by Jason Cheek
There was a story here that pricked my interest but there was no time to go into the specifics right now. We’d just have to save that for later. I thought with a frown. Thinking quickly, my eyes scanned over the man’s companion. Her name was Lyeneru Caivyre, a level 32 Moon Elf Druid. While I had no idea what a Warden did, a Druid class, on the other hand, was pretty universal. This could work out if I could get them to heal Nivirth and his team and keep them alive. Besides, it would also keep them out of the worst of the combat, since I didn’t know how he played and if he’d be ready for the shitstorm that was coming.
“Can you heal?” I asked. Getting a nod from them both, I pointed to Nivirth. “If you agree to follow Scout Captain Dherler’s orders, you’re in.” They excitedly agreed without complaint. As soon as they caught up to us, I strode out the gate and picked up my speed while calling out in local raid chat as Neysa raced ahead. “Everyone hold out the best you can. We’re coming late to the party.”
“We need to talk about the Chaos Storm guild and-“ Krishna began to say as he fell in step next to me. Before he could say more, his voice abruptly cut-off in shock as he saw the mini-raid of zombies that suddenly fell into formation around us. He wasn’t the only one. Both Butcher and Justin were just as surprised as they gripped their weapons’ tighter, uncomfortably eyeing the rotting corpses loping beside them.
“Once this is all over,” I agreed as he gave me a wide-eyed look, “but right now we’re short on time.” Looking around, my gaze settled on Zocuth. “Sub-Leader Eevro, do you have any extra gear for these two.”
“Yes, milord,” the Dark Elf said, giving me a chest salute. Within moments, he’d pulled out two swords and chainmail overcoats from his inventory and handed them over as they both hurriedly slipped on the gear while we ran.
Reaching the end of the kill zone, we entered the main avenue that went down to the port. The edge of the hill just before the avenue sloped down steep enough that we couldn’t see anything until we were on top of the slope itself. As we came to the edge of the hill, I silently swore that it had to be nearly a forty-five degree angle as we practically flew down the hill at a sprint. I could barely pump my legs fast enough to keep on my feet.
It reminded me of one of those hillside port cities you’d see on the Travel Magazine covers of some island in the Pacific. How people lived and worked regularly on a slope like this I’d never know. At least now, though, we were making up some time. Halfway down the hill, I could see the dark smudge of the Dread Pack’s raid as it neared the square before the arena.
“Fuck my life,” I muttered under my breath as I waved Nivirth over to me. The Dark Elves were in much better shape than the troops we’d rescued from the dungeon. If we were going to split up anyway, we may as well do it now. As the Scout Captain caught up to me, I explained my thoughts as Krishna, Lyeneru, Butcher and Justin listened in on our conversation.
“You and your scouts have the strength to take the lead. Go ahead and get into position, but leave your zombies with us. I’ll hang back and get everyone healed up as much as possible before the battle starts. Who knows, maybe you can get an extra zombie cast in as we hit the back of their lines.” I gave the two Uten Syn guild members’ a wink. “While that’s going on, hopefully you can help keep us all healed up.”
“Be safe, Commander,” the Scout Captain said holding my eyes. “You’ve got a lot of people counting on you to save their loved ones.” With that, he gave me a salute and took off at a sprint as the rest of his scouts followed at nearly double our pace. Ayda, who was at the rear of the Shadow Scouts formation, gave me a silent wave as she ran by with Krishna and Lyeneru falling in beside her. Seeing Justin and Butcher’s startled looks, I gave them a reassuring smile.
“Let’s start rotating those wounded towards the front.” I said, as Helgath hooked her clawed fingers around my bicep.
***
Thomas’ blue eyes studied the troopers as they worked quickly to construct the defenses with all three of the raids’ various command staff standing at his sides. Each of the temporary barricades were basically constructed from nine arena benches stacked on top of each other. Once completed, they created a massive barricade that was seven and a half feet tall. Basically, a flat arena bench with three standing on edge that was repeated like a club sandwich made from stone. At six inches thick, three feet wide, and eighteen feet long, the benches were relatively easy to work with except for their weight and cumbersome size. With enough men and zombies though, moving them around wasn’t an issue.
