by Eden Redd
The summoner nodded weakly.
“Stay far behind us and call as many demons as you can. We have to take Lyndra down or none of us are getting out of her,” Faye stated as she moved to the front.
Leeta looked to Edric, concern in her brow.
“Stay at Faye’s side. She will need you,” Edric said softly.
The ogre nodded and stalked up to the front, taking her place by the wood elf’s side. Edric’s two succubi moved and stood behind the monk and ogre. Claudia and Rayna were next, side by side, lute and spear at the ready.
Edric stood to the rear, looking behind at the blue skinned woman on the altar. The features touched his vision and he could see she was a troll. Something touched his heart, confusion and a pull he couldn’t understand. They had made their way down here to find a sleeping troll in white armor. ‘What did it mean’, he thought. Why all this effort for what looked like she belonged to the enemy side?
“Clever……” Lyndra said as she stepped down into view.
The party watched as the thick metal armor on her body shifted and changed. Instead of the bulky form she wore earlier, it smoothed out and adhered to her twelve foot frame.
“You seduced my Sekka. Given that at any moment, you can charm and seduce my minions, they shall wait at the top of the stairs, restraining my succubus until your charm has worn off,” Lyndra said in a dark voice.
The armor covering her body streamlined along her long limbs. When it finished, she stood at her full height, mace in hand and gray silver armor covering her giant form. Glowing purple eyes looked down at the group with a menacing gaze.
“I will not make the same mistake as my poor delusional Sekka. She hoped you would be good so we could live in peace. She only looked out for my best interest but now, your true selves have appeared. You wish to take my prize and smash my core. You wish to slay the creatures under my protection. I will not stand for it. My dungeon will grow until it reaches under Elora and the city will crumble it to dust!”
Lyndra eyed the group with dark contempt. “I don’t need heavy armor for the likes of you,” a dark purple aura glowed around the metal giant, “speed and power will work just as well.”
Edric could feel the weight of Lyndra’s madness taking hold. There would be no reasoning with her at this point. The summoner finished his incantation and another succubus with white hair rose up from an arcane circle.
Summon Demon! Mana: 70/120
The succubus moved to her fellow sisters, a blade of frost in her hand.
“Call on as many demons as you wish. They will not stand up to my power,” Lyndra chuckled.
Faye held up her fists, “We don’t wish to fight!”
Lyndra eyed the wood elf, “Then simply lay down your lives, you pathetic insects!”
The armored giant lifted a hand and black energy swirled before firing. Faye threw her body sideways as the blast cracked the stone floor. The three succubi launched at the giant as Leeta charged. Lyndra laughed and pointed a hand at the incoming demons, unleashing another dark bolt. The white haired succubus screeched as it struck her dead on, shattering her body to shards. The other two demons hacked and slashed against the armored body, spinning and striking with accuracy. Leeta barreled at the giant, driving her shoulder into the giant’s stomach. Lyndra’s mace swung wide, smashing the red headed succubus and barely missing the ogre. Leeta dodged low as the mace swung over the back of her head before she stood up and rained down her spiked mace.
Lyndra’s mace came swinging back, parrying blows before her aura spiked and flashed. Leeta was knocked back a few steps but she stayed on her feet. Edric’s succubus flew back, wings flapping and corrected her flight into a wide arc. The succubus smiled as she flew toward the giant, slicing at a shoulder and continuing to fly on.
Lyndra’s health bar was still green when Rayna held her lute close and strummed the strings. A fast beat played on, sending sparks into the air around the metal giant and exploding inches from her armor. Damage slammed into the giant but Lyndra moved as if she didn’t notice. Claudia took a breath, bent her knees and launched into the air. Spear up; she was ready to drive it into the giant’s chest. Lyndra’s mace and body twisted at the incoming lancer. Claudia’s eyes widened as the mace struck her in midflight and sent her spiraling backwards to the floor. The lancer bounced twice before she slid to a halt.
