by Eden Redd
“For….” Vass managed to say before they reached the edge of the cliff.
Renner took hold of the dark-haired elf and whipped his body around. Vass was up and floating out and over the cliff side. The player looked to Renner’s smirking face as he drew a dagger and turned to the oncoming horde.
“No…” Vass said as she fell over the side backwards.
The rogue’s eyes were wide as flashes of light appeared over and over as she fell. A thought floated into her mind that she would hit the beach or rocks. Instead, her back slammed into water and was quickly submerged as flashes of light danced on the cliff’s edge.
***
Jayson ran his fingers across the gems on his belt, summoning every single concubine. Lance and Sonja did the same. Their meager force blossomed into a small army, everyone taking position just as trolls and undead closed the distance. A maelstrom of chaos bloomed as the party clashed with incoming dead and trolls. Elves pulled back on bows and loose arrows into hordes. Lamias whipped massive bodies at the trolls and undead, shattering or sending them skyward.
Sardyna was reunited with her hellhound sisters. The three hounds fell to all fours and charged the trolls, breathing streams of fire. Lina and Fay moved behind the party, joining Lyra and healing anyone wounded. Lunatina watched with a potion in each hand, ready to throw it at the first sign someone was down. The battle grew thicker as Lance and Sonja’s concubines clashed and fought with unrestrained frenzy. Balog hurtled fire balls into the trolls while Luk moved by Lance’s side, his light causing the skeletal army to falter when they moved too close. Dalya spun and whipped her staff around, striking troll and undead in the face and shattering their burnings heads. But it was Jayson that moved like a force of nature.
The knight moved with expert skill, slicing with refined precision at whatever came at him, troll and undead fell with swipes of his fire and ice blades. The party moved only because of Jayson as he pressed on. Taking a sword slash to the arm, he continued, trusting his party to keep healing. Glowing energy closed up the wound and hit points returned as the knight pushed forward, carving a path through the metal melee.
“Kell!” Sonja shouted as she brought her sword hard across, decapitating two trolls.
The dark elf mage closed his eyes and whispered the final word to his spell. Several yards before Jayson, a cloud billowed into existence. Skeleton soldiers were engulfed by it but continued their undead march. After a long moment, arms began to fall off; metal and bone began to sizzle. Soon the undead in the cloud started to fall into heaps as the acid cloud burned through their hit points. The heaps shattered into light as the cloud destroyed every piece of them.
Kell whispered another arcane word and a wind picked up. The yellowish cloud began to move, slowly. It touched the undead and melted them as it began its slow path toward the mountains.
Thorrin saw the cloud appear. Swinging his hammer, he sent a troll to the afterlife and mentally brought up his inventory. Highlighting the Lantern of Thunn, it appeared in his hand and he held it high. The paladin’s power connected with the mystical lantern, causing the white light from the lantern to glow bright. The undead hesitated and moved away as the light touched them. Trolls pressed on but quickly noticed they were losing their support.
“Keep moving!” Jayson shouted as he sliced his way through one troll and then another.
The small army moved slowly behind the thick cloud. Staying within the light of the lantern, the enemy’s ranks thinned as the undead were kept at bay. The acid cloud moved and the undead stepped away, keeping a distance between them and it. As if a silent command touched their undead minds, many skeletal soldiers un-slung bows and pulled arrows from quivers.
For a brief moment, Jayson saw that they had the edge they needed. With the cloud, the skeletons couldn’t fire accurately. With the lantern, the bulk of the enemy forces were at bay. The trolls continued to fight but they lost soldiers nearly a dozen at a time as they charged. His elves were letting their own arrows fly and the lamias continued to keep the troll forces occupied. A hopeful chance glimmered in his mind’s eye until alerts filtered into his vision. The chaos grew and darkness crawled over his skin like insects, hungry for meat.
A concubine elf took several arrows and shattered into light. Another one screamed and she too was turned into greenish shards. One of the lamias fought on as trolls jumped on her, slashing and stabbing with blades. She sliced with her blade until her hit points drained to zero and she shattered to light. Petal stabbed out roots until swords came down, cutting pieces of her away and one sliced hard across her neck. Jayson turned to see the dryad crack into light and fall to the ground.
