by Rick Scott
Then a glacier falls from the sky, taking Vulnar down to 5% as it crashes on top of its head.
“Thanus!” Gilly cries, and I turn to see the mage, along with Zeke and Silvi, running back into the arena.
“We made it back in!” Zeke shouts as he jabs his trident into Vulnar. “Let’s kill this thing!”
My hopes are renewed as Silvi tops up our HP.
Vulnar breathes fire and removes Aiko’s shadow.
“Take it now, Reece!” Aiko shouts.
I shout, using War Cry, and the dragon turns its attention to me. I lose my own shadow as it claws at me, and then again right after I reapply Shadow Copy when it hits me with the other.
3% disappears from its health as Aiko Backstabs, and the dragon turns to face her again.
It’s down to 1%!
Vulnar readies Eruption.
“Hit it with a Backstab now, Reece!” Aiko cries. “Kill it! Kill it!”
I use Hide, and then thrust my blades up and under Vulnar’s scales. The beast releases a fiery groan as its death cry sounds across the arena.
Reece has defeated Vulnar!
The beast collapses to the ground, and a spam of notifications scroll up my HUD.
You have defeated Vulnar!
You have gained 0 experience points.
Congratulations! You have earned the title: Vulnar Victor!
Congratulations! You have earned the title: World Boss Killer!
You receive 5,714,286 credits.
My heart nearly explodes.
We’ve done it!
I’ve done it!
I can save my brother! I can save my mom! I let out a cry of cheer, as does Gilly and the rest of the guild. I run to her, and we hug in a deep embrace. “I can’t believe we did it!”
Blue light emerges from the arena floor.
“Reece,” Val Helena says as her feet begin to leave the ground. “Remember your promise to me!”
“What?” I say. My body begins to float, as well. What the heck is going on?
And then slowly, we all fade from existence.
* * *
I emerge in a dark room, devoid of anything. No light, no sound. I see Gilly materialize next to me, followed by Val Helena, Aiko, and the rest of the guild.
A prompt appears on my HUD.
Congratulations!
You have defeated a world boss!
You have met the requirement to enter the optional test Shard of Citadel.
While in Citadel, you will be subject to the following game conditions:
Some abilities may be disabled or will function differently.
All party claim mechanics, XP sharing, and PvP restrictions will be removed.
You will no longer have the ability to change your class.
You may experience physical discomfort and/or pain due to enhanced feedback.
You will be unable to communicate or trade with normal game world servers.
You will be unable to log out until certain game conditions are met.
You will be unable to respawn upon defeat.
Failure to resurrect will result in permanent cerebral disassociation.
Do you accept these conditions and wish to enter Citadel?
[Note: Choosing no will return you to the arena with no memory of this event and/or its participants.]
(X) No, I do not accept, return me to the arena.
(O) Yes, I accept, take me to Citadel.
A 1-minute timer starts counting down with the default set to yes. Holy crap . . .
“What is this?” Gilly says. “And what does ‘permanent cerebral disassociation’ mean?”
“It means death,” Thanus says. “I think . . .”
“What?” I say.
“Thanus is right,” Val Helena says. “I can’t force any of you to come with me. I’d appreciate it if you do, but you’d have to come at your own risk.”
“Death?” Zeke says the word again, and then shakes his head. “Sorry. I don’t play the game for this kind of stuff. I’m out.”
His decision is so quick it takes me by surprise when he hits no and winks out of existence. So much for loyalty.
“I’m out, too,” Thanus says and disappears.
Silvi looks sheepish, but eventually murmurs, “Sorry, Val . . .”
Val Helena sighs as Silvi fades away.
Aiko chuckles. “At least you got some people with brains on your team.”
“Shut up, Aiko,” Val Helena snaps. She looks to Gilly. “You should go, too.”
“What?” Gilly says.
“I mean it,” Val Helena says. “Hit no, Gilly. You didn’t sign up for this. Go back to the arena now. It’s far too dangerous for you to come.”
Gilly’s face creases into a scowl. “Hey! The same way you can’t tell me to stay is the same way you can’t tell me to leave. Reece, I’m here for you, whatever you decide.”
Aiko disappears next to me, but I don’t see which button she pressed.
Val Helena scowls at the place Aiko once stood. “Damn coward.”
I look to Val Helena. “You want me to hit yes?”
Shame creeps into her eyes. “I told you from the beginning, I need you to be able to see this though no matter what. This is the part I really needed you for, Reece. I need you to come with me. I need to tank for me one more time.”
I look at the six million plus credits in my account. “Are you saying I can’t go back to save my mother?”
She frowns. “I’m sorry. It needs to be now. I didn’t want you to have to choose like this. I thought you would have had plenty of time to earn the money and do that long before now. But you’ll be able to come back afterwards. I promise.”
“Can’t he just go and come back?” Gilly says.
Val Helena shakes her head. “He won’t remember. Plus, he’d have to wait for another world boss to spawn and defeat it again. And with the timing off now, I don’t know when that will be.”
Crap!
