The four possessed foblins burst through the trees and stormed the players. All but one was picked off by their ranged fighters, but the last one exploded right up against the tanks’ shield wall, making them stumble just a bit.
That was when I unleashed four more. The new wave reached the still-reeling tanks and one managed to break through their line. It was picked off with a well-aimed Ice Blast before it made any real progress, but its subsequent explosion reached the main group, injuring them slightly.
I had hoped the damage would break BigPill’s concentration, but he didn’t even notice. A sudden, blurred movement protected him from the spray of gore before it reached him. I narrowed my eyes. Something here was not as it seemed.
The players worked too well together. Their lines never faltered, protecting their weaker companions as they walked through the forest. I’d wasted two dozen foblins with little to show for it, but I had a good feel for their capabilities. Ragnar, the hated dwarf tank from the initial scouting party, was an especially tough foe, not even flinching as a foblin exploded right against his shield.
Time for phase two.
I had about 40 foblins remaining, and I ordered them to retreat to the wall of cabins. I stayed behind, buying them some time with a few more suicide attacks. Then I teleported away.
***
I refilled my staff with three empowered drilling arrows then stood on the central cabin’s roof, watching the white aura approaching from behind the trees.
I let them come a little closer before revealing myself and commanding, “Stop!”
The players all stopped in surprise and looked up at me.
“Is that the final boss?” one of them said with a frown. “These goblins are weird.”
“Turn back and leave!” I demanded.
“And why would we do that?” the player snorted.
Threats were useless. There was nothing I could do to really harm them. At most, they’d die and respawn back in their home city. But threats weren’t the course of action I had in mind. I had other options available to me.
“Because.” I gave them mischievous grin. “Whoever turns and leaves us in peace will be rewarded. Whoever is willing to side with us against his friends will receive triple the award.” I maxed out the rewards in the quest giver alert that popped up.
“Oh shit, he’s not joking,” a female rogue exclaimed. “Damn – 6,000 XP, 2,000 gold and a unique magic item!”
“Oh, and whoever interrupts this asshole’s spell …” I pointed at BigPill, who glared at me, “will get something extra on top of that.”
Most of the players didn’t budge, but the rogue woman exchanged looks with a lean man, and as one they lifted their weapons and turned to BigPill.
The telltale blur I’d seen before shimmered again, and the two players lost their heads. Literally.
And standing between the decapitated corpses was Hirooku, a level 280 player. Vatras’s personal assassin.
“That was amusing, but I think we get the point,” he said casually, flicking the blood off his twin swords. “In case you were wondering,” he continued pleasantly, addressing the other players, “those two are disqualified. We expect a little more loyalty from our prospects.” He looked up at me where I still stood on the cabin roof. “And as for you …”
He slashed with his two swords vertically. The force of the slash was immense, tearing apart the air itself, hurling a blade of vacuum at me.
The blade tore apart my body, the cabin I was standing on, and the two adjacent ones.
I blinked, getting control back over my real body as my shadow clone evaporated, draining a large chunk of my mana along with it. Still, I smiled.
With a few words, and by exploiting the tools at my disposal, I had both reduced the number of enemies and revealed their trump card.
Now I could finally use my own card.
It was time to bring out the big guns.
From my hiding spot behind a large tree at the edge of the forest, I held up the Epic bracelet and activated it.
A pillar of pale blue light fell from the sky, piercing the dome of darkness around the valley and descending right in the middle of the enemy’s formation.
A large being soared down the pillar using his feathered white wings to control his descent. He landed in a crash in the players’ midst, his fist punching the ground to cushion his landing. Then he stood up, a muscular, blue-skinned humanoid clad in shining silver armor and holding a huge, radiant two-handed sword. The sense of power emanating from the being was palpable.
With hardly any effort, I picked up the Outrider’s information. It was a level 250 creature, and though not a boss or even an alpha, it was an especially powerful being with over 5,000 HP. As a summoned creature he didn’t have a personality of his own, a VI, so his sole purpose was to obey the one who summoned him.
Kill those two! I ordered it, mentally indicating BigPill and Hirooku.
The Outrider lifted his huge sword with one hand, a feat that even an Ogre would find hard to accomplish. Ignoring the small fries, he brought it crashing down on top of BigPill.
The high-level mage cursed and retracted his aura spell. The light condensed into a single bead of force on top of his staff, and he raised it to meet the Outrider’s sword.
The impact of the two weapons sent a shockwave that staggered the lower-level players, and the attack was repelled. The Outrider immediately followed up with his own magic. He leaned forward, and a wave of sonic force hit the mage full in the face, sending him tumbling to the ground and taking a quarter of his health.
Hirooku lunged to save his prone friend and used a skill to intercept the Outrider’s next attack. The two exchanged blows, each showing their masterful control, though it was clear the Outrider was the more powerful of the two. The distraction was enough for BigPill to get to his feet and start casting a spell, sending a cone of glowing stars at my summoned creature.
Without the protective light in place, the players were hit with the full effects of the Eternal Night’s debuffs, bringing down their max health and lowering their damage and resistances.
A second later, the dark horrors manifested.
