War for Maicreol

by Dawn Chapman

  INCOMING PARTY INVITE

  Candice wants to create a party chat.

  Join Y/N

  There was a blip as I hit Yes, and all but one of their names appeared at the side of my vision. This was new, as well. I assume this was another perk of my fixed interface. I tried to not shout with glee. I felt exhilarated because they were with me, and I wasn’t alone. I could talk properly, in game.

  Dahlia joined a second later, and I nodded to her as she looked my way. “We may not be as powerful as some,” I said to her, “but we are willing.”

  She smiled at me, and I noticed a glow inside her. She had an intensity here that I’d waited a lifetime to see.

  Would I protect her as much as I had any of my other guild friends? I knew the answer even before I thought it.

  The caving system moved down, further and further, and Abel shouted to stop up ahead, as they started to pan out and make sure where we were heading was okay. There was nothing in here as yet that would hurt us. I could see it on the map, which now displayed before me. I knew where we were supposed to be heading. All of this made things much easier and felt much more like the games I was used to playing. This would give everyone watching me… I shivered at that thought… a better idea too.

  Macie’s glowing increased as she lit up the cave system for us. It was larger the further back she aimed her light. And I could easily see where we needed to go now. I pointed and said, “You’re going to have to follow me in,” I said. “Macie, you can take my side. I want Dahlia in the middle, and that way, Abel and Jarvin can take the rear.” It was a better idea.

  I glanced to Macie as her hands glowed even brighter, and she lit further up ahead of us so we could clearly see what it was we were heading toward and more, how close it was becoming.

  I felt nerves dancing inside, and my fingers gripped tighter. I needed to feel this. I could hear growls, and then on the map, several dots appeared.

  Chapter 16

  I could then hear sounds. Squealing and chomping, snapping and squelching. Uggh. Something ahead was indeed being eaten, I was sure of it, slurping and sucking. I wanted to not see it. But then, as I drew closer, I saw Macie pale. She wasn’t going to do this, not on her own. So, I held up my daggers and stepped with her. There were shadows, big ones. The creatures in there were huge. Yes, massive indeed. And I wanted to run. I could see their teeth in the light, see flesh dripping from them as they tore into their victim.

  I held my hand up so that Dahlia wouldn’t come in and see this, not yet. I didn’t know if she could do this. She was usually so soft.

  Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. “I can do this,” she said. “I might be me, but I am here to fight.”

  I swallowed, looking to Abel and Jarvin. “On my mark, then? We’re ready?”

  They all nodded. I looked back to the shadows and sucked in that breath I needed. The butterflies in my stomach halted, and just as I tightened my grip more, I pulled the daggers in close to my chest. Then I yelled, “Mark!”

  I rushed forward and around the corner to face what was there. Their eyes locked on me.

  There were four of them nestled into the creature they were eating. Grey and white faces were red from the blood that covered them, and the rusty smell of death surrounded everything in here.

  I didn’t hesitate, though. I ran in for them, and around me, several electrical and powerful spells struck out. One of the creatures screeched almost like Gestal’s Silki at the start of my journey. I shivered on the inside. This time, it was as if I saw the attack in my mind, like a shock wave coming out of the creature.

  Abel and Jarvin dove in too, taking and giving as much damage to these creatures as they could.

  I didn’t have time to watch them as the creature lunged toward me. I then noticed that another blast hit it square on, and the shockwave from the creature vanished.

  “Macie?”

  She was beside me in a moment, her palm’s forward and energy pooling once again to fire at the monsters. She really was amazing!

  Candice’s blades were out next. She met one of the creature’s head on before she let out a guttural cry of her own and sidestepped him and sliced in deep.

  The creature wailed, and I moved with her to attack the one closest to me. It was hard to get near it because of its gnashing teeth, but I managed. Ducking and diving. I plunged in deep with the dagger sinking to its hilt. I couldn’t pull it out, so I quickly spun around it, and stabbed the other one in its back. The blood spurting from it almost covered me. I dropped and spun left, just dodging the black blood that splashed all around me.