“I need to get back, though. Not just for my mother, but my brother now, too!”
0:42 seconds . . .
“Reece, like before, I can’t stop you from doing what you truly want to do. The same goes for you, too, Gilly. All I can ask is that you trust me. The same way I’ve trusted you.”
Her words bring me back to our conversation while on the airship to Bangōr. It seems a lifetime ago now, but committing to Val Helena then was a lot easier than what she’s asking for now.
Time ticks by as the options weigh on my soul.
0:29 seconds . . .
“How long?” I ask.
“A few days, maybe . . .”
Days? “I don’t have a few days! How do we even stay in-game for days? What’s going to happen to our bodies?”
“I’m sorry, Reece. I can’t explain that all to you right now. Just know it’s possible, and that I need you. Someone I care for very much is depending on me to get back to them. Now might be my only opportunity before it’s too late. I can’t wait till the next world boss spawns.”
I look at the countdown clock.
23 seconds left.
The desperation in Val Helena’s eyes is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. She bet the world on me, and now she’s counting on me to come through for her in her time of need.
The same way she did for me.
But can I truly return the favor?
What about Mom and Mike? If I can’t get home in time, how will I be able to save them both? What about Gilly?
“I’m with you either way, Ryan,” Gilly says as she takes my hand in hers. “If you’re going, then so am I. No way am I going to let this thing take my memories of you from me. No matter what risk I have to take.”
Her words melt my heart.
I look between Gilly and Val Helena, two women I can honestly now say that I love. They’ve both changed my life in so many ways these last few days, and all for the better. I think back to that conversation with my mother right after Mike left. I can still he
ar her voice clear in my mind as I recall her words.
Don’t waste your life fighting for me and Mike. Live for your friends, as well.
These are two of the best friends I’ve ever had.
My resolve hardens as I finally understand what my mother was trying to teach me.
There’s more to this world than me just trying to protect my family.
I need to live up to my promises and protect my friends, as well.
“All right, Val,” I say. “I’ll come with you. Just like I promised.”
They’re the hardest words I’ve ever had to say. I’m risking everything again to stay true to my word. But what kind of person would I be if I didn’t? Certainly not one my mother could be proud of. Maybe I’ll still have time to save my brother. If he got my message earlier, maybe he’s even waiting for me now. I just need to go and come back as fast as I can. And if Gilly’s coming, then I need to protect her as well. I look into her big green eyes to give my word once more. “I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I’ll keep you safe.”
Gilly grins widely. “Hey, that’s supposed to be my job.”
I smile and squeeze her hand tighter.
“We’re with you, Val,” Gilly says. The half-giant goddess has tears in her big gray eyes.
“Gilly. Reece.” Val Helena places her large hand on top of ours as the timer runs out. “Thank you.”
A bright white light engulfs us, accompanied by a hurricane-like wind.
“I promise I’ll get you home in time, Reece!” Val Helena shouts as we slowly begin to dissolve. “All we have to do . . . is survive!”
Chapter 36: Citadel
We materialize in the new Shard, and it’s an odd feeling. It actually feels more like logging out than logging in. Strange things hit my senses immediately. I feel the chafe and tug of my armor, smell a sweet odor like you get after an electrical spark.
The sky is dark, but I can’t tell if it’s night or if it’s just covered by extremely dark clouds overhead. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. Desert sands stretch all around me, but beneath my feet, I feel a hard surface. I look down. It appears I’m standing on a disk of glass-like material about two feet in diameter. I look to my right and see Gilly a few feet away, standing on the same type of disk. A third one, next to her, is vacant.
Val Helena’s still materializing to my other side, and it’s the oddest thing I’ve ever seen. Her body’s appearing, bit by bit, growing vertically like someone’s slowly filling a glass of water. I watch, mesmerized as the “water line” that moves up her body swirls with something that resembles dust or sand with electric sparks. It moves upward, completing her shoulders, neck, and finally her goddess face and platinum blonde hair adorned with her Warrior crown.
“Whoa,” Gilly says beside me, looking as well. “That’s weird.”
I have to agree. I’ve never seen anything like that in-game before, but it reminds me of something I can’t quite place.
Val Helena’s eyes open. In the darkness, I can see faint images glowing within them; menu screens with tiny writing. The images disappear, and then she cranes her neck forward to peer into the darkness. Suddenly, her eyes grow wide. “We need to go . . . now!”
“What?” I look in the same direction and see a large shape moving in the darkness, kicking up dust as it charges toward us. What the heck?
“Run!” Val Helena cries. “Run!”
I grab Gilly’s hand as my heart thunders in my chest, spurred on by the alarm in Val Helena’s voice. I dash after the half-giant as she kicks up sand with her long strides, running down the leeward side of the massive sand dune we were standing upon. A shriek fills the air—a horrid sound like twisting metal that hurts my ears and fills my chest with fright.
“What was that?” Gilly cries.
“A sentry,” Val Helena says. “We need to find a safe zone.”
A what?
