Midnight War

by Eden Redd

  Edric turned his gaze to his friends and family, “We just have to hold out until the portals appear.”

  “I think we do more than just hold out,” Claudia smirked. “We need to beat his ass!”

  “I agree with the lancer,” Rayna said while giving Claudia a wink.

  Everyone turned their gaze to Faye.

  The wood elf took a quick inhale before her eyes glowed with chi. “Let’s fuck him up.”

  “Alright,” Edric smiled.

  The group was about to turn and begin walking when a large group approached from behind. The rulers of Elora turned to see Jinn, Oksuna, Juna, Thorrin, Renner, Vass, Gylda, Venner, Lydia, Sonja, Drakkus and Nykor approach.

  “Lornus and Lorn are helping direct citizens to the north. They wish us luck,” Sonja stated.

  Edric turned to the group of heroes, his heart filling with might. “I was of the mind to simply hold out but I think our time has come. The world is ending and a new one shall begin. Let the legends speak of this night where we stared evil in the face and kicked its ass!”

  The group pumped fists into the air and roared.

  Edric turned, looking down the long street to the approaching monster troll in the distance.

  “Let’s go fuck up a troll,” Edric growled and started to march.

  ***

  Nero and Dulla looked down from a rooftop at the burning buildings to the south. The troll shadowmancer held his staff tight as the dead began to pour through wide cracks along the broken city walls.

  “Our lord is trying to hold them back but his power is fading,” Dulla said with no emotion.

  Nero lifted the staff, power pulsating along the arcane shaft.

  “I think it’s time we end this farce,” Nero grinned. “Go to the Temple District. Stay with Nyras and Drubella while I call in hell fire.”

  Dulla bowed, “As you wish…my love.”

  The dark elf turned and began to walk away. Nero held up the arcane staff, the power pulsating into a fevered pitch. The trigger words spilled from the high priest’s lips as he looked across Elora and shouted the final incantation.

  The sky flashed with light among dark clouds. A moment later, fireballs the size of homes came falling from the sky. The dead looked up as the fireballs slammed into the ground just outside of Elora’s walls. Flaming comets exploded with god-like fury as the troll shadowmancer directed each one, doing maximum damage and creating a perimeter around the small kingdom.

  “That should level the playing field,” Nero whispered as he looked down at the group marching toward the oversized troll.

  ***

  Kurss walked along. The troll master stood at least twelve feet tall, shirtless with red and black energy rolling off his body. Muscles bulged with power as he eyed the rag tag group approaching him. Comets fell from the sky, blasting the dead to dust as Lukken burned.

  “I am pleased you are all here to meet and kneel before me,” Kurss’s voice was like a sonic boom with each word.

  Edric stepped ahead of everyone, cool eyes on the massive troll. “The world is ending. Why not crawl somewhere and die like the rest?”

  Kurss chuckled deeply. “I have learned Harkkon’s secrets. I too can remake this world. I have seen your plan to run to another server. Once I am there, it will give me enough time to implement my designs for new worlds.”

  The troll master turned his dark eyes to Juna, “I will need a goddess to rule by my side. I can think of no other than you, Juna Reed.”

  Juna stepped forward, standing next to Edric, eyes narrowing. “I will finish what I started on the Cursed Coast.”

  Kurss chuckled again. “You couldn’t do it before and with your new friends, you will not be able to do it now. Come with me and we can walk into our new world. I will even let you keep your friends as slaves to do your bidding.”

  A wail of pistons and metal filled the area. Everyone turned their attention to a side street as a giant, golden metal dwarf stepped out into the light. Steam billowed as mechanical legs moved until the metal dwarf stood with the group.

  “Sorry I’m late. I had to make some adjustments to Faye’s Guardian 2,” Dumadin said with a hollowed voice from inside the steam automaton.

  Kurss shook his head and crossed his arms, “You lack any true power to stop me. My regeneration and abyssal power are unmatched to anything else on Lukken. Surrender and you all shall be part of my new empire.”

  “Is this guy modeled after whiney Anakin Skywalker,” Renner laughed.

  The gathered heroes laughed long and hard. Kurss’s smug smile faded as he saw his opponents not take him seriously.

