The Slayer

by Darren Hultberg Jr

  “Don’t be a fool.” Helena warned, realizing I was about to do something stupid. I didn’t acknowledge her. No, I was much too focused on the task at hand. The windsteed, sensing something amiss, gave me a disapproving huff. I took a deep breath…

  Suddenly, I sprang into action, activating lunging strike. The others gasped, fearing that I may have gone mad and decided to strike at the horse, though that was hardly the case. The lunging strike propelled me forward, but I had no intention to strike. Instead, I aimed high, soaring over the creature’s shoulder and resisting the urge strike before slamming my body onto its back and holding on for dear life.

  The horse bucked in protest, trying desperately to remove me from its back so I latched on all the tighter. This thing would have to kill me if it wanted me off.

  “Hold still you bastard horse.” I growled, though the creature was intent on doing the exact opposite. After a moment of struggling to remove me from its back, the creature bolted away, carrying me back towards the mountains to the south.

  I hugged the windsteed as tight as I could, using both arms and legs to grip at the creature’s muscular frame. Still, I wasn’t sure if even that would be enough. The steed ran with an intensity that I hadn’t anticipated, it legs churning like a tempest as it soared just above the ground. I forced my fear back into my gullet and sat up, taking in the view of the mountains as they passed on my left. It was such an amazing feeling riding atop that magnificent beast, wind blowing through my silvery hair. I felt invincible, like a fabled hero that made his home amongst the clouds.

  I felt as though I was riding the wind itself.

  Eventually the windsteed calmed and began to head back towards the others. Its demeanor had changed, as if it had grown tired of trying to remove me and accepted my place upon its back. As we came to a stop in front of the others, the steed bowed its head, allowing me to dismount without much trouble. I ran my fingers through the beast’s white mane, eliciting a small huff in appreciation. A notification appeared on my HUD.

  Creature Acquired:

  Zephyr

  Windsteed (mount)

  My body coursed with exhilaration. The steed was mine.

  Brenton and Hilda watched with quiet admiration as I circled the steed, running my hand through its mane before repositioning myself atop its back. “Just had to be so damned stubborn, didn’t you?” Helena remarked as she rolled her eyes.

  ><><

  A short time later, the five of us rode northward on the backs of our graceful windsteeds. Seeing that there was only four of the creatures, Taryn was forced to ride behind Brenton. Still, the rogue didn’t seem to mind. We made our way through a series of interconnecting fields known as the Ashmeadow Grasslands, an area named for the deep reddish color of the spikey grass that grew all around. Occasionally, we passed by small groupings of houses and farms, and even a small river. It was a rather peaceful trek, save for the occasional fiery red lizards that jumped at you from the tall grass.

  As we rode, I prodded Hilda’s familiar Ivan for some information. After all, he did say that he had bonded with one of the original azure wardens. Unfortunately, the familiar proved less than helpful, often growing silent whenever questioned about his past. He claimed that the memories were too painful, and if pressed any further he would fly off in a fit. Hilda was not fond of upsetting him though, so I chose to let it go.

  “Be… nice Zander.” Razyr had said. “He is like…. nobility among the sprites.” Perhaps, but he sure wasn’t acting very noble!

  We rode for the entirety of the day, though we sought shelter once Aetheria’s dual moons began to rise in the sky. We even managed to find refuge in an old rickety inn near the center of the grasslands. The place was run by an old dwarvish woman that the inn maids called Old Tagula. The woman herself was quite a spectacle, sporting a long, scraggly red beard that she stroked whenever she spoke. According to the maids, dwarvish women didn’t typically grow beards of any kind, but for some reason it seemed just the right fit for the old dwarf.

  Tagula was quite generous with our boarding fees, and even fed us plentiful helpings of her ‘world famous ashwood and briar soup.’ The concoction was… for lack of a better term, disgusting. Still, it offered some quite useful side effects, including restoring our health and mana, so each of us choked a bowl down.

