The tank sputtered. Inside the cockpit, the brash pilot excitedly pulled levers and furiously pushed buttons. “Take this!” he grunted as he pulled hard on the trigger.
The top hood opened and a single missile launched straight into the air.
The pilot squealed. “Take that!”
The front turret swung around. It seemed to struggle, given its makeshift parts and pilot incompetence.
Darkwind could only laugh. “It’s just a kid in there.”
“How do you know?” asked Nurox.
“I’ll kill all of you!” the pilot screamed.
Darkwind looked at Josie and Nurox, rolling his eyes. “Aim for the side turret. It’s the weak spot.”
“Got it,” replied Josie. Nurox nodded in agreement.
Darkwind took the tank on directly with Helga in-hand. She could slice through steel as easily as she could cut through flesh. Darkwind leapt into the air and brought Helga down hard in a wide slash that tore through the tank’s cannon.
The metal barrel fell to the ground.
“What?! Look at what you’ve done, you bastard!” the pilot screamed.
The pilot went to operate the side turret, but Josie had jammed her blades into the turret, which she snapped off. The pilot yelped.
Nurox jumped up on top of the tank and opened the hatch, exposing the pilot.
It wasn’t a young kid behind the wheel of that tank, but an old man!
Darkwind held Helga’s tip at the old timer’s throat. “Who are you, you old goat?”
The pilot held his hands up. On one of his hands, he bore the Crest of Fire. Darkwind was taken aback.
Josie saw the marking and put her blades away. She offered her hand to the old man. “I’m Josie, and we are searching for that crest on your hand.”
The old man stood up. He was spindly and his bald head was flanked by two tufts of white hair. His wild eyes were accompanied by wispy eyebrows. His face was wrinkled from all the mileage. “Ah, so I found you. I heard you got the Wind Crest. I’ve been looking for the Fire Crest for ages. I never had the ability to venture inside, so instead I’ve sought out warriors to help me retrieve it, but they always die. Can you help me retrieve the Fire Crest? It’s about a seven-day journey east of here, to the fiery mountain of Radu. Inside is the mighty Basilisk King, who eats players like you as a mere snack.”
“What is the Fire Crest worth to you?” Josie pried.
“It is priceless,” the old man responded.
“We happen to be looking for the crest as well, and maybe it was just dumb luck that we found each other,” Josie said.
“I like to think that the crests want to be together, and that me finding you is fulfilling that prophecy,” he said.
“What do they call you?” Josie asked.
“Myrak.”
“And what about the Larristan tank, how did you come to get it?” asked Nurox.
“I may be old, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I stole parts from off the battlefield and built my own, with some modifications, not that they worked as you witnessed here, but—”
“We got it, Myrak,” said Darkwind.
“We’ll work out a deal. First, you take us to the fiery mountain of Radu,” demanded Josie. No one argued.
Nightfall came quickly as they headed east. The sun dipped beyond the horizon behind them and the stars settled in overhead. They were on an open plain, not a good place to be at night, with all the scavenging predators that roamed the fields in search of fresh “battle meat” as it was called by generals before a battle began, served as a warning to soldiers—of what they’d become once they were fallen on the fields. Everybody knew that.
Darkwind actually had some decent kills when he’d go field-hunting at night with the Mevalonic troops. He did it for fun and never felt in any real danger. He’d slash through those tanks’ armor with Helga like they were butter.
The fiery mountain stood off in the distance. The climate was getting warmer. Nurox trudged behind the rest of the group.
“C’mon, Nurox. We’ll stop to rest just over this ridge,” said Josie as she took a swig from her flagon.
“How do we defeat the Basilisk King, Myrak?” Darkwind asked.
Myrak shook his head. “You dummy, if I knew how to defeat him I wouldn’t be trying to round up a bunch of foolhardy players to do this quest.”
Darkwind scowled. “Watch your tongue, old man.”
“Watch it yourself, young boy. I don’t hold my tongue for no one.” Myrak crossed his arms and turned his back to Darkwind. He walked ahead.
“Lead the way, old man,” Darkwind called out to Myrak.
Myrak steamed. He stopped, turned about-face, and marched back to the others. “Lemme tell you, I’ve seen braver warriors go into the mountain and never return. The Basilisk King and his minions are no joke. I told you I will only take you to the mouth of the cavern. Is this still our agreement?”
“Yes,” replied Darkwind.
“Then shut up and follow me,” said Myrak.
Nurox burst out laughing, dribbling water from his mouth.
“We camp up ahead,” he trailed off as he walked ahead once more.
***
The Towers of Claymore stooped toward each other, forming a sagging look to the skyline of Malbrook, where Chezzy had heard a rumor that Darkwind had recently been through. The informant said he was traveling with an old man, a knight, and a thief woman. Chezzy paid the informant and told him that their meeting never happened. The informant slipped away into a crowd of passing people.
Chezzy could only deduce that they were headed for Radu’s Mountain. But why? He would have to head them off before they got there or he wouldn’t be able to claim the bounty. He knew that anyone that entered that mountain never came out, and he wasn’t about to give some monster the satisfaction of taking his prize.
