Lewd Saga Omnibus: 7 Book Collection: An Epic Digital Fantasy Adventure of Lust, Love and War

by Eden Redd

  “…run….rescue us…” The druid managed with a weak smile before he fell to the ground, a foot away from the necromancer.

  Arrows slipped between trees and stabbed into each gazer in turn. The abyssal creatures seemed to shrug off the damage as they turned their attention to Wynter. Bryce reached up and pulled the arrow from his neck only to have several more puncture his back in rapid succession. The gazer turned toward the forest, each of his eye stalks spitting streams of fire. Brush and leaves burned but Wynter watched as two ebony skeletons rushed the gazer. Bryce halted his attack as purple fire blades sank into his flesh. The gazer’s eye stalks turned and blasted at the black skeletons.

  A gray beam blasted out and struck the player in the shoulder. Wynter stumbled forward as the two female gazers moved in closer. Several arrows sunk into them as they leered. The player pulled out a shard and whispered arcane words. Two bloody bones rose up and engaged the gazers. Wynter leaned on her staff as she stumbled away from the battle field. Bryce fought on, shattering a black skeleton and then turning his attacks on the other.

  Wynter hoped that the skeletons would keep them busy long enough for her to get away. Rushing through the brush, she nearly yelped when big blue arms reached out and took hold of her. The player looked up to Kai’s dark eyes and relief washed over her senses. The ranger held her close as they continued in a hurried pace. The two players moved past tree after tree in a mad dash to get away.

  “We have to go back for them,” Wynter managed as the weakness she felt ebbed away.

  “I know but we need to regroup. We need time for you to raise an army,” Kai said his eyes focused ahead.

  Wynter nodded as they pushed past low hanging branches. The forest was thick and nearly suffocating as the players tried to get away. Wynter’s mind raced with solutions as they made their escape. In the distance, the sounds of battle died down and the forest was quiet once again.

  Kai stopped running but continued to hold the necromancer with one arm around her waist, “Wynter, I’m not sure were going to make it so I need you to keep going east until you reach the cavern wall. There is a waterfall there with an artifact. You have to take it and get back to the cavern entrance we entered. Stay there until more players show up.”

  Wynter put her hand to his chest, “Don’t be stupid. You’re coming with me!”

  Kai shook his head, “I have to slow them down and distract them from following you. It’s the only way to get the artifact to safety. When you’re safely away, animate an army to rescue us. It’s our only way left.”

  “No! We have to stay together,” Wynter said sternly.

  Kai smirked as he looked deeply into her pale blue eyes. “Get the artifact and save us,” the troll said and pressed his lips to hers.

  An internal fire blazed to life as the player nearly melted in his arms. Electric heat rose up between them and Wynter found it difficult to resist its natural song. Tongues slipped between lips but only a moment. The troll pulled away as time stood still. Wynter reached up to caress his cheek when a lightning bolt cut through the air and struck Kai in the back.

  Wynter stared as her guild mate was thrown by the strike, the air crackling with magical energy. The player spun with staff at the ready as Kai hit the ground and rolled to his feet. Between trees, Bryce stalked toward them. The gazer’s sharp grin was plain to see as he drew closer. Kai pulled his bow from behind him and nocked an arrow. Wynter eyed the gazer, ready to call upon the undead to aid them.

  “I grow tired of this game. Our hunger must be satisfied,” Bryce said as he stepped closer.

  “Wynter, stick to the plan!” Kai said as the arrow point gleamed in the cavern light.

  Before Wynter could get a word in edgewise, the ranger released the bow string. The arrow became a blur as Bryce didn’t make any attempt to evade it. The point struck the gazer in the chest, sinking in inches as the feathered end vibrated from the strike.

  “Foolish. Your arrows barely….” Bryce trailed off as the arrowhead glowed under his gray flesh and exploded.

  “Go!” Kai shouted as he charged the stumbling gazer, sword in one hand and attaching the bow to his back with the other.

