by Eden Redd
Dalya and Gorganna watched, waiting for an opening to join their lord in battle. The spinning of bodies and clashing of swords left no room for anyone else to join in the melee. Rujin’s brow formed a sharp V, concentrating on the incoming blades. Jayson, Sonja and Lance moved as one, anticipating each other’s moves and filling in the exposed gaps. When Sonja was open, Lance’s sword blocked an incoming blade. When Lance was open, Jayson and Sonja parried incoming attacks. When Jayson was exposed, fellow knights clustered to protect him.
Rujin growled as one of Jayson’s blades sliced at his thigh. The troll activated his shadow move attack. An aura of darkness flowed around the troll as he bolted forward. Rujin’s sword slashed out in quick bursts. The tide shifted and the knights raised their blades to parry each incoming blow. Stepping back, the three knights could barely keep up as Rujin pressed his attack.
As soon as the shadow attack finished, Lance planted his feet and activated his 32-point sword attack. The white knight moved so fast that Jayson and Sonja couldn’t keep up. Rujin blocked each incoming blow until he faltered at the 25th sword slash. Lance pressed on, the end of his blade slashing seven times before his stamina gave out. The white knight fell to one knee as Rujin stumbled back, seven bleeding cuts distributed across his stomach, chest and thighs.
The troll brought a foot up and slammed it down. Energy rippled as shockwaves knocked everyone off their feet and cracked the very floor and walls around him. Sonja landed on her back, twisted to her side and was back up again. Rujin fell to one knee and the blue knight took the advantage. Sword slashing out, ghostly blades crossed the space between them. Rujin lifted his blade to block each of them in turn but the blue knight was already charging. When the last ghostly blade was knocked away, Sonja was airborne, screaming with her blade pointed at Rujin’s heart. The troll lifted off his knee and spun away as Sonja stabbed at air. His free hand swung wide and hit the knight in the shoulder, sending her sprawling to the floor.
“Pathi….” Rujin began to say when pain welled up and he looked down.
Jayson was close, both blades buried deep in the troll’s gut. Rujin’s free hand clamped on Jayson’s shoulder while he brought his sword hard across, aiming for the knight’s exposed neck. With a heavy heart, Jayson activated his spin attack. Rujin pulled back and screamed as blades spun like a saw against his gut. The troll’s hit points drained as Jayson became a blur, spinning around and shredding the troll’s insides right before his digital spine.
Rujin stumbled back, his free hand holding his sliced-up stomach. Sonja was charging as Jayson fell to one knee, his stamina spent. The troll blocked the blue knight’s attacks while holding his insides. Dalya and Gorganna rushed in to join the blue knight. Lance was back to his feet and waited as Dalya slashed with her flaming staff and Gorganna tried her paralyzing gaze. Despite the grievous damage Rujin had taken, he moved with no ill effects and kept the three warriors at bay.
Gorganna’s eyes blazed as beams of light burst forth. The troll spun away as the beams hit the wall. Dalya brought her flaming staff down but Rujin was quicker. Using his mass, his shoulder bashed into the kitra, sending her falling back and swept her leg from under her. The kitra landed on her back. Jayson was rising to his feet when his eyes went wide.
Time slowed down to a crawl. Rujin smirked as he raised his blade. Gorganna rushed the troll. Sonja moved to keep up with the gorgon. Lance was to Jayson’s side. Dalya lay on her back, arms crossing over her face. Jayson could see the intent in Rujin’s eyes as he was bringing his sword down. The troll glanced past all the bodies around him to make eye contact with Jayson. The blade shifted its direction in midair and came hard across. Gorganna was within striking range, her eyes blazing toward the troll. The blade touched her neck and continued its path across. The concubine’s paralyzing stare was an inch from striking the troll when it dimmed to nothing. Jayson stared, horror filling his gaze as the gorgon’s head tilted and fell in one direction as her body fell in another.
