by Adam Drake
But neither he, nor the unicorn, cared about aesthetics. They both locked angry eyes onto me. Kragg kicked the unicorn forward and the small creature who easily carried his weight, shot forward.
My instincts kicked in and pulled me out of the incredulous spectacle of the ogre and unicorn. Fight or flight?
Flight!
“Two can play at that game,” I said, and selected an icon from the bottom of my view-screen.
Summon Shadow Steed.
A beautiful black horse, with full rider's tack, blinked into existence beside me. It was partially transparent, which was why I had given it the name Smoke.
Smoke noticed the incoming ogre/unicorn threat and nickered, tossing his head about in alarm.
I leapt up into the saddle, and without delay, kicked at his sides and lashed the reigns.
Smoke charged ahead and in moments we were at full speed. We raced away from the forest's edge and into a dry grass plain.
After a few moments of exhilarating speed, I risked a glance behind us.
Kragg and his mount were closing fast. The ogre had brought out a large iron mallet from his inventory and gripped it in one hand. Its comically huge size was nearly as big as him.
I was dismayed. The unicorn was faster than Smoke!
As the distance between us evaporated, I felt a growing sense of dread. This would not work. I needed to buy more time, slow the green maniac down. Scanning the horizon I looked for anything that might help save my life.
Then I spotted something. Up ahead to the left was a trio of what looked to be raptors. They were loitering in the shade of a small copse of trees.
I angled Smoke in their direction, and he didn't protest. With another look back to ensure my pursuers were still with me, I then focused on the raptors and called up the stats of one them.
Species: Raptor
Subspecies: Emerald Claw
Level: Unknown
Hit Points: 320
Mana: Nil
Armor Class: 15
Attack Rating: 30
Damage Rating: Unknown
Weapon Type(s): Hind-Claws, Fore-Claws, Tail, Teeth
Abilities: Jurassic Bite, Run Like The Wind, Claw To Arms.
Special: Pack animal, can summon others to its aid.
Yup, that'll do, I thought.
As I drew closer the raptors perked up and turned their heads to point an eye at me. They were fearsome to look at, let alone intentionally approach.
Smoke and I flew passed them at top speed. The killer dinosaur pack became agitated and appeared to be trying to decide if I was worth attacking. Maybe they had just finished hunting and weren't interested?
Regardless, I didn't draw their aggro, and they watched me ride by. I was now moving away from the idle pack.
Frustrated, I selected my bow from my inventory and it appeared in my hand. Barely aiming, I fired an arrow into them.
Archery Skill Increased! Level 8, 48%
I scored a hit.
The raptors issued screeches and animal barks then ran after me. They fanned out from the shade and onto the grassy plain.
It was at this moment Kragg and his unicorn barrelled straight into their midst. Either he didn't notice them or, most likely, didn't care they'd been pulled in my wake.
With me moving out of range, the raptors turned their attention to the new arrival. The deadly trio ran up alongside Kragg looking for an opportunity to attack.
One bright green raptor leapt onto Kragg's back and tried to bite his neck. The ogre looked annoyed and shrugged the beast away. A slight motion for him, but was strong enough to send the animal tumbling off. The two dark green raptors snapped at the unicorn's legs. To deal with them properly, Kragg slowed down. He swung his huge mallet in wide arcs, keeping the raptors at bay.
This gave me a chance at getting some more distance. But I knew it wouldn't be for long. I got my bearings and turned back toward my original direction.
I came upon a wide river that cut across my path. On the other side towered a high rocky cliff which stretched out of sight in both directions. Turning east, I followed along the riverbank. My eyes scanned for a clear path on the other side. I was running out of time.
Then I saw it. A break in the cliff face which presented a narrow chasm north.
This was the place.
At that moment, a bellowing roar came from behind. Kragg was coming.
I slowed Smoke and made a wide turn so we were facing the river. If we didn't make it, this would be embarrassing.
Noise of clomping hooves approaching through the high grass spurred me forward. I kicked at Smoke and we charged at the river.
To my left, Kragg broke through the tall grass. His eyes locked onto me. His mallet was spattered with blood, and crimson patterns sullied the unicorn's yellow hide. Only a short distance away, and seeing what I was about to do, he picked up speed.
The second Smoke hit the edge of the riverbank we jumped. I then gave Smoke a much needed boost.
Use Leap (3/10) Ability.
My leap transferred to my mount and added to Smoke's already substantial jumping. We sailed across the raging waters as if carried on wings.
I've learned the hard way not to neglect Leap and resolved to put one or two Ability Points into it once I hit the next level. If I survived long enough, that is.
I felt tremendous satisfaction when we easily landed on the other side.
But the satisfaction did not last long. The chasm entrance I had jumped to was only a small bite in the cliff face. High walls confronted me.
Nestled in the side of the cliff face was a tunnel entrance. Its door frame etched with strange runes, much like a travel gate.