  Wynter hesitated, not wanting to leave her friend’s side, Kai’s large form darted forward as Bryce looked up, a smoking crater in his chest. The ranger lifted his sword, ready to bring it down. The gazer’s eyes glowed and beams of dark gray light struck the ranger dead on.

  The necromancer backed up as Kai brought his sword down, cleaving Bryce’s arm and one of the lower stalks with one clean slice. The limb and stalk fell but dark gray light blasted against the troll’s blue skin. The gazer laughed as Kai’s body slowed, skin turning gray. The three remaining eye stalks continued their relentless assault. Kai tried to pull back but his body didn’t respond. Skin hardening, the ranger froze until the very light from his eyes was gone. Wynter backed up further as Kai became petrified stone right before her eyes.

  Bryce stepped back and picked up his arm. Reattaching it, he glanced to Wynter and blew her a kiss. The player turned and ran further into the forest, the images of Kai propelling her legs to work harder as the gazer laughed from behind.

  Nine

  Fear crawled up Wynter’s spine as she raced through the thick forest. Magical sunlight beamed down from between leaves, painting the forest floor in glowing patches of light. Kai’s words stormed through her mind as she made her way to the eastern cavern wall. The sounds of rushing water called to her and she pressed on. Her raid group was going to be wiped out if she didn’t keep moving. Images of Kai turning to stone haunted her heart but she quickly stuffed it down. There was no time left to worry. Kai gave her a mission and she was going to fulfill it or die trying.

  Trees parted and the necromancer stumbled out into a small clearing. Eyes wide, she saw several waterfalls before her but one stood out above the rest. A single sharp stone jutted out as water was crashed down on it, turning one waterfall into two. Below it a skull floated, purple darkness swirling behind it. Pearl like pinpoints glowed as the skull hovered over a dark pool.

  Wynter took a step forward, firming up her resolve. The artifact beckoned with weird light and the necromancer found it oddly comforting. A rustling to her right caused the necromancer to clutch her staff, ready to strike out at anything that may pounce. Instead, her shoulders relaxed as a rat scurried out, sniffing at the air. The player eyed the large white rat and instantly knew it was the one that helped them before. The rat moved closer, sitting on its hind legs and staring at the player with red eyes.

  “You again,” the player smiled. “I thought we would never see each other again.”

  The rat squeaked a few times, the sounds coming off high pitched and gentle.

  “I’m happy to see you too but you should get away. A monster is coming for me,” Wynter said as she turned her attention to the floating skull fifty feet away.

  Wynter took a step forward when the rat darted in front of her. It squeaked again, sounding alarmed. The player stopped in her tracks as it dawned on her.

  “You’re no ordinary rat, are you?”

  The rat squeaked a few more times, staying between her and the skull in the distance.

  “I have to get that skull. Please get out of my way,” Wynter said to the rat.

  The rate squeaked a few more times, this time the tone shifted as the squeaks came out rapid fire. From behind, a tree branch snapped and then another. The gazer was getting closer and she didn’t have time to figure out what was happening. She needed to get the skull and make her way to the cavern entrance. Kai must have had a good reason to ask her to do it and she wasn’t going to let him down.

  Wynter took another step forward. The rat stopped squeaking. Beady eyes furled as it launched at the necromancer. Wynter lifted an arm as the rat’s teeth sank into her flesh. The player noticed the three points damage to her hit points. Instinct took over as she lashed her arm outward, sending the rat hurtling through the air. It landed in th
e dirt and was back on all fours. It eyed the necromancer before another branch cracked from the forest. Turning its tail, it scurried off and disappeared in the underbrush.

  Wynter stepped toward the pool as water streamed down to the left and right of the skull. Remembering what Daven had said, she didn’t trust the water swirling around under the skull. Glancing at her staff, she wondered if she could bat the skull from its hovering place but even at a glance, the staff was too short. Eying the area, she didn’t see anything that could help her. Not knowing what to expect from the dark waters, the player’s mind raced to come up with solutions.

  “You found my treasure,” said a sinister voice from behind.

  Wynter turned to see Bryce step from the forest edge, “I can show it to you once you are safely subdued.”