  I wasn’t quite quick enough to get away totally, and the monster bit down on my arm as I let go of my blades. I let out a yell as Candice swept in and lashed out at it. I watched as its health fell away and it slumped forward.

  Dahlia was at my side in a flash. “Here, let me. I’ll do what I can.”

  Watching my sister lay her hand next to my wound, I watched as she concentrated, then cast whatever healing she could.

  The pain eased a little, but the blood still flowed. Maybe some kind of poison? When she stopped and looked to Macie. “I can’t combat the poison. Would you?”

  Macie nodded at her, and she moved away.

  “Thanks, sis,” I said.

  Abel and Jarvin tackled the two other creatures as I looked to Abel. The grin on his face was plastered with blood and sweat, but he seemed happy. Dahlia moved off quickly to see to Jarvin, who also had a few wounds. He favoured his side, and that worried me a little too.

  “That’s what I call a close call,” Able said as he watched Dahlia heal Jarvin. “These buggers are big, right?”

  I tried not to wince as I moved my arm. The blood now dripping to the floor and mixing with the black was mine.

  I was injured, and as I noticed it pulse this time, the health bar I saw was mine. The number eight flashed before me.

  I was certain I could take a lot more than this, but I didn’t want to find out.

  Macie handed me both my daggers as she focused on my wound. “You can’t get in too close to these creatures without an escape plan. If you’re to fight with Candice, then you need to know how to dodge better.”

  As she pulled the sleeve off her shirt and ripped it to tie tightly around my arm, I felt something else there. A healing spell from her? Yes, I noticed the glow around her hands had changed colour, and this time, it wasn’t aimed to kill. It was to protect.

  Able and Jarvin walked around the creatures picking out the loot items that the creatures had dropped. Seemed to be a fair bit of gear and gems, maybe gold too. I wanted to go look, but the wound really was painful, even with it being healed.

  Able came toward me with something in either hand. I noticed the silver sheen as it glistened off the sides of the wall. Had he found weapons?

  “These were at the side of the cave wall,” he said. “I think they’ll suit you much better than me. They’re also enchanted.”

  I saw the hilt of the dagger as he held one out to me. I put mine away as I took hold of one and then the other.

  DIOGELLA’S DAGGERS

  WITH THESE IN YOUR HANDS, YOU’LL BE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, INCREASING NOT ONLY YOUR NATURAL ATTRIBUTES AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU POSSESS BUT WITH AN ADDED ZEST TO MAKE THEM BITE DEEP.

  I noticed the extra edge to the blade. It was super sharp.

  I smiled at Abel. “Thanks. These will really help. Find anything else useful?”

  “For down here, probably not. There’s plenty of gems and other bits of armour, but we’re all pretty well kitted out.”

  All but myself and Dahlia. I could still do with upgrading most of my clothes. At least for ones with better protection.

  “Think we should go take a look, Dahlia,” I said. “Anything that improves our gear is a must today.”

  Her face lit up, and I nodded to the pile of gear the others had left.

  “You’re not leaving it all, are you?” Dahlia asked the others.

/>   “No,” Macie said. “We’ll pack it into whatever storage items we have, and then sell it later to split. Is that okay?”

  “Sure!” I moved to where they’d laid everything out. So many good things… Dahlia was quick to pick a few things up. New boots, trousers, and a jacket. I wondered what got her so excited, but then I noticed everything glowed. “Some nice enhancements?” I asked.

  “Yes! Though don’t think they’d help you,” she said, suddenly shy. I laughed.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take whatever else you don’t. We’re different classes, so there should be something for me.”

  She grinned again and carried on looking. Then she handed me a pair of fingerless gloves. I looked them over.

  DIOGELLA’S GAUNTLETS

  ADDS STRENGTH TO AN ALREADY STRONG WIELDER TAKEN FROM ITS OPPONENT. A MUST FOR ALL FIGHTERS

  That was awesome! I quickly slipped them on. They’d come in very handy!

