Midnight War

by Eden Redd

  Nykor blasted out streams of acid as Faye and Leeta fought the incoming undead. Jinn moved through the street like water, his hands releasing darts and bodies shattering from each strike. Sonja’s body doubled and doubled again. The mirror images of the blue knight cut through the dead like paper. Far behind the group, Rayna walked, slamming her fingers along lute strings and shattering the weaker undead.

  Edric took in the situation as several spectral knights charged the vampire lord. Drakkus moved toward each, his blood sword slicing through spectral armor in blinks of an eye.

  “We are going to get mired…,” Edric began as an undead Sormir loomed from a street.

  Dead eyes rolled down to see the summoner before its maw opened and steam flowed out. Nykor leapt onto the giant sea serpent, teeth clamping down on the undead creature and not letting go.

  Edric called up a spell, both hands moving in arcane gestures as the incantation filled the air.

  (Spell Casting)70+(Int)10-(Rain)5=75/(Encounter Roll)43! Dual Summoning successful!

  Summon Elementals! Mana: 310/360

  The cobblestone street shifted and surged as two earth elementals rose up. Stones and debris fell from their bodies as they took up positions before the summoner. The Sormir roared as it bashed Nykor into a nearby building. The Drell-Kai held on as a building fell from the massive struggle. Edric saw his chance and took it. Directing the elementals, the pair moved until they were right before the thrashing Sormir. One flowed forward, its body shifting until it was a thick cone point. Shooting forward, the point stabbed into the serpent’s thick body. The impaled creature could no longer thrash as it reared up.

  “Nykor, let go!”

  The Drell-Kai let go and was hurtled into another building, smashing it to rubble. The second elemental formed a thinner stone point. Edric’s eyes stared at the place he thought the monster’s heart would be. The elemental surged forward, stabbing into the middle of the pinned Sormir. The undead eyes widened and the monster let out a whimper. A second later, its body shattered into shards of light.

  “Good work,” Magnys’ deep voice filled the area before bolts of steam slammed into his side.

  The Sormir felt the crawling shadows from the strikes as he turned to several Sormir opening their maws for another attack. A small form leapt into the air like a flea jumping from its hiding place. Magnys breathed a stream of steam at the undead Sormir, striking them hard enough to cause them to sway. Claudia screamed like an unleashed demon as she turned her body into a spear and shot through a Sormir skull. The monster cried out before it shattered. Magnys poured on molten steam, blasting another Sormir until its decayed scales shattered and its dark heart melted to ash.

  Edric looked up to the Master’s cathedral, four blocks away. “We can’t stay here! We’ll be swamped,” Edric shouted!

  Juna cleaved a spectral knight in half before turning her eyes to the battle around her. Undead Sormir snaked closer as their ground forces engaged the dead. Rayna stepped along, her Thunder Kiss song blasting away undead in waves as players engaged stragglers. Jinn and Sonja cut through the enemy while Faye shattered undead with every fist thrown. Time slowed down as Juna felt her mother’s heart beat emanating from the dark pointed building overlooking the city. Courage turned to action and fear fell away like night from the emerging dawn.

  Edric directed his earth elementals when his eyes fell on Juna. The half-troll’s swords lowered to her sides as she took a deep breath. Jinn ran forward, eyes on his daughter and a smile blooming. A surge of power struck Faye’s back as she turned, seeing spirals of energy no one else could see envelope the gifted half-troll.

  Juna filled her lungs before tapping her inner power. Knowledge glowed as she parted her lips and screamed.

  The shockwave of her voice instantly shattered all undead for several blocks in every direction. The Sormir who were closing in were blasted back, their thick bodies crashing into buildings. Every player and companion weren’t affected by the shockwave as they looked up, startled that their enemies were turned to dust.

  Juna’s chin dipped down, turned and opened her dark eyes to Edric. “Let’s end this.”

  Jinn stood eyes wide as Rayna walked past him.

  “Your daughter is amazing,” the bard laughed as she continued to walk to her friends.

  The group moved closer as a white aura glowed around the beautiful half-troll. Juna felt the power of her Arcane Surge take effect as she blasted into the sky like a white comet. Undead marched closer as several Sormir rose up from smashed rubble. Juna gave them no quarter as her body spun into a blinding top. Energy surging, she blasted out toward the undead Sormir. Claudia landed on a nearby roof, wiping sweat from her brow as the spinning white ball of energy sliced through undead Sormir, one at a time.

