by Paul Bellow
“Just a little magic I whipped up,” I said. “Watch this.”
I cast two Fire Lances at the mass of undead closest to us. They exploded in a brilliant white light on contact as the undead caught fire, burning bright. Some of the undead screamed as Axelrod and Josh maneuvered the platforms closer to the top of the cliff.
After the blaze died down, I saw a pile of unmoving bodies. Unfortunately, a few blade wights and a lich had survived. I also saw two dark figures rush toward the door into the tower. The floating platforms landed with a light thud.
As Eric ran toward the lich, I saw Magi Inyontoo step out of the tower, watching us.
“This will not do!” he shouted then waved his hands.
Skeletons and zombies struggled to their feet all around us. Eric stopped running, swinging both his swords. I quit messing around and cast another two Fire Lances. The new zombies went down as quickly as they’d risen again.
The three blade wights and lich were the only ones left standing. Well, other than Magi Inyontoo. He crouched near the open entrance to his tower, waiting and watching. I saw Axelrod, Bernard, Derringer, and Josh ran toward the group of Blade Wights.
As the fighters took out the blade wights and battled the lich, I watched as a half-dozen old men in black robes rushed out of the tower. They formed a semi-circle around Magi Inyontoo, protecting him. How many did we have to kill?
I turned just in time to see the lich blink out of existence just before Eric plowed into him with both his swords. Josh ran toward the new spellcasters who’d come out of the tower. Were they necromancers too? The lich reappeared on the other side of the plateau, casting another spell—a nasty fireball.
Eric diverted his course and took off running. The main blast missed him, but he caught the edge of it, falling down. Ouch. That had to hurt. I hope he’s okay. I kept looking around the battlefield to see where I could help.
Axelrod, Bernard, and Derringer hadn’t been as lucky as Eric. They struggled to their feet, their bodies burned all over. I switched over to lightning bolts, sending three of them toward the lich, hoping to finally take him out.
“Help over here!” Josh yelled. “There’s too many!”
Eric ran in his direction to help as I kept looking for other opportunities. He slashed six of the spellcasters, one after another, like it was nothing. After finishing off some of them, he booked back into the battle, leaving Josh to fend for himself.
I kept watching Eric as he took off toward the lich. We always worked so well together. As he got closer, I began to worry about him, so I put on my new Ring of Invisibility then cast Blink, appearing behind the lich. I grabbed him by the neck to stop him from casting a spell. He twisted around, reaching for me with a long, rusty dagger.
Eric ran forward as the lich stabbed me in the stomach. The few points of damage wouldn’t kill me, and I didn’t see a poison notification. Eric arrived as I used the last powerful magic item I’d bought earlier that morning. The Ring of Soul Stealing sucked the lich’s soul into the red ruby on the ridiculously large ring. Eric’s eyes widened.
“We should help the others,” I said.
“Yeah, of course,” he muttered.
Is he still hung up on me that he doesn’t realize I’m not the same person?
“Get in the game, Eric,” I said, smiling and trying to reach him.
I walked across the plateau and avoided stepping on bones when possible.
“The top of the tower!” Raven yelled.
I glanced up and saw Magi Inyontoo in a window, about to cast. As he waved his arms, all the bones nearby floated into the sky. Bernard and the others ran over.
“One fool left,” Derringer said.
“What’s he doing?” Bernard asked.
“It’s not good,” Eric said.
As they talked, I walked toward the entrance of the tower. Eric and the others followed.
“We should go in the tower after him,” Josh said as I approached.
“Don’t you see what’s going on?” Bernard asked. “The battle’s forming out here.”
“I’ll take the Everlast potion and go after him on my own,” Eric said. “He’s probably forming a couple bone swarms. We’ve taken care of those before.”
Raven looked up. “This isn’t a bone swarm.”
I glanced up. The bones flew together, forming another bone dragon? What had happened to the one earlier?
“Bone dragon!” Axelrod yelled. “We’re in for a fight, boys!”