With nowhere else to go I spun Smoke around.
Kragg was already flying over the river. Even before they landed, both ogre and blood splattered unicorn glared at me in triumph. They knew they had me trapped.
As Kragg landed, I jumped off Smoke. I made a show of looking about for an escape, like a trapped, frightened animal. This only got Kragg's blood-lust up more.
The ogre dismounted and grinned. “That was fun,” he said. He patted the huge mallet against a meaty palm. “But this little game is over,” he said.
In answer, I snapped my fingers and Smoke winked out of existence. Then I drew my sword, turned and promptly fled into the tunnel entrance.
Kragg shouted something which was filtered, but I ignored him as I ran through the darkness.
The tunnel was short, and I emerged in a vaulted chamber. Huge, ancient tapestries lined the walls, punctuated by the occasional fire sconce. The floor was made of flat stone, covered in a thin layer of sand.
I looked about. There was nowhere else to go. From the tunnel I heard more filtered words, getting louder. He was coming.
I dashed to the wall on the other side of the chamber and turned, sword at the ready.
Kragg burst in, blood covered mallet in his hands. He stopped when he saw me and took a moment to examine the new surroundings. Then he smiled.
“You want to die here? Not outside?” he shrugged. “Doesn't matter to me.” He sauntered forward.
I waited. Not yet, I thought. Not quite yet.
“I'm a little disappointed with you, little Shadow,” Kragg said. He took another step closer. “I expected greater things. A bigger fight. You have a reputation as someone not to tangle with.” He laughed.
I said nothing and concentrated on his position. This would be close.
“All those tough quests you've completed. A legendary one, too. Now it all comes down to this.” He motioned at the chamber dramatically. “You die in little room in the dirt. So sad.”
Another step. This one kicked some of the sand aside, revealing the section of a symbol painted on the stone floor beneath.
“What do you have to say now, little Shadow? Do you-,” Kragg's gaze snagged on the partial symbol. “What is-,” he said, but didn't finish. At the last moment, his eyes widened at his mistake.
“Now!” I shouted.
One of the tapestries fell to the ground. Behind it, stood a tall breast-plate wearing minotaur. The man-bull was not carrying a weapon. Instead, he clutched a crystal orb in each of his huge hands.
“No!” shouted Kragg as he turned to confront this new threat.
The minotaur, with a wide maniacal grin, smashed the orbs together, and they shattered.
Instantly, from the drawn symbol on the floor, a massive glass orb bubbled up and fully encased Kragg.
The ogre blinked in shock, hands outstretched pressing against the inside of the orb. The orb floated up a short distance from the ground with Kragg inside, like the universe's ugliest snow globe. He looked from the minotaur to me, in stunned amazement.
“What do I have to say about this?” I said, looking smug. I raised my eyebrows and offered a huge smile. “Gotcha!”
CHAPTER TWO
Kragg punched a massive fist against the clear material of the orb which only produced a low thud. “What the FILTERED is this?” he roared. The orb allowed sound to pass through it, but nothing else.
The minotaur stood next to me, wiping shards of crystal from his large hands. “That is your new home, Snot-rag.” He looked to me and grinned. “I did good, didn't I, Vee?”
I nodded and patted his huge arm. “You always do good, Muddie. Even if I say you don't.” Muddie – or Mudhoof – was a warrior-minotaur and long-time fellow adventurer. We'd completed a lot of quests together and failed our fair share of them as well. But I could always count on the guy to fight to the bitter end. No logging out of the game because things got too tough.
Kragg, now furious, punched the interior of the orb several more times and yelled profanities. After a few moments he stopped to glare at us. “Let me out of here! NOW! If you know what's good for you.”
I watched the ugly green ogre, trapped and helpless within his prison, up to the count of ten. Then I said, “We need to have a conversation before I even consider letting you out of there.”
Kragg turned to look at the tunnel entrance. He seemed to expect something.
I shook my head. “Nope, no mount, sorry. The moment the orb encases a subject all summonings, companions, mounts and whatnot are disbanded. Your crazy yellow friend won't be able to help you now.”
Mudhoof looked confused. “Yo, Snot-rag. What's the deal with riding around on a yellow unicorn? It makes little sense. Don't you have any dignity?”
“Shut up!” Kragg roared. He was panting heavily, working himself up into a real lather.
Mudhoof asked quizzically, “Or maybe there's a more deep-seated reason for prancing around on a horse with a long thing on its forehead. Trying to make up for something, or we? A little short where it counts? Betcha don't even know that's why you ride around on it, huh?”
Kragg was now shaking, eyes bulging out of his head, knuckles of his fists pressing hard against the orb.
“I think he's gonna blow,” Mudhoof said.
Kragg did. The ogre exploded into a fury of filtered expletives and roars as he punched, kicked, and even head-butted his enclosure. This went on for several minutes while Mudhoof and I watched, unimpressed.
