Dreaming Orora

by A H Alshehabi

  “We’re far off,” Eric said, “and the Dark One is right on top of us.”

  “I think I can make out were you are,” Hok said, “hold on till we get there.”

  Easier said than done. They were in the middle of a battle hungry army waiting for the slightest bit of action. The outer rims of the army were at the very least engaged in some action. Those in the deep end towards the walls saw no action for some time. Gods know why.

  “Heal up,” Eric said and tossed a healing spell on both of them. Bale did the same. His HP neared max now. A desperate fighting chance perhaps.

  Behind the smoke screen a huge figure appeared. It glowed red and then broke through to reveal the huge dragon. With each step it shook the ground and silenced the small soldiers around it. It stopped but a few feet away from them and so did the other soldiers. They formed a circle around Bale and Eric, their main attraction.

  “Get ready for the worst,” Eric said.

  “You don't need to say it twice.” Bale took out his shield. The soldiers started clanging and stomping. Waiting for the signal to tear them apart. Hunger in their dark faces to join a battle. Perhaps the long wait rendered them restless. Few more seconds and no signal came. The banging continued.

  The dragon lowered its head and the Dark One jumped off. His army cheered on and the banging grew louder. With every step he carried the same menace, the same aura of dread Bale felt way before when he first saw him. Bale felt a darkness smothering him, like something tried to pull his body, and soul, crashing to the ground. The Dark One stood but few feet in front of them. The banging slowed down then died off.

  The Dark One tilted his head to one side, “Warden of the east,” a voice played in Bale’s head, Bale felt inclined to correct him about his Warden status, “What luck that we meet again here?” he turned to Eric, “And you? I met you somewhere?”

  Eric’s face crumbled with anger. He screamed and charged towards him. “You’ll remember me when I kill you.”

  “Eric no,” Bale tried but Eric was half way towards the Dark One. He raised his sword and the Dark One raised his hand to block. The hit connected and smoke dissipated from the impact.

  The Dark One smiled and Eric jumped back, perhaps in disbelief or realizing how little that hit did. The soldiers around them bellowed. The Dark One dashed towards Eric, his hand trailing. He brought it forward in a slash motion and a sword materialized in it as it finished colliding with Eric who did not manage to dodge. The hit tossed him few feet back; he barely balanced himself on one knee. The army cheered on.

  Bale ran towards Eric and stood between him and the Dark One. Buying some precious seconds for his partner to regain his balance. The Dark One charged at Bale sword first. Bale brought his shield up but the sheer impact staggered him off balance. The Dark One followed with another hit that forced Bale’s shielded hand down.

  The Dark One’s hand was already in motion for the third strike when Eric jumped in between them, pushed Bale back and struck with his sword. He lost his balance and took another hit. It sent him rolling and stumbling few feet.

  “Guys,” Eric said in the group channel, “we won’t last long against this guy”

  “Me and Jorgen will be there soon,” Hok said.

  Above them the smoke cleared up somewhat and Bale saw the city walls looming in the distance, but between them and the walls stood an army. And what stood right before them now even worse. He saw no wyvern in the sky. Hok’s soon might not be soon enough.

  The Dark One took a step closer but stopped when his dragon snapped its neck upwards. Bale followed its gaze and saw Hok closing in on his wyvern. The big beast spread its wings when Hok slammed to the ground along with his wyvern.

  The two beasts locked eyes and roared at one another. The puny wyvern stood no chance against the booming dragon. The big beast stepped forward to the cowering wyvern and was about to strike when Hok jumped off and dismissed it. It didn't disappear though; it took off and fired few shots at the ground where the big beast stood.

  The Dark One raised a hand and the big beast roared at the skies and took after the small dragon.

  “Ok,” Hok said, “now that we got rid of that thing, focus on taking Bale out. Jorgen, how far away are you?”

  “Close, but I need your wyvern to take that thing away.”

  “Just me?” Bale said, “what about you two?”

  “Our home point is in Buharr already,” Hok said, “as long as we don’t face the reaper. Death is not an issue.”