He pulled out a magic quilled pen from a satchel pocket and plotted his coordinates on a map, then laid the map out on the ground. He stood on the map, raised one finger into the air over his head, and chanted, “Aerix siphiril devemi.”
The edges of the map began to flap. Then, he suddenly shot into the air and disappeared. There was an impression burned into the ground where he just was.
***
Max galloped on his short legs up ahead, following Myrak, who had a sausage dangling from his backpack, unaware that the little deermat was close on his tail. Myrak stopped in a clearing. “Okay, this is where we camp tonight.”
Everyone set their packs down and stretched. Nurox removed his armor and got comfortable. Josie made a sleeping mat from some nearby branches and leaves, using her bag as a pillow. “Myrak, you’re on first watch. Nurox, you’re on deck, then Josie, then me,” said Darkwind.
Myrak cracked his old bones and sat by the campfire while the others rested. He looked upon his traveling companions as they slept and grinned. He later awakened Nurox since he was dead tired.
The next morning came quickly enough. Darkwind surveyed the mountain of Radu, which was getting closer. They were still another day’s hike from the base, by his estimations (players had access to a full world map that was slowly revealed as they trekked across the globe.) Nurox whipped up some breakfast for everyone, as Josie hunted down a few carocos, some indigenous birds from that area, for the meal.
“How much further is it?” inquired Nurox
Myrak pulled his boots on. “Be there by tonight. Maybe tomorrow depending on how slow you are.” He laughed.
Josie was busy preparing the carocos. “Who is the Basilisk King, Myrak?”
“Ah, that is a tragic tale. There was once a man called Syras who was wandering the mountains but he became lost. A storm had begun and if he didn’t get off the mountain, he’d surely die! He came upon a cave, and inside he discovered the basilisk, a green gem that turned him into a nightmarish creature with an insatiable bloodlust. He would regain his human form, but every ti
me he transformed he became more like the creature, until he finally was no longer human. He struck terror into the hearts of the caravan people that occupied the very rocks we’re on. It was during this time that he stole the Fire Crest from one of the ancient mountain tribes. He brought death and destruction down from the mountain, so they called him Radu, or ‘evil one’. He then retreated to the mountain where he sits today.”
“Sounds like a pushover to me,” said Darkwind, cracking a smile.
“Don’t underestimate him. He is quite dangerous. The Fire Crest gives him incredible powers,” Myrak said.
“Does he have any weak points?” asked Nurox.
“None that I would know of,” Myrak said.
Nurox nodded, dejected. Myrak walked around camp to stretch his boney legs. Darkwind followed him.
“Just let me at him,” offered Darkwind. “There’s no way he’s faster than my sword. You’re forgetting you have one of, if not the best player in the game with you.”
Myrak shook his head. “Poor Darkwind, your foolhardiness will be the death of you, but it’s not my place to say. You will discover it for yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, old man?”
“Your friends will need you. Don’t disappoint them.”
“Friends? Haha! As if! They aren’t my friends. I’m doing this quest with them to unlock the God of Chaos.”
“So that’s what you’re trying to do, eh? Unleash the God of Chaos? Can’t say I blame you. That would change the entire dynamic of Half-World. It would be a whole new game.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re here?”
“Because I made a stupid decision.”
“And what of Nurox and Josie then?”
“They can go their own ways. I told them I’d help them get these crests, so that’s what I’m doing. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“I think you’re not as bad as you want everyone to think you are, but that’s just one old man’s opinion.”
Myrak followed the smell of breakfast back over to the camp.
A few hours had passed since breakfast and now the group was clinging to the face of the mountain as they rounded a narrow pass. Their feet inched along the edge, their fingers scrambling across the rock, searching for a grip.
Nurox closed his eyes to avoid looking down, and he fought off the powerful sense of vertigo. Why is it always mountains?
The wind whipped around the edge of the mountain. Myrak was dressed partially in Larristan armor that looked like it had been scavenged as well, and its cold metal edges were freezing against his skin.
“You didn’t come dressed for the occasion,” Josie said as she followed.
“No, I guess not, but I’ve made this trip so many times that it doesn’t matter anymore,” he chuckled.
They made it around to the other side, which was warm by contrast. The other side of the mountain had a visible pass that would wind down the mountain to the edge of the Fire River, a flow of molten rock that cut through Radu’s mountain, which laid just beyond this mountain.
As they stepped out onto the pass, they could see a figure in the distance.
As they approached, the figure didn’t move. Closer now, they could see that the figure was hooded, with long robes. The tell-tale sign of a wizard. They kept walking.
When they got within speaking distance, Darkwind stood out in front of the group. “Who are you and what do you want?”
The figure didn’t move. Darkwind tore Helga from her scabbard, giving him a perfectly dramatic SHING! “I’ll give you one last chance. Who are you, and what do you want from us?”
The figure stepped forward and removed his hood. His long gray hair and yellow eyes stood out against his dark brown skin. “I am called Chezzy and I’m looking for you, Darkwind.”
“Oh really, what exactly could you want from me?”
“Don’t play coy. You know why I’m here.”
