by Eden Redd
Claudia gave the bard a wicked smile. “When this is all over, you, me and Lunatina should get to know each other better.”
Rayna’s cheeks flushed pink at the boldness of the lancer. She noticed the play between herself and the jester and not only didn’t mind it but encouraged it. The bard had spent so much of her experiences being in charge, the new feeling of being dominated by someone she cared for was overwhelming.
Rayna tried to take control again, “Okay but don’t die this time.”
Claudia nodded. “And you don’t die to get out of it.”
The bard continued to blush, unable to stop the excitement racing under her skin. The game had turned her digital life upside down and a new feeling ran along her nerves, a need to connect in a way she never connected before.
The middle portal flashed red as a swirl of energy appeared. Rayna woke from her daydreaming and turned to the army at her back. Players stood to attention, weapons at the ready and a glowing excitement filling the ranks. It travelled along the players in the dome and the ones gathered outside, ready to take back the kingdoms.
Rayna played a chord, getting everyone’s attention. With a sly grin, she took in a deep breath.
“This is the moment! The moment we become legends! We don’t do it just for Elora; we do this for all of Lukken! Are you ready?”
The crowd lifted fists and weapons in the air in a shout.
“What?” Rayna shouted.
The crowd roared louder!
“I SAID ARE YOU FUCKING READY!”
The crowd shouted so hard, the ground and dome vibrated. Weapons struck breastplates as the deafening roar reached its zenith. Rayna kept her smirk as she turned to the portal and started marching, playing a guitar riff to the tune of each step. The army moved as one, forming a line three abreast so they could fit into the portal.
“Let’s fucking do this,” Rayna growled as she and Claudia marched to the portal and stepped into it.
Light streamed past them and a moment later, they emerged from the portal into chaos. Stepping forward, they drank in the fighting as Jinn and Vass fought tooth and nail against trolls by the portal. In the street, many duplicates of Sonja cut through the troll ranks as Juna and Thorrin fought by her side. Leeta bashed trolls as Edric directed Nykor to take out trolls emerging from side streets. Drakkus grinned as he jumped from troll head to troll head, smashing them with his boot and cutting away troll lives with his blood sword. Faye and Dumadin struck and cut down trolls, their bodies almost moving in perfect formation in a storm of enemy trolls.
Claudia bent her legs and launched herself in the air. Landing next to troll scorpion on a nearby roof, she drove her spear into his body before taking hold of the weapon and pointing it a street below. Two trolls cried out as a bolt penetrated their bodies and they shattered a moment later.
Rayna stepped to the edge of the dais amid all the chaos and took a deep breath.
“HELLO MIDDLE KINGDOMS,” the bard screamed before running her fingers along the lute chords in a death metal chorus.
The bard’s song of mad discord crashed into the crowd. Trolls turned on one another in an instant while others adored the bard, blades from their fellow trolls sinking into their hearts. A wand slid out of the top of the lute arm and Rayna laughed as she pointed into the crowd and unleashed lightning bolt after lightning bolt. Chaos bloomed as players rushed into the fray from behind the bard, joining the battle already in progress.
Enemy troll numbers dwindled as they were hacked to pieces. Fear touched the incoming trolls and they slowed to a halt and began to back up. Madness flowed like water as trolls attacked any troll close by, lost to the bard’s insane song. The square began to clear as the invading force took root, establishing their place within the city. Players charged out, three at a time, joining the carnage and pushing back the trolls. Claudia had just fired another bolt when a bolt struck her scorpion. Not even blinking, she grabbed her spear and jumped to the street below. Calling her mount, energy flashed below her as a unicorn leapt into the air. Strong legs clutched to the unicorn’s sides as hooves hit the stone street. Galloping along, she charged with spear in hand at a wide street. Players moved aside as the lancer and unicorn barreled into the troll line, shattering and knocking them away in several directions, breaking their ranks.
Edric rushed to the dais steps and looked up to Rayna and Jinn. “We still need the other two portals and to attack the keep!”
“Follow through with the plan! Everyone to their places,” Jinn shouted to everyone in the square.