Then, spent of energy, Kragg stopped and went silent, panting heavily. He sagged down within the orb, his legs crossed beneath him.
“Berzerker-Rage ability timed out, huh?” I said. “Good, because now we can have a civil conversation.”
Kragg focused on me and leaned forward. “I don't care what you have to say, little Shadow. It won't matter. I'm still going to kill you and collect that bounty.” He sneered at Mudhoof. “I'll take out this walking cheese burger, too, as a bonus.”
Mudhoof snorted and kicked a hoof through the sand on the floor. “You won't be killing anyone today, Snot-rag. And try not to look so smug. Who's the one who got his dumb-ass led straight into a simple trap?”
I raised a hand. “Mudhoof, please.”
The minotaur snorted again, but went quiet. Mudhoof knew when I used his full name it meant to chill out. Long-time friends can get away with that.
To Kragg, I said, “Yes, we trapped you. And it wasn't hard. We've been tracking you for a few days now, waiting for a chance for you to 'find' me.”
Kragg furrowed his unibrow, “You tracked me? What for? You should be doing everything to avoid me. I'm the bounty hunter, not you. What kind of idiot goes out of their way to get caught?”
Mudhoof took an intake of breath but I cut him off with a glance before he could say anything.
I gave Kragg a serious look and pointed a thumb at myself, “This idiot is sick and tired of being hunted by half the gaming universe. So, to put an end to all this bounty nonsense I decided that, as the game's most influential bounty hunter, we could come to an arrangement.”
Kragg was thoroughly confused. “You want to split the bounty? Is that it? Let me kill you so we can share the reward?” He made a show of thinking, looking up in the air pensively and screwing a finger against his chin. “Hmm. Nope. Not gonna happen. Still going to kill you, and the bounty is all mine.”
“You're not in a position to negotiate, Booger,” Mudhoof blurted.
I said, “At least hear me out. It's not like you are going anywhere for a while.”
Kragg barked a laugh. “Okay, I've had enough of this. I'm outta here.” He wore a tiny leather vest that only came down past his armpits. He reached inside and rummaged around.
Mudhoof and I watched expectantly.
With a dramatic flourish the ogre pulled out a large gold coin and held it up for us to see. “Teleport Token, morons,” he said with a wide grin. “Going to port back to my guildhall, round up some friends, and come find you. Bring this to a close.” He rubbed at the Token.
“Not going to work,” I said.
After a few seconds of rubbing, nothing happened. Kragg got more agitated. “What the FILTERED? This should work. They always do!”
I stepped forward and rapped a knuckle against the orb's clear material. “Not in this, it won't. In fact, nothing will. It's called an Orb of Oblivion for a reason.”
Kragg blinked at the Token, then at me in bewilderment. Once it had sunk in he wasn't going anywhere, he slipped it back into his vest and sagged down; a look of consternation plastered on his face. “Okay, fine. What do you want to talk about? The latest patch notes? How my class is now gimped for PvP in the Battle Fields? I'd be willing to talk a lot about that.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I want to get rid of the bounty on my head.”
The ogre snorted. “Then you shouldn't have ticked off Ogden Trite. That guy is the definition of over-powered. At least when it comes to gold.”
Ogden Trite. One of the richest players in the whole game tried to renege on a deal we made. I'd been hired to finish a Legendary Quest, which resulted in finding the Cloak of Shadows. But instead of paying me he tried to have me killed and take the Cloak, anyway. Didn't work out the way he hoped. Now he's placed a large bounty on my head, mostly out of spite.
The silver lining to this whole dilemma is I now own the Cloak. But questing, even general game play, was made impossible by the stupid bounty. Everyone and their game-playing grandmother was out to get me. I had to get rid of this bounty once and for all.
“Ogden is an idiot if he ever thought this bounty thing would work out in his favor,” I said. “No one wants to give up a Legendary item, regardless of the reward.”
“Oh, yeah?” Kragg laughed. “Why do you say that?”
“Because the amount of Legendaries in the game are finite. Minuscule in number. But making more gold in this game is the easy part. So it doesn't matter the amount of the payout. It's money you'd eventually earn, anyway.”
Kragg rolled his big beady eyes. “Yeah, the bounty includes an insane bonus for the Cloak, but I'll decide what to do with it after I kill you.”
Okay, time to play hardball, I thought.
I pointed at the chamber wall next to where Kragg floated.
Summon
Void Portal.
A tiny black dot appeared at the wall's center. It then grew bigger and bigger. In moments it was as large as the wall itself and looked like a huge black dish. From within the dish could be seen stars and multicolored gas clouds floating in the void of dark space.
Kragg sat up and looked at the portal in unmasked awe. “Whoa,” he said. “What's that?”
“That's a gateway into the Void Dimension. Heard of it?” I said.