Raid Slayer 2

by Riley Morrison

  Anita cackled, enjoying the other player’s torment. “In future, be a more productive forum member.”

  Zack turned away. This might only be a game, but he didn’t like to see suffering of any sort. Even bottom feeding forum trolls who probably had mental issues.

  Anita clearly wasn’t that way inclined. She watched the man all the way until the death notification appeared.

  Level 12 Player Rude Itch has been vanquished!

  +1200

  She rubbed her hands together. “At least the fish are fed.”

  Stupid Janitor, I hope you’re happy. What a waste of my time.

  Zack brightened. But, hey, soon one of the women would wake, and he would be one step closer to saving them.

  Quest Complete

  You brought rightful justice for the average review score of Aralia Online!

  Rewards

  You can plunder the dead men’s corpses for any and all loot.

  +6000xp

  With two of the bodies thrown to the fish and the Warrior’s armor already in Zack’s Inventory, that left only one corpse to loot. The Bard.

  After a quick search, Zack came away with an upgrade for Missy.

  Padded Slippers

  +1 Intellect

  +1 Dexterity

  +1 Spirit

  Physical Damage Reduction 2%

  Magical Damage Reduction 3%

  Not much, but at least it was something. He’ll have to find a way to restrain Anita next time so she didn’t destroy all the enemy equipment.

  “We done here?” Anita asked as she kicked the dead man into the water.

  Zack watched the fish move into feed. “Guess so.” He took out the portal stone the Janitor had given him and activated it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Blessed Awakening

  As soon as Zack ported into the palace, he raced for Missy’s bedroom. He burst into the room and found her cradling Amy and Betsy in her arms. She looked up at him as he raced over to her. “What has happened to them? Where were you?”

  Heart filled with joy, Zack fell to his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her on the lips. After a long moment, he pulled away. “Thank god you’re back. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

  He quickly told her what had happened and asked her if she knew anything about the Janitor.

  “No. Nothing.” She sobbed, brushing back Betsy’s hair. “Why would he silence our songs?”

  “Because he’s an evil asshole.” Zack’s rage at the Janitor grew the longer he was near the two sleeping women.

  They were Innocent. Why use them against him? If the Janitor wanted Zack to do what he wanted then find some other way to force him to do those things. Hurting the women was wrong on so many levels.

  Missy wiped her tears away then said, “Who is that?”

  Zack followed the direction of her gaze and saw Anita watching them from the edge of the bed. “I’m Anita. We’ve met before.”

  “I remember now.” Missy looked her up and down. “What are you doing here? Your music does not harmoniously sync with ours.”

  The orc woman raised her eyebrows, the ring through her nose twitching. “They really made you speak like a freak didn’t they? Fucking asshole developers.”

  “Hey.” Zack glared at her. “We can talk about those guys later. Once the women are all awake, I intend to tell them everything.”

  “Figured you were too gutless to tell them already. I can see you love them—or at least pretend to.” Anita bared her teeth. “Maybe they’re nothing more to you than a place you can shove your—”

  “Shut your mouth.” Zack stood, the rage he felt toward the Janitor now directed at Anita.

  The orc woman glared at him, her hand on her sword. Then she seemed to relax and moved her hand away. “You should have told them.”

  “Tell us what?” Missy studied Zack. “What is she talking about?”

  Making a fist behind his back, Zack turned to Missy and kept the anger out of his voice. “Don’t worry about her, she just wants to start trouble.”

  Anita scoffed and stomped over to look in the bathroom, giving them a moment alone. So far, being a part of his harem seemed to have no effect on her attitude toward him. Part of him had hoped it would mellow her out some. But nope. It seemed he’d have to deal with her bullshit until Amy and Betsy were saved and he could send her on her way.

  She makes me want to pound my head into a sharp stalagmite and end it all!

  Zack touched Amy and Betsy’s faces. Damn, they were both so beautiful. He wanted to see them smile, hear their voice, feel their loving touch more than he had wanted anything in his wretched life.

  He closed his eyes. Right now, they had to wait. He had to find a cure for his disease or he would die and never see them again.

  “We need to leave them here, at least for now.” Zack opened his eyes and stood. “I need to get to the Black Witch and learn how I can cure my disease. Time is running out.”

  Missy grimaced. “I shall be with you, my sweet song, though it saddens me that we must leave my two sisters behind.”

  Zack’s heart ached so bad, he wondered if the developers were once again trialing some new game system to mimic real world feelings of grief. Or maybe he had never felt such a sense of loss in game before. Either way, the feeling was real.

  He gently kissed Missy on the forehead, then said, “Margery will look after them.”

  “She doesn’t know that I am awake. I only woke a few minutes before you arrived.”

  “We will tell her before we leave.” Zack glanced at his disease timer.

  114 hours until death!

  As tired as he was, they didn’t have time to rest. They needed to get a move on.

  “I will put some of our food in storage, then we must leave. When we are ready, port us to the tavern.”

  Missy and Anita followed him out into the throneroom. As Missy raced over to hug Margery, Zack and Anita stored their spare food in the storage chest (keeping 20 meals in his Inventory). When they were done, she stopped him before he left the attic. “Let’s go through the armor I took from that enemy Warrior we killed.”