  The Dark One faced Hok and tilted his head to one side, “You again,” the voice spoke in Bale’s head, “still oblivious to your true enemy. Fighting the apparent threat and not seeing the full picture.”

  “Full picture?” Hok said taking out his sword and inching towards Eric and Bale, “you killed cities and towns for no apparent reason. You have women trapped in crystals just because.” Hok pointed his sword at him, “if it’s the last thing we do, we’ll end you.”

  The sinister laugh rose to a deafening tune. “And then what? Move to the next source of entertainment? To your next pass time? I’m here to save this world,” his hands raised to his sides. “To stop the true evil lurking in the dark. To rid this world of its unknown demise.”

  Eric stepped next to Hok, “Unknown demise? You are the known one. People are suffering because of you. I would put an end to you even if it kills me.”

  “I need not kill you,” the Dark One said, “in fact this world might need you in the coming war. But I’ll have to kill you if you keep getting in the way.”

  “What about my wife?” Eric snapped, “what about the other women you put in a coma.”

  “Collateral damage.”

  Eric gritted his teeth, “Fuck you,” he said and run towards The Dark One sword in hand. The Dark One punched the air with an open palm and a wave of dark fire bounced off it. Eric put his two hands in hopes of blocking it, but the force proved too strong to contain. Bale felt a heat wave where he stood.

  “Almost there,” Jorgen said, “look me up now.”

  Bale turned his gaze to the skies and sure enough Jorgen’s wyvern darted towards them. Ten more seconds or so perhaps.

  “I grow tired of this,” The Dark One said and raised his hands. A scythe formed before him slashing the air revealing the reaper behind it.

  “Fuck,” Hok said, “Jorgen.”

  “I’m here, Bale be ready.”

  Bale looked up, the wyvern almost at hand. “What about you guys?”

  “You go now,” Hok said, “I can resummon my wyvern.”

  Bale raised his hand and locked it with Jorgen’s. He jerked to the skies and was now hanging on the side of the gliding beast. With a tug, Jorgen pulled him and he sat to his back. His wyvern bigger than Eric’s, roomier in the back.

  Bale looked down but couldn't make out his friends. He looked up and saw the sky far busier than when this started. Airships filled the skies, smoke and explosions galore. But something else grabbed his attention. The big dragon heading their way. Either it killed the small wyvern or Hok managed to dismiss it in time.

  42 – A welcomed death

  In all his years playing, death never scared Jack in Orora. Sure he might lose some XP and get some downtime, but it was never final. Never the end. A fact about Orora that at times translated badly to the real world. When you spend most of your time in a make belief world not afraid of the consequences of death, it could bleed to the real world in a bad way.

  Orora bleeding to the real world was not something new. People used it to overcome their fear of heights, fear of the dark, swimming and the fear of water, horse riding, amongst many others. But not fearing death translated badly to the real world. To some, it boosted their confidence and confrontation tendencies to the point of getting hurt in the real world. Some people went as far as making Orora their primary world and used the real world only for substances. Good thing Jack never reached that level.

  At one point his life revolved around Or
ora. It provided his source of income and livelihood. But it never bled into his real life. He never felt stronger, smarter or not afraid of death in the real world. And that, in his mind, was a good thing. The ability to till at any time that he was in a game meant he still didn't lose his mind to it.

  At this moment however, his heart raced along with his Vagrant. When the Dark One took a moment to direct his dragon after Jorgen, they spared no time in summoning their mounts and raced away from the confrontation. Killed by the big dragon, it’ll take at least an hour for him to be able to summon his wyvern again. So did Eric’s. So they decided on their next best thing, their Vagrants.

  “Listen Hok,” Eric said in the private chat, “if it doesn't look like we’ll make it, let me buy you some time while you escape.”

  “And what? Leave Karin at our hands?” Hok slashed with his sword sending a soldier in front of him flying towards his comrades.

  “In your hands. You got a pillar; I can’t afford to lose you. Me on the other hand just another body in the fight.”

