Midnight War

by Eden Redd

  Harkkon laughed as the smoke parted. Small blast marks spotted his armor but the black aura around him thickened.

  “The God-King has come for you all,” Harkkon grinned evilly, a green health bar over his head.

  Chaos bloomed as the digital world fell into flashes. Faye and Claudia appeared next to Harkkon. The wood elf reared back her fists and struck out in a wave of blurs. Fists smashed against the black aura with shockwaves of power as Claudia came in, her holy arcane spear penetrating the barrier and stopping an inch from Harkkon’s armored face. Boots slammed into the aura as the lancer jumped away, turned her body and landed against a pillar, realigning her body for another attack.

  The two elemental flame dragons blasted out streams of fire, striking the top of the God-King’s aura while Jinn moved like a shadow, appearing and disappearing, holy arcane darts exploding against the barrier. Edric controlled the flames of the dragons, commanding them to never stop. Leeta and Thorrin reached the barrier, striking it so hard that it cracked and sealed close in an instant.

  Skalor flashed forward, the dragon in Nalik form drove her sword through the black aura, the tip of her sword stabbing through the bone armor and touching corrupted flesh underneath. Harkkon laughed as his body spun arms out. Dark power flared and all close to the god-king were thrown to the floor.

  Harkkon looked up at the elemental dragons as they continued to breathe fire before his eyes fell to Edric. “No summoner, no dragons.”

  A finger pointed at the summoner as a thin beam of black energy shot forward. Edric readied himself to dodge when Faye appeared by him in a blink. Hands grabbed him and pulled him aside, the beam missing and blasting a crater ten feet away.

  Edric looked to Faye as she simply smiled. In another blink, she was gone and appeared next to Harkkon, her fists a flurry of punches against the black aura. Jinn’s arms were a blur, white darts firing like machine gun rounds. Sonja leapt to her feet, mirror images doubling and doubling again. Thorrin was back to his boots, swinging his hammers like a blacksmith at an anvil. Skalor moved with grace, her sword breaking through the barrier and nicking the God-King within. Two streams of fire continued to blast at the aura while Venner and Lydia closed the distance.

  Renner and Vass continued to fire, fear bleeding into their eyes as their children reached the God-King and struck at him like titans. Black and golden energy flared as Harkkon took a step back. The shockwaves from the hits could be felt by everyone. Edric had seen power like that from Juna but now it was tenfold as the elvish Awakened struck like cannons. Despite the power of the attacks, Edric noticed Harkkon’s health bar was still green.

  Magnys stalked forward through the storm, hands out. Harkkon watched as Magnys dug his fingers into the black barrier and took hold. The group pulled back a few feet as the Sormir lifted up Harkkon and threw him. The God-King flew into a wide pillar, smashing it to flying rubble as he continued to soar into the cathedral stone wall. A crater formed as cracks splintered. The God-King slid to his armored feet, eyes glowing with menace.

  “Insects….” Harkkon said darkly.

  The group prepared to attack again when their world began to fall apart. Black energy swirled into a blade as Harkkon stalked forward. Lifting his free hand, abyssal energy flared. Streams of fire came down on the charging God-King. Harkkon ignored them as a black tentacle of energy rose up and struck out like a viper. Sonja dodged to the side as the black energy pulsed past her. It changed direction, whipping across her body. Edric’s heart leapt in his chest as Sonja’s armor shattered, her body spinning in the air. Thorrin leapt to her, grabbing her and holding her close, hammers fading away. Glowing white hands healed her as they floated, the tide of battle already shifting away.

  Venner and Lydia surged forward, golden aura’s surrounding their bodies. Harkkon parried one incoming blade but the black tentacle retracted and blasted forward, striking Venner in the chest. Lydia cried out as her brother was blasted back, striking a wall and screaming as the black energy ate away at his aura. Lydia’s attacks grew into a storm, eyes glowing yellow. Harkkon parried every blow before his sword shot forward and stabbed through her aura and into her stomach.