  Zack let her remove the plate armor from his inventory and drop it to the floor in front of them. She rummaged through the pile, identifying each piece. “Nothing great here, but it sure beats wearing mail.”

  Again, she stripped down in front of him, then began to equip the plate armor. Zack sighed and turned his back to give her privacy.

  “Oh, I see how it is. Now a naked woman disgusts you.” Anita sounded angry. “Typical male pig.”

  Zack spun to face her, refusing to look down at her gorgeous, rounded breasts, her muscular stomach, her clean-shaven woman parts. Alright, he did look, but he tried not to! “Last time I watched you dress, you complained about it. This time, I turn away and you still complain. I can’t win.”

  She shoved the plate gauntlets on. “What are you saying? That I’m a contradicting bitch who can never be pleased?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  Her face twisted into a snarl. “Do I go around pointing out your contradictions? No, I don’t. I shut the hell up and watch you flounder about like a stupid neck-bearded soy boy.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised you made it to Middle Underworld at all. Must be those women who got you here.”

  “What the fuck do you want from me?” Zack was already sick to death of her. Once Amy and Betsy were awake, Anita could go her own way.

  The orc woman finally covered herself head-to-toe in plate armor. “I don’t want anything from you, male.”

  He growled under his breath, then rummaged through the mail armor she had abandoned. Thankfully, the armor on the floor had two upgrades for him.

  Bandied About Mail Armor

  This armor has been worn by dozens of warriors before you. All are dead. Are you next?

  +4 Strength

  +4 Dexterity

  +3 Endurance

  Physical Damage r
eduction 19%

  Magical Damage reduction 7%

  Extra Hardened Mail Leggings

  +1 Strength

  +1 Dexterity

  +1 Endurance

  Physical Damage reduction 12%

  Magical Damage reduction 7%

  He equipped them both, and nodded in satisfaction at his stats.

  ZACK

  Steadfast Blademaster

  Level 12

  STRENGTH: 19

  DEXTERITY: 25

  INTELLECT: 3

  ENDURANCE: 23

  HP: 595

  STAMINA: 390/390

  ATTACK POWER: 337

  PHYSICAL DAMAGE REDUCTION: 53%

  MAGICAL DAMAGE REDUCTION: 46%

  His Dexterity now faced diminishing returns. Any stat above 25 was penalized, just like resistances over 50%. All bonuses a player got per point above 25 in a stat would be reduced by around 80%. Can’t have us lowly players getting too powerful!

  Zack caught Anita watching him. “We done here?” He asked.

  “Guess so.” She shoved her helmet on and lowed the faceguard so only her brown eyes were visible.

  Sighing, he headed down the stairs leading back to the throneroom.

  “Nice place you have here,” Anita said, coming to walk beside him. “You seem to have been spoiled rotten, while the spineless pig Ivan and I had to scrounge for our very survival.”

  Damn, this woman. One moment she’s raging at me, the next minute she wants to have a conversation.

  Real world women were so confusing.

  “I had trouble at first and almost ran out of food. But Missy made things easier, as she knows her way around Lower Underworld. Up in Middle Underworld, she seems to not be as sure of herself.”

  “Lucky you have that map then.”

  Zack nodded. “And the compass.” He glanced at her. “How did you reach Middle Underworld if things were so hard for you?”

  “We had help from some NPC men from this town. Both died fighting the Terror Claw, the boss we had to kill to reach the pillar we had to climb to Middle Underworld. I had to tank the boss at the end, as Ivan was the worst tank I’ve ever met and constantly lost aggro to me or the two NPCs.” She snarled, “Real world men are disgusting, but Ivan was more disgusting than most. He was damn ugly too, yet thought he’d have a chance with me.”

  She punched Zack’s arm playfully, showing a side of herself he never knew existed. “I lost count of the amount of times he wanted sex with me. The guy had no backbone, no zest for life.”

  Her face darkened until it returned to its angry, bitter frown. “How dare he think I would lower myself to bed the likes of him.”

  “Yeah, he was never liked by anyone. The dude has problems.”

  They arrived back in the throneroom. Missy came up to them, Margery a step behind. “Are you ready to leave?” She asked, hefting her guitar.

  “I was ready ten minutes ago.” Anita crossed her arms.

  Zack took Missy’s hand. “First, take this.” He handed her the padded slippers he had looted from the dead forum trolls.”

  After she had equipped them and kissed him in thanks, he grinned. “Take us to the Drunken Fop!”

  “I have no idea who you’re talking about,” Stout Jon said defensively from behind the bar. “A black-clad man you say? I don’t recall telling you to go see anyone. You must be mistaken.”

  Missy glanced at Zack with a confused frown. She could remember going to see the Janitor and nothing after that. And now, the tavern keeper could not recall giving them a quest at all, beyond the one to collect goblin ears.

  More manipulation by the developers or the Janitor himself. At least, Missy didn’t think he was making the whole thing up.

  “Damn it.” Zack spun on his heel and stared toward the fire.

