by Dylan Keefer
“Man, I still would prefer not to start at zero…” Victor said.
Valush groans, “I do not know why you guys make a big deal out of this. Stats and statistics do not even matter, the best player wins not the mathematician.”
“If that is the case, wouldn’t Celina’s plan fail?” Ron inquired.
“What plan, which part of her plan involved a floating city, a bunch of Earth Dragons and hundred foot big one?” Valush retorted.
Ron’s finger slumped to the realization. But I realized something too.
“Xavier you were still alive when I found you. That passive ability you have…”
“Oh, that? It’s named Bloody Door, it only has effect when I have more than one life point, if I would end up dying from an attack, it instead leaves me one life point, just one. Then I become Stoned. If I lose that one then I die.”
I point at Xavier, he shivers at the pointed finger.
“Give it to him.”
The others look at me then at Xavier, who was whipping his head around anxiously.
Neil smiles, “that is a great idea, since you cannot die from one hit, its perfect.”
I interject, “I was thinking he could be a Tank. Our primary Tank…”
“Hmmm, that might be not…” Neil starts, Victor finishes, “only after he gets hit a number of times.”
“Repeated attacks before healing would kill him,” Alice says easily enough which was true.
Valush gets up, “Come here,” Xavier gets up and walks towards Valush, “put it on,” she says.
He is hesitant but does as she says. I watch her eyes and before I can say anything, I see a three sign seal under her feet.
“Valush..!” I call.
Valush is calm as she utters deeply in front of Xavier, “…Charge Call,”
I get thrown back by a surge of electricity. I roll, pushing my foot against the floor, I look up to see a vast column of dust evaporating from the wall just barely obscuring Valush’s upper face. The others were also disheveled and on the ground as well.
I was about to give this mad woman a piece of my mind when Xavier slides down from the dust hitting the ground.
I Identify him, he was alive on one life point. His armor had six thousand plus in defense and resistance.
I wave my hand, “Black Miracle.”
Sparkles of colorful light glean off Xavier’s body. He opens his eyes and struggles to get up, showing light signs of bruises on his face.
He looks in Valush’s way as she laughs.
“Good, you survived! If we hit you ourselves and prepare you before hand, you will be a perfect Tank! Well...for a day of course.”
Xavier hands gripped firm in a fist, the gauntlet creaked as he smiled just as devious.
“Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 23
Even as the ship rolled, everything was stable in here. Yellow wooden table, a cabinet of many glasses of many shapes and sizes, a row of alcohol firmly held within the glass enclosure, spectacles beside me, a range of maps tacked on the wall.
You think that, but I was not the captain of this vessel, Neil was, I was only tagging along because I usually do.
But it was good to finally get our galley. It was not so big as a frigate or as fast as a cruiser but it was alright for what we needed.
The only thing I was worried about was running into the Gallivant Gang. Ever since we’ve been attacking their many bases of operation, I have been hearing rumors of them getting anxious to find me themselves and deal with me personally.
Gallivant were large in number but should not have any powerful players worth fearing. It was only Gwendolyn that scared the hell out of me.
I sigh, sometimes I wish I was an attack type like Joshua or Victor or a hybrid like Bain or Mom. Being a dedicated Black Mage meant I was this team’s main support but I had to rely on them to protect me all the time.
The staffs I had were really to heighten my magical power. Unlike Victor, my fists were useless against almost all opponents. It is not like I hate it but I wish I could do more.
Well I suppose I should not complain. The others namely Mom, Xavier, Victor, J Ron, Neil, Opa and Alvain above me never helped with steering a ship before, so they were for the last hour sucking at their job. It’s better now.
We should reach our destination soon, which was Walaborn, while there we were going to practice our abilities at sea by taking on a Golden Blaze carrier ship that Killon and Bain spotted.
It’s been a while since we challenged Golden Blaze, but from what I heard Fiona has not been very active since we defeated her. I would ask Fiona but she has been purposely avoiding talking about the game with me ever since the defeat.
Saying friends do not talk about past pains, I just think she wants to avoid giving me information I would use against her.
Figures, even then, a game is a game. She should not feel any sort of way if I attack her carrier, besides it was just practice for these guys to get a handle on how to fight at sea.
It seemed simple, either use cannons to plug holes in the ship and cause it to sink or board the ship and take it over by force.
Our galley had only two long-range cannons, with twelve short-range cannons. The cannons were me and Ron’s duty.
Neil was the captain, Alvain was the skipper, everybody else was a vital part of the raiding party.
As I read the map Alice gave me on the Kingdom of Pain’s sponsored shops and bases, I hear the door open. I float my eyes up to see Xavier.
He looked pretty dangerous enough in that armor. Coupled with his Gauntlet, black steel Greaves and padded Slipper, he looked intimidating for an Elvish.
“Hey,” I utter curiously.
I note he seemed uncomfortable.
He began, “Ah…”
I asked flatly, “Ah what?”
He shuddered, “Nothing. Ah,” He looks up then he sighs, “I am bored.”