The barricade design that Thomas was having built was a curved ‘WW’ design that blocked the street’s exit into the plaza before the arena. The bottom of the ‘WWs’ represented the four separate gauntlets that the attacking force would have to take to reach their lines. While that sounded like a lot of openings, it was much better than defending against these guys’ powerful Flame Attacks in an open plaza or trying to take the fight to them within the tight confines of the avenue.
Another benefit of the design was that it funneled the attackers to come at them in each pathway with only four newfar at a time. It was wide enough to risk pushing the attack, yet not actually wide enough to allow a big enough force through to overwhelm their lines. At least, Thomas hoped that was the case. After years of working with the military and seeing the various strategies used for base designs in foreign countries around the world, he was pretty confident of this layout. All that he had to do was hold out long enough for Star to get his forces into position.
Two hundred yards further up the hill, they could see the Dread Pack’s massive force oozing down the slope heading for them. The distance was too far away to make out the players gear or weapons, but he had no doubt that they’d come prepared for a fight this time around. Shifting beside him, Sarka nervously spoke up.
“Do you really think this is going to work?”
“No clue,” Thomas answered honestly. “But, it was the best plan Star and I could come up with on the fly.” Sarka’s frown said it all as he shook his head and laughed.
“Why do the rest of us need to be mixed in with the zombies?” she asked trying to understand the reasoning.
“Mostly as a safe guard. What if they ask why no one is replying in guild chat or wants to know what happened,” Thomas explained with a shrug as Sarka gave him a look.
“You really think that’s going to work?” she asked incredulously.
“It only needs to work long enough for us to get inside their formation,” Thomas said with a shrug.
“What happens after that?” she asked uncomfortably.
“We’ll probably die like rats and have to race back for our gear ahead of the enemy. Then basically rinse and repeat until one side gives up.” Seeing Sarka’s shocked look, he smiled grimly. “That’s why Star’s done his best to stack the deck for us ahead of time.”
“Fuck my life,” Sarka said, sighing in exasperation as Tinyr gave her a commiserating clap on the back.
“It’s all part of the adrenaline rush that’s PVP. Besides, that’s what you signed up for when you came on this run back in Delonshire.” the rogue said with a laugh.” As the depressed warrior looked at Unalia, the ranger smiled.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m planning on shooting from the rooftops.” Unalia said, doing her best not to laugh along with her husband.
“Don’t worry Hon,” Yun said giving his warrior woman a comforting hug. “Once this shit battle gets going, you’ll love it.”
“Says the man healing from the barricades.” Sarka said, snapping irritably at her husband.
“Hey,” Yun said defensively. “Thompson and I are going to be hanging out on the rooftops along with Unalia trying to keep everyone healed up during the fight.”
“Ouch!” Yun cried out suddenly in surprise as Sarka elbowed him in the ribs. “What the hell was that for?” he asked, as she angrily stomped over to Kenzie while everybody else chuckled. Smiling, Thomas raised his voice.
�
��Assault Leader Dell, just keep to plan A as much as possible and wait for the command to charge into the melee.” Thomas said clapping the older man on the shoulder.
“On my honor, Commander.” Assault Leader Dell replied, giving him a fist salute.
“I still don’t understand why we’re not sending them in first,” Princess Reeva groused a little too loudly next to a reticent Sir Hemmet as Thomas addressed them both.
“Wait until their formation is broken up and hit them when they’re spawning back in.” Thomas said, ignoring the princess’ bitching. “Let’s do this people!” Thomas called out as he strode towards the mass of zombie players that were standing motionless at the mouth of the alley. Here’s to hoping this actually works, he thought crossing his fingers.
Quickly, his Devil Dogs got into position along with the Revenant members Star had left with him. Although, calling them the House of Kayden made more sense than the Revenants, Thomas thought with a chuckle. It actually made more sense to refer to them all as the House of Kayden, since that’s what they basically were with their Dark Magic affinity.
