Warfang: (Sky Realms Online Book 5): A LitRPG Series

by Troy Osgood

  Orders won.

  She looked down at the pile of yellow smoke, nothing remaining but an etched pit in the rock, focusing on the hand lying on the stone. With a growl, she ran at the Norn, sword raised over her head, swinging it down hard against the shield. Red flared, thick cracks forming across the surface.

  “Caryn, stand behind that thing,” Hall said, pointing at the Alikash.

  She nodded, stepping away from the Norn. Hall sprinted at the demon, seeing Dain and Roxhard adjust their positions around the shield, not giving the Norn a break. Activating Leap, Hall jumped high into the air.

  Closer, he could see that the fall to the forest had done considerable damage to the demon. Long and deep gashes marred its body. A large branch stuck out of its side. One of the heads fell limp.

  It still moved just as quickly, did as much damage.

  But now Hall thought they might have a real chance.

  The tip of his spear slammed into the demon’s shoulder, Hall using it to push himself over the demon. He heard the teeth snap, very close. His battered body protested as he landed on the Alikash’s back, between where the tentacles grew. Feeling himself sliding down the body, falling backwards, he stabbed down as hard as he could. The sharp ironwood tip pierced the scaly hide, plunging deep where a tentacle grew from the Alikash’s back.

  Black blood erupted from the wound, Hall twisting the spear as he fell. The spear pulled out, taking a large piece of demon flesh and muscle with it. Hall fell, landing hard on the stone. He winced, cracking more ribs, pain shooting through his body.

  The demon roared, another tentacle hanging useless, the head still snapping but at just air.

  Hall knew he had to move, the demon would whip the tail around any second, and that would be the end. But he couldn’t. His body didn’t want to respond.

  Hands grabbed his shoulder armor, pulling. Slowly.

  He kept expecting the tail spikes to slam into his body, but it didn’t happen.

  More hands grabbed at him.

  A blue glow came from the new hands, spreading across his body. He felt the warmth of healing magic flow from his shoulder and down into his chest. He gasped as ribs fused together, bones healing. Muscles protested but loosened; those that were torn knitted together. He was bruised and bloody, but able to move.

  Pushing himself up, Caryn and Leigh released him.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t do something that stupid again,” Leigh barked at him, running back around the demon to Jackoby.

  The Firbolg was in some kind of rage. It looked similar to what the Desmarik Warscourge had done. Holding it with both hands, the wooden hammer whirled in a circle around the Firbolg, smashing into tentacles, driving them back, keeping the demon occupied.

  “Stay in the rear. Just keep cutting off tentacles,” Hall ordered Caryn.

  Activating Leap again, he jumped in an arc over the Alikash. Pulling a throwing knife from the bracer, he threw it at the demon’s eye. He missed, the blade striking to the side, but it erupted in sparks, small bolts of energy wrapping around the demon, snapping at the eye.

  The head twisted away, eyes closing.

  Hall landed to the side, driving the spear straight into the open mouth of a tentacle. He felt resistance as the tip hit hide. The tentacle flailed, nearly pulling the spear from his grasp. Holding tighter, Hall pulled back, ripping the spear out. The jaws opened wide, blood pouring from the wound.

  Jaws snapped shut, the whole tentacle dropping to the ground, falling away from the demon, the cut end flapping against the stone, black blood gushing out. He saw Caryn jump back, avoiding an attack from one of the remaining heads.

  Jackoby’s whirling hammer stopped spinning, the Firbolg whipping it out at the demon, all the speed and momentum built up. It slammed into the side of the demon with a thunderous clap. Hall heard bone breaking, scales snapping, the demon roaring in absolute pain. Blood and muscle erupted from the wound, the attack breaking away the scales, revealing the soft flesh beneath.

  Hall watched the strange sac on the creature’s stomach, distracted by the red balls moving in the yellow liquid that he knew to be acid. It was near full.

  The distraction was a mistake, a flailing tentacle slamming into Hall. He saw it coming, just barely getting the buckler up in time to block the snapping jaws of the head. The force knocked him to the side, tripping and falling. The tentacle swung down at him, battering him hard. Holding the arm with the buckler up, he felt each impact, afraid his wrist would shatter.

