by Paul Bellow
Monde screamed, distracting me.
The flesh golem punched.
The flesh golem’s fist INURES you for 13 damage.
You have [76/89] health remaining.
“I’m here for my pound of flesh!” I yelled as I swung again.
Your slash HITS the flesh golem for 9 damage.
Why didn’t games give xp for good one-liners?
“They’re swarming us,” Bernard yelled from behind me.
“Kinda busy up here,” I shouted. “Sarah, help them!”
The flesh golem lunged, striking me again.
The flesh golem’s fist WOUNDS you for 16 damage.
You have [60/89] health remaining.
I screamed and thrust, pressing my sword into its flesh.
Your pierce HITS the flesh golem for 8 damage.
The golem growled, frustrated as flames roasted its body.
“I should be with Sarah,” Charlotte said from my shoulder.
“Not now,” I hissed then dodged as the slowed golem swung.
The flesh golem’s fist MISSES you.
Your Dodge skill has increased!
Basic Level 3 of 10
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Evan sneak up behind Magi Inyontoo on the stage.
That little stinker.
I watched with pride as the brownie sunk his dagger into Magi from behind.
The mage screamed in pain.
As he whirled around to face the brownie, Sarah sent a volley of Golden Bolts toward him. They all hit him.
I turned my attention back to the slow flesh golem.
Your slash MISSES the flesh golem.
The flesh golem’s fist HITS you for 8 damage.
The flesh golem’s fist INURES you for 13 damage.
You have [39/89] Health remaining
“Monde—no!” Bernard yelled.
I resisted the urge to turn and swung.
Critical Hit!
Your thrust MAULS the flesh golem for 22 damage.
The flesh golem is dead!
I stepped back as it fell to the floor in a gory pile of flesh and bones. After leaping over the mess, I headed toward the stage. Magi Inyontoo had survived and taken out his anger on Evan.
The brownie lay on the floor, not moving.
Magi cast as I ran. Lightning shot from his palms and came racing toward me. I dodged to the right behind a row of seats, but he hadn’t been aiming for me.
As the magical energy hit the flesh golem, it stirred to life like some freakish Frankenstein. I stepped back into the aisle, sword raised.
The golem struggled to its feet. I rushed forward and swung again, hoping to take it out once and for all. My blade hit it on the arm.
Your slash HITS the flesh golem for 8 damage.
The golem stood and looked at me with rage in its mismatched eyes.
I stepped back, checking on Sarah as she battled Magi Inyontoo.
“You should give up,” he yelled from the stage. “You can’t win against me. I’m going to enjoy killing you.”
“Bernard, I could use some help,” I shouted over my shoulder.
“We’re busy ourselves,” he yelled. “Ewen, watch out.”
I screamed and ran toward the flesh golem, aiming for its head.
Your slash GRAZES the flesh golem for 7 damage.
The motley mix of body parts slammed into me.
The flesh golem’s slam INJURES you for 13 damage.
You have [26/89] health remaining.
Sarah screamed behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw her drop to the floor.
“Nooooo...” I yelled.
Rage raced through me as I attacked again.
Your slash INJURES the flesh golem for 14 damage.
The flesh golem is dead.
As the creature fell again, I turned to face Magi Inyontoo.
He hopped off the stage. I glanced around. The dogmas kept coming in waves of mutilation as our nemesis stopped.
“My name is Magi Inyontoo,” he said. “You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
I held my sword up and crouched as he walked forward.
“You’re the one that’s going to die,” I said.
He laughed, pulled out a wand, and zapped it.
Flames rushed out of the tip, rippling toward me.
I stopped as they hit, fire spreading over my body.
Magi Inyontoo’s Flamestick WOUNDS you for 16 damage
You have [10/89] health remaining.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, trying to reason with him.
“You destroyed the one way I had out of this stupid game,” he said.
“I don’t believe you had a way out of the game,” I said.
He took a few steps forward then stopped again.
“I was close,” he said.
“You should give up and help us,” I said. “Working together, we can get out of the game.”
He shook his head and zapped the wand again.
Flames shot out. Pain enveloped me. Everything hurt.
“Are you ready to surrender?” he asked. “Can we finally talk?”
Where are the others?
I kept staring at Magi Inyontoo. He took another few steps forward.
“The Four Wizards are lying to you,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“I don’t know what they told you,” he said. “But they’re liars. All of them. You need to let me kill you.”
He stopped and held the wand out in front of him.
“I trust them more than I trust you,” I said.
Magi Inyontoo shook his head.
“That’s a shame,” he said. “I was hoping to finally get to know you.”
What is he talking about?
I glanced over my shoulder.
Bernard and Ewen continued to battle dogmas. Piles of them littered the auditorium.
“They don’t matter,” Magi Inyontoo said. “Prepare to die.”