  If anything, these were the words of a desperate man. He feared death no more, even by the hands of the reaper. He feared for his wife, for Karin.

  Hok stole a glance back. The reaper glided behind them. Death flew after them in a sea of dark soldiers. Hok pulled the reins and his Vagrant crashed into some soldiers sending them flying. The mount took some damage with each ram and hit, its HP less than half now. He couldn’t keep ramming soldiers for long. Good thing Hok saw the city walls drawing closer. Bad thing they were on the other end of the city, and if Hok recalled correctly, this side lacked a gate to the city.

  “Guys,” Jorgen said in the group chat, “I just got Bale safe, well as safe as could be. The dragon is raining fire on the city now.”

  “My home point is set in Buharr now at least,” Bale said, “I can come out and help.”

  “No,” both Eric and Hok said at once, “We can see the northern city walls,” Hok said, “but there is no gate at this end.”

  “Ok,” Jorgen said, “just keep at it, we’ll get there.”

  Hok took another glance back, the reaper still on their tail. He pulled on his reins and his Vagrant galloped before it hit few soldiers and lost its pace. The reaper closed in. The Vagrant jerked to one side as Eric’s Vagrant bumped sideways into it. The reaper slashed and the scythe went through Eric’s black mount. The Vagrant disintegrated into thin air and Eric stumbled to the ground. Between the clanking and rumbling he screamed, “Don’t you dare slow down, go!”

  “The hell if I well,” Hok jumped off his Vagrant and raced towards Eric. He grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. “Let’s go.” Hok stole a glance at the Reaper who hovered in his place with scythe planted on the ground. Probably sizing his next target.

  “Damn it I told you to leave me behind,” he ran alongside Hok.

  Hok slashed his sword and the shockwave blew everything between them and the wall. Good thing those soldiers were relatively low level. So in small numbers they paused next to no threat. Just a background noise.

  With the wall to their back, both Eric and Hok faced their foes. The reaper hovering few feet ahead of The Dark One while soldiers surrounded them in a half circle getting a front row seat to their death.

  “Well,” Eric said, “too late to log out now. Hok please, summon your Vagrant and dash off. I’ll keep the reaper busy for few seconds.”

  A desperate man's plea. He feared losing the chance to defeat the Dark One. Losing the chance to save Karin. He didn't care for his character, for his life here. He cared for Hok’s. For what he had. Hok clinched his jaw. Who was he to deny this man his chance? To deny Karin the chance? A chance unproven and untested, but a chance nonetheless.

  Hok got into the menu and highlighted the call mount option when a shout came in the party chat, “Hok, Eric, drop from the party.” It was that kid Oz, and he didn't have to ask twice.

  Why didn't he think of that? Death, by any other means could be their way out. In a heartbeat Hok dropped off the party and so did Eric. He took out all the smoke pallets he had and tossed them around. The Dark One and The Reaper might have true vision, they could see through any invisibility magic or item, but it should work on the rest of the soldiers. And it might provide a moment of confusion.

  Hok spun around and stabbed Eric. He stepped back and Eric returned the favor. An arrow struck Hok in the right shoulder, followed by another. It rained arrows soon after. Particles rose off the ground and pillars of stone spiked upwards tossing them apart. Hok’s HP at the halfway point. Not fast enough, the Reaper drew closer.

  Eric grabbed an axe along with his sword and charged towards Hok. He used his two hours ability. Smart move. With every devastating blow he landed on Hok, he took a hit to his HP too. Few more arrows pierced the two of them and Hok hanged to life by a sliver.

  The Reaper closed in winding his scythe. Hok gasped, he needed one more hit. An arrow pierced his lungs and he felt the sweet sting. The Reaper inches away with scythe above his head. Hok fell to the ground. You are dead, appeared on the screen.

  His heart skipped a beat, waiting for the option to go to the home point.

  You need to always be aware of the various statues ailments and how they affect your character. There are the well-known ones like paralysis, poison, slow, gravity or heavy, amongst many more. Then there are the obscure ones like stone, shadow bind, and more. You’ll need to learn those as you go.