  The necromancer’s cloak covered her shoulders and ran the length of her body. Keeping her movements subtle, she dug out two greater soul shards and held them between her fingers. The gazer didn’t seem to notice or even care. He stepped forward slowly, his big eye staring at the necromancer.

  “You have made me very hungry. I will enjoy every morsel of your light.”

  “What is the skull to you? What power does it have?” Wynter’s fingers tightened around the soul shards.

  Bryce stopped walking and grinned, “It’s not the skull but the power of its eyes. With it, I can summon more of my kind from the abyss. The dark elves will be the first of many feasts before we use their portal to the outside world. Maybe I will keep you as a pet so you can witness our foothold in this world.”

  Wynter stepped back and glanced at the water’s edge by her heel.

  Bryce closed his eye and shook his head, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. A side effect of my dimension, it poisons everything it touches. I want you healthy as I lick away your light.”

  Wynter stared at the gazer as he opened his eye with an evil gleam. The necromancer went over her options before committing to a plan. It had a slim chance of success but she had little choice. Throwing her cloak aside, her hand flicked at the wrist. Two soul shards dug into the ground. Bryce continued to grin but Wynter didn’t cast her spell yet. Instead, she pointed her free hand and black lightning erupted into a jagged stream. The gazer barked out a laugh as the lightning struck him the in the chest. The gazer stumbled back with blast marks but continued to chuckle.

  “Don’t you remember, I have no soul to take,” Bryce laughed and laughed.

  “I just needed some breathing room,” Wynter smirked as she began her incantation.

  Black arcane symbols swirled around her hands. The shards on the ground glowed and faded from sight. In their place were two arcane circles, black skeletons rising up. Ebony skeletal hands flexed as purple fire poured from them, forming into sabers. The ebony skeletons bent at the knees and advanced on the gazer.

  Bryce stepped forward, ready to engage, a confident smile on his lips. The smile melted away as he watched Wynter turn around and blast at the pointed stone over the floating skull with black lightning. The player poured on each strike, knowing that her soul drain also did physical damage. With hope swirling around her heart, she blasted at the pointed stone, hoping the damage she caused and the power of the falling waterfall would be enough to break it.

  A crack appeared as she threw black lightning bolt after black lightning bolt at the stone outcropping. Bryce rushed the ebony skeletons and met with slashing fiery purple swords. The clash vibrated across the cavern floor as the gazer fought and blasted them with his own lightning attacks. The skeletons did their duty, holding the gazer back while taking heavy damage.

  Wynter ignored everything as she blasted again and again. Stone cracked and splintered. Chucks of stone flaked off and the cracks grew wider. With one last blast, the black lightning arced forward and struck the base underneath the stone. It vibrated as it split and fell in large chunks.

  “No!” Bryce screeched as his fist smashed one of the ebony skeletons to dust.

  Wynter took one step back as the stone fell. A large chunk hit the floating skull, causing it to spin and splash in the water. The rushing water and remaining rock struck the black and purple swirling energy. It surged and flashed with a sizzling hiss, lost to the constant flow of the stream. The skull floated toward the pond edge, with pinpoints glowing.

  “Stop this instant!” Bryce howled as he smashed the other ebony skeleton to dust.

  Wynter took her staff and stabbed it into the water behind the skull. With a quick motion, she knocked it onto land right at her feet. The necromancer turned to see the gazer stalking toward her, covered in glowing cuts and rage spilling from his eye.

  “What have you done!” The gazer said and immediately fell to one knee.

  Wynter kicked the skull slightly so it was a little further in, away from the water’s edge. The necromancer studied the gazer as he heaved, the glowing cuts on his body not healing.

  “You needed this. That is why you regenerated so quickly,” Wynter said with a sinister edge.

  Bryce fell to his hands and knees, his eye wide, “I will let your friends go just please leave the skull and leave the cavern. I know this dungeon well. I can help with information.”

  Wynter smirked, “I can see why you wanted me to beg. It feels good to hear you try and plead for your existence.”