He lifted his arm to zap again. I yelled and ran forward. The air behind him popped. A flash of light nearly blinded me.
As Magi whipped around, I saw Drekmao materialize, dressed in full battle-armor. He raised a familiar, glowing sword.
“I found your sword,” he yelled. “Catch.”
He threw it as I kept running. I stopped, realizing I wouldn’t be able to catch it. After it fell to the floor, I grabbed it.
With the FAST sword in my hand, I ran toward Magi.
Drekmao fought him, keeping the evil mage’s attention as I got closer.
Just a few more feet. Almost there. He’s not turning around.
I stopped, waiting for the right moment.
How was Drekmao attacking him? Had the Four Wizards helped?
Magi Inyontoo stumbled back, clutching his stomach.
I sprang forward. Right before I reached him, he ran around Drekmao and to the stage.
“Stop him,” I yelled.
Drekmao ran after him.
Magi slipped through the portal.
I stopped.
Combat is over!
You receive 5,920 xp divided by four party members.
You get +1,480 xp
You have 29,724 xp
You need 5,276 xp for level 7 Rogue->Bounty Hunter
Drekmao frowned and shook his head.
“That’s not good,” he said. “We needed to kill him. He knows I can attack him now. This is so not good.”
“We can go after him, right?” I asked.
“No,” Drekmao said. “He’s gone through the other portal in the tower by now and is somewhere on level one-two. The gamemaster would slow us down. We should wait.”
I turned to where I’d last seen the others.
“Everyone okay?” I yelled.
“We killed the last of them mutts,” Bernard said.
He walked down the center aisle with Ewen.
“Where’s Sarah?” I asked then remembered where she’d gone
down.
I ran toward her while worst-case scenarios ran through my mind. Our party was down to four members. Had she died in the battle?
Sarah rolled over as I approached, but she didn’t get up. I stopped next to her and kneeled. She moaned, holding her forehead.
“That really hurt,” she said.
“Are you okay?” I asked then yelled, “We need healing.”
Sarah closed her eyes. I put my hand on her cheek. Her skin felt cold.
“Hang in there,” I said. “Don’t die on me now.”
As I held her hand, Drekmao walked up.
“Give me room,” he said.
He put his hands on her chest. In any other situation, I would’ve decked him. Blue light came out of his hands.
Sarah coughed then sat up after the glow faded.
“What happened?” she asked, her eyes darting back and forth.
“You were dead momentarily,” Drekmao said. “But you should be fine.”
“Where’s Magi Inyontoo?” she asked.
“He got away,” I said. “We’ll deal with him later.”
Bernard and Ewen, both battle weary, walked over.
“Monde died,” Bernard said. “We tried to help her, but she’s not too smart in battle sometimes. It’s almost like she wants to be killed.”
“Sorry,” Ewen said. “That bozo Evan got himself killed too.”
“He got a terrific backstab in,” I said.
Charlotte crawled down my arm then hopped onto Sarah.
I glanced around at all the destruction.
“You killed a lot of dogmas,” I said.
Bernard grinned.
“Just doing my job, boss,” he said.
Sarah sat up, almost toppling over.
“Take it easy,” I said. “We’re not in a hurry.”
“You should be,” Drekmao said. “Goblins and worse will come to secure the portal. These gates to the tower are important places in the game.”
“Should we stay and fight to keep it?” I asked.
“No,” Sarah said. “We should go through the portal.”
I reached out a hand. She grabbed it then scrambled to her feet.
“Are you coming with us, Drekmao?” I asked. “And how did you attack Magi? I thought you couldn’t.”
“The Four Wizards came up with something new,” he said. “Magi Inyontoo won’t be back here anytime soon. You guys need to chase him and finish what we started. The game will be better if we knock him down a peg and put him in his place. I’m too busy with guild politics on level one-nine to help you anymore. We’re close to banishing him from all the levels on the first floor. That’ll be a marvelous day.”
“Anything else?” Bernard asked.
“Nothing you won’t learn on your own, which is the best way,” Drekmao said.
“We’ll do what we can if we don’t find a way out of the game,” I said.
Drekmao chuckled and shook his head.
“You’ll give up eventually,” he said. “And accept reality.”
“This game isn’t reality,” Sarah said.
“Give it some more time.” Drekmao sheathed his sword. “I need to return to the Four Wizards and tell them what happened. Don’t stay here too long. You’ll be overwhelmed by the followers of Magictology.”
“I wish we could’ve killed Magi Inyontoo,” I said.
“You’ll get another chance,” Drekmao said. “Farewell.”
He placed the palms of his hands together. After another pop and flash, he disappeared.
Evan stumbled up, bruised and bloody but still smiling.
“What’d I miss?” he asked.
“You’re alive!” Ewen shouted.
He ran over to the other brownie then hugged him.