  That night as we slept I dreamt again of my father. It was the first time it had happened since I’d suffered mind control, and it stirred inside me some bittersweet feelings. For all the hell that man had given me, I missed him. He was still my father. On the other hand, I was growing quite comfortable as Zander Darkblade. Sure, it was a dangerous life, but it was a life far more rewarding than the one I had been living as Adam.

  At sunrise we called upon the wind, summoning our steeds and resuming our trek northward. As we made our way through the grasslands, we began to spot more players on the road, mostly traveling in small groups. Some of them waved or gave a friendly nod, while others chose to shy away or even grimace as we passed. Oh, how those dirty looks made this place feel like home!

  “They’re likely traveling to the tournament.” Brenton remarked, adjusting his spectacles as they slid down his nose. “With the time we’ve made up we should be arriving quite soon.”

  “I hope so.” I replied. “Riding these things without saddles has given me chaffing so bad that I’m certain my HP is going to start to drain.”

  Brenton and Taryn both burst into laughter. Zephyr turned his head and gave me a disapproving huff.

  As we neared the end of the Ashmeadow Grasslands, we began to encounter rolling clouds of thick, black smoke. They were sporadic at first, then became more frequent as we made our way farther north. Hilda let out an audible gasp once the source of the smoke clouds came into view on the horizon.

  In front of us was a small settlement; a farm, a few houses and a small shop, all nearly consumed by fire! It burned brightly in the large open field, as if giants had claimed the area for a bonfire.

  “We should see if anyone needs help!” Hilda pleaded, drawing a heavy sigh from Helena. Other players began to notice as well and soon began making their way towards the blaze. Still, some players began to turn and flee.

  “Zander! Zander!” Razyr said frantically as he curled himself up tightly and tucked his body under my arm.

  “What’s going on, Razyr?” I asked as I surveyed the area, spotting several more groups of players rushing in every direction. Some of them wore looks of panic, while others bore expressions of downright terror… but why?

  Suddenly, the area grew dark as a massive shadow loomed overhead. A feeling of nausea overwhelmed me accompanied by a deep-seated feeling of dread, a feeling that I just couldn’t shake no matter how hard I tried. A notification began blinking on my HUD.

  URGENT!

  Elite Boss Approaching!

  Elite Boss Approaching!

  I willed the notification away, then looked to the others. They seemed to be gripped in the same intense feelings that had come over me. I peered upwards towards the sky and my body was immediately crippled by terror like nothing I had experienced before. It was then that I noticed the status alignment next to my name…

  Suffering from Dragon fear

  29

  A wave of crippling fear washed over the area, encompassing all who currently traversed the grasslands. Men and women cowered in terror or fled, their eyes wide as they spotted the tyrant that descended from above. I tried to fight the fear myself, to push it back down into the pit of my stomach but it was no use. The terror consumed me, crept into me like a feeling that was inevitable as the rise of the sun.

  Rather than stare up at the descending behemoth, I turned my gaze to the ground. I had to find a way to fight this, to right myself… wait, what the hell was that?

  My eyes went wide as I surveyed the area. Littered throughout the grassy plains were those tiny red reptiles we saw earlier, though this time they were much more noticeable. Each of the creatures
had a bright red glow emanating from the pits of their stomachs that lit up the grasslands like a giant bed of embers…. Flame Fledglings.

  The tiny beasts opened their mouths and cried out into the air, like a call to the creature above… damnit, it was a plea to their master!

  Suddenly the ground shook with violent intensity as the massive sky-beast came crashing down, flattening a pair of unlucky warriors and killing them instantly.

  The beast was massive, a four-legged reptilian covered in crimson scales and sporting sinewy leather wings. The creature’s claws were sharper than longswords, it’s teeth like rows of daggers that could shred through a man’s armor in seconds. The beast pointed its scaly snout into the air and blew out a torrent of flame. Terror incarnate was upon us.

  Ashmurgar

  Scourge of the Ashmeadows

  Lesser Dragon (Elite creature)

  Lvl: ???