Darkwind feigned memory loss. “No, I am sorry. You don’t ring a bell.”
“Nocturis bartas!” Chezzy exclaimed, and a flurry of night bats flew at the group. Darkwind slashed wildly, swatting down the illusions.
“So it’s games you want to play, huh?” Darkwind gritted. He leapt at Chezzy, Helga aimed right for the wizard’s heart.
“I like games,” said Chezzy. “And I have all day to play. I’m not leaving here without your head on a platter.”
“Good luck finding a platter in this place,” said Darkwind.
“I brought my own,” mused Chezzy.
“Well, aren’t we presumptuous?” Darkwind shot back along with a thrust, which Chezzy evaded.
Chezzy floated over Darkwind and landed behind him. “Quo cha!”
A small flame erupted from his fingertips.
Darkwind rolled out of the way. The edges of his cloak were singed. Now Darkwind was getting angry. This Chezzy character seemed calm and collected while he was on the defensive like some sort of animal.
Darkwind ran at Chezzy, slashing wildly yet directly at the wizard.
Chezzy used a spell to conjure multiple illusions of himself. He had Darkwind confused.
“To the left!” shouted Nurox.
“No, no, that one!” Josie offered.
Darkwind tried to slash all the illusions, but to no avail. He was growing weary.
“Do you give yourself up, Darkwind?” Chezzy asked.
“Never.”
“Then I shall have to make this painful for you.”
He began conjuring a blaze spell that would’ve killed Darkwind for sure, but he was too slow in casting it, which gave Darkwind enough time to thrust Helga into Chezzy’s torso. This broke the spell and Chezzy fell back, bleeding profusely from his chest. “Didn’t see that one coming,” he said before passing out.
“Why did you kill him?” Myrak asked.
“Because he was about to kill me, Grandpa! Did you not see the fireball he was about to unleash?”
“You could’ve used his powers as a wizard in your fight against Radu.”
Suddenly, some coughing, spurting sounds came from what they thought was a corpse. Chezzy was back from the dead. He clasped his hands over his wound and lay there for a moment. Then, a light emanated from the wound and it was healed.
Chezzy sat up and everyone was staring at him. “What, you’ve never seen a resurrection before?”
“Is everything good now? You bounty hunters should learn by now that you can’t kill me.”
“I’ll admit defeat,” said Chezzy.
“What will you do now?” asked Josie.
“I suppose I’ll find another bounty. Gotta survive somehow.”
“Then come with us,” she offered. “We could use someone with magic, and that resurrection spell was amazing!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t try to kill you,” Darkwind assured him.
Chezzy took his time to weigh the pros and cons. Maybe he could get something out of this failure if he stuck with them. “Okay, I’ll join you,” he finally said.
They all carefully crossed a thin bridge that had been carved out of the rock, which led to the entrance of Radu’s Mountain.
“We made it,” Myrak said, pointing out the mouth of the cave up ahead. “This is where I stop. I’ll wait for you for three days’ time. After that, I’ll suppose you’re dead. Please prove to me that you are the heroes worthy to get the beloved Fire Crest.”
“Very well,” said Darkwind. “Let’s go.”
Darkwind left Max and told him to stay. Max sat patiently.
They stepped forward into the red glow of the cavern. There was no doubt that this place was riddled with lava, shifting floors, and, of course, monsters. Their weapons drawn, they descended deeper inside.
The heat was unbearable and Nurox longed for the bitter cold of the mountain cliffs. Josie pressed forward. She led the way now.
“Up ahead,” she called out. “A
door.”
The walls glowed like embers and the whole mountain seemed to pulsate. This place seems more fit for the God of Chaos. The door was up a flight of black stone steps. The walls felt like they were closing in. They were closing in!
As the walls moved, the group scurried to the door. It was locked. “Chezzy!” they cried out.
Chezzy had everyone stand back. “Nomun toris dayum.”
The door’s lock slid open. They swung the door and ran through, barely escaping being crushed by the mountain.
They arrived in an open chamber, but the room was dark.
“Luminere intos,” spoke Chezzy, and a small orb of light appeared and lit up the room. The chamber was fairly large and had floor-to-ceiling pillars carved directly from the rock. Each pillar had pictograms on them depicting what looked like Dwarvish life. They didn’t stop to gaze for long, though. They had to find a way out of this chamber. Josie used her special search skill.
There, covered behind a fallen pillar, was the door.
“Oh, great,” cried Nurox. “Now what are we supposed to do?”
“Stand back,” said Darkwind as he primed Helga.
He leapt into the air and slashed down, slicing the pillar in two. The pieces fell aside, clearing the path to the door.
“Not bad,” said Chezzy, impressed.
“Yeah, your spells are really…something,” Darkwind replied awkwardly.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
This door was unlocked and when they opened it, stale air rushed out.
“Smells like an open crypt in there, or like the bathroom after Nurox and his elderberry pies,” Darkwind said.
“Okay, okay,” said Nurox, embarrassed.
“C’mon, you two,” Josie said as she charged forward.
“Ladies first,” joked Darkwind as he gestured a path for her.
Exalted Realms Online- Harbinger of Chaos Page 13