“Get off me,” Evan said. “I love Sarah now.”
She cleared her throat as I turned to her.
“We should go,” she said. “We’re weak.”
“Not bad for a final battle,” I said.
“Agreed,” she concurred. “What are we going to do about Monde?”
“We really should go,” Bernard said.
He glanced around the auditorium.
“You’re still coming with us?” Sarah asked.
He nodded and said, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“I’m going,” Evan said. “Did you see me stab that guy?”
“No,” Sarah said. “But you can tell me all about it.”
“Unless we find a way out of the game,” I said. “Let’s get going before the cultists arrive and see all the damage we’ve done.”
Bernard pointed to the stairs behind us.
“Speaking of damage,” he said. “We forgot about the fire.”
I turned and saw smoke billowing down the stairs.
“Will it destroy the portal?” I asked.
Bernard shook his head.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “They’ll rebuild around it.”
“Hold on,” Sarah said. “Promise me we won’t leave until we find Josh. I won’t go unless he’s with us.”
“We’ll find him too,” I said. “Now let’s go.”
I hopped up on the stage then walked toward the portal.
“Stop in the name of Magictology,” a dogma yelled then barked.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw a stream of dog-men and goblins pouring into the auditorium through the front door.
“Let’s go,” I said, waving for the others to pass.
They ran by me, headed toward the portal. Dozens of cultist warriors streamed into the room, rushing toward us.
I ran to catch up with the others.
“Who first?” I asked, stopping next to it.
Ewen grumbled then walked through the shimmering portal, the gateway back to the Tower of Gates.
Several arrows shot past us.
“Hurry up,” I yelled.
Evan ran through, followed by Bernard then Sarah. I looked back at the horde approaching the stage. A few more arrows whizzed by.
I stepped through the shimmering light.
25
What Can I Say? I’m Thrilled
Sarah
* * *
On the other side of the magical gate between levels, I found myself in the stone tower where we’d started the game. It felt like forever ago.
The curved hall calmed me somehow. I saw the others and noticed everyone still looked like their character in the game.
Eric came through the portal last.
“Did we all make it?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “And no sign of Magi Inyontoo.”
“He’s probably on another level,” Bernard said. “Unless he spawned on level one-one again. We can’t be sure.”
“I can be sure,” a scratchy voice said behind us.
We all turned as a slender yet towering man with a white, scraggly beard walked toward us. He smiled as he approached.
“I’m the gamemaster,” he said. “Do you have any questions before you head to the next level? How can I help you?”
Eric and I made eye contact then looked back at the gamemaster.
“Why is there no quit option?” I asked. “We’ve been stuck in here for days. This isn’t fun anymore.”
“Stuck?” The gamemaster frowned. “I don’t like that term.”
“Forgive her,” Eric said. “She meant the quit option isn’t working correctly for us. We’d like to exit the program now.”
“The Tower of Gates is working as planned,” the gamemaster said.
“It’s not,” I insisted. “And our friend is still missing.”
“Who?” The gamemaster stepped forward. “Your entire party is here.”
“Our friend,” I repeated. “He got killed on the last level.”
The gamemaster nodded with a solemn face.
“Something tells me he’s on level one-two if you can find him.”
The gamemaster smiled, making me want to punch him.
“Y
our game sucks,” Evan said then laughed.
“Watch your language,” the gamemaster said.
The lights in the hallway flickered ominously.
“What can you tell us?” I asked.
“You’ll learn more as you progress through the various levels,” the gamemaster said. “For now, I need to explain where you went wrong.”
“We don’t have time for this,” I said. “We need to find our friend. Can we skip your boring lecture?”
Evan laughed.
“Silence!” the gamemaster yelled.
His booming voice echoed through the hallway.
“Let him talk,” Eric said.
I sighed then kept my mouth shut.
“Your party did okay, but your alignment scores are low,” the gamemaster said. “You shouldn’t kill so many fellow players.”
“They were trying to kill us,” I said.
“Don’t interrupt me,” the gamemaster said.
“Or what?” I asked. “What are you going to do? Kill us?”
“I can do a lot worse than killing you,” he said. “Are you finished?”
Brow furrowed, he stared at me. I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Good,” he said. “Since you killed so many people…”
“People who were trying to kill us,” I interrupted.
He took a deep breath and lowered his head.
“You need to keep quiet while I explain,” he said.
My heart pounded faster as I worked myself up.
“What are you going to do about it?” I asked.
“Let him talk,” Eric said. “This is just a cut scene. We’ll find a way out.”
“You need to give us answers,” I said defiantly. “And if you don’t give them to me, I’ll refuse to play your stupid game. We can stay here in the tower a long time.”
The gamemaster frowned and shook his head.
“You think you’re tough, young lady?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Damn straight,” I said.