“Welcome to life out at sea?” That was supposed to be a joke, but he just stared at me confusedly. Great my joke died on arrival.
“Hmm, well Neil said I should protect you at all times so…”
“Have a seat.” I tell him.
“Ah, ok, yeah sure.” His un-comfortableness was adding to mine, I need to cool his red cheeks, and they were quite red. How this game is so good at showing the emotions of people better than in real life, is pretty wonderful.
He sat down and I proceeded to start questioning his boredom.
“You get bored easy.”
He quirked his eyebrow at that, “Nah, I am more into the action you know.”
“That why you joined you us?”
“Yeah, gotta admit, fighting a Dragon that big that was…well I got Stoned, but man that was fun.”
“Good to know, glad to have such vibrant members with us.”
“Ah, you are…”
“I am what?” I ask a bit too forcedly.
He paused before saying, “It is…so tell me how you deal with all this?”
“Huh?”
“No, I mean…they talk about you, outside of this you are different from the descriptions.”
I almost groan inwardly, “in what way?”
“Well they say Ragnarok was just a bunch of novices who got lucky. That you were a cry baby little ten year old hiding from the other groups.”
How time flies and rumors become legend.
I had to hide my smile, “Sorry to disappoint you or them.”
“Yeah, you did not disappoint me. Actually I am proud to be here. You are a good leader, many of these groups…and I have joined a lot of them. Some of them are mean, some take advantage of you. I even joined one I thought was strong but it was filled with weaklings who gloat more than they fight. I heard of yours and decided to apply just out of curiosity. Got interviewed and everything, even had to fight Neil in combat, four other people including J Ron were there.”
I did not know that. Cocking my head to the side, “is that so?”
&nbs
p; “Yeah, Neil said he chose me because I knew how to fight even though I lost. But he liked that I had experience in being able to use the smoke bomb to plan a sneak attack, coordinate what spells to use at what time.” Xavier looked away, “It did not matter though, I still lost within a minute.”
“You will get as strong as them soon enough.” I lightly tapped on the table, “J Ron though is a mystery, he cannot fight that well and does not have any rewarding qualities. But I know Neil knows how to choose them.”
“Oh Ron, I think I know why. Honestly there were others who were better than me. I thought the same thing then I remembered why. He literally does not know the meaning of giving up, his determination to win was high and he has a good heart compared to the others who have ulterior motives for joining.”
“Like Deabush?” I say almost laughing.
“Hey, I did not name any names.”
I grit my teeth, “you might has well throw his name in there it was no secret that we beat a God and got one of the great weapons he is good at. I am sure even you knew.”
Xavier looks away, but the grin grew, “Maybe, I heard things along those lines…”
I roll my eyes and twist the pen in my hand.
“Well I have no problem with motives, as long as you improve the business and it improves you along with it. At least that is what my business teacher tells me.”
Xavier drifted his head far upward, “Makes me wonder about Bain,”
I stop writing, “Why you say that?”
A violent thud has me almost falling, Xavier grabs me by the arm and draws me to my feet. I look at him and around me, another shake.
It was the ship… the ship was shaking.
“Did we hit something?” Xavier asked.
Neil’s voice sounded off in my head, “Celina, get to the cannons now!”
I push Xavier lightly, “We are in trouble you need to get to the top floor now. I have to man the cannons.”
Xavier stares but understands as he rushes off. I take off myself, running at full speed.
I ask the group as soon as I make it topside, “Who is attacking us?”
“Not sure, but we got two ships on our tail and we’ve already been hit.” Neil says.
I jump the stairway and push the door to the lowest deck, J Ron ogled me in shock.
“Ron, me and you going to work hard to keep this ship afloat, show me the ships.”
Chapter 24
Shards of wood flung over my flustered and strung out hair. Casting my eyes over the party screen, the guys were doing well so far, no need for healing.
But I prefer being cautious, “Black Rainbow!”
I grab the cannon J Ron drew back, he ran to the next cannon in line. I turned the cannon hitting the square window, caving it in slightly. Avoiding the prickly fragments of wood as I plant my feet, Ron with all his might drags back the next cannon.
Ok, on this side, the frigate was far north of the ship’s front. The other ship was a flagship and it was the one truly pelting us with the most damage. But it was not fast.
Hell the frigate already passed by here, I got three cannon shots off before it passed us. They dealt us a good blow too as I look around on the ground. Damn this ship was slow.
Regardless, I waited, if I was looking right, I was still off if I shoot now, “turn the ship to the left Neil just a little bit.” So I can hit them in the back, a nice going away present. I light the fuse in anticipation.
Our ship drifts left, “thank you Neil.”
“Next cannon ready!” Ron shouts.
“Light it.” I step towards him as the booming sound echoes, I slide as the ship tilts somewhat. Grabbing Ron, I kept us level with the cannon as support.
Looking out the window I smile, the frigate wobbles from the hit right in the back. I push, the cannon hits the side and fires, another blast of shattering wood.
Shards collapsed and drained into the sea as the frigate made a hard turn towards us.
Neil’s voice floats to me over the boom, “Celina, we have a problem.”