Tucking himself into his zombie pocket, he eyed the dull-faced players. They looked harmless now, but just wait when they turned feral. It’ll be like the difference between Senator Palpatine turning into Darth Sidious, he thought as a shiver ran down his spine. All around him, the rest of the newfar raid was getting into position. They were basically tucked in amongst the pet zombies that weren’t going to go feral to hopefully stop them from being targeted when the rest of the raid lost control of their zombies.
“We ready?” he asked, hunching down.
“Let’s do this already,” Kenzie snapped irritably as a number of friendlier responses came from everyone else.
“Okay then,” Thomas called out in local raid chat, “get your zombies moving at a jog.”
This was trickier then it sounded since most of the zombie handlers were back behind the barricades. It took a couple minutes to get everyone moving at the right speeds. Behind them, the Royal Knights were slipping into the apartments and shops to either side of the street as Unalia, Yun, and Thompson slipped up to the rooftops. Hopefully, the Dread Pack raid was more focused on their people jogging up the hill towards them then what was happening immediately behind the wave. Not that he was going to have much time to worry about it, since they were quickly closing the hundred yards in-between them. At the sixty yard point, Thomas called out in the local raid chat.
“Okay people, start your Raise Zombie spells!”
Mentally he began counting down the seconds while they approached the front of the other raid. Peaking carefully over the zombies’ shoulders around him, he saw the disconcerted faces as they began asking questions in their own guild chat. At least that’s what he assumed with the Dread Pack players moving lips. Finally, a large man pushed his way to the front of the raid.
“Why the fuck aren’t you all in guild chat?” he bellowed angrily.
“Because it’s not fucking working,” Thomas shouted back, while doing his best to pitch his voice as close to that Bungholio guy’s annoying whine that he could.
“I thought he sounded whinier!” Zhou urgently hissed under her breath.
“Freaking doing my best here,” Thomas shot back, rolling his eyes. “I was trying for annoying asshole.”
“What the fuck do you mean it’s not working?” the man bellowed as they both hurriedly focused back on the conversation. This time, Thomas had a chance to get his identify to work. As soon as he got a glimpse of the man’s outfit and level, Apoxsee Neoauspex level 42 Flame Shield Mage, his sphincter unconsciously clenched as he swore under his breath.
“This is so going to suck the big one!”
There was no question this was the Dread Pack’s guild leader. The man was dressed as Detonado from the Devil May Cry 3. He had the entire look down pat. White-blonde, spiked hair, clean shaven, and wearing a red, padded-leather overcoat, bare-chested, with too-tight brown pants and black boots. He even had the cocky swagger down pat while draping his two-handed bastard sword cockeyed over his shoulder. You’d have thought it would have looked cool in a situation like this, but honestly, the guy looked like a total tool. Before Thomas could snap a comment back, Kenzie replied for him.
“Are you hard of freaking hearing?” she shouted out while unsuccessfully trying to make her voice sound manly. “Or, are you just fucking dumb?”
Apoxsee visibly paled at Kenzie’s words as he tripped up on his feet from the shock of having someone speak back to him like that. From a distance, it looked quite comical as his arrogant face went through several shades of red as he had a conniption before their eyes. Before he could explode outright, Thomas hurriedly cut him off.
“Just ignore Pettman, he’s just being a dick like usual,” Thomas shouted, giving Kenzie a nasty look. “Those Revenants and Devil Dogs kicked our asses out of the lower city and everyone’s just pissy.” Although Apoxsee was still huffing like a ruffled peacock, the words seemed to calm him down as Thomas continued. “They slaughtered us until we rezzed at the graveyard.”
There was an anxious rustle amongst the players in the raid ahead of them at his words as the zombies hit the front of the raid. They didn’t say excuse me or even try to turn their bodies to the side as plowed their way through the players ranks like they weren’t even there, while Thomas kept one eye glued to the countdown as it ticked down to ten seconds left. Apoxsee didn’t seem to notice the pissed off shouts of the players around him as his eyes searched through the nearly naked raid of players.