To my left, I see something running on all fours, an animal of some kind, but big like one of those jungle panthers, though the shape looks more canine than feline. Val Helena comes to a sudden stop and curses. “We’re not going to outrun it. We need to fight!”
My heart races as we stand back to back with Gilly in the middle.
“Buff yourselves, now!” Val Helena shouts as she grabs her two-handed axe from her back. “Use whatever you have!”
Holy crap!
I cast Shadow Haste and Shadow Copy while Gilly buffs us with Minor Favor of the Goddess. I see the buff icons appear on my HUD, but I don’t see the usual special effects that go with them.
The beast comes running at us, and Val Helena steps forward to intercept it. It is indeed some kind of dog, but it looks like it’s half made of metal, or wearing some kind of armor perhaps. Its head is covered by a metal cowl, as is most of its body, with only its forelegs and hindquarters exposed, covered in a thick brown fur. Its tail is mangled and half bare, and under the metal cowl, its eyes glow with an eerier red light. I focus on it to see how strong it is.
Lupine Sentry
Level: 100
No data available
Affinity: N/A
Level 100?? What the heck?
Val Helena thunks her axe into its neck. The beast lets out a yelp, sparks and blood flying. The HP bar above its head goes down by only 10%!
A 10% hit from Val in Warrior mode? Crap, these things are tough! Whatever they are!
“Reece, tank it!” Helena shouts as the wolf—I decide—turns on her. “Don’t let it pin you!”
I freeze for a moment, shocked at the ferocity of the animal as it snaps at Val Helena. She fends it off with a poke of her axe, then gives it another chop for 10%.
“Here!” I shout, using War Cry. My voice reverberates like I just yelled through a megaphone.
The wolf turns to me and leaps with a savage snarl. It moves faster than anything I’ve ever fought before, and it crashes into me with a burst of dust. I expect to be thrown to the ground, but the dog runs right through me and is now behind me, looking confused. A single message pops up on my HUD.
Your shadow absorbs the attack.
I quickly recast Shadow Copy as the dog leaps, and I avoid it using my real reflexes this time.
Your Evasion increased by 0.8.
Skill up! Your Evasion is now 327.
My heart’s beating with real fear, and sweat’s running down my face. I can smell its salty tinge as well the iron sent of the blood leaking from the wolf’s neck. Val Helena comes in from behind and nails the beast in the back, taking another huge chunk of its life. As it spins to face her, I draw my katanas and go for its neck. But the blades feel oddly heavy and off balance in my hands, and I barely hit it with any kind of force at all.
I chip it for 1% damage; not nearly enough to get its attention.
The wolf snaps and latches on to Val Helena’s thigh, drawing blood as it pulls away with a chunk of flesh.
Val!
She cries out as her HP drops by 30%, and my blood freezes at the sound she makes. It’s a horrid, pain-filled shriek that I’ve never heard her make before. Never heard anyone make before! My shock turns to anger. I can’t let this thing hurt my friend! I quickly Hide, and then thrust my blades into the wolf’s flank with a Backstab.
Critical Hit!
You Backstab the Lupine Sentry for 783 damage!
The unmitigated damage takes off a good 15% of its Health bar. It loses interest in Val Helena immediately. I anticipate the wolf’s bite as it faces me, and narrowly get by with a quick sidestep. I then plunge into its hide with my blades, one quick stab after another. Its HP drops 2% at a time.
Val Helena recovers and chops at the wolf with a double attack as Gilly gives her a heal. There’s no bright white light like I’m used to, but I see Val Helena’s wound close with a faint cloud of dust and sparks.
The wolf lunges to pounce on top of me, and I blow Active Dodge. I don’t exactly blur like normal, but shift instantaneously with a puff of smoke. Val Helena fi
nally kills the wolf with an overhead chop that severs its head.
You defeated the Lupine Sentry.
You gain 27000 experience points.
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly has gained a Level!
Gilly’s eyes go wide. “Whoa . . .”
I’m breathing so hard I fear I might pass out.
“We need to move,” Val Helena says. She turns, but then comes to a stop with another curse. “Damn it. More of them . . .”
I look atop the dune ahead of us and see three more canine shadows charging our way.
Oh no . . .
One of those things was bad enough, but three?
“I’m sorry, you two,” Val Helena says. “There aren’t supposed to be so many so soon.”
What is she saying?
I tense as I grip my blades and Gilly clings by my side. “Reece?”
The beasts charge at us, but one of them starts yelping as sparks ignite all over its body. The rapid pop, pop, pop of gunfire fills the air, and I follow the sparks to a black bald-headed man in a trench coat wielding two pistols. He runs in a wide arc, his trench coat flying behind him like a cape. He continues to fire as the wolf tries to give chase, its HP slowly depleting, but it freezes every few steps, snared by something invisible on the ground.
Another figure comes flying out of nowhere, slamming into the center wolf with a kick that takes off 5% of its health. The red karate gi he’s wearing becomes a blur as he stuns the wolf with a triple kick, and then wails on it with a series of quick blows.
“It’s Maxis!” Val Helena cries. She charges forward at the remaining wolf. “Come on! We can take them now!”