“More undead too,” Josh said, nodding his head toward dozens of skeletons swarming out of the tower.
I watched Magi Inyontoo climb out the window and mount the skeletal dragon. It flapped its wings and leaped into the sky.
“Take care of the skullies!” Eric shouted, pulling out two potions. “Time to take a stand.”
“No,” I said, running over, not wanting him to drink another potion.
The others moved to battle the skeletons rushing out of the tower.
“Don’t do it. I know what’ll happen. We can get through this battle. I know it.”
He frowned, avoiding eye contact.
“You’ll be fine,” he said. “Heroes know when to sacrifice to help others.”
“This isn’t that time.” I put a hand on his arm. “Please?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black bolt of energy fall from the sky and hit Josh. I turned and saw him tumble to the ground. The skeletons continued swarming around them.
“We don’t have a choice,” Eric said.
I frowned as he drank one potion quickly followed by the other. He ran toward the tower then scaled the side, climbing high. What is he doing? I just found him after all that time. We hadn’t even had a moment to talk since I found them. In some ways, he mattered to me more than Josh and always would. We had so many good memories together.
Eric reached the highest window then climbed inside. Bernard, Josh, and the others continued battling the skeletons while the bone dragon flew above. Magi Inyontoo rained fire down on us. I shot a few lightning bolts their way, aiming for him and the dragon. The bony creature noticed me and dove.
“Come and get me!” Eric shouted from above.
He got the attention of the dragon. It turned and headed toward the window. He’s not going to try to jump, is he? As he leaped, I covered my mouth with a hand, not believing he’d done it. Then again, with the Everlast potion, he would be powerful. I watched as Eric landed on the dragon’s back and climbed toward our nemesis.
As they battled back and forth while flying through the air on the back of the bone dragon, I turned my attention to helping the others. The skeletons continued streaming out of the tower, overwhelming them. It’s time to do some damage. After walking three paces to the left, I cast three Fire Lances, sending them toward the skellies.
Eric screamed overhead. I glanced up and saw him gently floating to the ground. The dragon flew away, making a wide turn to come back at us from a better angle. Eric and the dragon both landed at the same time. Magi Inyontoo climbed to the ground near the edge of the cliff, a rod in his right hand. When he raised it, a stream of bones shot out.
The tiny shards struck Eric across the battlefield as he ran toward Magi Inyontoo. Above us, the dragon had taken its place in the air, also spitting a cloud made from thousands of bone shards. I wished I had the magic shield we’d developed on the penalty level. Have to make do with what I got here and now. I glanced over as Eric reached Magi Inyontoo.
Eric ran circles around him, slashing and stabbing like a maniac. The dragon landed near the two of them fighting. After backing off and glancing over at me with a smile, Eric charged Magi Inyontoo one more time.
He’s going to get himself killed. That dragon’s about to attack!
“Eric, watch out!” I yelled.
A stream of tiny, sharp bones hit him at the same time he slid both his swords into Magi Inyontoo. I opened my eyes wider, unable to believe what I was seeing. Was our nemesis dead? Fin
ally? Eric yelled as even more tiny bones flew out of the dragon’s mouth, slamming into his body. He fell to the ground, not moving.
“No!” I yelled, running toward him.
Josh grabbed my arm, holding me back.
“Let me go!” I screamed, frantic.
Eric can’t die! Not like this!
Combat is Over!
You get 60,000 xp
You have 6 party members.
You get 10,000 xp
You have 1,036,100 xp
You need 713,900 xp for level 11 Valkyrie Skyrider
I rushed over to Eric, kneeling by his side. Josh and the others walked over, looking down at me and him. Tears rushed out of my eyes as I wept for his death and everything else. I hated the Tower of Gates and couldn’t wait to escape.
“He’ll be back,” Josh said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
I pulled away, not wanting to be touched by him or anyone. Standing, I wiped the tears away. I still hadn’t told the others all the things that had happened to me on the penalty level. They wouldn’t understand how the game changed me. Maybe Bernard would.