“Where the fuck are you Bungholio?” Apoxsee bellowed angrily. “I want to know how these assholes landed without you knowing about it!”
“Watch where you’re going! What the fuck is your problem? Get off of me, loser! I’m going to fry your freaking face off if you shove me again!” The angry muttering amongst the players seemed to grow exponentially louder as the zombies pushed their way deeper into the other raid’s formation. Thomas was just nearing the raid’s front line as the countdown timer hit three seconds when a voice from the back of the other side cried out. “Why are they all red?” Thomas saw the look of horror on Apoxsee’s face as the countdown hit zero.
The savage growls of the feral undead being let loose filled the air as the zombies’ human faces changed into a horrific caricature of pure savagery as they tackled there stunned in real life friends to the ground. Blood curdling screams filled the air as the front third of the raid collapsed into chaos. One second Apoxsee was standing proudly with his guild officers and the next they were buried under a wave of zombies as the tail end of the zombie pack rushed forward at the only prey in site.
Here and there, fiery explosions from the back two-thirds of the raid filled the air as a handful of players ‘Flamed On’ and began throwing flame strikes towards the ranks of zombies rending their friends. A few other players kept their wits about them and drew their blades. Rushing forward, they began hacking into the zombies’ backs, while the rest of the raid hesitated to do anything constructive in the chaos around them. Without their leaders coordination, they simply fell back into their individual groups and threw their flame shields up, unsure of what to do next.
Everything seemed to be going as planned. Actually, it was too good, Thomas thought unhappily. Looking back down the street, the next wave of zombies were already charging up the steep incline while he signaled for everyone to keep back from the battle and to keep their zombies close. Next to him, he heard Yun, Sarka, Tinyr and Phoenix cheering excitedly at the carnage while Kenzie, Zhou and Darkhorse were watching the action and giving each other high-fives. Everyone but the Cobra Kai twins and him were acting like they’d dealt these assholes a serious blow. Seeing Thomas looking his way, Matt nodded uneasily at the Dread Pack players’ line.
“Doesn’t this seems way too easy to you,” he asked as Terry nodded her head in agreement from where she stood guard across the street.
“We nearly were wiped out by a thi
rd of these guys with a much better plan.” Terry chimed in with her own two cents. “I thought these guys were supposed to be the LEET team?”
“Yeah, I don’t trust this either,” Thomas agreed as his frown deepened. He was just calling out for everyone to calm down and to stay alert, when a flaming blade of pure fire sizzled into the air about five yards from the spot above where Apoxsee had disappeared.
Immediately, Thomas eyes narrowed as he focused on the nearly continuous searing blasts of the unique attack shooting out of the pile of attacking zombies. The flames didn’t completely slice through the undead creatures’ torsos, but burned black lines across their bodies as fingers and hands went flying with each blast. The stench of burning rotten meat filled the air bringing with it flashbacks of the horrors he’d lived through in Afghanistan. He silently swore that the smell would forever be seared into his mind. Looking around the raid, he saw similar looks on the rest of the Devil Dogs’ faces as the non-soldiers amongst them gagged at the horrible stench.
Thomas was just yelling for his people to form up and prepare for battle when a booming explosion in front of them sent zombies flying into the air. Oddly enough, it wasn’t the physical shockwave or overwhelming sound you’d have expected from an artillery round hitting too close to your position, but more of a displacement of air. Thomas detachedly thought as Apoxsee rose to his feet with his Flame Shield in place standing at the very center of the blast.
There was no doubt in Thomas’ mind that the man was pissed off as he drew his blade. The pristine red, padded-leather overcoat he’d worn now hung from his shoulders in shreds, while his bare chest bore deep wounds from the zombies’ bony claws. His tight leather pants obviously hadn’t fared any better from the scuffle. Nothing was left of them but tattered ruins that barely covered his dignity. As he looked down the hill, his hate-filled eyes found Thomas’ as they both glared at each other over the twenty yards in-between them.