Thorrin and Vass moved to the western street, Nykor stalking closer. Faye, Drakkus and Dumadin moved to the eastern street. Rayna directed incoming players as Claudia continued to crush the trolls on the western street. Edric and Jinn stood, Juna and Leeta joining them. Sonja duplicated her image, securing the area and the southern street. The air vibrated as Sonja’s concubines appeared by the dozens, fanning out and helping their mistress ensure the area was secure.
Faye looked over her shoulder, watching Edric, Jinn, Juna and Leeta run north toward the keep a block away. Something tugged at her heart as she looked to the portal blocks away and the troll stragglers trying to regroup. The guilt of failure clawed at her as she fought an internal battle with her duty and what she wanted.
“Dumadin…Drakkus…,” the wood elf said in a low tone.
The vampire lord and dwarf turned to her, eyes drinking in an uncomfortable shadow in her almond shaped eyes.
Faye’s memories crashed on the shores of her mind, the many nights she spent with Edric, fighting through her own growing guilt, feeling awful as they pushed their bodies to brink again and again, her power growing with each sensual encounter, not speaking her mind of her love for the hurting summoner. It had all become too much and if he encountered the Dread Lord and lost, she knew she could never forgive herself.
Dumadin eyed the wood elf before nodding and smiling. “Go to him, Lass. Protect him.”
Drakkus stepped forward and hugged the wood elf. “We can handle the trolls and capture the portal. Follow your heart,” the vampire lord whispered in her ear before pulling away and standing by the dwarf.
Faye gave the dwarf and vampire a single nod before turning and darting to the street Edric and his companions disappeared to.
Drakkus put his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder, “She sees your love and kindness.”
Dumadin shrugged him off, “Shut if blood sucker. Let’s get that portal open.”
“As you wish, Dwarf Lord,” Drakkus bowed.
The vampire and dwarf turned and charged east, hearts and weapons joining the storm of battle.
***
Vass and Thorrin fought side by side, cutting into the line of trolls while Claudia speared her way through. Nykor roared a stream of acid, shattering trolls instantly as they pressed on west. The street was filled with trolls, more pouring in from the western kingdom of Ludus. Vass looked on, knowing they had to secure the bridge leading into the Bellor kingdom or they would be fighting all night.
“Nykor, clear us a path,” Thorrin shouted as if reading Vass’s mind.
The Drell-Kai blasted out another stream, avoiding Claudia and her unicorn as she charged through the trolls. Bodies shattered to light but more trolls quickly filled the gap. Vass sighed as the enemy seemed content to throw their lives away and keep them from the stone bridges.
“Miss me,” asked a voice from behind.
Vass turned her head, her heart leaping in her chest. Renner, Lydia and Venner stood; weapons at the ready. The two elven looking Awakened hugged their mother as Renner pointed his crossbow into the trolls beyond and fired a bolt. The resulting explosion sent trolls in several directions while Claudia shouted back a thank you.
“I thought…” Vass began.
Renner waved at her words, “You think I’ll let you get all the loot, no way.”
“He missed you,” Lydia smiled.
“He practically blubbered like a baby,” Ve
nner said as he rolled his eyes.
Renner’s smile turned into a frown, “That’s it; I get ten percent of what you earn tonight!
“That’s not fair,” Venner and Lydia whined in unison.
“You want to make it fifteen percent?”
The two Awakened became silent.
Vass could hardly contain her loving smile.
“Alright,” Renner began. “You know the drill, stay close and watch each other’s backs. Now go play!”
Venner and Lydia grinned as transparent glowing wings sprouted from their backs. The two Awakened flew into the sky, golden blades filling their hands as they dived down and sliced at the trolls with divine strength.
Renner and Vass embraced each other before pressing their lips together in a loving kiss. When they pulled apart, they gazed into each other’s eyes.
“I love you,” Vass said softly.
“I know,” Renner winked.
The rogues split and pushed forward with their comrades in battle, crossbows firing magical bolts and blasting trolls to pieces, a loving harmony entwining their hearts.
***
Troll guards shattered to pieces as Jinn and Juna sliced through them with little effort. The gate to Bellow Keep stood closed, the portcullis down and barring the entrance. Edric’s hands moved in arcane designs before power surged with a command word.