Kell kept his focus with Sonja at his side. A black battle axe swung with power through the air. The blue knight managed to see it, turned and tried to push the dark elf mage out of its way. Kell’s red eyes went wide as his body spun but the axe sliced through, separating an arm from his shoulder. Kell cried out as the spell was broken and the acid cloud stopped moving, its yellowish fog sinking into the land.
Mad Morgan pushed through the troll ranks. Armor cracked in a few places, he moved like a man without a care in the world. Sonja was too her feet and swinging her blade. A ghostly blade slipped out toward the incoming dread lord. Mad Morgan back handed the blade away, never breaking his stride. Walking with commanding steps, the dread lord walked into the lantern light. Skin smoked and black veins rose against his face but he did not falter as he moved toward the fallen mage.
“Your magic won’t save you,” Mad Morgan said, almost bored.
Sonja stood in front of the fallen dark elf with sword in hand. The dread lord scooped up his battle axe in one smooth move and brought it down hard. Sonja parried the blow, metal on metal singing. The knight and dread lord fell into a dance, each trying to land a blow and moving like two storms against one another. Kell lay on the ground, calling up a spell and pointing his hand at the dread lord. A fireball flared and blasted forward. Mad Morgan reached out and grabbed Sonja by her breast plate. Without mercy, he pulled the blue knight in front of him. Kell watched in horror as the fireball struck Sonja in the back and exploded.
Mad Morgan sneered as he threw Sonja’s smoking body to the side like a rag doll. The dread lord moved forward, lifting his axe up and eyes centered on the mage. Kell held up his one hand as the dread lord stood over him and brought the axe down. The air vibrated and Kell vanished before the axe slammed into the dirt. Mad Morgan turned to see Sonja sitting up, her blue armor scorched and a hand at her belt, touching a gem.
“No matter, I’ll kill him later. Right now, I think I will kill you and fuck your beautiful corpse,” Mad Morgan chuckled as he lifted up his axe.
The lantern light grew brighter and as Mad Morgan turned to it, a hammer came across and smashed into his face. The dread lord stumbled back as Thorrin held the lantern on one hand and hammer in the other, his shoulders heaving.
Mad Morgan looked to the paladin and let out a sardonic laugh, “We’ve done this dance before. If I can walk through holy ground to fuck you up then that pitiful lantern won’t do shit.”
“Try it you piece of dead trash,” Thorrin spat.
Mad Morgan rushed the paladin. Axe and hammer clashed again and again but the dread lord pushed his power into each blow. Thorrin took a step back with each parry. The dread lord grinned as he swung again and again. Thorrin fought to maintain his balance as each hard strike knocked him off kilter. Mad Morgan pressed on until a sword slammed into his side. Thorrin stumbled back and watched as Sonja drove her blade in deeper and twisted. The dread lord let out a grunt and swung his arm out. Sonja dodged it and spun away. Moving around, she stood by Thorrin’s side. The paladin activated holy protection and stepped forward with the blue knight.
“I’m going to carve you both up…..slowly,” Mad Morgan leered.
An arrow slipped through the air. Thorrin felt something hit close to his hand, glass shards belting his armor. The paladin turned to see the ar
row exiting through the lantern and its holy light dying. Several more arrows bounced off his glowing aura but the lantern took another one causing it to fly from his hand and crash onto the ground. Mad Morgan charged, axe swinging. Thorrin and Sonja clashed with him but the dread lord hunkered down and pushed with his shoulders. The power was enough to cause the paladin and knight to stumble back, giving the dread lord precious seconds.
“Fuck your light!” Mad Morgan bellowed as he brought his booted foot down hard on the broken lantern, smashing it to pieces.
The holy light died. The undead army turned their dark empty eyes to the enemy and began their march once again. Jayson watched as the undead formed up their ranks, blocking the path to the mountain pass. They were halfway there and needed to press forward.
Jayson thought of his pink haired troll as the decayed army moved with purpose, rusty blades flashing in the swaying light of the bonfires.
Twenty-Two
Jayson took several steps forward, a short sword in each hand. Eyes on the dark army before him, he readied a sword technique as he turned his head to the side.