Rujin moved so fast as if time had little meaning. With his blade already moving, he aimed it for Sonja who was nearly on him. The blue knight brought her sword close. The knight’s blade parried the strike but could not stop the momentum. The blue knight was thrown by the force, her body impacting against a cracked wall. She was sliding down as Rujin continued to roll his blade back to himself. Jayson and Lance were moving, bolting toward the mad troll. Rujin brought his arm back and swung outward, releasing his blade. The sword shot like a bullet toward Jayson. The knight could not stop his action as the end of the blade pointed at his chest. A white streak moved in front of the knight just as the troll’s sword was a foot away. Lance grunted as he took the sword to the shoulder. The power behind the sword changed the white knight’s direction as he spun away.
Gorganna’s body had just fallen to the floor and burst into shattered light when Jayson reached the troll. The knight brought his blades down. The troll turned sideways and drew a dagger from his belt. Swords struck the stone floor and sparks flew up. The troll drove his dagger upward, burying it into Jayson’s stomach. The knight’s eyes widened as hit points drained. He had plenty to keep fighting but his limbs grew heavy and he couldn’t lift his swords.
“Poison…a means to an end. Remember this moment as I take Oksuna away. You will never see her ag…..”
Rujin’s eyes widened as a sword point stabbed out of his chest. Turning his head, his gaze drank in Oksuna’s determined expression. The pink haired troll kept her firm grip on the sword and twisted it.
Jayson stared as his hit points, strength and stamina drained away. Spending the last of his strength and stamina, feeling returned to his limbs. Lifting up a short sword, the knight brought it hard across Rujin’s neck.
“And so, my pain ends…..” Rujin gurgled.
The troll kept his wide-eyed gaze on the pink haired troll before they rolled into his head. Body and head falling away, Oksuna let go of her sword as it fell with it. Cracks of light crisscrossed the troll’s body and head as it fell to the stone floor. Upon impact, the body burst into shards of light and faded from view.
Oksuna’s eyes welled up and her lip trembled. Jayson fell to his knees, the last of his strength gone. Hit points continued to drain as the poison moved through his body. He had a minute or two before he reached zero. Lance and Sonja were to their feet and moving to their fellow knight. Oksuna fell to her knees, arms taking hold of the knight as he fell forward. Tears streamed down her light blue skin as she gazed down on Jayson. Dalya was up and stepping closer, sadness filling her eyes.
“It’s alright….you did great…” Jayson said but the words came out strange, a side effect of dying in game.
Through the bedroom doors, elves and a hydra stepped through; eyes falling to the group, taking in the sight of their lord in Oksuna’s arms. Lina and Fay rushed forward, their hands glowing with healing magic. Once they touched Jayson, energy flared, consuming the poison and burning it away. Jayson watched in his eye display as the poison status effect blinked away and his hit points and attributes began to rise once again.
Kara and Nara walked over with small smiles, “The town guards and knights pushed back the invading force with our help. The trolls are in full retreat.”
Jayson could feel his limbs once again and attempted to sit up on his own only to be smothered by the crying pink haired troll. She pressed his face to her oversized breasts and the player couldn’t hide his relief. Sonja and Lance stood up with their own smiles. Dalya touched her lord’s hand, grinning like a fool.
The knight gently pushed at his troll lover to gain some air. Making his way to his feet, he held his hand out to help Oksuna stand. Everyone in the room crowded around the knight, spreading out their arms and embracing in a group hug.
***
Guards marched through the streets and spell casters blasted roaring flames with ice magic. Reed Keep stood against the dying flames and smoke still filling the air. Walls were cracked and chunks of stone debri
s lay about. Weapons, gold and gems littered the street but players did not greedily take their share. The human kingdoms were so far away from the conflict, they couldn’t process yet that their sacred lands would be hit while most were gone at the front lines, trying to reclaim the middle kingdoms.