  Lydia’s eyes widened as she gazed at the black blade buried in her gut, black energy eating away at her. Vass screamed as she dropped her crossbow, pulled white daggers and threw them with perfect accuracy. Renner was already running. The rogue leapt into the air. Faye was at his side in a blink. The wood elf drove her heel into Harkkon’s wrist while Renner took hold of Lydia, planted his feet on Harkkon’s fist and pushed. The dual attack caused Harkkon’s body to twist, the black blade slipping away. White daggers lodged into the black aura, burning with holy power. The surge of black energy dissipated from Venner and he fell.

  Drakkus leapt through the air, catching the unconscious young man and gliding to the ground. Nykor rushed along the inside of the cathedral. Harkkon turned to see the giant Drell-Kai barreling toward him. A fist reared back as Edric shouted for her to stop. Harkkon grinned as he punched the incoming monster. Nykor’s entire body vibrated as she was rocked back. The Drell-Kai’s tail whipped around, smashing through pillars and taking Harkkon by surprise. The God-King took the full brunt of her tail as he crashed into the wall and grunted from the impact.

  Edric’s eyes widened as Nykor fell on her back. The cathedral shook from the impacts.

  Nykor HP: 1,000/6,000

  Edric pulled out her lock stone, ready to call her back when Harkkon floated above her, black blades in hands and pointed down. Edric’s heart cracked as the God-King drove each blade into her exposed chest. Nykor’s spider-like eyes widened as she let out a pathetic yelp. Body melting into energy, it streaked back to the lock stone already in Edric’s hand.

  Harkkon slowly stood up until his body blurred, parrying Skalor’s attack. The lizard woman growled her contempt as her blade vibrated against Harkkon’s blades.

  “You’ve been holding back,” Harkkon laughed.

  “Not…any...more…” Skalor hissed before power surged.

  The female dragon’s power blasted out in all directions. In a blink of an eye, Skalor was in her true silver dragon form. The dragon’s arcane blade was huge as it pressed down on Harkkon’s crossed blades.

  Oksuna slashed and parried at the Dread Lord, glancing to see the tide of the battle turning. Pushing forward, she tried to end the Dread Lord so she could lend her power.

  Karth gave a wicked smirk. “I have fought thousands of battles. How can you hope to defe…” The Dread Lord’s eyes widened.

  Oksuna looked up to see a lancer on the Dread Lord’s back, a white spear point protruding from his chest.

  “My name is Claudia. Pleased to meet you,” the lancer smiled to the pink haired troll.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Oksuna grinned as she drove her blade into the Dread Lord’s heart.

  Karth spit out green and black blood, stunned from the attacks. Claudia twisted the spear point while Oksuna withdrew her blade from his chest and sliced hard across. The Dread Lord’s head separated from his neck and spiraled through the air. Claudia twisted the spear point again as his body began to crack with light.

  Spiro could barely keep up with the half-troll until he glanced over, his brother’s head spinning through the air.

  “No…” Spiro hissed before white blades punctured his heart.

  “Yes,” Juna said and her body spun into blazing white top.

  The Dread Lord’s body was ripped open, his black heart sliced into tiny pieces before it shattered away. Juna spun to a halt, looking to Oksuna and Claudia before turning her attention to the main battle. Her heart skipped a beat as time slowed down and she watched some of her companions fall.

  “Daddy…it hurts…,” Lydia whispered as she held her hand to her punctured belly, golden blood spilling between fingers.

  Renner held her close with one arm and his other digging through his inventory. “Shhh honey, daddy has something to help you feel better.


  Tears streamed down from Vass’s almond shaped eyes, holding a potion to Venner’s lips as he lay in her lap, unconscious.

  Harkkon and Skalor remained locked, neither giving each other an edge as their blades sparked with power. Flames continued to rain down on Harkkon but his health bar was still green.

  “You make…any move…you..will…die…,” Harkkon grunted.

  Skalor’s eyes half closed, “Small victories lead to…greater wonders…”

  The dragon pulled back her blade slightly, causing Harkkon to move with her. Power surged into her limbs as she slid the blade along his, turned it and powered through. The arcane blade punctured Harkkon’s chest, missing his black heart by inches before emerging out his back and into the stone floor.