  “Death is the end for all of you. I shall enjoy smashing your corpses to dust,” Kurss growled before power surged around him and he flashed forward.

  Time slowed to a crawl as the troll master appeared right before Edric and Juna, fist pulled back with red and black energy rippling across the digital reality. Kurss smirked as his fist roared forward. Lights flashed and metal groaned. The master troll’s eyes widened as several things stopped his fist in mid-swing. Looking down, Faye’s hand clutched at the massive fist while a big metal dwarf hand held the troll at the wrist. Faye grunted as she stopped him, her muscles straining and chi flowing like rivers across her soul. Gears groaned louder as Dumadin held the troll’s wrist in a vice-like grip.

  Juna drew her swords and Edric lifted his hands.

  “Time to rock this place out,” Edric smiled. “Rayna!”

  The bard held her lute to her stomach, fingers on strings. “Hello Elora,” the bard shouted and began to play her song of discord.

  Bodies exploded into action as controlled chaos bloomed. Claudia was airborne, throwing her spear. Vibrations smacked against Kurss’s chest before a metal fist rammed into his gut. The troll bent slightly as Faye was leaping up. The wood elf unlocked all her gates at once, body surging with a limitless power of chi. Drawing back her fist, it darted forward, slamming into Kurss’s cheek with the power of a tsunami as a spear penetrated his chest.

  The troll master went flying back from the blow, his body crashing into a stone building and it coming down on him. Rayna’s fingers moved in a blur, her song crashing into a nearby dwelling. The foundation cracked and the dwelling crashed down on the already buried troll master.

  The area grew silent as they all watched. The rubble shifted and Kurss rose up. A large hand grabbed the spear in his chest and pulled it out. With a tight fist, the arcane spear broke in half and fell to the rubble.

  “That is the best you can do,” Kurss chuckled.

  Nykor roared as she spit a stream of thick acid. The acid struck the troll’s aura, sizzling away at it but not getting through.

  “I’m going to crack open an egg,” Thorrin shouted as he rushed the massive troll.

  Kurss lifted a hand and red lightning blasted out. Thorrin poured his holy power into his aura as the red lightning struck him. The paladin’s body bent to the side as the aura was shattered, giving him enough room to spin as he charged and right himself. Kurss shifted his hand for another blast but the paladin was airborne, hammer up. Thorrin shouted as he brought the hammer down against the blazing aura. Kurss laughed as a long crack formed but didn’t get through. The troll’s eyes widened as Claudia fell from the skies, heels pointed at him. The lancer landed on the hammer, forcing it through and shattering the aura. Thorrin smiled as the hammer continued its path, striking the troll in the face and sending him stumbling back.

  “You trash…I,” Kurss began before Faye was on him.

  The wood elf was dwarfed by the troll’s size but Faye’s power glowed like a goddess. The wood elf was before the troll, fists pulled back like shotguns and firing. Kurss couldn’t get a word in edgewise, each strike from the wood elf sending out shockwaves of power. Faye’s arms moved in a blur as she pushed forward, causing the troll to step back again and again. Kurss tried to pull his power together but each strike from Faye caused it to disrupt and scatter.

  �
�Mind if I help,” Dumadin said as the Guardian 2 pulled back a metal fist and slammed it into Kurss’ face.

  The troll flew back and crashed into another building, cracks forming a web around him. Kurss stumbled from the crater in the side of the building, dark eyes on the elf and metal dwarf.

  “Nice try…but you haven’t witnessed true power,” Kurss roared as energy exploded.

  The party watched as Kurss’ form grew bigger, power surging along his body. The troll grew to twenty feet, his facial features turning demonic and sharp and before anyone could take an action, the demonic troll shot forward with a closed fist.

  Dumadin didn’t even see the fist as it slammed into the Guardian 2’s chest. The dwarf’s body was wracked with pain as energy splintered into every piece of metal and gear. Faye watched as the guardian shattered, Dumadin flying backwards through the shards. The wood elf leapt and caught him, landing forty feet away as the dwarf moaned in shock.

  “Unload on him,” Jinn shouted as his hands threw holy arcane darts.