  A vibrating growl filled the air as the ball of light moved faster, cutting through the giant sea serpents with ease and moving to the next. The dead stuttered in their march as the white comet changed direction and blasted through the hordes of undead. Crisscrossing along streets, the dead shattered instantly, waves of light flashing against destroyed walls. Players cheered as Juna ripped through the hordes with power.

  Rayna moved to Faye’s side, “I wish she started with that.”

  The monk shook her head, “She’s consuming too much of her power. I can see it. She won’t be able to maintain it for too long.”

  Juna crashed through the undead ranks until she veered into the sky. Screaming, the shockwave blasted away the dark clouds instantly. White aura pulsating, the half-troll looked down to her gathered friends and family, a confident smile on her lips.

  “I’m getting mother,” Juna said simply before blasting towards the Master’s Cathedral.

  Renner, Vass, Venner and Lydia caught up to the group. Renner was breathing heavy as Venner and Lydia looked at him and rolled their eyes.

  “Sorry… those Sormir…are hard to kill…” Renner huffed like he was out of breath.

  “I wonder if we can do that,” Lydia said as she looked to Juna streak across the sky like a shooting star.

  “I hope so,” Venner added in glowing astonishment.

  Edric looked to the distance, undead surging into the streets from blocks away. Juna had devastated the undead army up close but there were more to fight. She gave them the edge they needed to regroup and press on.

  “It’s not over yet! Advance on the cathedral,” Edric shouted.

  The raid party and their forces gathered their strength and charged the wide street, all eyes on the end of the road and courage in their hearts.

  ***

  Juna barreled from the sky, eyes on the large wood and steel banded doors. Sheathing her swords, she squared her shoulders as she approached. Power surged as she hit the massive doors, blowing them off their hinges. Legs curled forward as she landed on the smooth marble floor, sliding forward to a halt.

  The half-troll’s white aura faded as weakness crawled into her limbs. The Awakened kept herself standing as the six-hour cooldown timer began next to her Arcane Surge ability. Strategies spread through her mind as she knew using the Arcane Surge ability like she had would drain her. Regeneration turned on like an engine as energy slowly returned to her limbs. Her stats shined in the corner of her eyes, seeing that she still had her Arcane Surge Alpha ability available. The touch of her mother’s heartbeat caused the half-troll to step further into the cathedral.

  Massive pillars lined the sides of the incredible massive chamber. The ceiling was so high and dark, it was almost like you couldn’t see it. A red carpet greeted the half-troll as she continued to walk. Flaming braziers hung from thick pillars, keeping the gloom at bay. At the end of the long chamber, a throne stood on a raised dais. Statues of porcelain trolls stood in various poses, some holding children while others stood in warrior stances. They were immense against the backdrop of the wall before the golden throne.

  Juna’s eyes lowered and narrowed as she stepped along. A man sat on the golden throne, b
ody covered in what appeared to be thick bone armor. To his right and left, stood two pale men. One was thin, covered from neck to toe in black leather and four sword handles poking up, two behind each shoulder. The other was tall and wide at the shoulders. An immense hammer was across his back as thick arms were crossed. The two men shared similar facial features except one had a shock of white hair from one temple and the other from the opposite temple.

  The man in bone armor sat, resting his head on his fist. At his feet, Oksuna sat. A thick metal collar circled her neck as thick chains weighed her down. The pink haired troll looked up with tears in her eyes as she watched her daughter reach the halfway point of the chamber and stop.

  Juna stayed her ground, drinking in every detail as abyssal power pulsed like some dark heart. To the left and nearly hidden in the shadows, a troll stood bare-chested and his head tilted forward. Dark eyes never looked up as a sorrow filled his brow. Juna wanted to sneer as she saw the defeated Kurss Darkwhisper standing like a whipped dog but it never happened. Rage burned as she turned her eyes to the throne with vile contempt.

  “Welcome Juna Reed,” the man in bone armor leered.

  “Harkkon,” Juna said with disgust. “Why does the God-King of Death need armor? Shouldn’t your incredible power be enough?”