  Caryn yelled out. Hall couldn’t see what had happened.

  Jackoby stood in front of the demon, shield in front, blocking the slashing claws from the hands, barely able to lift his hammer. The skill had taken a lot of his Energy and Vitality. He was worn out, barely able to defend. It had done great damage but at a cost. Leigh reached in, tattoos up her arms glowing blue. Touching Jackoby’s back, she sent waves of healing energy through the Firbolg.

  The demon’s mouth opened, the now familiar yellow glow inside.

  Leigh looked up, seeing that glow. Jackoby tried to raise the shield.

  “No,” Hall yelled, not thinking, still on the ground, just reacting.

  He thrust forward with the Breakridge Ironwood Spear. The tip burst through the fleshy membrane of the acid sac, liquid dripping out from the wound, smoke rising from the wood.

  The demon roared, the loudest yet, head rearing back, the yellow glow fading.

  Acid poured out of the rip, spilling across the stone. It ate away at the rock, smoke and an acrid stench filling the air.

  Hall pulled the spear out, tearing a larger hole in the membrane. Smoke rose from the weapon, burn scars down the length, acid dripping off. Stepping back, he swung the spear, shaking the last drops off the weapon.

  The demon stomped on the ground, its roar shaking the hill. They all fell back, the few remaining heads flailing, open wide in silent screams. Giving one last shake, acid flying through the air from the hole in the sac, torn ends hanging loose, the Alikash fixed enraged eyes on Hall. It took a step toward him, ignoring the others.

  Hall backed up, holding the spear loosely. Smoke still drifted up from the shaft, the smooth brown wood now marred by black patches along its length. Small drops of acid flowed down the shaft, forming designs as they drifted around the weapon.

  A column of flame slammed into the Alikash’s side, striking where the scales had cracked and fallen. The burning acid smell was joined by burning flesh. Roaring, the demon turned, smoke rising from the wound, small flames burning its scales. Sharra stood back, her hands and fingers moving in rapid gestures. A cloud of blue drifted rapidly out from her hands, sinking down to the ground, sliding under the large feet of the demon. The cloud solidified, turning to a thin sheet of ice.

  Reversing the spear, grabbing it near the tip, smoke curling up around his fingers, ignoring the pain from the acid drops he was touching, Hall pushed forward with the butt end. He connected with the side of the Alikash, pushing it. The thing weighed a ton, a couple of tons, not moving even on the ice.

  “Back,” Leigh yelled.

  Hall moved away from the demon, swinging the spear around again, letting go of the smoking end. Leigh stepped up next to him. Blue light moved up her arms, the tattooed lines glowing. Her arms stretched out, hands with palms out. Hall felt the breeze building, getting stronger. His hair swirled in the breeze, stretching out in front of him. Leigh’s long curly hair fluttered, the twin braids lifting off her chest.

  He could see the pressure building in front of Leigh, a circling cyclone growing thicker and thicker. Leigh uttered a single word, and the wind released.

  A wave of rushing wind slammed into the Alikash, more streaming past Hall and joining the hurricane forces. The force was so strong, Hall could see scales cracking. But the Alikash did not move.

  The glow on her arms flared, the wind getting stronger. Looking at Leigh, Hall saw the blue of her eyes brighten, taking over the entire iris. They flared as st
rain showed in her face, her body. Her arms shook as more and more wind pushed against the demon.

  Claws tried to dig in on the ice as the pressure pushed against the demon. Inch by inch the thing moved. It fought back, trying to use its bulk. Leigh yelled, a cry of rage and pain, her tattoos so bright Hall had to turn away. Small rocks and sticks blew across the hill, the wind whipping across it, funneled to a spot mere feet before the Druid, pushed by her power and will to slam into the demon.

  More flames struck the demon, covering its body, distracting it, causing it to slide even more. The winds pushed the flames further around the demon, its entire upper half engulfed.