Jayson stood in his harem’s sleeping chambers with Dalya, Oksuna, Sonja and Lance. All five looked down on the resurrection coffin belonging to Gorganna. A time glowed above it, counting down from ten days. Pulses of sadness dripped from his heart. He was close to everyone in his harem. They spent so much time being intimate that when they died it was always difficult to wait the ten days until their resurrection. Now that Jayson knew about NPC’s awakening, death was different, and changed everything on a sub conscious level. The player didn’t know if when she returned, she would be the same. Andrea’s words haunted him. Her death could only mean she would step back from the chance of waking up. Her death would cause her to…..not be reborn as a living digital entity.
Dalya moved in close to her lord, eyes still on the coffin, “The damage to the keep was extensive but it can be repaired. I’ll make sure everyone is doing their part.
“Thank you Dalya,” Jayson said simply, trying to hold back his own tears.
The kitra bowed her head and turned to leave. Lance and Sonja looked to Jayson as his eyes glistened. Stepping closer, Lance put his hand on Jayson’s shoulder.
“She’ll be back,” the white knight said reassuringly.
“Not in time to help us,” the knight said softly.
Sonja moved to the other side of Jayson, her hand taking his, “We know this is hard but….”
“We need to log out and meet up,” Jayson cut her off.
Sonja and Lance looked to one another before turning their eyes back to Jayson.
“I need to speak to you both. We can’t do it here. Let’s meet at the bar in an hour,” Jayson said as he resisted the urge to touch the coffin.
Sonja looked to her fellow knight for a long moment before nodding her head. Lance squeezed Jayson’s shoulder and nodded as well.
“Give me a minute alone,” Jayson said with his voice cracking.
The two knights let go of their friend and turned for the door. Oksuna lingered, her eyes wet and hand reaching out before fingers curled back. Turning, she moved to the door. Glancing back, she looked to her lord as he stood over the coffin. Shadows covering her eyes, she stepped through the doorway and closed the door behind her.
Jayson reached out and touched the coffin, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Seven
Jason stepped out of the cab, darkness under his eyes. Closing the cab door behind him, it quickly sped off. The neon sign “Shadow Bar” glowed red. Through the windows, the place was packed with bodies and music thumped to rhythmic vibrations.
The night air was cool as Jason stepped forward to the entrance. A short moment later, he was inside and pushing through the thick crowd. He had spent a good portion of the day in game but when he pulled the MEG helmet off, the sun had just set outside his window. Getting dressed in a hurry, he raced down the stairs of his apartment building and into the street. Waving down a cab, he tried to keep calm and organize his thoughts.
Now in the bar, he pushed through tangles of bodies, drinking, talking and dancing to the deafening music. A hand reached out from the crowd and took hold of his shoulder. Jason turned to see Trevor’s smile and concerned eyes. Jayson returned the smile. Trevor let go and led Jason through the crowd. They stepped beyond a doorway to the back room where the music was toned down, tables and chairs dotted the main floor and comfy couches lined each of the walls. Rachel sat at a table with a drink, her smile bright when she looked up to see her friends.
Trevor and Jason made their way in and sat down. Trevor signaled one of his fellow coworkers to supply them with drinks. The server nodded his head and headed to the bar. Jason looked to his friends, a good feeling filling his heart and chasing away the darkness, even if only for a moment. Rachel barely had any make up on and it looked like she had barely brushed her hair. Trevor wore a simple black T shirt and jeans. Jason had run out of his apartment so fast, he had no idea how he really looked and didn’t care.
“I’m glad you made it out to meet,” Jason said it simply.
“We knew it had to be important otherwise you would have talked to us in the game,” Trevor said.
“We have to talk out of the game. Our actions and discussions are logged. I didn’t want to talk about this if anyone was listening.”
“Is it because Rujin knew our real names?” Rachel said with concern. “We could see how affected you were when he said them.”
“He even tried that with me when we fought one on one,” Trevor added.
Jason nodded, “There’s something deeper going on. I was sworn to secrecy but I can’t keep it from either of you. You both are my closest friends and what I have to tell you is important. We have to keep it between us and cannot discuss it in the game. Can you do that for me?”
Rachel reached across the table and took one of Jason’s hands into hers. Trevor reached forward and took the other hand. The three friends squeezed in confidence as Sonja and Trevor nodded their heads in agreement.
