The Wraith of Valenastrious: A LitRPG Epic (World of Samar Book 1)

by LitRPG Freaks

  Furious, he rushed the demon player and slashed at her front, joining the other DPS in a full out attack on her.

  She screamed, hacking at them with her sharp claws. Bishop noticed the boost Azriel gave her health, otherwise she would be dead by now. The tanks behind him yelled for heals as Azriel struck them all, smashing his heavy hoven foot down into the stones. His wings drew back and Arthur yelled a warning.

  “Special attack! Move!”

  Bishop had enough time to see the wall of air and fire headed towards him before he fell flat to the floor and rolled.

  He wasn’t fast enough. The blast caught his legs and he was thrown far across the room, slamming into the wall right next to the healers and other DPS. The tanks managed to get out of the way and kept agro on Azriel while the others recovered. But now they were down two healers. The blast took out Benji.

  Anger growing at how quickly this fight turned, Bishop went after the demon player again. Between him and the others, they managed to kill her, with him firing an Execute shot to finish her off, but not without taking a hefty amount of damage. Jimmy healed them the best he could, though his mana ran low and he was nearly out of potions. Bishop drank one down, used the last of the meat in his bag to res and feed Willy, then he aimed his bow towards Azriel firing off Increased Swift Bow followed quickly by a bleed and then Fiery Arrow. The Stealth shot, he wasn’t going to even try. There was no way it would hold a boss down. The red line showing his health moved sluggishly down and he spread his wings, ready for another attack. Bishop yelled the warning this time and they managed to dodge it.

  “Stay behind him! Full out assault!”

  The tanks rushed back to the front while the DPS maneuvered to stay out of Azriel’s sight. They were doing well and Bishop’s hope rekindled. That was until Azriel swung around in a blur of speed, knocking all the DPS back with a swipe of his wings.

  “You will not succeed!” he ranted, and he swung back around, catching them all a second time.

  “Jimmy!” Bishop watched his friend’s health deplete before he collapsed, along with two of the DPS. The Dwarf sailed across the room a few seconds later and succumbed to his wounds. “Maverick, Arthur! No healers left!”

  Maverick stood on her back legs. He saw her rage bar fill up completely before she launched her body forward and attacked with everything she had left, Arthur right behind her.

  Bishop and the others tried to hold on. Azriel’s wings spread and, when he did his special attack, this time he spun around, catching all of them in the gust. Bishop had a sliver of health left. He checked his bags for anything he could use and cursed himself for being an idiot. Sometime during their final killing spree, he had picked up a one-time use res, and they needed a healer.

  The last DPS alive, Bishop sprinted towards Jimmy’s body and used the item on him. The blue orb sank back into Jimmy’s body as the last of Bishop’s health died out and the same gut-wrenching pain from the first time flowed across his body in a wave of agony until he fell to the floor, dead.

  “Welcome to the party,” Benji said, as Bishop opened his eyes and saw the rest of the dead party was in the same darkened room, watching the fight play out before them.

  “Really have to stop dying, didn’t realize it’d hurt so damn much,” he complained, as the others nodded and shuddered in agreement.

  “They’re so close,” Giles said, wringing his hands. “Come on, Jimmy!”

  Bishop held his breath as Jimmy rushed to heal Maverick and Arthur, keeping them alive and dodging attacks better than he ever had before.

  Azriel’s life dropped lower and lower until there was hardly any left. He spread his wings, but this time he shot up into the air and slammed his whole body into the floor. Arthur died before Jimmy could heal him, and Maverick had maybe a fourth left. Jimmy used the last of his mana to heal her before Azriel suddenly turned on him and smashed him into the floor with his fist.

  “Well shit,” Jimmy muttered a second later, appearing beside Bishop.

  “She’s got this,” Bishop whispered, watching Maverick and Azriel square off. “Come on, Maverick! Kill the bastard!”

  The rest of the party cheered her on and Bishop watched in disbelief as Maverick dodged Azriel’s wings, leapt up onto the wall, and threw herself at the demon’s neck. She clawed and bit as the Demon Lord wailed in anguish. Maverick bit one final time and Azriel’s eyes widened in shock, his body crashing to the floor.