Rayna watched as she played, strumming harder and sending exploding sparks into the giant. Faye darted toward Lyndra, fists up and slamming them into her thigh. Lyndra stumbled back and brought her mace hard across. The wood elf flattened her body down, hands touching the floor as the mace just missed her. Pushing back up, her entire body swung and she brought her heel down on the giant’s armored knee. Lyndra’s leg twisted at an odd angle but in a blink she snapped back into place. Faye stayed, a barrage of fists raining down on the thigh and knee. Lyndra raised her mace up, ready to bring it down on the monk when the succubus grabbed the metal rod and held it, flapping her wings and pulling with all her might. Power spiked and surged. The succubus was thrown back, as was Leeta and Faye, their bodies hitting the ground.
Edric fell to his knees by Claudia, healing potion in hand. He cupped the lancer’s head to his lap and pressed the edge of the potion to her mouth. The lancer greedily drank it down. Cuts and wounds sealed up and with a small smile, she was curling up back to her feet.
The summoner watched helplessly as everyone fought on. Lyndra moved like a juggernaut. Each swing grazed the members of his party and they fought like rabid beasts. The player could see they were outmatched. Lyndra’s health bar was still green despite the number of attacks striking her. Rayna turned and her lute unleashed fireballs while she played. The fireballs streaked across the room and struck the armored giant dead on but her health bar stayed green.
Edric knew even if he called more demons, they wouldn’t be enough. The armor class was too high and it appeared very little was getting through. The summoner looked back to the sleeping troll on the altar. Conflict troubled his mind as he tried to think of something, anything to stop the mad Lyndra.
Faye pounded her fists at Lyndra while dodging the mace. The aura around the giant spiked. Faye crouched down and launched herself. Fist up, she smashed it under Lyndra’s armored chin, causing her head to bend back and the aura to waver. The monk landed and seeing that she disrupted the attack, pooled her chi into her fists, reared back and slammed it into Lyndra’s armored stomach. Metal cracked as Lyndra bent forward, purple eyes wide. From the air, Claudia screamed as she landed on Lyndra’s back and drove her spear into an exposed joint.
Lyndra screeched and her power swelled. Leeta rushed the bent giant and brought her spiked mace down, cracking metal. The aura spiked and before Faye could try to disrupt it, it flashed. Bodies were thrown in all directions. Edric’s succubus caught Claudia in mid-air. Faye hit the ground sliding. Legs bent and she threw her body back to her feet. Leeta crashed into the floor and slid to a halt. The ogre groaned as she tried to get back up, arms shaking and giving out.
Edric stared as fear touched the ogre’s yellow eyes. She tried again to get up but her body wasn’t responding correctly. Edric’s succubus dropped Claudia to the floor, the lancer landing on her feet and the demon darted toward the ogre. Lyndra lifted a hand at the fallen ogre, energy pooling in her palm.
“No!” Edric shouted.
The succubus threw her body on the ogre just as the dark energy shot forward. It struck the succubus on the back, shattering her to shards and sending Leeta into a wall. The ogre gave a dazed look as she lay, unmoving.
Leeta HP: 2/220
Lyndra smiled behind her metal face plate. As she turned to the battle, Claudia was flying toward her, eyes filled with purpose and spear point gleaming. The giant raised her mace but it was too late. The spear point penetrated her eye, sinking deep into her eye socket. The lancer’s feet landed on Lyndra’s chest, twisting the spear point before pushing off. The spear came free and Lyndra clutched a
t her face. Faye pooled her chi into her hand. It glowed before she centered her body and drove a single fist into Lyndra’s stomach. Armor plates shattered off as the giant bent forward again.
Rayna aimed and blasted off a fireball. It streaked across the room and slammed into the iron giant’s face plate. Lyndra wailed as she stood back up, power pulsating. Faye flipped away just as power surged and flashed. The monk was just out of range when she slid to a halt and turned around, arms up and fists at the ready.
Lyndra’s health bar went from green to yellow. Rayna pumped her fist in triumph when a cold chill washed over the party. Shattered metal leapt up and slid into place. Cracked armor sealed shut. Lyndra looked out from her metal visor, her eye socket healing and her damaged eye opening, good as new. The health bar over her shifted from yellow to green and a dread filled the party.
“Nice try. You don’t become a dungeon core without a great deal of power,” Lyndra said in a hauntingly dark tone.
