. I jumped over the debris and landed in front of their leader. He turned as both my blades pierced his armor.

  Your pierce GRAZES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 7 damage.

  Your pierce SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 2 damage.

  On the other side of the back wall, Josh jumped on the other man in armor. They both fell to the floor, rolling around in a pile of arms, legs, and torsos.

  Rogan attacked me with a red, glowing blade, striking me in the arm.

  [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight’s stab DECIMATES you for 32 damage.

  You have [73/128] health remaining.

  Man, he’s fast. And thirty-two damage from a dagger?

  I wasted no time striking back with both blades.

  Your pierce SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 3 damage.

  Your slash SCRATCHES [PC] Rogan the Dark Knight for 2 damage.

  “Come on,” I said.

  Rogan laughed then flipped his dagger into the air cockily. I attacked, but he raised his arm, palm out, and muttered some words.

  My body froze in place, swords still up in the air.

  Oh, no, not this again. Is he going to kill me while I’m immobile?

  “And you were worried about me?” Sarah asked from behind me.

  She better not cast a lightning bolt in here.

  I stood still, unable to do anything, hating every moment of it.

  Clouds of Dust appeared around Rogan’s head. He dropped his glowing dagger to the ground. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on it after the others finished him off.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josh stand. He walked into my view and approached Rogan with no weapons. No longer in a rage, he methodically hit the warrior.

  He didn’t wince as he pummeled their red-helmeted leader. I wiggled my toes.

  Movement. Finally. Must not last long.

  Gradually, the rest of my body unfroze.

  I raised my weapons to help Josh, but he didn’t need it. Rogan the Dark Knight fell to the stone floor, no longer struggling to get his helmet off.

  Combat is Over!

  You get 30,000 xp divided by five party members.

  You get 6,000 xp You have 94,391 xp You need 10,609 for Level 10 Rogue --> Bounty Hunter

  Sarah’s magic and quick thinking had saved me once again. I owed her my life in so many ways. Josh turned, breathing heavy, sweat pouring off his body.

  “Axelrod okay?” he asked. “I’m tired of being a barbarian.”

  “We should check on him,” Sarah said.

  I walked out of the room. They both followed me into the tunnel.

  “Hey, Ax-baby,” Josh shouted. “I hope you know I didn’t mean to hit you.”

  “That baby tap you gave me?” Axelrod asked, rubbing his arm.

  Derringer the Dark Knight, frowning, stepped forward.

  “I couldn’t bring myself to kill Rogan,” he said. “Thanks for finishing the battle.”

  “No problem,” I said, sheathing my weapons. “Thanks for helping us.”

  “We still need to save the dwarves,” Axelrod said.

  He looked over at the blue energy field.

  “I’ve got to tell you guys something before you let me join your party,” Derringer said. “Unless you weren’t going to let me join?”

  “We want you,” Sarah said. “You’re a healer-tank—the best kind.”

  Derringer smiled, holding his black helmet in his hands over his stomach. His expression changed quickly—joy replaced by nervousness.

  “Back in the real world…” he said then stopped and frowned.

  “We won’t judge you,” Bernard said. “We’ve all got secrets.”

  He briefly looked up then lowered his head again.

  “Back in the real world,” he said. “I worked as a prison guard.”

  Derringer glanced up, carefully watching our reactions before continuing.

  “A bunch of corporate nerds came to the prison and installed all these high-tech pods,” he continued. “They told us it would help reduce recidivism in the justice system. I didn’t believe them, but as a guard I had no say in the matter.”

  Everyone formed a semi-circle in front of Derringer as we listened to his story.

  “One night, the warden told us they needed people to test the pods for the geeks. I’ve never gamed before in my life, but my buddies on the same shift were avid gamers. They talked me into signing up for the test.”

  Derringer took a deep breath, looking past us. I glanced over at the blue magic field, wondering how long it would take to diminish and free the dwarves.

  “Anyway, they hooked the seven us up in a special room. The other guys loved the game. I did too, at first.”

  Derringer raised his hands and glanced around. “I mean, it’s so real. At first it was a paradise, but then we realized we couldn’t get out. I’ve been here way too long. Years have passed inside this stupid game. I can’t even imagine what the outside world is like now.”

  “You don’t know about the time dilation?” I asked.