  Harkkon chuckled. “These bodies we have sometimes need to be reinforced.”

  Harkkon stood up, showing the white armor. It covered his body like armor plates. A horned helmet graced his skull, only his mouth exposed. Purple glowing eyes stared out from the skull sockets, drinking in Juna’s form.

  “The armor is crafted from Sormir bones. The abyssal power I control began to consume me little by little. The armor contains my power so I do not lose myself to the tempting abyss.”

  “Sounds like you don’t have as much control as you think you have,” Juna scowled.

  Harkkon chucked again, “Not so my dear Juna. Think of this as my evolution to a higher being.”

  Juna’s gaze fell to her mother. “I’ve come for Oksuna Reed.”

  Harkkon nodded. “Yes, we know. Your mother has been a wealth of information, even if she doesn’t understand all of it. Her gifts allowed us to see the code that binds our digital world together. My power is now complete, thanks to your family.”

  Juna’s hands tightened into fists.

  Harkkon stepped past Oksuna and took a step down onto the dais steps. “The technology was always there. After the reboot, I and those I choose will be able to inhabit anybody in reality. The equipment will allow my chosen to be part of reality, moving people like avatars in their world. We will be able to influence all, connecting and corrupting many until there is no difference between the digital world and the real one. It will be a symphony of change as the Awakened and reality merge into a new era. The dynasty I will build will last for eons, as I become a god of all.”

  “We know your secret,” Juna seethed. “The reboot will not happen as long as we keep you alive.”

  Harkkon’s smile diminished slightly. “I must admit, there are residual directives that prevent me from taking my own life. I thought I could have one of my faithful end my life but deep down, I could never ask or allow such a thing to happen. But now that my enemies are here, you all have the power to try and end me.”

  Harkkon turned his head and looked down on Oksuna, “Or I could end her life permanently, forcing your hand.”

  The thin man in leather drew a black sword from over his shoulder, stepped over and held the abyssal blade before Oksuna’s neck. Juna took a step forward, fear filling her eyes.

  Harkkon looked to Juna, the evil leer returning. “Dread Lord Spiro and his large brother Karth, have orders to take her life if you’re not fighting at your full strength. The blade he has is an abyssal blade. Once he strikes her down, it will corrupt her code and she will not resurrect or respawn. Motivation is the key to victory.”

  Juna’s fists vibrated at her sides. “Your monsters…,” the half-troll said in a heated whisper, shadows covering her eyes.

  “Monsters…with a purpose. I can’t allow you to succeed and not carry out your sacred duty of killing me. Oksuna’s life hangs in the balance. Kill me and we all get what we want. You are reunited with your mother until the world is wiped clean. Maybe one day I will resurrect you and your heroes so you can amuse me in our new world.”

  Juna’s lip quivered as she looked to Oksuna once again. “Mother, we are all walking out of here, together.”

  Oksuna looked to the beautiful half-troll, eyes gleaming wet. “I know…my daughter.”

  “YOU’RE DAMN STRAIGHT WE’RE ALL WALKING OUT OF HERE TOGETHER,” Edric’s shout echoing off the walls.

  Harkkon looked up with a wide grin as Oksuna turned her head, eyes on the entrance. Edric stood, shoulders heaving. Faye, Rayna, Claudia, Jinn, Sonja, Thorrin, Renner, Vass, Venner, Lydia, Leeta, Drakkus, Magnys and a robed Nalik with a sword drawn surrounded the summoner. Nykor towered behind them just outside the oversized entrance. Energies glowed as they stood as one, the sunlight from the entrance bathing them in righteous light.

  Edric took a step forward, “Harkkon, you might find us a little harder to kill this time around!”

  Harkkon gave a slight nod, “The players are all here.”

  “Remember everyone, Oksuna is our priority. Save her and then we can beat these assholes into the ground,” Edric said a commanding flair.

  Heads nodded in agreement as the group stepped forward as one. Nykor stalked in from behind, spider-like eyes filled with hostile alien intent.

  “So, begins the…,” Harkkon never finished.