Still fighting off the Outrider, Hirooku shouted to the players, “Do your job, destroy everything in sight! We’ll hold off this mob – hurry up, prove that you are worthy of the Manapulators!” Then he was thrown back, crashing into another cabin, reducing it to rubble.
“You hear ‘em boys! Let’s bring in the hurt!” Ragnar chuckled.
The eight tanks surrounded the other ten players, holding back the creatures of darkness. As most of them were nearing level 40 and equipped with magic gear, they easily held back the level 10 horrors. The healers cast their own version of holy protection and anti-evil spells, imploding horrors by the dozens.
They continued to advance, walking straight through the demolished cabins. A couple of fireballs were sent flying, hitting the mess hall and the warehouse. Both buildings went up in flames.
I snarled. No one messes with my clan. Go! Attack! Drink their blood!
Prior to revealing myself to the players, I dominated all the remaining foblins. While I held the invaders’ attention with words, I had Vic continue infusing the critters with the Chalice of Infernal Energies.
Three dozen raging goblins-turned-demons streamed from behind the remaining cabins. I unleashed all the restraints and they swarmed over the players.
With the 18 players distracted by the horrors and nearly 40 possessed foblins charging them at once, my odds of winning were looking better and better.
The first line of foblins attacked with abandon, slashing with claws and ramming their horns against the tanks’ shields, several even breaking through their line and reaching their mages and healers.
My heart filled with elation as victory seemed near, but I was too quick to rejoice.
The players were not thrown off by the attack and showed why they were specifically chosen to form up the ‘second wave.’
Several of the tanks shouted taunts, and the untrained foblins were drawn in. The mages followed, using AoE spells – fireballs, arcs of electricity, and waves of cold were sent over the clusters of foblins, dropping them like flies. The tanks took damage from the spells and exploding foblins, but their healers worked efficiently, triaging the wounded and keeping their health from dropping to critical levels.
Dominating 40 creatures right after receiving a huge amount of damage to my shadow clone depleted the majority of my mana pool. I drained another void crystal, restoring myself back to half. Though it only took a few seconds, by the time I was ready to join the fight, over 30 foblins were dead.
One of the tanks looked to be in bad shape after having nearly 20 foblins detonate right on top of him, and most of the other players were injured as well, but their healers were working to rectify that.
Without time to waste, I cast Drilling Arrow on the critically injured tanks, while simultaneously using a stored Drilling Arrow spell from my staff on a mage who had low health.
Immortal Killed X2!
Boss Tier 3 Progression: 29/50 immortals killed.
The two players dropped dead, their bodies liquifying. They’ll make excellent void crystals, the goblin in me thought with glee.
My dagger zoomed in, wounding another player, but not enough for it to be a killing blow.
In response, the healers cast their high-level AoE heals, topping off all the players.
The last foblin died in a spray of blood and bone.
Over 60 demonically enhanced foblins and they’d barely made a dent in the enemy. From the original 20 players, 16 had survived, and by the looks of it, I’d just helped them get rid of their weak links.
Some distance away, BigPill and Hirooku continued fighting against my Outrider. The mage was surrounded by a rainbow-colored bubble and sending sizzling bolts of acid at my summoned creature. Hirooku’s movements flashed faster than the eye could see, attacking seemingly from multiple angles all at once.
Still, although the Outrider was a slightly lower level than them and down 20 percent health, he was not a pushover. Walls of blue flame sprang up around him, scorching and blinding the adjacent player, and a powerful sword swing bit deeply into his Epic armor and sent him flying across the valley, crashing through two workshops.
Meanwhile, with the foblins eradicated, and despite their debuffs, the players resumed their formation and were slaughtering the dark horrors. They continued to advance deeper into the village, reaching the pond.
A couple more fireballs were sent flying sideways, lighting up the woodcutter’s hut and the rabbit warren.
They did not suffer more casualties, and I was running out of tricks.
In desperation, I cast Shadow Web over their leading tanks, causing them to halt for a moment until one of their healers cast a cleansing spell and the web evaporated. I targeted the lowest-health players – one of the healers – and launched another volley of drilling arrows from my staff, followed by the dagger. At the last instant, a force field shimmered into existence, protecting the player. True to their name, the drilling arrows burrowed through the barrier, but the damage they inflicted was vastly reduced and the following dagger did not inflict enough damage to finish him off.
I narrowed my eyes as I spotted the caster responsible for the reactive protection spell. The injured healer was topped off a moment later, and their force continued to march deeper into the village.
I couldn’t fight them on my own. Not here.
Time for phase three.
I teleported and appeared standing on Totem’s Watch, just outside the temple. Kuzai and the two adepts stood guarding the door. Nihilator’s power was palpable here. My mana regeneration picked up, filling my depleted pool.
I could clearly see the invading army 50 meters away advancing on us, though they certainly couldn’t see us through the magical darkness.
As the players kept coming and torching the buildings, I cast Dark Protection over the three priests. Then I moved to the edge and cast Mana Shield.