Faye centered her body, arms up, “Hit her again!”
Claudia readied herself, spear in hand while Rayna pointed her lute, fire forming at the wand tip.
Edric looked to the sleeping troll. Cool air touched his spirit as his jumbled mind relaxed. A memory rose up like a sleepy serpent, coiling around his heart. Images played out of the shadow over him, pressing its nonexistent lips to his, saying more than any words could ever say. Weakness caused him to sway, one point of strength barely keeping him standing. Looking over to Leeta, the ogre tried to sit up, frustration and failure filling her yellow eyes but she pressed on, wanting to help.
Faye, Claudia and Rayna launched into another attack. Their bodies hurt and bleeding as they fought on with fierce might. The player watched, knowing this was a losing battle. Lyndra’s power was stronger than they could have imagined.
The summoner turned from the battle, stepping slowly to the troll on the altar. The sounds of battle, shouts and grunts played on behind him as he centered his eyes on the sleeping troll. The shadow called out to him, trying to speak. He knew it was trying to communicate with him and deep down, he hoped it was Elora trying to reach out from the grave. The summoner’s shoulders sagged as he pressed on, each step drawing him closer. A tear filled his eye as he wished he could see Elora as she was. How foolish he felt, but he couldn’t help his feelings for the digital being that no longer existed.
The player put the memory of Elora in a box and locked her away, deep in his psyche. He needed to save his friends and lovers. It spurred him on in his weakened state. The summoner reached the edge of the altar, eyes looking down at the troll. Her face was smooth like fine blue porcelain. A shock of pink ran from one temple and the length of her long raven colored hair. Sword handles shined over each shoulder. The white armor contained etched runes. Eyelids lay closed, as if she could wake at any moment.
“I do this because you asked it of me,” Edric whispered as he leaned over and pressed his lips to the sleeping troll.
Faye turned, battered and bruised, watching the summoner kiss the troll. Claudia was airborne, shouting with all her might as she stabbed her spear once again into Lyndra before pushing off with her legs. Rayna cursed as she unleashed fireballs, one after the other.
A white light bloomed from the altar. Edric stumbled back and fell, eyes caught in the light. The brightness caused Lyndra to stop, watching what was happening. Rayna and Claudia turned, taking in the majestic glow of pure light before it faded.
An armored leg slipped over the edge, followed by another. The troll in white armor sat up and looked down at Edric’s now stunned expression. The beautiful troll smiled as she stood up. With even steps, she moved to Edric and held out a hand, a gleam in her eyes and a smirk stabbing into her cheek.
“Thank you Edric,” the troll said sweetly.
“You’re the shadow,” Edric smiled as he took her hand.
The troll nodded. “My name is Juna Reed,” she smiled as she pulled him to his feet.
Lyndra growled before she screamed, “SHE BELONGS TO ME!”
Power surged and flashed. Faye, Rayna and Claudia were knocked off their feet, hitting the stone floor. Lyndra charged; mace at the ready.
“Better step aside,” Juna said as she stepped past the stunned summoner.
Edric watched as the troll stepped forward, hands rising and then fingers curling around sword handles. In one smooth move, she unsheathed two glowing white blades and took a battle stance.
Lyndra barreled forward, eyes blazing purple. Faye, Rayna and Claudia pushed themselves up to witness. Leeta struggled to her feet, eyes on the stunned summoner. The entire chamber trembled with each foot fall of the crazed Lyndra. Juna was frozen, eyes on the armored giant as she charged with power surging around her. When the giant was on her, heaving her mace up, Juna smirked and dashed to meet her.
Edric could barely comprehend what was happening. White short swords swung out in blazing arcs. Lyndra’s mace came down but hit nothing but the stone floor, cracking it. Juna moved like a storm, slashing and stabbing several times in under a second. Lyndra’s armor cracked and shattered in places as the troll became a whirlwind. The giant surged her power and it flashed. The shockwave hit the troll and she was airborne. Time slowed down as Juna’s body seemed to float, a smirk still stabbing into her cheek. She flashed forward, her body turning into a spin. Lyndra cried out as the troll turned into a saw, cutting through her mid-section and bursting through the other side.