  “No…no, impossible! You will not stop us…you will all fail…” Azriel wailed and finally died.

  Maverick shifted back to human form and raised her fist in the air before she fell over and died, too. A moment later, she appeared in the darkened room and the party rushed to hug her, high five her, and to no one’s surprise, Jimmy kissed her full on the mouth.

  A prompt appeared before Bishop and the others paused to read what he assumed was the same message.

  Release soul and reclaim body?

  Bishop tapped the “yes”, and his gut twisted before he landed as a ghost at the very beginning of the dungeon. He and the others ran back to the last room and sank back into their bodies. All his gear was damaged, yet Bishop didn’t care. They had done it. They all might have died, but they still had done the dungeon in one run! While the others checked their damage and stats, Bishop walked over and closed the final portal. A resounding ding filled the chamber as everyone leveled up.

  You have reached level 11. New Skills gained: Fast Travel.

  “Well that’s handy,” he mused.

  “What does everyone say we free the prisoners and get the hell out of here?” Jimmy suggested, standing by the lever. He pressed it down and the cages lowered to the floor, the doors swung open, and the NPCs stepped out.

  Each player went to their designated quest giver, Bishop with the other half-breeds to Tavin, and waited to turn in the quest.

  “You have rescued me,” Tavin told them all. “A feat I did not believe possible. You have my thanks.” She held out her hand and they each shook it in turn. The quest complete, several prompts appeared before Bishop and he grinned at the item he acquired.

  You have received: Ring of Tavin. Agility +10. Intelligence + 3.

  He didn’t have a good ring yet and this one would help boost his overall stats.

  The other prompt was the continuation of the story quest and taking the head he would gain from looting Azriel’s body back to the King.

  “I’m going to open the chest, but everyone needs to make sure they get his head,” Bishop said, as he walked to the ornate wooden chest, five times the size of the others. The head of Azriel appeared in his bag, or rather a shrunken version of it, and quite a few items. One was a banner taken from Azriel’s fortress to display outside their Guild House. There was a bow, a sword, two axes, another helm, and a necklace. Bishop and Giles rolled for the bow, but Giles landed it. Bishop congratulated him and waited for the others to roll on the items.

  They all gained a substantial amount of coin from the fight along with health potions, mana potions, salves, and a random assortment of crafting materials. Overall, it wasn’t a bad haul. When they were finished, a swirling purple portal appeared at the back of the room.

  “Time to go.” Benji was the first through, his happy chanting disappearing with the rest of him. One by one, they stepped through until Bishop was the last to go. He checked his bag and used one of the salves to revive Willy.

  “There you are, boy,” he said, as the wolf shimmered into view at his side. “Ready to go?”

  Willy whined and leapt through the portal first. Bishop glanced one final time at Azriel’s pile of ashes and stepped through after the others.

  Chapter 10

  Bishop walked out of the portal and ran right into the back of Jimmy. “Sorry, man. Where did we teleport to?” he asked, glancing around.

  “Right outside the palace looks like.”

  Willy growled as several guards approached their group, but then Bishop spotted Sir Ulfric amongst
them who ordered the guards to stand down.

  “You have returned,” he exclaimed to the whole party. “Please, follow me. The King would like to speak with you all.” He turned on his heels and marched towards the palace doors. Bishop glanced at his quest tracker and saw the arrows aimed in the same direction. Willy stayed by his side as he caught up with Sir Ulfric, the rest of the guild with him, until they reached the doors. Then, the others disappeared from sight.

  “Where did they go?” Bishop asked, pausing. He checked the map and saw them all in the same spot he was, but clearly not visible. “Oh, never mind, private instance.”

  Sir Ulfric hadn’t stopped, so Bishop and Willy had to quicken their pace. They were led right into the throne room to find Tavin already standing before the king, glaring him down as Godfrey stomped towards her.

  “You, you are the daughter of that half-breed Finnegan?” Godfrey snapped.