  Harkkon drew back his blades, eyes on Skalor’s chest and drove his swords toward her. A blur appeared, Faye’s hands clasping against a black blade, the power burning her hands as she slowed it down to crawl. The other blade stabbed into the dragon’s chest, the tip slicing into Skalor’s digital heart.

  Skalor turned her dragon eyes to Faye as tears streamed down her cheeks, arms struggling to hold the second blade from entering the dragon’s chest.

  “It’s okay little one…my time…has come,” the dragon said in a kind voice before her body cracked with light.

  Faye cried out as she let go, the dark power burning away her tanned hands and exposing bone. Edric ran toward the wood elf as she stumbled back, her hands burnt. The bard put her arm out, stopping the summoner.

  “Call in reinforcements. Time to end this concert,” Rayna said sternly.

  Skalor shattered into points of light as Harkkon stood up. The God-King turned his attention to the two flame dragons above. Black energy spiked and shot out, stabbing the dragons in their chests and shattering them instantly. The God-King tried to smile but pain flared. Looking down, he saw the smooth oval hole in his armor and body from Skalor’s sword. Everyone else witnessed the God-King’s health bar as it went from green to yellow.

  “She’s given us an edge,” Edric said softly.

  Harkkon stood to his full height before his arms shot up. Power blasted in all directions as those left standing watched in stunned silence. Juna and Magnys stood to either side of the God-King. The half-troll’s arms and swords shook as they pressed against Harkkon’s bone bracer. Magnys stood on the other side, his fist planted on the other bone bracer.

  Harkkon leered. “It took all of Skalor’s power to hurt me and she was stronger than either of you. What chance do you have left?”

  “Hey bonehead!”

  Harkkon, Juna and Magnys turned their attention to the small bard walking toward them.

  “I’ve had enough of you pushing around my friends,” Rayna shouted.

  The bard stopped about thirty feet from the G0d-King, lute and wand pointed like a rifle at Harkkon’s chest.

  Edric watched as the spectacle played out. Rayna was giving him time to act. The summoner reviewed his options, mind working frantically. He was sure the dragons would have been enough but they only seemed to irritate him. The player looked to the black aura around the God-King and it hit him in a flash. They needed more holy power!

  The summoner checked his stats. Time ticked away, knowing if he drank potions, they could all be dead in an instant. He had to summon angels and then drink a potion just in case it wasn’t enough. The summoner whispered mystical words as each hand mirrored arcane gestures. Leeta moved to Edric’s side, eyes on Harkkon.

  Harkkon gave the bard a sarcastic grin, “You don’t have enough power to dent my armor. You’re useless, bard.”

  Rayna’s eyes held a gleam of dark intent. She watched as a shadow moved behind the God-King.

  “It’s true, bards aren’t very powerful….but I’m not like other bards,” Rayna said with a wicked smirk before blasting out a riff.

  A cone of vibrations struck Harkkon directly in the chest. The power was enough to cause the God-King to take a step back. Jinn leapt from the shadows, hand out. Juna tossed one of her blades in the air, using the other to keep Harkkon at bay. The assassin caught the blade and came down hard, Juna’s sword penetrating his black aura and sinking into his back.

  Harkkon’s eyes went wild as he felt the blade pierce him. Black power surged and exploded. Juna leapt up, shielding Jinn with her body as they were thrown. Magnys crossed his arms as the dark blast sent him flying. Rayna blasted out another riff, splitting the dark power. Edric’s spell fizzled as Leeta stood in front of him and grunting as black power struck her armor.

  Leeta HP: 100/300

  Edric looked to the beautiful ogre as she stood; her armor smoking. She turned her head slightly and gave her master a nod, showing she was still in the fight.

  Juna shook off the dark power, holding Jinn in her arms and her aura still glowing. Magnys sat up, curling a leg under him so he could stand up.

  “No more,” Harkkon stated as he pointed a hand at Magnys and black power blasted out.

  The Sormir in human form lifted his arms up in defense. The black surge of power redirected and slammed into his stomach. Magnys’s eyes widened as his body bent in half. Hurtling across the room, the Sormir crashed into the golden throne, shattering it to pieces.