  Bryce heaved on all fours, raising his head and staring at the scantily clad necromancer, “I will….I will beg. I’m sorry. I can make it right. I meant no harm. I just wanted to stay in your world. Please……leave this place.”

  Wynter thought of her friends, “I will leave but not before you pay for trying to hurt my friends.”

  Bryce stared in horror as the necromancer lifted her booted foot and drove the heel onto the skull resting on its side. The gazer let out a moan as the skull splintered into pieces. Wynter dug her heel into the shards before stepping to the weakened gazer.

  “You….you bitch…” Bryce wheezed as his muscles shook.

  Wynter looked down at the sad monster and raised her staff, “Queen Bitch to you.”

  The gazer let out another moan before Wynter brought the skull end of her staff down hard on Bryce’s head. Anger fueled each strike as she cracked open the gazer’s skull. With one final strike, Bryce shattered into greenish light and faded from view.

  Wynter let out a long exhale. Turning, she eyed the cracked skull on the cavern floor. Stepping over, she shifted the shards with her feet to see two glowing pearl like stones. Relief filled her being as she felt the threat was mostly over. Remembering the other two gazers back at the forest, she knelt down to pick up the white stones.

  They couldn’t have gone to a finer being.

  Wynter hesitated, inches from the stones.

  Don’t be shy. Take them and the rewards they bring.

  “Are you the rat?” Wynter asked with a whisper

  No little one, I am not that foul creature. I am merely a lost spirit seeking to help a beautiful necromancer find her purpose.

  “I know my purpose. I don’t need one given to me.”

  Do you? I cannot see much locked away in this tomb of a dungeon but I see you. I can see with the aid of your darkness and power. We are kindred spirits and my humble wish is to see you grow stronger.

  “Who are you?” Wynter asked flatly.

  With time, I will reveal myself to you but for now, take my aid. Keep the stones for they will help you survive what is to come.

  “And if I leave them.”

  The voice was silent for a long moment.

  Then you and your friends will not survive what is before you. They and you will perish the deeper you go. You have no reason to trust me but you do not have any reason to not believe me.

  Wynter flexed her fingers, inches from the two-white pearl like stones. She knew deep down that this was nothing but trouble. She wanted to step away and leave the stones but she remembered the look in Kai’s eyes as he told her to retrieve them. Something bigger was going on and it stirred a
t the player’s curiosity.

  Wynter reached down and picked up each stone in one hand. A pale light glowed the moment she touched them. Standing up with her palm out, the stones glowed brighter for a long moment before the light faded away. Across her eyes, information scrolled before her. The item’s name appeared in purple “Harkkon’s Eyes”. To the lower right of her vision, the necromancer’s Stamina rose up by fifty points. The player’s eyes widened as she had never seen an item raise stats by that many points. Hit points rose as well by another hundred. Two open slots appeared on a 2D version of her skull staff.

  The player took the stones and placed each one in the metal skull’s eye sockets. The stones shrank to fit into each slot. When she was done, dark power rolled under her skin. A new spell appeared with incantation spelled out and an image of a new undead class she could summon.

  Carry on little necromancer. I look forward to our meeting.

  Wynter was about to say something to the voice, to tell it to go fuck its self but a faint memory in her mind came roaring back. She remembered that there were still two gazers with her friends. With a tight grip on her staff, the necromancer spun on her heels and marched off into the forest, dark power pulsating under her pale skin.

  ***

  Daven stared as his body refused to move. The two female gazers were fawning over the paralyzed troll captain. Slowly undressing him, they kept their hungry eye on his blue, muscled body. The druid tried again to move his arms and legs but again, nothing happened. If he could talk, he could cast a spell to remove the status attack. In the corner of his vision, numbers counted down. He had thirty minutes before the paralyzing effect would wear off, providing the gazers don’t stun him again.

  Nikki let out a long exhale as her hands twitched. Hope filled Daven’s heart anticipating Nikki might be nearing the end of her frozen countdown. A gazer seemed to notice because she turned her attention to Nikki’s fallen body. Standing up, she strolled over and stood over the knight, big eye staring down.