“You two,” I addressed the adepts, not bothering to turn my head. “Use the Fire Rods. Aim for the same target, Kuzai –”
“I will unleash our lord’s fury upon the heretics,” the twisted dwarf hissed. “It will be shown what power over darkness truly means.”
“Sure, whatever,” I said distractedly, wincing as my Outrider was hit by a ray of red magic that sent him crashing through the research center. I absorbed another void crystal, filling up my mana pool. “Get ready, they’re nearly here.”
The players made it into range. This close to the temple’s power, I sensed some of the players were now vulnerable to my most destructive abilities. I raised my staff and channeled my mana. “Now!”
The two adepts shot jets of fire at one of the leading tanks, while I used Freeze on another and sent my dagger soaring toward its neck, simultaneously casting Shadow Web.
The tank froze in place, but just as my dagger was about to sacrifice it, Ragnar thrust out his shield, deflecting the hit. Stinking dwarf, I fumed. I will bathe in his entrails!
The Shadow Web had more success. Tendrils of darkness, twice as thick as usual, manifested out of the gloom and wrapped around the front rank of the players, holding them down.
The healers were quick to counter with their own holy light spells, but then Kuzai stepped forward. His own shadow clone shimmered into existence next to him, more substantial than ever. Together they summoned a huge ball of crackling darkness between them, working to grow it into immense proportions, then sent it flying into the center of the enemy formation.
The spell struck the ground, sending ripples of dark lightning through the players. The result was less than spectacular. Most only received a small amount of damage, less than ten percent of their total, but as I watched, the cracks of darkness converged on the healers, killing one on the spot and severely injuring the rest.
“There are two bosses up there!” a player shouted. “Protect the healers, provide cover fire!”
Kuzai had just given us an advantage, throwing the enemy off his momentum.
Time for phase four.
Attack! I screamed mentally, just as a hail of arrows and magic spells descended on my shield. A fireball missed me and exploded against the temple, but the sturdy stone walls withstood the damage.
Rhyno and Kilpi burst out of the cave where they’d been hiding, followed by Nihilator’s four large, level 25 mastiffs. I had originally considered using the chalice’s power on the two bosses but eventually decided against it. I needed cunning, adaptable fighters more than I needed rampaging berserkers. Besides, an unexpected lull in the fight could lead to their demise. Without the outlet of an enemy to fight, the energy raging inside them could explode.
The six charged the rattled players. The mastiffs pounced on two tanks, and Kilpi followed, charging with his shield raised like a battering ram, punching through the line of tanks. Using the opening, Rhyno followed, right into the middle of the players’ formation.
Get those healers! I shouted.
The Ogre gladiator swung a huge, spiked mace in a large arc, crushing the already injured healers and killing two of the three remaining.
Thirteen players remained, their formation broken and most of their healers dead. There was hope yet.
“Ye’ damn A-holes fight like a bunch of ninnies,” Ragnar grumbled. He tapped his shield with his axe, causing it to flash crimson, then roared a taunt.
The four mastiffs jumped off their targets and charged at him, followed, to my surprise, by Kilpi.
“No!” I shouted, watching as my well-laid plan was crumbling down. “You two, target that dwarf!”
I looked behind me and my heart sank. The two adepts’ bodies were blown to smithereens by the earlier bombardment. Only Kuzai, with his boss’s high health, survived, though with only 50 percent remaining.
He nodded at me though and both he and his shadow hurled regular-sized dark sp
heres at the dwarf, while I followed with a volley of drilling arrows.
But Ragnar would not go down so easily. His red, glowing shield absorbed Kuzai’s unholy spells and my arrows, though some damage filtered through his lowered resistances. Still, all that only took a third of his health.
The other players rallied. Three of the unwebbed tanks surrounded Rhyno, occupying his attention and helping the others get away from him. Then they took turns catching his attacks, sharing the damage. The other players divided their attention between the Ogre and me, bombarding us both. His health and my mana were draining rapidly.
There was no phase five.
In the distance, the high-level players and the Outrider continued to demolish my village. They had all sustained heavy damage.
I clenched my teeth and committed myself to the fight. I froze a tank and finally managed to get him with my dagger.
Immortal Killed!
Boss Tier 3 Progression: 30/50 immortals killed
Twelve players remaining. I forced my mana into a spell, summoning five, level 15 mastiffs.
Rhyno rampaged madly, his Rage ability triggered by his wounds. He bellowed his AoE roar, sending the adjacent tanks tumbling back, then fell on them in a frenzy. He landed some good hits, doing nearly a hundred points of damage with each one, but the players were seasoned tanks. They bounced back, activating various protection skills and sharing the damage. Meanwhile, the DPS players continued to bombard us. Behind me, Kuzai’s shadow dispersed, and a second later, Kuzai himself dropped to the ground. With unbridled rage, Rhyno continued to lash out, damaging several other players, then kicked a tank into the last healer, crushing him to death.
I cast another Freeze, but it didn’t take. The player was freed in an instant, and my dagger only nicked him.
Another volley of drilling arrows went into Ragnar, but the stubborn dwarf refused to die. He was down to 60 percent health but continued to face the four mastiffs and the critically injured Kilpi on his own.
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