  Zack had wanted to speak to the Janitor in the hopes the man would restore Amy and Betsy for his quest to cure his Cave Blight. The road to see the Black Witch would be dangerous and the more companions Zack had with him, the greater the chance he would make it to the witch in one piece.

  After all, surely the Janitor wanted Zack alive. Who else would carry out his assassination missions?

  “Fuck this.” Anita glared at Stout Jon. “You’re a mindless pig of a man and your ale sux. Next time, write shit down so you don’t forget it.”

  Zack glanced over as the rotund innkeeper snatched the tankard from Anita’s hand. The orc woman spat at him, then stepped away from the bar and glared at Zack.

  “Is there anyone you get along with?” He asked, shaking his head. Her foul mouth was going to get them in trouble. It wasn’t Jon’s vault his memory had been wiped.

  Anita snorted. “God, no. The world disgusts me, as do the men who live on it.”

  Growling a curse word under his breath, he motioned for Missy to follow. It was time to start the journey to Malghana.

  As they headed out of the tavern, Zack checked his disease timer.

  113 hours until death!

  Shit.

  Chapter Twelve

  Random Gen Content

  A bit over a day later, they stopped.

  “Here it is, the Shifting Labyrinth.” Missy snuggled up against Zack. “It is cold and yet it wasn’t the last time I was here.”

  It was indeed cold. Very cold. Almost like the air had been refrigerated.

  Zack kept his arm around Missy as he peered into the gloom beyond the edge of their torchlight. Anita came up beside him. “Even I don’t like this place. You sure there isn’t another way?”

  “Not unless you want to fight through a horde of man-hating cultists,” Zack said then grinned. “What am I saying? You would get along with them just fine.”

  Anita glowered at him. “I know of Sulfuron’s cult. Ivan and I ran into some of them in Lower Underworld. They wanted to slaughter me, and enslave him.”

  “Yes, they kill all women not of their cult,” Missy said. “Their rhythm is that of bloodshed, murder and conquest. That is all they know, and all they will ever know.”

  Zack started forward. “It’s too late to find another way. We are running out of time.”

  “You’re running out of time,” Anita reminded him. “I’m only here because you’re my best chance of getting out of this shit hole alive.”

  They made their way into the narrow passage, the freezing air radiating from the silent rock. Their breaths misted before them and soon, a creeping ground mist spread around their feet.

  After only a few hundred feet, they had to walk single file. Armed with a shield, Zack walked at the front. Sometime later, they came to a small opening with three passages leading from it. “Pick a path, my love,” Missy said, absently strumming the strings of her guitar.

  The air had grown colder and ice covered the walls and ceiling. As he studied the passages, Zack felt dread growing inside him, a dread as cold as the ice around him.

  Missy shivered her eyes wide with terror. “Hurry up,” Anita snapped. “This place…” She drew her sword, as if fearing something was about to leap on top of her.

  “This way.” Zack headed down the wider tunnel on the left.

  They hadn’t gone far when they came to a dead end. Zack was about to turn back when he saw something sticking up out of the ground mist. Bending down, he held the torch above it so he could see it better.

  The mist drew back from the heat of the torch, revealing a frozen body with equipment on it.

  “Anita, come here and help me.”

  With the orc’s help, they broke the ice encasing the body and rummaged through its inventory. The dead human body contained a Greater Mana potion, twenty meals and an hourglass trinket. Zack brought up the information of the hourglass in his mind’s eye.

  Lost Egg Timer

  Special Ability: Raid Slayer

  15% Bonus damage for 10 seconds after an enemy has died to your blade. Activates automatically.

  Cool Down: 5 minutes

  “That would be good for me,” Anita said,
holding out her hand for the item.

  Zack hesitated. It would be good for Betsy too.

  The orc woman’s eyes began to narrow. “Fine, take it.” He handed it to her.

  She quickly equipped it. “Smart choice, male.”

  “We’ll see.” Zack headed back the way they’d come and tried the next passage. It too came to an end after a short distance, though this time there was no body.

  They took the last path available to them and traveled for what seemed like several miles before emerging onto a cliff overlooking a large chamber lit by phosphorescent gray light. “Look,” Missy whispered, her guitar held tight to her chest. “This place sings of evil spirits and dark, forgotten lands, the walls whispering treacherous secrets.”

  Out in the gray light rose a stone castle, its walls broken and its towers rubble. The place was eerily silent, nothing moving within its black, broken windows. “Looks like we have to pass through there to get out of here,” Zack said, dread gripping his heart.

  The developers really had wanted this place to be terrifying and perhaps had gone overboard on forcing the feeling of dread onto players. He found his movements sluggish, his body shaking with fear and the deep cold.

  Not needing the torch anymore, Zack put it away. He started to squeeze his sword hilt, trying to focus his mind on the task at hand rather than the fear threatening to overwhelm him.

  The more he looked at the castle, the worse the dread became.

  Cautiously, they made their way toward the ruin, nerves on edge, eyes scanning the gloom for danger. The chamber was at least three-hundred-feet high and a good half mile wide. Its center was dominated by the castle, but the wall blocked anyone from passing through without entering the courtyard around the crumbling building.