  “Yes I am, and I have returned to tell you the demons have come to Samar,” Tavin replied, her words echoing around the chamber. She turned to Bishop and held out her hand. “We have brought you the proof required.”

  Bishop brought up his bags and the head of Azriel Demon Lord appeared in his hands. He tossed it at Godfreys’ feet, and the queen screamed in horror, covering her face. Godfrey stared down at it in open mouthed terror. Bronson was the only one to approach it and nudge it with his staff.

  “I know of this Demon Lord,” Bronson said, his words heavy. “He is only the first.”

  “The first?” Bishop repeated. “What do you mean the first?”

  “Azriel is the lowest level of Demon Lord beneath the rule of Valenastrious, Demon Queen,” Bronson stated. “She has nine beneath her, nine Demon Lords to control her legions of darkness and despair. I fear to save Samar, you will have to defeat them all before you will even have a chance of defeating the Queen herself.”

  Bishop gulped. Nine, there were nine demon lords and then the damn queen. They all died to kill Azriel and if he was the lowest level they were only going to get harder as they went through the game.

  “What must we do?” he asked Tavin and Bronson.

  “You must find the other Demon Lords and kill them before they can gain a foothold here in our world,” Bronson said. “It is the only way to weaken the Queen’s hold and destroy her forever.”

  “Your journey will take you east,” Tavin explained and Bishop perked up. “Far across the fields of the human realm and into the wilds of this land. The Demon Queen will make her stand high in the northern mountains of Gornoth. Only when you reach her fortress with the heads of the nine Demon Lords will you be able to face her and end the invasion of Samar.”

  Bishop watched his quest tracker update with the main storyline as Tavin held out her hand. The weight of the quest pressed down on him as he reached out and took Tavin’s hand. “I accept this mission.”

  “You must strengthen yourself if you hope to face the next Demon Lord. I will aid you in this task. Meet me in Hillside and we will start the next leg of your journey.”

  Bishop nodded and watched that quest pop up as well. He waited to see if that would be all, but the king, Bronson, and Sir Ulfric all appeared with exclamation marks next to their names. Bishop walked to the soldier first and spoke with him.

  “On your journey, you will meet other Knights of Weston,” Ulfric stated. “I request you speak with them, warn them of what is coming and aid them however you can.”

  “I will do my best,” Bishop said and shook the soldier’s hand.

  “You will be handsomely rewarded for it and, in time, will gain the respect of the Guards of Weston.” He bowed his head to Bishop and stepped back.

  Bishop walked to the king next and he glowered at him. “You, half-breed, I do not trust your kind, however only a fool of a king would ignore the proof you have brought me of the possible destruction to come. Seek out my advisors scattered along your route. At each crossing, you will find a marker. Wait until sunset at each one and you will be met by ones I trust. Complete the tasks you are given and you will earn my gratitude.”

  Bishop shook his hand as well and his quest tracker updated again. Lastly, he turned to the priest and waited for him to speak. Bronson studied him long and hard before reaching out and resting a weathered hand on Bishop’s shoulder.

  “Thank you, my friend, for saving Tavin.”

  “You’re welcome,” Bishop replied.

  “Finnegan may not have been welcomed here, but he was always a friend of mine and the other priests of Samar. Take this medallion as a reminder of what you fight for,” Bronson said, and he handed over a silver plaited emblem of a staff crossed with a wand. “Remember, when all hope seems lost, use this to bolster your strength and push forward.”

  Bishop accepted the medallion and read the prompt that popped up in front of him.

  You have received: Medallion of the Priesthood. One time use, increase Mana and Health of all players in party for twice their usual amount for a span of ten minutes.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered. He never had an item this good in any of the other games he played, so he made sure it was safely stored in his bags before he finished speaking with Bronson.

  “As you travel, seek out the Monks of the High Ridge Sanctuary. It is there you will gain more insight on your foe and how to defeat her.”

  Bishop accepted the final quest with another shake of the hand. “I will.”

  “Then, the time has come for you to be on your way, but know the people of Weston will be indebted to you for as long as you live,” Bronson finished.