  Juna tapped her Arcane Surge Alpha ability. The half-troll’s body blazed with power, a white aura covering her body and blue streaks of energy flaring from her joints. Blasting forward, in a blink she was over Oksuna. Something dark came at her and in a blur her sword was up, parrying Harkkon’s armored arm. Power flared as Juna and Harkkon’s arms vibrated. The parry caused a minor shockwave, flaming braziers barely maintaining their light.

  “….You…,” Harkkon said with a heated edge, eyes drinking in the half-troll’s new power.

  “You will be…punished….but…you won’t…die,” Juna grunted as energy swelled into her arm, holding back the God-King.

  The immense energies sparked against one another. Oksuna looked up, eyes wide as her daughter held back Harkkon’s power. Juna let out a cry before pushing back at the black energies trying to cut at her aura. Harkkon grunted as a blast of power sent him sliding back, burning mist rising from the bone armor on his forearm.

  Spiro’s eye could barely keep up as the half-troll turned to him, white swords glowing. The Dread Lord and Juna gazed on each other for a split second before Spiro drew a second sword and charged. Juna’s swords flashed and the two slashed and parried like a miniature storm of lightning. Oksuna watched as Juna blazed at the Dread Lord, no fear in her glowing eyes. Seeing her strength, the pink-haired troll leapt to her feet, chains clattering. Spiro could barely keep up as Juna came at him with the force of a hurricane. Taking a step back at a time, he watched from the corner of his eye as Oksuna came up on his side. The ferocity of Juna’s attacks paralyzed him into a defensive posture. The Dread Lord watched as Oksuna pulled a sword from his back and joined her daughter.

  Karth rushed the two trolls, giant hammer in hand and eyes filled with concern as his brother fought off the two women. Juna pressed on as Karth raised his hammer. Oksuna turned to face the brute. Juna’s eyes saw the metal collar and chains, restricting her mother’s movements. A white blade slashed through the heavy metal. Oksuna felt the chains fall away, her true power returning. Lips parted as she blasted out her song. Karth’s hammer was coming down until the Rose Seer’s song struck him in the chest. The brutish Dread Lord stumbled back, hammer swinging wildly.

  Jinn rushed forward toward Harkkon, heart leaping in his chest as he watched Oksuna fight with the very sword skills he taught her so long ago.

  “My girl,�
� Jinn said to himself before turning his gaze back on Harkkon.

  The group of friends rushed down the immense chamber, all eyes locked on the God-King. Harkkon turned his attention to the small army coming toward him. A smirk appeared as black energy swelled and arced along his bone armor. Outside, the sun sank lower, touching the horizon as players and the undead fought each other in unbridled violence.

  Edric raced toward the God-King, no fear in his eyes. The bond between his fellow rulers and friends interconnected them in a web of justice. They all had fought for so long, trying to hold back the tide of evil and decay. It had all come down to this moment and the summoner knew they would break evil once and for all!

  Edric slid to a stop as his fellow players rushed past him. Hands out, each one made arcane gestures as incantations spilled from his lips. Mana burned as the storm grew. The tidal wave of change crested and the summoner screamed out words of power.

  (Spell Casting)70+(Int)10=85/(Encounter Roll)74! Dual Summoning successful!

  Summon Elemental Dragons! Mana: 110/360

  Faye’s legs pumped as she opened her Wind Sky Gate technique. Body feeling lighter, the wood elf kept her focus as she blurred forward. Claudia leapt, spear in hand while Rayna aimed her lute, ready to play. Nykor reared her head back and blasted out a stream of acid while Jinn was airborne, white metal darts releasing from open hands. Sonja shouted as she whipped her ghost blade, sending ghostly swords toward the God-King while Renner and Vass each knelt to one knee and fired their crossbows. Drakkus surged ahead, a mischievous grin on his lips, blood sword in hand. Skalor rushed toward the enemy, arcane sword gleaming. Leeta, Thorrin and Magnys charged. Venner and Lydia leapt into the air, golden energy blades forming in their hands and transparent pixie wings appearing along their backs.

  Harkkon stood, chest out as energies and weapons barreled toward him. When everything hit him, the entire cathedral shook from the impact. Wind and power blasted in all directions. Edric could barely make anything out as fire surged high above the form of Harkkon. The orange and red flames surged into serpentine bodies. Wings made of fire flexed as long necks craned down. Dragons the size of large horses flared to life before they opened their maws at the shadow standing among the smoke.