  Be wary of sleep though, while some might consider it a good thing in the real world, it incapacitates the character for a period of time making it effectively the worst amongst the status ailments.

  43 – only one chance

  Everyone stood atop the northern curtain wall of the city looking at the battle below. Things died do wn from the panic few seconds ago and only smoke lingered around. For the exception of Oz, who still fired arrows down below, everyone else just stood there, waiting. Not few moments ago, anyone with a ranged attack fired at well to what looked like Hok and Eric.

  “Anything Jorgen?” Murad said. After Hok dropped out of the party, the lead role went automatically to Jorgen.

  “Nothing,” Jorgen said, “I’m heading to the statue now, at the very least the invite didn't bounce back,” Jorgen passed by them atop his wyvern.

  “That’s a good thing right?” Oz said.

  “Well, yeah,” Murad said, “means the character is still registered as being online. Could be the grace period though.”

  For what felt like thirty minutes no one said anything. Fitch moved from one side of the curtain wall facing outside to the side facing the city. Hoping to spot either of them, knowing he wouldn't be able to. With the amount of people in the main ward, he couldn't tell who’s who from this far. Still he looked, hoped.

  “That was a brilliant idea Oz,” Hok said in the group chat and Fitch just noticed Hok and Eric added to the group list. A calm washed over him and he heard a collective sigh in the group chat.

  “Well,” Oz said placing a hand on his chin, “I analyzed the situation and though what could-”

  “-It was Paragon’s idea,” Fitch said.

  “Damn it man,” Oz said, “you couldn't let me have this.” Fitch shrugged.

  “I need the leader back please,” Hok said.

  Jorgen landed with his wyvern next to them and jumped off his mount, “Done.”

  “Ok,” Hok said, “I’ll come there, wait for me.”

  Fitch walked back to the outer side of the wall. More and more people collided with the dark soldiers in the outer side of the circle surrounding the city. The number of people looked far significant than what it was before all of them got into the city. Yet, their numbers paled in comparison to the dark army. And for some stroke of luck, or some other reason, they still didn't attack.

  “Guys,” Hok said and appeared next to them with a guy Fitch saw for the first time, “welcome Diego.”

  ~

  The team moved to a rented room in the c
ity inn. A small, not roomy, nor enough chairs or furniture around, but it was private and quite. They had to pay extra to get a room in a private instance. The common rooms still carried some of the noise from outside. Fitch doubted that the room would fit all those people. He never saw this number in a private room. He was proven wrong.

  Some sat on the few chairs scattered around, some sat on the ground, others stood around forming a circle with Hok standing in the middle. Cmfour walked all over the place, taking footage for the broadcast, he explained.

  “Listen to my story,” Oz said to no one in particular then hummed some tune, “this, might be our only chance.” More humming.

  Few arched their eyebrows; others didn't as much as acknowledged him. Hok chuckled, “a Final Fantasy 10 fan I see?”

  Oz smiled, “oh, you recognized it ha?”

  “Last of the greats really.” Hok said then stood amidst all of them. His face turned stern, “we need to discuss basic strategy. We don't have much time and we don't know for how long those people will continue the attack on the dark army. There is also the fact that The Dark One might decide to attack the city at any moment.”

  “I sure wish we can wait for,” Eric paused, “an hour and forty minutes. My two hour is still down.”

  “Can’t risk that long,” Jorgen said looking out the window. Being in a separate instance, the view was not of the actual city, so Fitch wondered what Jorgen mused over? Perhaps news feed in his visor. “My guild is fighting out there and they are saying it’s ugly.”

  “Same news from my end,” Murad said.

  “Yes,” Hok said, “we’ll finish here fast and strike while the iron is hot. First of, the pillars,” Fitch tensed, “me, Fitch, Bale, Jorgen and Yayoi, we have to surround The Dark One and activate them. Keep a distance from one another and him, then activate. We should form a pentagon around him. The sides need not be equal.”

  “That’s a relief, I guess,” Fitch said.