(Spell Casting)70+(Int)10= 80/(Encounter Roll)30! Summoning Spell successful!
Summon Elemental! Mana: 210/260
Stone shifted as an earth elemental clawed to the surface. Juna stepped toward the thick iron bars as the elemental moved to her side. The half-troll pulled back a fist as did the elemental. With one powerful swing, the bars shattered into pieces and spilled across the courtyard floor.
Edric walked as Juna, the elemental and Jinn stepped into the courtyard. Leeta stayed at her master’s side, mace at the ready. The summoner called up another spell and began the incantation.
(Spell Casting)70+(Int)10= 80/(Encounter Roll)8! Summoning Spell Critical Success!
Summon Archangel! Mana: 170/260
A portal appeared in the air as a body emerged, black wings fanning out. Edric grabbed his whip and unfurled it as an armored angel flew above him, wings out and a white sword in its hand.
“Let’s not get fancy, the mission isn’t over,” Jinn spit as he charged ahead with Juna at his side.
Edric directed the earth elemental to clear the area of trolls. The elemental moved without hesitation while the summoner, Leeta and the archangel followed the assassin and half-troll. Large double doors stood locked but before anything was said, the angel barreled through, shoulder first into the doors.
The thick doors exploded into kindling as the group marched in next. Trolls rushed through the wide royal corridor. Jinn whipped his hand out, darts sinking into throats. Bodies exploded as Juna rushed ahead, cutting down trolls with barely a percent of her true power.
Aside from the rushing trolls, the corridor and throne room beyond was empty. A side door lay open and ghostly knights emerged, joining the stream of rushing trolls. Spectral blades glowed in the torchlight as they mingled with the trolls, rushing on mass toward the invading party.
“Follow the dead,” Jinn shouted as his hands moved in a blur, releasing holy arcane darts.
The trolls and spectral knights formed a hard line against the enemy, slowing down their progress. The added dead increased their power and soon, Jinn, Juna, Leeta and the archangel slowed to a crawl as they sliced and cut their way through.
Juna growled her contempt as her ability glowed in her mind’s eye. Ready to activate it, a spectral blade swung down for her head. A whip slashed through the air and wrapped around the spectral knight’s wrist. Juna glanced back to see Edric pulling, redirecting the blow and a powerful surge blasting along the whip. The spectral knight’s wrist glowed white before it was blasted to pieces, shattering its sword. Juna sliced upwards, cleaving the ghostly knight in half before smiling back to the summoner.
Edric returned her smile, coiling his whip in the air to bring extra support when a white light glowed. Juna’s body burst with a white aura as she activated her Arcane Surge ability. Time was running out and she wanted to end this battle now!
Power surging, the half-troll tensed and burst forward like a white comet. Swords slashing and body spinning, she decimated the trolls and spectral knights instantly. Surging ahead, she barreled down the side doorway next to the throne room, the rest of the group giving chase.
Juna moved with controlled power, cutting down small groups of spectral knights and undead without so much as a blink. A stream of undead surged up the wide stairwell composed of wraiths, zombies, ghosts and spectral knights. All were shattered instantly as the half-troll sliced them to pieces. Determination filled her brow as she moved with power down the stairs, turning at each landing and surging down into the dark corridors below. When she reached the bottom, the level was filled with a hundred undead of all kinds. They charged and Juna simply smirked.
A whirlwind of white blades cut through the undead like a tornado through a trailer park. The undead moaned before they were cut to ribbons. Edric’s archangel joined the fray, flying down to their level and into the undead, her light dissolving their bodies before she separated heads from necks.
Moments later, Jinn, Edric and Leeta reached the bottom level, eyes taking the in the gold, gems and weapons scattered across the stone floor as Juna and the archangel dispatched the last of the undead. All eyes turned to the large double doors at the end of the wide hall. Juna’s white aura remained as she charged forward. Sheathing her swords over her shoulders, she pulled back a fist and punched the thick doors.