  Leigh sank to her knees, the glow from her eyes and tattoo fading. She was breathing heavily, exhausted. Hall stepped in front of her, spear raised. He could see the demon was close to the edge, one foot almost off. Flames still covered it, the head raised to avoid the heat and fire.

  The last of the wind died, the gentle breeze returning to the hill. Sensing the change in pressure against it, the demon took a step back away from the edge.

  Jackoby stepped in front of it, no shield, hammer raised above his head in both hands. With a roar, he swung. The weapon slammed into the leg of the demon. Bone shattered; scales cracked; the demon roared. It shifted its weight, putting more on the good leg, the leg that was just barely on the hill.

  Another swing by Jackoby pushed the demon back, more off balance. It hung over the edge. One more hit, the blow enough.

  With a last roar, the Alikash fell off the hill.

  It bounced against the side, slamming into rock and grass, crashing into trees. Like before, the sound was deafening. Branches snapping, trees cracking, falling into others. Rocks fell down, bouncing and gathering more, all landing on top of the demon as it slammed hard into the ground.

  “Please let it be dead,” Hall muttered.

  He turned, crouching down next to Leigh, reaching out. “You okay?”

  “Tired,” she said between breaths. “Took everything I had.”

  He leaned forward, careful of the antlers, kissing her on the forehead. “You did good.”

  Using the spear to push himself up, Hall turned toward the last fight. The Norn.

  He turned his head away at the explosion of light.

  The barrier, now looking solid, covered in cracks, exploded. Shards of hardened light shot out, disappearing only inches away, smaller pieces falling to the ground around the Norn, who was on both knees, leaning forward.

  SLAIN: Red Storm Caste Warscourge

  +100 Experience (+100 Faction Enemy Bonus Experience)

  SLAIN: Major Celadon Alikash

  +200 Experience

  Skill Gain!

  Light Armor Rank Two +1.2

  Skill Gain!

  Polearms Rank Four +1.9

  Skill Gain!

  Shields Rank One +1.5

  Skill Gain!

  Small Blades Rank Three .5

  Skill Gain!

  Thrown Rank Three .5

  CULL THE DEMONS

  Kill demons in the Northern Territories 60/100

  QUEST COMPLETE!

  You have defeated the Desmarik and their demon allies at Warfang Hill.

  FINDING WARFANG II

  Journey to Warfang Hill 1/1

  Defeat the Desmarik 1/1

  Find the source of the corruption 1/1

  Rewards: +300 Experience

  Hall stared at the notifications, glancing at the Norn. The Firemage was still alive, but since Hall had gotten the notifications, it meant he was out of combat. He suspected it meant the Norn had some other use. Using the spear to help him walk—now that adrenaline was fading, his whole body was screaming in pain—Hall made his way to the exhausted Norn.

  He was surrounded, swords and axe pointed at him, the slightest move and his life would end. The head turned at Hall’s approach, the hood falling back. Bright blue eyes widened.

  “A Champion,” he said, his voice musical but cold. “If I had known, I would have killed you first.”

  Roxhard took a step forward, raising his axe. Hall held out a hand, stopping the Dwarf.

  Hall studied the Norn. Tall, thin, everything about him pale or white except the eyes. Piercing blue. The Norn coughed, his body shaking, head lowering.

  “Why?” Hall asked.

  The Norn looked back at Hall, sneering. He was about to say something but stopped, staring hard at Hall. The Norn started laughing. “You do not know?”

  The laugh became a cough, a deep hacking. Blood dripped out of the Norn’s mouth, falling on the ground, staining his pale hands with red.

  “You are fated to fight for this world, to hold up the Sage’s deal, and you do not even know.”

  QUEST COMPLETE!

  You have learned more about what the Champions are, but it leads to more questions.

  THE LONG SCROLL III

  Learn more about the Champions 1/1

  Learn more about the Cerulean Regency’s allies 1/1

  Reward: +100 experience.

  You have learned that the Champions are meant to fight for the world and are part of some kind of deal involving the Sage and an unknown party. Some questions have been answered, but there are more.