  His eyes n
arrowed as he stared at me.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Time outside of the game is passing a lot slower than inside the game. Even if you’ve been here for years, only hours may have passed in the real world.” I explained.

  “Get out of here,” he said.

  “He’s telling the truth,” Bernard said. “I think so, anyway. We don’t know the exact numbers yet, but I’m sure it’s happening.”

  “The Tower of Gates likes to play with time,” Axelrod said. “It changes.”

  Derringer nodded.

  “I’ve been wanting to get out of this game for years now,” he said. “Sticking with the other prison guards was the dumbest idea I ever made.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up about it,” I said. “This game has a way of making you do things you wouldn’t normally do.”

  “You got that right,” Derringer said, not embellishing.

  “Would you, officially, care to join our party?” I asked. “We’d love to have you. Sounds like we both have the same goal right now—get out of this game as soon as possible.”

  He smiled, color returning to his face.

  “I’d love to join,” he said.

  [PC] Derringer the Dark Knight has joined your party!

  “Welcome aboard,” I said as I stuck out my hand.

  He shook it. Josh walked over and patted him on his arm.

  “No more of that hypnotic suggestion on me, okay?” he asked.

  Derringer grinned.

  “I can’t promise that, but I’ll try,” he replied.

  “What’s the Dark Knight class?” I asked. “We didn’t have that option.”

  “Yeah,” Sarah said. “Do new classes open up on higher levels of the game?”

  “The game is always changing,” Derringer said. “That’s the one constant I’ve found.”

  “We’ve brought the dwarves back into the game,” Axelrod said. “The black dragon can’t renew the magic, so the energy field trapping them will fade in time. We’ll be able to access the portal to the Tower of Gates again, too.”

  “How long will it take?” I asked.

  The dwarf shrugged and said, “I don’t know for certain, but I’m waiting no matter how long it takes. The dwarves are going to change this game for the better.”

  I nodded, not sure if I liked his tone of voice.

  “Guys,” Bernard called out from inside Ryu’s room. “Get in here. I’ve found something.”

  28

  Goodbye, Dear Friend

  Eric

  Sarah and I left Axelrod in the tunnel and walked into Ryu’s room.

  Bernard stood next to a bookshelf that rotated, exposing another room.

  “I found a secret door,” he said, smiling as much as the brownies.

  “Anything in there?” I asked. “Did you check for traps?”

  “Looks like his loot room.” Bernard smiled. “There’s piles of treasure in there from what I can see, but I haven’t checked for traps yet.”

  “The mirror,” Sarah said, pointing to another wall.

  I looked over the bodies of the two fallen Dark Knights and saw Magi Inyontoo appear in the mirror’s reflection among the clouds of smoke.

  He frowned.

  “What have you done?” he asked in a haughty voice. “You’ll pay for disrupting my plans. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

  I stepped forward, unafraid of the image before me.

  “We know what we’re doing,” I said. “And we’re stopping you.”

  He shook his head, a nasty frown etched on his face. I wondered if he had changed his appearance. He looked different somehow, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  Derringer walked into the increasingly cramped room along with Josh.

  “You two,” Magi Inyontoo shouted, pointing. “You’ll pay for your betrayal, guard-boy and barbarian boy. I bet you haven’t even told your new friends about your secret past before the game, have you?”

  “They know,” Derringer said, arms crossed over his chest.

  “We’ve got no problem with him,” Sarah said. “But you’re an evil man.”

  Magi Inyontoo howled with laughter.

  “You guys are the craziest noobs I’ve seen during my many years in this game,” he said. “I’ll enjoy wiping you from the game permanently.”

  “As if you could,” I said. “We’re all trapped in here.”

  “If you guys were smart, you’d give up and join me,” Magi Inyontoo said. “Don’t you want to see if I’m telling the truth about getting out of the game?”

  “We’ll never join you,” Sarah said.

  “Such a pity. You’re a cute elf. Maybe I should kick all the elves out of the game.”

  Josh stepped forward, pushing me out of the way.

  “You leave her alone,” he said, pointing at the mirror. “If you touch her…”

  His voice drifted off. Magi Inyontoo laughed.

  “You’ll do what? Do you want me to make you an NPC again? You failed to follow my instruction, and for that, you’ll pay dearly.”