  Oksuna stepped forward and shouted a deafening wail. Sonja slashed with her sword, sending ghost blades into the monster troll. Renner and Vass fired explosive crossbow bolts as Venner and Lydia formed golden blades. Thorrin pointed his hand and shot a beam of holy energy as Nykor blasted out steaming acid. Claudia landed next to Rayna as the bard blasted the troll with deadly vibrations.

  Kurss lifted up his arms as energies and weapons smashed into his aura. The demonic troll grunted as he was pelted by the heroes. Growling his contempt, power glowed before he shot forward like a cannonball. Appearing in the middle of the group, power surged and blasted out in all directions. Bodies took the brunt of the explosion, scattering around and hitting walls or tumbling along the street. Nykor’s slash powered through the blast, slashing down but Kurss caught the Drell-Kai’s claws. With a smirk, he twisted and pulled. Nykor let out a whine as her body was launched into a building, the structure coming down on her.

  Edric tried to shake the cobwebs from his mind. He watched as Jinn, Sonja, Thorrin, Renner and Vass launched onto the troll. Blades and magical weapons slashed and burned. Kurss roared as he drew back his arm and bashed outward. Jinn and Sonja took a hard blow, their bodies flying like rag dolls through the air. Thorrin tried to keep moving until the troll’s foot struck him in the chest, sending him crashing into a wall and cracking it. Juna was up and ready to summon her power when she froze.

  Kurss stepped over to Oksuna as she struggled to stand up. A massive hand curled around her head and she was lifted up. Oksuna struggled in the demonic trolls grasp as Renner and Vass leapt onto his arm and grabbed hold of thick fingers. In the background, Magnys stood with sorrow in his eyes.

  Kurss leered at Oksuna, “No Sormir to aid in keeping me imprisoned. No torture because I killed your daughter. I wonder if she will feel the same pain as I rip your head from your neck.”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it,” Renner said as he pulled a holy dagger, ran across the demon troll’s arm and drove the blade at Kurss’ face.

  The dagger point sank into the aura but stop short an inch from the troll’s eye.

  “Unlucky,” Kurss hissed.

  “Haven’t you heard, my luck came back,” Renner laughed.

  Like a golden bullet, Gylda shot forward in her fairy form. Kurss’ eyes widened as Renner let go and Gylda rammed her shoulder into the dagger pommel. The blade shot forward like a cannon and stabbed deep into the troll’s eye. The troll roared as he struck out with his free arm.

  Renner felt his luck take root as he jumped and dodged the massive arm, body twisting and taking hold. Gylda and the rogue spun and flipped until they grabbed Vass and pulled her away. Kurss opened his remaining eye, still clutching at Oksuna’s head.

  “Let her go,” Magnys said with a forceful shout.

  Kurss grunted as pain radiated through his face, the dagger still hilt deep. “Great Grandfather, you would turn against your own flesh and blood?”

  Magnys stayed where he was, eyes containing a darkness. “I will not fight you again. Give up now and we can end this, peacefully.”

  “I will not. Kneel and I shall consider sparing her…otherwise, you can save her yourself,” Kurss smiled evilly.

  Magnys let a small smile slip. “As I said, I will not fight you again…but my master will have no issues teaching you a lesson.”

  Kurss’s brow went up until a surge of power touched his senses. The demonic troll turned his eye to Edric, power surging along his body. The summoner eyed the troll before bursting forward. Kurss’s hands closed tighter around Oksuna’s head when something else flashed to his arm. A glowing white power radiated from Juna as she plunged a white sword into Kurss’s wrist. The action caused the demonic troll’s hand to open, Oksuna falling away.

  Juna surged down, pulling her sword with her, grabbed her mother and blasted off down the street. Kurss roared before Edric flashed before him, a glowing fist pulled back.

  “Death has come for you,” Edric smiled and his fist roared forth.

  The strike shattered the aura and struck the demon troll in the throat. Kurss stumbled back, clutching at his collapsed windpipe when Venner and Lydia surged at him. Edric leapt up, power coursing through him as Venner was on his right and Lydia was on his left. The three came down on the troll, punching and slicing like hurricanes. Kurss’ aura flashed as he tried to bring it up only for it to be smashed away again and again.