  I could hardly believe my eyes. This... this monster was a lesser dragon? It was nearly the size of a small airship!

  Players began to flee the area, gripped by a fear that surrounded the dragon like a powerful aura. One mage in particular stumbled as he attempted to flee and was quickly scooped up into the dragon’s maw for his troubles. With a sickening crunch, the dragon’s sharp teeth tore through flesh and bone and drained the mage’s entire health bar.

  “I’ve got to get out of here… I’ve got to get out of here!” I muttered as I crawled through the spiky grass. Damn it all, this dragon fear had turned me into some sort of babbling coward… I had to pull it together!

  Beside me, Hilda dismounted her steed and stood on shaky legs, her knuckles white as she squeezed on the haft of her mace. She was fighting the fear, but she certainly wasn’t winning. The same could not be said for the others. Both Brenton and Taryn and had turned and fled on there windsteed, occasionally looking back to make sure the beast wasn’t in pursuit. Helena… wait, where the hell was she? My gaze shifted around the field of battle until finally it centered on the warlock. She was not cowering in fear as so many others had. No, a different status alignment appeared near her name as she and her familiar, Doomswell charged the dragon!

  Demonic Will

  Warlock Passive skill

  Having gazed into the depths of the dark plane, the warlock has developed a demonic will and is immune to fear inducing spells and effects

  What the hell was that crazed woman doing?! In front of her the dragon lashed out, snatching up another helpless player before tearing an arm off in brutal fashion. The man let out a cry of agony as his HP dwindled to nothing in a matter of seconds.

  Bearing teeth that were now stained crimson, the dragon turned its sights on Helena. The warlock stumbled to a stop as if reconsidering her course of action now that the monster stared her down. Damn thrill-seeking woman! What was she thinking?!

  I leapt from Zephyr’s back as the steed refused to go any closer. Then, pushing forward with every ounce of strength I had in me, stepped toward the beast. My stomach lurched as the fear pushed back against my forward progress, demanding that I yield. I refused to let that be an option…. Someone had to get Helena out of there!

  The warlock raised a hand as dark energy began to pool in her palm. A shadowblast perhaps, though that would do little but annoy the dragon.

  I lurched forward another step. I tried to shadowshift but my offensive skills were disabled under the fear. No, I wasn’t going to make it. Helplessly, I cried out... “Helena!”

  The dragon’s head turned and for the briefest of seconds I thought the creature had set its sights on me. No, it was looking to my left… to the other players charging in!

  Nearly a dozen players, a few warlocks immune to the fear along with a handful of other players that had resisted the fear raced towards the dragon! The beast readied itself, lowering its head and bearing its teeth to meet their charge.

  A pair of guardians were the first to reach the dragon, crashing into it with a pair of upraised tower shields. The dragon smashed one away with a firm claw strike, but the other guardian held his ground, falling into the defensive stance stalwart. A barbarian approached at the dragon’s side, raising his hand as a small creature leapt from his back and formed into gleaming axe. He slammed the weapon into the dragon’s side sending sparks flying as blade met scale.

  Helena ran to the dragon’s left, joining another pair of warlocks as trio launched a barrage of shadowblasts at the angered beast. A sliver of its seemingly infinite health bar faded as a notification appeared on my HUD.

  Enter Raid Batle?

  Yes

  No

  “Yes.” I muttered, taking another step forward. Other players beginning to stir as well. The grip of fear was beginning to weaken.

  A list of combatants all split into groups of six appeared in the corner of my vision… this was the raid party. Unfortunately, a small number of names had already gone dark… players claimed by the mighty Ashmurgar.

  Several more players entered the fray, some of them partnered with small familiars that hovered at their side. The guardian holding the dragon’s aggression stumbled back as beast bit down on his shield, tearing the item out of his hands and ripping free one of the man’s gauntlets. A tall man dressed in wood armor immediately stepped in to take his place, taking the form of a bear as he swiped at the dragon’s jaw. The assault was on!