  I glanced around and noted Macie was healing Jarvin further. “Badly hurt?” I asked her.

  “No, just needs a little more care than yours did. He’ll be ready to move on in a few minutes.”

  I nodded, watching the little star on my map blinking at us. There was also a larger blip that way, and I had a feeling it was something else for us to fight down here.

  Candice got my attention. “I’m gonna have to head back. Apologies, but there are some issues at the camp I need to address. You should be good just the six of you. Right?”

  I was a little taken aback on how she was going to just get off already. We weren’t even in the thick of the cave system. I mean I knew we’d found some better gear, but we really weren’t gaining skills fast. We might not even make it out if we didn’t stick together.

  “I really wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think you could handle it.” She leaned in. “I need to go. Now.”

  Abel nodded my way. “I trust she has the camp’s best interest at heart. Go. We’ve got this down here.”

  Candice nodded then and moved off. I was sad to see her go. She’d already proved her worth down here. But… needs must.

  Macie was the one who moved to start off in the direction of our star once she’d healed Jarvin. I held my hand up to her, and she quizzed me with her head to the side. “What?”

  “What are we facing at the bottom? Any ideas?”

  I didn’t know, but I tried to look at what I saw on the map. The glowing icon was now flickering, and as I focused on it, I noticed there was writing above it.

  “It’s telling me Diogella is down there…”

  Dahlia frowned at me, her hands tight against her sides, but her concentration was fierce. She looked to her companion, and I frowned at her. “If she’s down there now, why are her daggers here. What made her lose them?”

  I thought about it for a little while, then had nothing else to do but shrug. “We’ve only one way of finding out. But I say let’s approach with caution.”

  Caution was the group’s middle name by the looks of it. They were methodical, which when I was usually a little more than reckless was a good thing. There was a steely determination on their faces. Despite the first encounter being a little on the bloody side, the creatures, wolves, whatever the fuck they were, still etched in my mind. I had hoped some of Puatera’s creatures were going to be vastly different from the usual tropes in games, but no, seemed they were pretty regular ones up to now. Bar Gestal and his crew, there wasn’t anything that really surprised me.

  That was until we started to get nearer to the area in the caving system that the blip was flashing. It turned from red to green, and the red seemed to encompass it.

  “Wait,” Macie said.

  “Diogella isn’t the enemy. She’s captive!” The words tumbled out of my mouth as Macie nodded. We were above the spot they were in the system. That meant whatever we were going to be dealing with was larger than we thought. As we drew closer, we could hear sounds. The walls were getting higher and opening up. Then there was light as we rounded another corner. This made sense that we were heading into a huge underground cavern.

  Well, I had expected it. How could we fight anything underground in a cave if it was only going to be like ten square foot?

  Dahlia and the others moved in closer to me.

  Macie: What’s the plan?

  Dahlia: Let Lila go see, she’s higher capabilities in stealth than any of us.

  The guys nodded at me, and I drew my daggers in closer so I could then use what I’d learned with Gestal. I knew my items would be enhancing everything I was doing, and I concentrated on them, hoping I could add in a few extra percents of me being able to actually do this. I couldn’t let anything spot me, or we’d just blow everything.

  The light up ahead was dim, but the air smelled not only dank but just plain awful. What was down here that was worse than Gestal’s minions? They were the rotten epitome of death, so does that mean what’s in here is much worse?

  I tried not to think and kept creeping forward. One foot in front of the other, head low. There was a cool breeze ahead, and as I finally stepped toward the opening, I crouched down more so that I could peek over the precipice. There wasn’t just one, but hundreds of things below us. All surrounding one giant creature. There was one other strapped to what looked like a sacrificial altar. But they weren’t torturing her, or in fact, they weren’t doing anything to her. She seemed frozen. The creatures were small, long spindly legs and arms, almost bone-like, reddish skin and blue eyes. I couldn’t put a name or species to them. Their name popped up.