Lyndra screamed as her body separated. The top part slid off, hitting the floor as her lower half fell in the opposite direction. Juna stopped spinning and launched into the air. White aura surrounding her, she dived down, brought her legs up and slammed her boots onto Lyndra’s chest, flattening her breastplate. Lyndra screeched as Juna raised her swords up, ready to slice off her head.
“Stop!” Edric shouted.
Juna stopped; blades still high and Lyndra holding up an arm in defense.
“She was going to kill all of you,” Juna said simply.
Edric moved closer, “We didn’t want to fight. We came to find you and that was all.”
“I….I’ve never seen such power….” Lyndra whispered.
Juna flipped her blades and sheathed them over her shoulders. The troll knelt down, dark eyes connecting with Lyndra’s.
“After I chopped off your head, I was going to destroy your core. Know this; they saved you from such a fate.”
Juna stepped off the fallen Lyndra. Armor burst open and the upper half of Lyndra crawled out of it. Mist flowed from her waist and legs formed before a robe ran down and covered her. Everyone watched as Lyndra stood up, eyes wide with disbelief, staring at the troll.
Juna turned around and her legs trembled. Edric rushed to her side as she fell. He took hold of her but with no strength, he fell with her. Juna wrapped an arm around him and held him close, weakness filling her eyes.
Lyndra stepped closer toward the troll as Faye, Claudia and Rayna readied themselves. Uncertainly filled the room as Lyndra stood before the troll and summoner, eyes bright.
“I could see it as you lay, the difference, the change. I wanted to know what you were so I could incorporate your power into mine but that was folly. You are completely different than anything else in Lukken. You are the true first of your kind,” Lyndra smiled.
“Does anyone else know what she is talking about,” Rayna said as she threw up her hands.
Faye stepped closer, eyes on the troll, “She is Juna Reed, first born of the awakened. She was the first child between a player and a NPC.”
“How do you know that?” Rayna asked with a hint of doubt.
Claudia stepped closer, “Didn’t you hear the stories from the Cursed Coast? She appeared as a group of players fought for their lives against the trolls and dread lords for the Star of Sormir. Jayson Reed, Blue Sonja and Lance Rook were heroes, stopping the trolls and dread lords from gaining the star.”
Juna gave a weak smile, “It’s still a little hazy but it s
ounds right.”
Edric’s arms were around the troll’s waist, “It’s true. The Awakened and their children….it’s all true.”
Claudia stepped closer, eyes wet, “You’re mother is the Voice of the Sormir, Oksuna.”
“I’m still lost,” Rayna sighed. “Does this mean the fighting is over?”
Lyndra knelt before the troll, hand reaching out and caressing the troll’s cheek. “Forgive me. Before I was trapped into becoming a dungeon core, I heard the stories. I heard you died in battle shortly after being born.”
Juna sighed, “I did die….sort of. It’s hard to explain right now.”
The troll stood up, helping Edric to his feet. The summoner stepped back. Leeta lumbered over toward the player. Edric looked up with a smile before the ogre smothered him in a hug.
Lyndra turned to Faye, “I…I didn’t know. I apologize for my rudeness. My lucid moments have grown distant from time to time.”
Faye nodded, “I’m happy we didn’t kill each other.”
Lyndra turned to the group, “Please follow me up to the theater. I feel we have much to talk about.”
The dungeon core moved to the stairs. Edric handed out his remaining healing potions to the group and then they followed. The group climbed the stairs to the damaged theater room. Sekka stood with dark elves, head hanging in shame. Lyndra touched her chin and raised it, unspoken forgiveness flowing from each other. The succubus hugged her mistress. When they broke their embrace, Lyndra turned to the group.
“I fear I have caused more harm than intended,” Lyndra said with a bowed head.
“Don’t let it happen again,” Rayna smiled.
Faye gave the bard a dirty look and Rayna shrugged.
Lyndra continued, “I must go beyond simply asking for forgiveness.” The mistress looked to Sekka.
The succubus nodded and stepped away with a few dark elves.
“I wish to bridge my dungeon and my people to your kingdom as allies. Since our territories border each other, it is only right that we commence trade and open relations.”