I look at the party screen, why was Mom’s life so low?
I push Ron, “Prepare the other cannons, Black Wonderful, Moonlight! Where is Mom?”
“Battling Gwendolyn!”
Of all the people, it had to be that woman, it’s like she came out of my nightmares. If only Valush or Alice were here.
“Send Victor, Double Team on her, Mom is not used to fighting such a top opponent,”
“Victor is busy…blast it, we are getting out of here,”
“What do you,”
“Celina!”
I look at Ron, then over to our right side, I briefly see the flagship. The ship was making a hard turn.
“Hey, the frigate is faster, we need to put ourselves in position to attack it.” I say.
Neil called out, “Nope, Alvain come here!”
“I am helping your mom take on Gwendolyn.”
“You mad? ALvain’s not as good at steering this ship,”
“Guide him!” Neil orders me.
“The…” I utter before the mental connection severed.
Great, those ships will chase us now.
Alvain, where is he now? “Alvain you there?”
“Ya, so it’s just like driving right?”
I look at the party screen, their life bars were steadily going down, “What is happening up there, how the hell did she get on this ship?”
I look out the left side, hoping to see a sign of that frigate. “Alvain…”
“Sorry had to cast a spell, they used Teleport to get on. We been dealing with them since.”
“Alvain, which ship is closer to us?”
“The smaller one.”
That’s the frigate, “can you tell me which direction it leans towards?”
I had to explain the plan but he understood, once the frigate is close, Alvain will alert me to make the hard turn and then from there I can finish those fools off myself.
“Ron ready yourself.”
He nodded and moved all the cannons back ready to be fired. “Celina! She is,”
A rush of air envelops the room from the crushing rush of air and wood fragments. I look and tense, she stood up, two swords that started to glow as she tightened her grip.
Her eyes directed to me, her smile snide and devoid of warmth.
“Good to see you again Celina.”
No, not again.
Something else crushes through the roof, Xavier whips his hands wide and stands firm a short distance in front of me.
“Sorry but I am protecting her right now,” the large shredded sword slowly rises out of a black slit in the ground nestling into his hand.
He clutched it hard and a fire slips around the underside of the sword red as the blood stained armor.
Gwendolyn tilts her head, “You…” She shot a look at Ron whom stiffened when her eyes touched on him.
She narrows her eyes briefly before I saw her again directly in front of me. Now I noticed she was half a foot taller than me.
“Too fast,” she says as Xavier becomes startled looking around in vain, “You cannot Tank for her and be this slow, it is a disgrace really.”
Xavier runs towards her, but her hand showed a eight sign seal.
“Everly Frost…”
The room shakes with this light girly laughter as behind her hand the hard air rushes out, convulsing I note the cold status amid the frigid icy air that surrounded us.
“Like that defense will stop me, I can just freeze you literally.”
I drift my head to the right to see if Xavier was ok. He was in this big chunk of ice. I felt dread seep into my bones, looking up, her eyes were staring down at me.
“You really are dumb.”
I cringe.
“You really thought just because you beat that showoff Fiona, and beat a few Gods at the challenge that makes you powerful? Let me remind you the powerful do not need friends to protect them.”
I shiver, h
ow could she make me feel so small in her sight it cannot be because of height.
“You cannot become powerful with equipment either, especially God weapons.” I respond.
Her eyes widened, “Hey you know, skill and experience is more valued these days…but it cannot help to get powerful equipment and gear no?” The smile on her face ever widening, I was sure I was looking at a devil.
She continued. “The powerful are singularities not groups. Baby players like you are just to fill the game’s bank accounts, nothing more.”
“W-why are you part of one then?”
“They serve me after all and pay me well enough.”
Of course, it makes sense, it had to be money. She probably called the shots not the real heads of that group. Anyone would cower at her presence. I almost cower in her sight but, no, I cannot, I can still fight. My reaction time compared to hers was slow, she was probably using a speed based passive skill.
But I have one remedy for that. The ship is quickly turning, I can feel it. Ron looks at me expectantly, if only she was not here.
I breathe.
“Inlodius…”
I feel a heavy force, “Earth’s Anchor,” She grabs my collar, kicks me in the leg and draws me back to reality on bending knees.
Sword to my head, “I told you weaklings like you,” She is pushed, and I drop flat on the floor. Side of eye, I see J Ron grabbing onto her arm.
I surge up, scribing two sign seals for two Moontle spells to raise my magic penetration.
She growls at him, hitting him on the back and one slice finishes it.
“Now then…” Gwendolyn says.
That was enough.
I flash my hand in front of her.
“Huh?” was all she could say before she drifts back realizing. A five sign seal already appears under her feet.
“Artocrust!”
The shadows from her body converge to my waiting hand. She blinks before she falls flat on the ground.
Great now there was one dead body and a sleeping body. I had to use Montle to empower Artocrust enough to penetrate any resistance she had in itself.
I rush to the cannons, through the windows, the frigate was slowly coming into sight. The sleep spell will only last so long, I need to rip that frigate a new one.