The doors shattered off their hinges and hit the stone floor with a mighty crash. The group charged ahead until they all skidded to a halt. A vast chamber spread out, lines of large vats bubbled. Ropes with netting at the ends hung over the vats, a dragon egg cradled in each one. Edric took a slow step forward, seeing hundreds of vats lined in the vast chamber, hundreds of eggs suspended over each one.
“It’s over,” Dread Lord Maggar Wormwood said as he stood by a large lever, fingers coiled around it and a manic gaze in his eyes.
The tattooed Dread Lord stood in his gray robe, tattoos covering his bald head, face and neck, wide eyes glaring at the intruders in his private lab. The fingers around the lever were tight as the Dread Lord eyed them.
“You’re right, it is,” Edric said as his rage stormed on. The memory of Elora being impaled on the Dread Lord’s blade still fresh in his mind and scarred heart.
“Not another step Lord Temple, or do you want me to drop every egg into the vats,” Maggar smiled evilly.
“The Middle Kingdoms are ours. You’ve lost,” Jinn said as his hands stayed on his belt.
“I doubt that very much. If I cannot hold the Middle Kingdoms then it is better to destroy all of it. I have a hundred and sixty-six vats here and the same amount of eggs. You saw the power of two Drell-Kai. I doubt Lukken could survive my army.”
Edric’s eyes narrowed, “You would have done it already. Why are you stalling?”
Maggar nodded. “I don’t want to destroy everything when I’m so close to finding solutions to our shared problem. The outside world is going to delete everything if I don’t continue with my work. You have a choice now, for all of Lukken. Retreat and we all live to see another day or I pull this lever, ending all of us as my Drell-Kai run rampant across the continent.”
“If your work is to save Lukken, why all of this,” Edric growled.
Maggar’s eyes looked away in a moment of quiet introspection before returning the summoner’s gaze.
“I still serve my god-king. Harkkon has grown so powerful; I dare not go against his wishes. He ordered me to hold the kingdoms and that is my duty. I need time and it seems we are rapidly running out of it.
“Lord Temple, please retreat or this will be the death knell for all Awakened.”
Edric’s g
aze burned so hot he could melt metal. “Surrender and then we can talk about saving Lukken.”
Maggar’s shoulders sagged. “There is no surrender…only death.”
Time slowed down as Maggar’s grip tightened and he began to pull down. Edric and the group at his side moved as one, hands reaching out and mouths opening to shouts. Juna’s body surged a foot past the group, eyes on the lever and hand outstretched. No one saw the wood elf in the hall behind them, her hands forming mystical sigils and her body glowing white.
Faye heard everything and as the Dread Lord talked, she activated her Wind Sky technique, where her Stone Mountain technique emphasized hard power, strength and almost invulnerability, the Wind Sky technique played to the power of celerity, alacrity and near teleportation. The digital world slowed down as Faye set her sights on Maggar’s arm. Body bursting forward, she slipped through her friends and colleagues, giving Edric’s cheek a smooth touch with her passing hand. Moving so fast no one could even see her, the wood elf reached Maggar’s arm in barely a blink.
Maggar’s face contorted as he looked down in stunned silence, Faye under him, her arm straining as she held his arm. The Dread Lord tried to force the lever down but his arm didn’t budge as the once serene monk glared at him with a cold determination.
The rest of the group stopped in their tracks, barely able to see what happened next. Edric couldn’t keep up as deep, invisible depressions appeared along the Dread Lord’s chest. The wood elf moved in a flurry of blurry motions. The Dread Lord couldn’t make a sound as his rib cage shattered and tried to heal himself. Faye switched to legs, driving one so fast into the Dread Lord, he could only stumble back, unable to counter attack. The health bar over the Dread Lord turned from green to yellow in moments as Faye continued her attacks. Maggar gurgled noises as his crazy eyes grew wider, digital pain blasting every pixel of his body.
Faye stopped, hand at his throat and holding him into the air. The wood elf’s brow formed a hard V, remembering how he delighted in Elora’s death and their pain. Maggar grabbed at her wrists, black blood spilling from the corners of his mouth but before he could do anything more, Faye turned his body in midair and slammed his face into the stone floor. The hard stone cracked into a spider web design as his body crumbled into a heap. The health bar over him turned red and blinked.