“Lance!” the knight shouted before turning back to the undead horde moving toward him.
The white knight pushed forward, slicing away with his rapier, taking down troll after troll. Determination fueled his limbs as his brow made a hard V. The knight watched as he carved his way to his fellow knight. Jayson stabbed his blades out to the side and activated his Blade Whirlwind technique. Spinning into a tornado, the knight’s body disappeared into the winds. Glowing swords stabbed out before unleashing on the undead army. Golden swords of light fired forward, stabbing through the undead like water. Bodies shattered by the dozens, cutting through the line and giving the party some space.
Jayson’s whirlwind fell away and the knight’s feet touched the ground. Falling to one knee, he gritted his teeth, letting the countdown meter finish so he could begin fighting again. Lance moved to the knight’s side as did Dalya.
“I’m here,” the white knight smiled and reached up, taking hold of Shatter Light.
***
The orc Rekt slammed his foot down and roared. The trolls and skeletons stopped their advance to the party’s right flank. With the orc’s intimidation skill in full effect, he lifted his rune hammer and charged. The trolls were stunned until the hammer crashed into one skull after the other. The orc laughed as he threw himself into the fray. The hammer exploded with each strike, sending troll body parts into the air before they burst into light. Arrows sunk into his shoulders but he kept fighting, a blood lust pushing him on as hit points drained. An arrow penetrated his thick neck and the orc gave a grunt as he brought his hammer down again and again onto troll skulls. Blades sliced at him and he faltered but only for a moment. Regaining his strength, he continued to smash through the monsters.
A blade stabbed deep into his stomach. The orc gurgled a smiled as he took hold of the large troll by the neck and brought him in closer. Letting his hammer slip down in his hand, the orc took the end and slammed it into the troll’s face, point blank. The trolls smashed face pulled away before his body cracked into light and shattered.
Rekt gave a bloody smile as trolls threw themselves on him, stabbing and hacking until he was down to his knees. The vicious attacks continued until the orc’s body cracked with light. He thought of Renner and Vass before his body shattered to bits of light.
Lyra watched the orc die as she healed. Her wisdom was draining and she knew it wasn’t long before she was out. Lunatina moved in close and handed her an elixir. The cleric took it and downed it in one move. All attributes rose to max and she began healing again. The battle was turning and her visions were coming true. She knew she didn’t have long but continued to heal the party as concubines fell one by one to the troll and undead attacks.
***
Wynter threw soul shards to the ground and raised shadow knights but they were falling faster than she could raise them. The necromancer continued on as the chaos bloomed on and on. Kai had dropped his bow and fought with his sword but the trolls and undead pushed in, barely giving him breathing room. Wynter eyed the troll as he fought like a beast un-caged. His sword strikes were true and he kept his composure as the numbers pushed against his blade.
Wynter….come to me….and you will be spared….
Wynter felt the voice trickle along her mind. She knew it well. Ignoring it she raised six more shadow knights before slamming her skull staff into a troll skull. Several undead pushed through the troll ranks and leapt into the air. Kai sliced one and then another before the third landed on him. It slipped around his body, holding on by one arm and sticking the tip of a dagger to the troll’s throat. Wynter turned to see the skeleton holding onto Kai as a troll reached over and pulled the ranger’s sword from his hand.
Bring me my eyes and you both shall be spared. If you do not heed my offer, his death is on your hands.
Kai struggled but the skeleton pressed the blade harder against his neck. Wynter watched as her friend continued to struggle, her heart thumping hard in her chest. They needed everyone if they were going to survive this but seeing Kai trapped, a cold chill sank into her heart.
“Death is always on my hands,” Wynter said and looked to Kai, “Forgive me.”
The troll gave her a nod and kind eyes before the skeleton sliced across his throat. Trolls moved in and stabbed into his body as he struggled. Black lightning slammed into their bodies as Wynter unleashed her fury. The skeleton was smashed into light and soon several trolls joined its fate. Wynter continued to raise dead and blast black lightning, her heart beating against the growing darkness around them.