“We need to keep going,” I said. “He’ll be waiting for us on level one-four.”
“Unless the gamemaster gave him the same offer as you,” Bernard said. “I can see why you took it. Nice casting and fighting.”
I flashed a smile despite my doom-filled mood, but it quickly faded.
We had so much work to do, and I wasn’t sure where to start.
Chapter 35
Shimmering Liquid Light
Sarah
I took a deep breath as I stared at Magi Inyontoo’s body.
“Should we bury him?” Derringer asked.
Bernard kneeled next to him. “I’m looting his body.”
“He doesn’t deserve a burial,” I said, emotions welling up.
“We should find someone to turn it into a zombie,” Josh snickered.
Bernard and Derringer chuckled as Axelrod walked up and stopped next to me.
“We need to clear the tower then find that bone dragon,” he said.
“No.” I shook my head. “We go straight to Captain Skids before he leaves without us. Eric will be on level one-four waiting for us.”
I wondered what custom character class he would create if given the opportunity. There’s no way he would pass on it, even if he had to spend time away from us.
“She’s right,” Raven said, surprising me. “We should fly back to Fishguard and be on our way. Finding the Warp Zone is our next task.”
“No,” Axelrod said. “I’m not leaving the first three levels. The newbie zones are safer.”
“Scared, are you?” Josh asked, patting the top of the dwarf’s head.
“Do that again, big oaf, and see what happens,” Axelrod muttered.
He stared up at the half-orc barbarian—my ex-boyfriend. The term boyfriend sounded so strange and foreign even without the “ex” prefix. More than twenty years in the game had taken a toll on me. I wanted to talk to Bernard about spending so long in the game, but it could wait.
“Knock it off you two,” I said. “We’ll fly back to Fishguard and meet up with Captain Skids. After finding Eric, we’ll find the Warp Zone and eventually a way out of the game.”
“I want to go after that bone dragon, and search the tower for magic and gold,” Axelrod said. “He’s bound to have something good in there.”
“Yeah,” Bernard added. “I don’t want to go to level one-four.”
“Are you afraid?” Josh asked then laughed.
“No,” Bernard said. “Just smart. Besides, Leena will likely travel back to this level, and I want to find her if possible. It’s best to know where that one is at all times.”
“Great,” Axelrod said. “It’s settled. We’re going after the bone dragon and his hoard.”
“Hold on,” I said. “You’re not listening. This is a group decision, and…”
[PC] Axelrod has left your party.
[PC] Jacques has left your party.
“Hey, how did you get out without a group consensus?” I asked.
Axelrod grinned, white teeth contrasting with his dark skin.
“Just lucky, I guess,” he said. “Or a magic item.”
“Are you sure, Bernard?” I asked, sad to see him go.
“We’ll come find you,” he said. “From what I’ve heard over the years, the Warp Zone’s hidden because the gamemaster doesn’t want people going through, especially Magi Inyontoo. That means you’ll probably still be looking by the time we kill this dragon and loot its hoard. I want to look for Leena too.”
“Looting!” Axelrod shouted, raising his war hammer.
“Who’s Leena?” I asked.
“The dead body in your treehouse,” Derringer said. “Ratzo killed her.”
“Is Ratzo Razzo? Why can’t anyone come up with original names?”
“Ready, Bernard?” Axelrod asked.
“I’m ready,” he replied, looking down at the dwarf.
“Can we have one of the floating platforms at least?” I asked.
“You can have the new one,” Axelrod said.
“Hold on a minute,” Josh said. “I paid to modify ours. That force field might come in handy. I have no idea how to operate yours.”
“Mine has a shield too,” Axelrod said. “Except mine has a space overhead to shoot out arcing spells or missile weapons.”
“Oh, yeah? Well…” Josh had nothing.
“We’ll take the new one.” I turned to Josh. “Can you fly it?”