  A mage approached at the dragon’s rear with a spell dancing on the tips of her fingers but was quickly swept away by the beast’s thick tail. Her body skid through the sharp grass, breaking as it slammed against the ground. The dragon then turned its attention to the druid swiping at its face, incinerating the hapless shapeshifter with its dragonfire.

  With its aggression no longer contained, the dragon began to lash out at the surrounding players, rending flesh and cutting down anyone it could get its claws on.

  The dragon shifted, its gaping maw now directly in front of the trio of warlocks.

  My heart raced. Helena would surely be scorched if I didn’t act. I had to do something! I thought back to the culling, when a dozen of us had rallied to defeat the butcher. I thought of Kel, and that look of quiet admiration he’d given me when I unlocked shadowshifting… when he had reminded me that I was a slayer. Both of those times I had been afraid and yet I faced those fears… no, I had conquered them.

  Damnit, I was a slayer of Aetheria. Fear was mine to wield!

  I clenched my jaw, forcing down any feelings of terror that lingered, burying it under layers of new found resolve. My status alignment faded as I felt my skills return to my repertoire. Razyr leaned in close as he clung to my shoulder, whispering into my ear a single word.

  “Go.”

  I threw my slayer mark onto the dragon then began to shadowshift. The creature lunged forward, mouth agape as it tried to bite into the defenseless warlocks. Instead, it met the blade of my sword.

  The dragon reeled as nevermore stung at its chin, a rage burning in its black reptilian eyes. The dragon lashed out again, stabbing through my body with its razor-sharp claws. My mock form dissipated as I lunged in from the side, completing my illusionary strike and slashing the beast across the cheek. These strikes were barely doing any damage, but they provided a good distraction… something to give the other players a chance to flee. “Run!” I urged, taking another swipe at the monstrous red.

  Rather than flee the others doubled down and continued their assault. The dragon roared as spears and swords, axe blades and spells assaulted the beast on all sides. The mighty creature lashed out recklessly with its claws, knocking away attackers, leaving them bloodied and broken. I heaved nevermore up just in time as an errant claw came soaring at my chest. Still, the weight of the blow knocked me away, sending me skidding through the grass and draining a chunk of my HP.

  More players began to drop as the dragon continued its rampage, bathing a defenseless rogue in dragonfire. Cries filled the air as the wounded tried to slink away from the rampaging tyrant. Others lay dead or dying in t
he grass. The dragon roared, picking up another player with its teeth and tossing him into the air. The beast was still at nearly eighty percent health… this was hopeless!

  Helena and the warlocks attempted to lash the beast in their chains of corruption, but the dragon easily broke free. Enraged, it turned on the spellcasters.

  I had to stop this. I knew in my mind that another attack would mean certain death… still, something inside was compelling me to go back in. Shadows swirled around my feet as I prepared another shadowshift but paused as Razyr dug into my shoulder.

  “It’s time.” The familiar said, a look of intensity painted on the small Drake’s scaly face. I nodded, then outstretched my hand, awaiting Razyr to form into the drake sword.

  Razyr had other ideas.

  The familiar dissipated, becoming a small beacon of light that swirled around my body before plunging directly into my chest. For a second, my body glowed with a soft blue light as the power seeped through the cracks of my armor and into my skin. I had seen this once before in my duel against Rhylor and his familiar Vice, though somehow, I knew this was different.

  I could feel the Drake’s power coursing through my body, his thoughts inside my head. Sapphire markings swirled onto my skin as Razyr and I became one… an entity more powerful than either of us were apart. I clenched my fists, embracing my partner as his powers melded with my own.

  Full bond had been achieved.

  30

  Power coursed through my veins… greater strength, improved knowledge and access to my familiar’s strange thoughts. It was mine… no, it was ours. Razyr and I were one!

  Empowered, I turned my attention back to the battle at hand. The dragon Ashmurgar was bearing down on Helena and the other warlocks, swiping a massive claw that nearly took off their heads. It was time to act.