  Bishop stepped away from the three and turned around to face Tavin again. She had nothing more for him either so he walked past her towards the door, Willy walking cautiously by his side.

  “Remember my words,” Tavin suddenly said.

  Bishop whipped around to talk to her again, but she was facing the throne as if she had never said anything at all. He wondered if he should try to talk to her again, but decided the day had been long enough and getting back with the guild should be his first priority. Lunch would be happening soon and he was anxious to see everyone’s reaction to his guild’s successful run through the first dungeon. When he stepped out the palace doors, he spotted Jimmy sitting on the steps with Benji beside him. No others were there yet.

  “Get your next line of quests?” he asked, as he plopped down on the step beside Jimmy.

  “Yep, looks like we’re heading east,” Jimmy replied. “Next zone is for levels ten through twenty I think.”

  “Should be fun,” Benji muttered. “The wilds, great. That means lots of crap to kill squishy characters like us.”

  “Eh, we have Maverick,” Jimmy reminded him with a dreamy look in his eyes.

  “Wow, she’s got you good, doesn’t she?” Benji teased, shoving Jimmy.

  They shoved each other back and forth for a while as Bishop rolled his eyes and brought up his bags, staring at the medallion again. “Did you guys get anything special from any of the NPCs?”

  “Nada, bunch of coin though,” Jimmy said. “Why?”

  “Check this out.” He pulled the medallion from his bags and set it on his palm letting the others bring up the stats for it. Their eyes widened and Benji cursed under his breath. “I know, right?”

  “That’s insane. Might come in handy for the next boss fight,” Jimmy said with a whistle. “You heard how many more we have to kill, right? This shit is not going to be a cakewalk and I think we might need to start getting friendly with another guild. Have some backup, players we can trust that won’t turn on us.”

  Bishop nodded in agreement. The last thing he expected was for one of their players to turn in the middle of a dungeon like that. “Have to admit though, pretty sweet twist to the game.”

  Benji shrugged. “Yeah, it would’ve been a lot better if she hadn’t been a damn healer.”

  “You’d rather she was one of our tanks?” Bishop pointed out.

  “No, guess not.”

&n
bsp; They waited around while the rest of their guild appeared on the steps and, as a group, they transported to the front step of their house. Jimmy set up the banner, hanging it off the front of their house and they stepped inside, dumping their bags into the trunks.

  “Right, think it’s time to log out,” Bishop announced when a prompt popped up, signifying it was time for the players to log out for lunch break.

  Leaving right now when they were on such a high from beating the dungeon was the last thing he wanted to do, but their gear did need to be repaired and he was starving. They logged out one by one and, as his eyes flickered open back in the lab, he was met with cheers and whistling. Tyler helped remove the headgear and Bishop grinned at the crowd of players in the lab, ready to greet him and the rest of the guild as they came back to the real world.

  “Well done, Harrison, well done indeed,” Dennis announced proudly as he stepped forward from the crowd to shake Harrison’s hand. “You are most certainly exceeding my expectations.”

  “Thanks,” Harrison said with a grin. “I take it we put on a good show?”

  “All the players can’t wait to log in after lunch and have a go of it themselves.”

  “I think our guild needs a bit more work before we tackle the second dungeon and maybe finding players that don’t have a chance of turning.”

  Dennis chuckled. “Yes, quite the exciting turn of events, isn’t it?”

  “Not sure exciting is how I would describe it, but definitely unique.”

  “We will talk more about it in a few days.” Dennis patted him on the shoulder and let him be swept into the crowd of other players, asking question after question about the dungeon.

  He and the rest of his guild spent their lunch answering questions and giving advice on how to take out Azriel now that they knew his special attacks and how hard he was to defeat. By the time lunch ended, Harrison stared forlornly at his half-eaten burger, his desire to get back into the game overriding his need to scarf down the rest of his lunch—unlike Jimmy who was still shoving fries into his mouth when they reached the lab doors. The girl, Mina, who played the elf healer in their guild until she turned met them there and cringed.