He shrugged his massive, broad shoulders. “Probably?”
“It works the same,” Axelrod said. “I’m going to make a killing once I start selling them.”
“Do you really think new players will be coming into the game?” Derringer asked.
I wondered if he would go with Axelrod and Bernard or come with us.
“New players will start coming in again, just you wait and see. And, thanks to us, they’ll be able to play as a dwarf from the start if they want.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
“We should go,” Raven said then walked toward the edge of the plateau.
“Are you coming, Derringer?” I asked.
He nodded and said, “I’m tired of the newbie levels.”
“Don’t forget about me,” Josh said. “I’m coming too.”
“How could she forget someone so big, dumb, and ugly?” Axelrod asked.
Bernard laughed. Josh stepped forward, but I put my hand on his arm.
“Let it go,” I said.
He looked down and into my eyes.
“Fine,” he said then sighed.
I turned and walked toward Raven and our ride back to Fishguard, leaving the others behind. Derringer and Josh followed. Our group—now numbering four—loaded aboard the floating platform and headed toward Fishguard. I couldn’t wait to see what Gracoria had to offer us and to find Eric again.
As we flew, I stole a few glances at Josh. How could I let him down easily? Would he understand I’d aged twenty years and wasn’t really his type anymore?
Time would tell.
* * * * *
We landed outside the city walls then walked in. News hadn’t spread of Magi Inyontoo’s demise, and I wanted to keep it that way. He had many friends who wanted us dead. Maybe we should’ve buried his body?
Raven led us to the docks as dawn broke on the city. I hoped the crazy skeleton sea captain hadn’t taken off without us. Just then, I saw the ship of bones.
“I didn’t think he’d be here,” Derringer said.
Captain Skids called down, “Ahoy! Come aboard!”
“We don’t have all the gold we need, do we?” Josh asked.
“That won’t be a problem,” I said then climbed up the rope ladder.
I reached the top and climbed over the rail. Captain Skids stood on deck.
“Welcome aboard,” he said. “Are you ready for the next phase of your adventure?”
“You’re going to sail us to Gracoria, right?” I asked.
The others positioned themselves around me.
“Well, not exactly,” Captain Skids said. “Let’s go below. I’ll explain everything.”
He turned and strode across the deck. I followed, wondering what curveball would be thrown. The Tower of Gates hated me. I knew it. Below deck, we gathered in Captain Skid’s impressive quarters. He walked over to a bone desk and leaned against the front of it while crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’d offer you a seat, but I only have the one,” he said, nodding in front of him.
The giant chair made from hand bones looked uncomfortable.
“What do you need to tell us?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Derringer said. “Is it more bad news?”
“Where’s your other party member?” Captain Skids asked. “Where’s Eric?”
“He died killing Magi Inyontoo,” I said.
“Good,” the skeleton captain muttered.
“Excuse me?” I stepped toward him. “Why is it good Eric’s dead?”
“I meant Magi Inyontoo,” he said. “Settle down. You’re with a friend.”
“Are you taking us to Gracoria or not?” I asked.
Derringer chuckled but said nothing.
“She doesn’t know, does she?” Captain Skids looked at the dark knight and Raven. “You haven’t told her about the higher levels of the game yet?”
“Told me what?” I asked.
“It hasn’t come up,” Raven said.
“Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Josh asked.
“The ship can’t physically sail to Gracoria, but there’s a portal to the tower on the ship,” Derringer said. “Once we go through it then come back through the portal for level one-four, we’ll end up on his ship. They put it into place when they built the Warp Zone. It’s supposed to keep Magi Inyontoo away, so he can’t find the Warp Zone. Seems to have worked so far.”
I turned to the skeletal PC.
“He’s mostly right,” Captain Skids said. “After Magi Inyontoo started causing havoc on the newbie levels, we set up the portal to the tower aboard my ship and connected it as both the exit from level one-three and the entrance to level one-four.”