Jason took in a deep breath before spilling his guts. He spoke of Andrea and how she explained what was happening to NPC’s in the game. He told them of the strange experience he encountered with Rujin during the Battle of the Middle Kingdoms. He informed them of how Oksuna had been acting strange for months, and more about his meeting with Lady Slytha. The only thing he left out was the unknown skill in his skill list. Thinking to just before he logged out, the unknown skill had reached 90%.
Trevor and Rachel kept their faces blank, drinking in everything their friend had to tell them. Jason could see that they took it seriously, not questioning him and giving him time to tell his version of events. When Jason was finished, he sat back. Drinks were served and the young man took his and drank it down in several gulps. With the glass empty, he set it down and the table was silent.
“We have to get to the west coast and end this quest,” Trevor said simply.
Sonja pressed her elbows on the table and looked to Jason, “Are you sure it will free her?”
Jason hesitated before he nodded, “Andrea seems to think so.”
Sonja nodded but maintained eye contact, “We don’t know who this Andrea is but I know I will do everything to help you and Oksuna. Should we continue to the west or find another way?”
Jason looked to his friends, “I think we should keep going. It might be our only chance.”
“Then we do it, all of us, till the end,” Sonja smiled.
“I’m in,” Trevor smiled.
Jason nodded and smiled.
“What’s our next move?” Trevor asked as he leaned in.
“With the recent attack, I don’t think Oksuna will be safe back at the keep. As a matter of fact, I don’t think any of our concubines will be safe,” Jason said with an edge.
“We can’t move west with all of our concubines. That would be inviting every monster within miles to attack us,” Lance said.
“We could bring a select few, just so we can keep an eye on them. Didn’t Lady Slytha say she was going to send us some help?” Rachel asked.
Jason nodded, “We have to reach a portal and activate it, and then she will send help to us. She didn’t say how many would be coming but we can’t count on that.”
“Are ‘they’ other players?” Trevor asked while signaling for more drinks.
“She was sort of vague. They very well could be other players. If they are, then we will have a better chance at handling this threat to the west.”
Rachel’s eyes lowered, “Ancient sea serpents, I don’t even know how we are going to fight against something like that.”
Jason leaned in, “We have to discover what is happening. I’m hoping it won’t come to a fight. Lady Slytha told me of beings born from Sormir mating with the land rac
es. She told me that they made their way across Lukken, finding and taking ancient magic as they travelled. My guess is there is something waiting for us at the western tip. Something built to bridge the races of the land and sea.”
A second round of drinks was placed on the table. All three friends picked them up and took a deep sip before putting the glasses down. Ideas swirled on as they tried to come up with a plan.
Jason was first to break the small silence, “We should each bring two concubines. It will still keep our party small enough to manage. We can reevaluate when we meet with our future allies.”
“Sounds good to me, I’m sure Lunatina would like some extra company. She has been with us for months without anyone but us to talk to,” Trevor said.
“Shit, I forgot she was out there at our last save point. We have to log back in tonight and get to her,” Jason said.
Rachel nodded, “I will bring Leaf and Kell. They have been a little demanding lately but their power has grown.”
“I can bring Balog and Batty. Batty can scout ahead and report back. Balog’s fire abilities have become pretty powerful.”
Jason was quiet as he weighed his options, “I’m bringing Oksuna obviously but I can’t bring Dalya. She needs to keep the harem in line and ready. I think Sardyna might be strong enough for the trip.”
Trevor eyed Jason, “Are you sure you want to bring Oksuna. We don’t know what we’re going to face out there.”
“I can’t leave her behind, not after everything that happened tonight.”
Rachel watched as Jason’s eyes moved and warmth filled his face. She noticed that look before, when he was with them during their trysts. She knew it well but kept her thoughts to herself. She felt it wasn’t her place to tell her friend that he was deeply in love, at least not yet.
Jason stood up, “Let’s get back to our homes and log in. We have a lot to do before we recall back to the west.”