  DJINFEL, PROTECTORS OF THE CAVES.

  Yeah, so, I could see why they might think the Tromoal were invading their territory and were wanting to get rid of their eggs. They were well out of the normal time zones that they were in the caves. I watched them for a moment waiting for the big one to do something. It just seemed to sit there and wait while all the others ran around it. No, they were actually doing something. As much as I watched them and was mesmerised by them, I realised there was one or two that were carrying something toward the larger creature. What, though? I tried to squint to see it. Then bile rose, and I wanted to throw up. The creatures were bringing food for it. But not just any food. No, this looked like….

  Macie: What is it?

  Me: They have a Tromoal egg.

  I didn’t need to know how bad her reaction was because Dahlia’s voice reverberated through us all.

  Dahlia: We need to act now.

  I couldn’t agree more. No matter what or how ill-prepared for this we were, we were going in hot. The hundreds of creatures would have to take a nose dive in Puateran history because I wasn’t going to let that thing eat one of the eggs that I was sworn to protect—for my sisters and for Maddie.

  Macie came in behind me. She wasn’t worried about stealth now. Her eyes glowed with power, and I could see the pain etched on her face. Her whiskers twitched, and she commanded the rest of us with nothing but that.

  I’d never thrown myself into anything before, but with one leap, down into the cavern, my new blades sang in the air. I didn’t need to see that the others had followed me. I knew it as the whole cavern erupted into a maelstrom of activity. Light exploded around me, and the sounds of battle reached a crescendo.

  I had no time to think, to do anything but to allow my instincts to take over as the creatures worked out what the hell had just landed in their midst. It was a huge mess of fighting bodies. There was something about the panic of being in amongst a large mob of creatures that just made you fight with every damned bit of energy and skill you could muster.

  Rushed from all sides, I had to become a whirlwind of metal, lashing out and into them with every chance I got. They weren’t very strong, and anything these blades touched seemed to part with no resistance. Either that or the blades were stronger than what I’d been used to before. I tried to think on them like that. They were the woman’s whose figure I could now see on the altar. The aura surrounding her was intense. She was kept there
with some magical spell, something I’d hopefully be able to break while they killed the larger creature at the centre of the fight. Or maybe I could break it while they distracted him. I didn’t know, but I had to try, right?

  I started to make my way to it. Even though the smaller critters were pooling all around him, we had to get nearer.

  Dahlia’s fighting technique was an interesting thing to see. She was actually pretty darned good with her spells and abilities. Each hit at anything smacked it in the face or chest, taking them down in one easy swoop. Like she was firing bullets into the midst of the battle. I looked to the blades as I cut the head off one critter to land a blow to another, slicing his arm off. I kind of thought for a moment that she had the better abilities, but then, as I ducked, missing a sword swipe from one, I noticed the closer to the big guy we got that they did indeed have weapons. That made me react a little quicker. I had to concentrate more as the slightly more agile and obviously stronger critters all made a beeline for me.

  Up ahead, I thought I could see that Abel was in the thick of it, too, but his fists and body were just launching the enemy all over the place. I dodged and spun around, trying my best not to get in the way of any magical hits that were going out.

  I felt pain in my leg as something sliced through. Almost to the bone, I was sure, and Dahlia shouted toward me. “Duck!”

  I didn’t hesitate and reacted to her words. Over my head assailed a barrage of blasts, striking a clean path with different energies and screams as the Djinfel started to really take damage from us. Their numbers were dwindling, and that was great to see.

  In fact, there was a number counting down quickly in my vision. I liked this. This meant we were actually winning something, and they were taking losses, a lot of them. But there was a hell of a lot of these things left, and now, as my blades hit, they weren’t going down.

  “Shit,” I said as I ducked once more. Another sword whirling over the top of my head was damned close. Much more than close as I saw my hair fall in front of my eyes.