  Renner, Vass and Gylda watched as Venner and Lydia’s bodies glowed golden, each strike cutting and slashing against the troll. Edric pressed on, knowing the full extent of Magnys’ power, he blasted through the troll like he was putty. Bones cracked and shattered as Kurss tried to keep up. Regeneration pulled muscle and bone back together only to be smashed again and again. The three didn’t let up, raining down strikes and blades; the area shaking like it was caught in a tornado.

  Juna laid Oksuna to the ground, the elder troll wincing in pain.

  Oksuna clutched at her daughter’s arm, eyes wide. “When Kurss held me, I tasted his power. He is holding back. Save them before it’s too late.”

  Juna nodded as she stood. The half-troll faced the fight in the distance. Jinn, Sonja, Thorrin, Rayna, Claudia and Gylda pulled back while Edric, Venner and Lydia hurtled powerful strikes too fast for a normal eye to see. Juna activated her Arcane Surge Alpha ability, her power growing a hundred-fold. She held a white sword in each hand, ready to join the battle when Kurss let out a shout.

  The air vibrated with power before the entire area exploded. Venner held up his arms but a fist connected with his side and sent him smashing into a building, through it and falling from the other side to the street. Lydia cried out as a hand took hold of her ankle and swung her around like a rag doll, smashing her into the street several times before hurling her into another stone building and collapsing into the street.

  Edric rammed a fist into Kurss’ gut but that was the last move he could perform. The troll grabbed him, fingers smashing his aura and digging into his digital body. Edric cried out as pain blasted his nerves. He never felt such pain in his life. Screaming as Kurss lifted him up, the summoner kicked into the troll’s face again and again. The power exchange rippled through the area, sending debris from damaged buildings to the streets. Faye held Dumadin as Rayna and Claudia watched helplessly.

  “Scream for me Edric! Scream so all will know there is no escape,” Kurss laughed.

  Black power surged, streaked down the street and slammed into Kurss’ chest. An elemental hand reached up and took hold of Kurss’ hand, bending fingers back and releasing the summoner. Edric fell to the street, clutching his shoulder as pain wailed on his nervous system.

  Kurss looked down the street, eyes focusing on a draco-lich and a woman, her true form glowing in his vision as a dungeon core.

  “Such a rude guest,” Lyndra smiled.

  Kurss leered, “So it is a fight among gods and monsters is it?”

  Nyras shook his
decayed skeletal head, “No. We merely wanted to clear the field.”

  Juna blasted forward like a white comet. Kurss cracked his knuckles as the half-troll surged toward him. Elemental earth pulled Edric away as he stared at Juna, her form blasting past him.

  Kurss’ eye blinked as he kept his evil smile. “It is a shame I must destroy you.”

  Juna said nothing as she reached the demonic troll, white swords flashing. The area shuddered as Kurss created a red and black sword in each hand. The blades sparked as the two opposing forces clashed. Juna growled before her body became a whirlwind. Kurss laughed darkly as he matched her. Red, black and white lights flashed with impossible speeds. The wind picked up as they crashed into each other like titans when the world was young. Lightning blasted out, striking dwellings and stone buildings. Earthquakes rocked the entire kingdom as Juna and Kurss battled like typhoons.

  Drakkus knelt down and helped Edric to his feet. The vampire lord pulled him along, helping him walk a safe distance. Edric kept looking back as Juna fought with all her power. The digital world shook but they appeared too evenly matched.

  “We have to tip the scales to our side,” Edric shouted over the roar of the wind.

  Drakkus shook his head, “She looks like she can handle it herself.”

  Edric called up the incantation, “No. I won’t risk losing anyone. Turn around.”

  Drakkus nodded and turned around, holding the summoner up. Edric began reciting the incantation. Words of power formed as mystical energies bloomed. The player concentrated as wind and power blasted at them. The constant vibrations threatened the spell as every word was uttered. Edric closed his eyes, letting his heart beat true for all who he loved and for all who loved him back.

  (Spell Casting)90+(Int)10-(Earthquakes)20= 80/(Encounter Roll)79! Summoning successful!

  Summon Star Dragon! Mana: 0/500

  Edric gasped as every drop of mana left him and the soul bond with Magnys faded. Stats drained down to one and a deeper weakness seeped into Edric’s spirit. The summoner looked up as the dark clouds in the night sky began to part. A white light glowed to the brightness of the sun.