  Harkkon sighed as he began stalking toward Rayna. The bard held her ground as the God-King looked down on her with amused contempt.

  “I thought you were all stronger than this. Despite the damage I have received, clearly you are all losing. I thought I could trust the heroes to destroy me but this leaves me…disappointed.”

  Rayna looked up, sticking out her chin. “Bring it asshole. Let’s see what you can do before I kick your ass!”

  Kurss looked from the shadows with dispassionate black eyes.

  “Amusing,” Harkkon chuckled before lifting up his fist.

  The God-King was ready to smite the bard when his ears picked up the faint sounds of incantations behind a voluptuous ogre. Eyes looking up, he watched as Edric stepped from behind the ogre and whispered two words of power.

  (Spell Casting)70+(Int)10=85/(Encounter Roll)2! Critical Dual Summoning successful!

  Summon Archangels! Mana: 30/360

  “Now,” Edric shouted.

  “Fuck yea,” Rayna seethed as she pointed her lute and blasted out a riff. The vibrations hit Harkkon dead in his chest.

  The God-King stumbled back before power in the cathedral flared and aimed toward Harkkon. Portals appeared as heavily armored angels with black wings emerged, arcane swords in their hands. Juna flashed toward Harkkon, her body surging with raw power, swords glowing brighter. Faye activated her Fire Storm Gate technique and Water Tsunami technique, her body arcing with fire and ice. The wood elf charged; one eye glowing red and the other blue. Venner and Lydia burst forward, Renner and Vass cheering them on. Thorrin leapt up, charging the God-King as Sonja stood up, armor gone but sword in hand, whipping ghostly blades at Harkkon. Claudia flew through the air, spear point down and determination in her gray eyes. Harkkon brought his armored arms up and braced himself.

  Edric watched as everyone flooded the God-King from all sides and when they connected, power blasted out in all directions. Stain glass windows shattered outward and stone cracked. Faye threw punches of fire and ice so hard, bone armor cracked. Claudia drove her spear through the black aura, stabbing into Harkkon’s neck. Two Archangels stabbed through the aura, driving her blades into either side of the God-King. A ghost sword struck his midsection while Venner and Lydia, freshly healed, lashed out with a storm of their golden blades, shattering the black aura. Thorrin shouted as he leapt, bringing his hammer down and smashing it against Harkkon’s helmet, shattering a horn and causing his face to turn away. Juna drove her white blades into the God-King’s chest and twisted.

  Edric, Leeta, Rayna, Jinn, Renner and Vass watched, holding their breath. The bodies crowding around the God-King stayed close, all wondering if it was enough. Edric looked up the health bar above Harkkon.

  It remain
ed yellow.

  Harkkon’s shoulders shook as a mad laughter rose up through the bodies around him.

  “I expected more,” Harkkon’s voice came out sardonic and deep.

  Bodies fell away as abyssal power surged.

  “I’ve changed my mind. You’re not worthy to slay me. I will crush this world and then take reality as my second kingdom. You have sealed your fates.”

  The dark power reached its crescendo before it exploded. Rayna’s body lifted up and flew backwards, hitting the floor and rolling. Faye jumped away, crossing her arms and bringing her knees up into a tight ball as she hurtled backwards. Venner and Lydia spun away, moving with the explosion and keeping it at bay. Juna pulled her swords and sliced through the explosion. Thorrin took a step back as soon as he touched the floor, the blast of power lifting him back up and throwing him like a rag doll. Claudia’s body shot away, slamming into a pillar across the chamber and falling to the ground. Drakkus appeared below her, grabbing her and landing gently on the ground. The lancer was unconscious as she lay limp in his arms. The angels shattered instantly, sent back to their plane of existence. Edric and Leeta were thrown to the floor. Hit points draining from the attack.

  Harkkon ignored everyone as he stood to his full height, his eyes connecting with Edric’s.

  “Valiant effort but not enough, you had power but lack the conviction to destroy me.”

  Harkkon smiled. “Edric, you have hidden behind your allies, sending everyone else to fight for you. How sad your fear must be. No inner strength to tame demons? Despite your abilities to call on powerful allies you will be forever the weak link in your bonds of friendship.”