  THE LONG SCROLL IV

  Learn more about the Sage’s deal 0/1

  Learn more about what fight the Champions are meant to be in 0/1

  Reward: +300 experience

  Accept Quest?

  Hall reread the notifications. There were so many questions beyond the two objectives in the new link in the quest chain. Did it refer to Bastian the Sage? The one all the natives blamed for fracturing the world. If so, did Hall really want to be a Champion for the Sage? And Champion for or of what? What kind of fight? Against who?

  How many Champions were there?

  He knew Roxhard was also one, but beyond that, there was nothing.

  Some things became clear, though. He had thought it a coincidence that they’d encountered so many places the Sage had built or left behind. If he was tied to the Sage somehow, it made sense to see the Sage’s work everywhere.

  Hall just knew he didn’t like being someone’s pawn.

  “Who am I to fight?” he asked.

  The Norn laughed, more blood falling to the ground.

  “It does not matter,” he said. “You will all die.”

  His back arched, head lifting to the sky. The Firemage spoke one word, low and quiet.

  Flames erupted around his body, bright red, burning hot.

  Hall and the others stepped back.

  The fires flared, crackling, the robe igniting. The Norn made no sound as his flesh burned. Flesh melted, the stench filling the air. Hall moved to the back of the Norn, adjusting his grip on the spear. He thrust forward, the tip bursting through the Norn’s neck. The body fell to the ground, pulling off the spear, the flames going out.

  SLAIN: Cerulean Firemage

  +50 Experience (+50 Faction Enemy Bonus Experience)

  Skill Gain!

  Polearms Rank Four +.1

  Smoke rose from the corpse.

  Hall leaned on his spear, body hurting.

  “What do we do about that?” Roxhard asked.

  He pointed at the rune-covered pedestal, black iron nail sticking out of the top.

  Chapter 44

  Hall crouched down, keeping his distance from the nail. It was identical to the one that had been stabbed into the Branch of the World Tree in Meadow Grove. A simple-looking black iron nail. He didn’t recognize any of the runes carved into the gray stone pedestal. The work was intricate. Swirling lines surrounded the bigger and thicker runes, forming smaller markings, all of them connected.

  Except for the top, where small cracks spread out from the nail, a space left around it without any runes or designs.

  He could feel an energy coming off the nail. It made him feel dirty just being close to it, a sick feeling spreading through his body. He took a step back.

  “Anyone have any ideas w
hat to do?”

  No one said anything, Most of them kept their distance, some not even there.

  Roxhard had started gathering the loot, pulling the corpses into a pile and searching them. There was a small pile growing. The Rangers, except for Dain, had spread out across the hill, keeping an eye on the forest around them.

  “I think we need to wait for Tulla to wake up,” Sharra said.

  She held up the staff, Tulla’s cage hanging from it. The small fairy, glowing very faintly, lay in the middle, curled up. How she had stayed that way through the fighting, Hall didn’t know. Some kind of coma after the spell in the cavern.

  “How long?”

  Sharra pulled the cage closer, reaching a finger through the bars to nudge the fairy, who didn’t move or make a sound. She looked at Hall, shrugging, knowing it wasn’t the answer he wanted.

  Hall sighed.

  “I don’t like staying up here,” he said, standing up. He felt exposed at the top of the hill, the wind constant. “But we can’t leave this thing.”

  He tapped the pedestal with the end of his spear. It made a solid connection but not as solid as Hall would have thought. He stared at the stone, confused. Pushing it with the spear, he moved it an inch, barely taking any effort. There was some resistance but not as much as he thought there would be from a solid chunk of stone that size.

  Turning the spear around, he worked the tip under the stone, confused that it took very little effort. Lifting with the spear, he picked the corner of the pedestal off the ground a couple of inches. He felt the strain but only because of how battered his body was.

  The stone pedestal was light.

  “It’s hollow,” he said in surprise.

  Which explained how the Desmarik had managed to carry it all the way up the inside of the hill.

  The others gathered around, none wanting to touch the pedestal.

  “Doesn’t help us,” Caryn said.