***
Sonja and Thorrin heaved as they tried to keep up with the dread lord. Mad Morgan pressed on with his attacks, wearing them down a bit at a time. The blue knight activated a technique and her sword launched from her hand. It swung at the dread lord over and over, forcing Mad Morgan to step back just to keep up. Thorrin’s hand glowed with golden light as he threw himself at the dread lord. Mad Morgan rolled with the punch as holy light sent him flying backwards and into the ground. Sonja’s sword came back to her hand and the knight and paladin stalked toward the dread lord.
“Go to Jayson’s side, he needs you for the next part of the plan,” Thorrin said with heavy breath.
“Not until this piece of shit is dead,” Sonja growled.
Mad Morgan slowly rose to his feet, “You can’t kill what is already dead….even with your abilities.”
Thorrin turned to Sonja, “Go and I’ll keep him busy. We are running out of time and we need to do our final push to the mountain pass.”
Sonja hesitated as Mad Morgan was to his feet with axe in hand. The paladin gave the knight one long look before stepping forward. Sonja clenched a hand before turning and running to her fellow knights.
“Just you and me now,” Thorrin smirked.
Mad Morgan stood at the ready, eyes filled with maniac intent, “No matter what you do, you cannot stop me. I will kill everyone you love and raise them to be my play things. Your immortality will be stained with images of the unholy acts I will perform on them, over and over again.”
“Mad Morgan….I’m going to hunt down every last dread lord and kill them….I swear it!” Thorrin seethed and charged.
“A fool and his soul are soon parted,” Mad Morgan laughed as his axe clashed with the paladin’s hammer.
The two went blow for blow, over and over. Thorrin could feel himself weaken as he took damage despite parrying each blow. The dread lord’s power was awesome, striking down the holy paladin. The darkness came off the dread lord in waves, clawing and cutting into Thorrin’s holy aura. The paladin couldn’t keep up the pace as Mad Morgan pressed on, slicing with insane glee. An idea bloomed and Thorrin braced himself.
Mad Morgan raised his axe and brought it down. Thorrin pressed his attack, parrying the blow and slamming his foot into Mad Morgan’s armored knee. The whole attack knocked the dread lord off bal
ance as Thorrin let go of his hammer. Mad Morgan raised his arms up again while trying to regain his balance. Hammer still falling; the paladin poured all his wisdom into his hands. Fingers curled around the dread lord’s throat as Thorrin began healing the undead lord.
Mad Morgan’s mouth opened into a groaning scream. Healing light cut away at the dead flesh, penetrating him with holy energy. Mad Morgan let go of his axe behind him as he reached down to take hold of Thorrin’s hands. The paladin had a vice-like grip, holding on for dear life as the dread lord’s flesh blacked from the healing energy. The dread lord gurgled as his mouth foamed with putrid green slime. Bringing his arm across, he slammed it against Thorrin’s face. The paladin held on despite hit points draining. Mad Morgan did it again and this time the impact sent the paladin into the air and landing on his back, ten feet away. The dread lord swayed.
“Muther….phuckker…” he said with green liquid spilling from the sides of his mouth.
Thorrin struggled to get up as the damaged dread lord picked up his axe and held it up. The paladin’s hit points were dangerously low and his body wasn’t responding. Mad Morgan closed the distance and lifted up his axe. A shadow appeared behind the dread lord just as the axe reached its zenith. A cloaked figure leapt onto the dread lord’s back, a white dagger flashing.
“Fuck you, you fucking fuck!” Renner yelled as he plunged the dagger over and over again into the dread lord’s neck.
The dagger plunged again and again into Mad Morgan’s exposed throat. The dread lord gave a wet roar as holy light from the dagger stabbed into him. With a whirl of his arms and axe, the burst of power threw the rogue off. Renner landed on his back, blood on his brow and cuts all over him.
Mad Morgan turned to the rogue and stalked toward him. Lifting his axe, the rogue reached into his cloak and pulled out his crossbow. Mad Morgan brought the axe down just as Renner pulled the trigger. There was a “Crunch” as the axe buried in the rogue’s chest. The crossbow bolt slammed into the dread lord’s chest and exploded. Mad Morgan stumbled back as Renner coughed up blood and gave the dread lord the middle finger.