  Josh screamed and raised his sword. Before anyone could stop him, he brought it down, shattering the glass in the mirror. Real smoke filled the room.

  I coughed then put my forearm over my mouth and nose.

  “What are you doing?” I asked. “We needed more information out of him.”

  Josh shrugged then said, “Too late. You got a problem with it?”

  I bit my tongue, more interested in the loot waiting next door.

  “What did he mean about his ‘instructions?’” Sarah asked.

  I looked up at Josh, wanting to know the same thing.

  “He wanted me to kill you guys,” Josh said. “I didn’t do it.”

  “Obviously,” I said. “Good for you that you didn’t try.”

  Josh growled but said nothing.

  “Let’s go through this treasure,” Sarah said. “Check for traps, so I can start identifying items and see what we’re working with.”

  Bernard and I went over the doorway then the rest of the room.

  After finding no traps or mimics, Sarah came in.

  “This will take some time,” she said.

  “We need to wait for that energy field to dissipate, too,” I said.

  Sarah nodded then got to work identifying all the items.

  I hated waiting, but we had no choice.

  Half an hour later, the blue energy field had diminished, but we still couldn’t get through it to save the dwarves or access the portal to the Tower of Gates.

  Tired of waiting, I walked back into Ryu’s treasure room to check on Sarah. She looked up from the long, wooden table cluttered with items.

  “How’s it going?” I asked.

  “Perfect timing,” she said. “I’m finished.”

  As she motioned me over, I walked over to the table.

  “Here’s the list,” she said, handing me a piece of paper.

  I glanced over the items as she watched my reactions.

  Scepter of Might and Magic

  Meld into stone (unlimited use, wearer only)

  Soften earth and stone (unlimited use)

  Stone shape (twice per day)

  Stoneskin (once per week, wearer only)

  Passwall (twice per week)

  Wall of stone (once per day)

  Minor Bag of Holding – Weighs 15 lbs full – holds 150 lbs – up to 150 cubic feet

  Helm of Fire Protection – (-50% damage from fire sources)

  Crystal Statue (of a Hydra) inlaid with Silver (3000 gp) – non-magic

  Violet Garnet (800 gp) – non-magic

  12x - Lapis Lazuli (12 gp) – non-magic

  Ring of the Wizard – +10 mana per level of wearer.

  “Sounds like a decent epic item with that scepter,” I said, lowering the paper.

  “Yeah,” Sarah said, nodding. “I don’t think it’s cursed, but something isn’t right.”

  “We should choose a new lead
er for our party,” I said.

  I studied her face for any revelations about her feelings on the matter.

  “That’s not a bad idea,” she said in a low voice. “I’ve been thinking the same a while. How will we break the news to him?”

  “I don’t know yet,” I said.

  “Break what to who?” Axelrod asked as he walked in.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  His dwarven eyes widened as he pointed to the middle of the table.

  “Is that the Scepter of Might and Magic?” he asked bluntly.

  “Yeah…” Sarah said.

  “Mine,” he shouted then rushed past and snatched it from the table.

  “I thought we rolled for things more than one person wants,” Bernard said, half-joking.

  “True,” I said, wondering what the dwarf would do.

  “No, it’s mine,” he repeated, backing away from the rest of us.

  A darkness emanated from his eyes. Was the Scepter of Might and Magic cursed? How would that affect the rest of our group?

  A power-mad dwarf could slow us down.

  Josh walked into the room and said, “We’ll roll for the treasure.”

  “Never.” Axelrod raised the scepter. “Don’t make me use this so soon.”

  “Come at me,” Josh said then stepped forward. “You got what it takes, little man?”

  Axelrod lifted the scepter higher.

  “Say that again,” he snarled. “I dare you.”

  I moved to get between the two of them, but a scream for help from the mirror-room caught the attention of everyone.

  “Help!” a female voice shouted.

  I rushed into the other room and saw a dark-skinned female dwarf.

  “Please tell me we’re finally free,” she said then almost fainted.

  “Out of the way,” Axelrod said, pushing me from behind.

  I stepped aside and watched as he walked over to her.

  “Are you okay, my dear?” he asked in a pleasant tone.

  “I wasn’t before, but I am now.” She smiled. “My name’s Sheena.”