Lewd Paladin: Dread of Night: A Virtual Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Book 2)

by Eden Redd

  Renner and Vass moved over to the collection of sacks. Placing their hand out, a 2D item list appeared and their personal inventory screen appeared. The two players tapped at their items and they appeared on their person instantly. Renner reached down and took hold of the remaining sacks and turned to Deidra.

  “Those weapons look heavy. I think we should help you clear them out,” the rogue said with a wicked grin.

  The sounds of combat vibrated down from the hall.

  “Renner, we have to get back to Thorrin,” Vass said and starting marching for the door, a dagger in each hand.

  Renner looked at the weapons gracing the walls and then back to Vass, “What about all this great loot?”

  “Renner!” Vass shouted before walking into the hallway.

  The rogue let out a sigh and looked to Deidra, “Maybe we can talk about splitting the lo…..”

  “RENNER!” said a commanding shout from the hallway.

  “The things I do…,” Renner said sheepishly as he pulled out his crossbow and marched after the beautiful elf.

  ***

  The maelstrom of chaos died down as glowing order shifted into the oversized room. Thorrin’s eyes locked on the Bone Queen as she whispered arcane words and pointed a hand with strands of black energy sparking. Eyes narrowing, his hand opened as the golden energy swirled into a ball. Dumping another slew of Wisdom points into his Holy Light, he mentally tapped the activation command. The sun like ray blasted forward, cutting through the shadow knights and barreling toward the necromancer.

  The Bone Queen lifted both hands and fired black lightning from each one. Shadow bolts arced to either side of the glowing beam of light. Thorrin was pushing forward when one of the bolts struck him on the shoulder. The player ignored the damage as he pressed on. The Bone Queen crossed her arms and holy light slammed into her. Gritting her teeth, she stumbled back a few steps as the light burned at her skin.

  Thorrin pressed on as the light died. A goblin fell to his left and a tall paladin fell to his right. Glowing chains whipped out in all directions as the paladins engaged the shadow knights. Thorrin smirked as he pressed forward with hammer in hand. The Bone Queen’s arms dropped to her sides, blackened and smoking. Whispering arcane words, circles appeared along the floor in front of her. Before she could utter the final words to the incantation, a hammer flew at her, striking her in the chest and sending her falling backwards to the floor. The spell fizzled and Thorrin moved to the fallen necromancer. Scooping up his hammer, he readied to deal a killing blow when the Bone Queen lifted a blackened hand and fired shadow bolts at point blank range. Thorrin’s aura flashed bright as dark energy slammed into him. Stumbling back, he tried to regain his balance when another bolt struck him in the chest.

  A door behind the spiral staircase slid open. Vass stepped out to see the Bone Queen on her back and Thorrin stumbling back. Instinct took hold as the elven rogue stepped forward and flicked her wrist. The Bone Queen slowly stood up, blasting another shadow bolt when pain flared against her back. Looking over her shoulder, she could see a dagger buried in her back and an elf stalking toward her while drawing a dagger from her bandolier.

  Thorrin attempted to right himself when he watched Vass lift up her hands, daggers twirling through the air at the Bone Queen. The necromancer whispered several arcane words as two shadow knights blocked the incoming daggers with a parry from their swords. Chaos rose with the tide as the remaining shadow knights pressed on their attack. Ro moved like a mini storm, chain lashing out. The blessed chains bashed against spectral armor as the knights continued to parry and slice at the goblin. Jon whipped back and forth at the shadow knights, slamming his blessed chain into their helmets.

  Renner emerged from the doorway to see shadow knights rising up from arcane circles along the floor and everyone engaged in melee. A ghostly sword stabbed into Jon’s side and he grunted before another one cut at him across the arm.

  “Gifts!” Renner shouted before swinging each sack into the battle, one at a time.

  Ro turned to see her armor floating through the air. The goblin bent her knees and leapt up, green hands taking hold of it mid air. Jon turned to see his staff barreling toward him. Hand reaching up, he grasped it and brought it down hard on a shadow knight’s head. A sack landed at his feet and the paladin tapped it with his foot. Armor and supplies appeared in his inventory as he spun around to keep the shadow knights at bay.

  Vass took a step forward when new shadow knights drew their swords and charged. Renner appeared at Vass’s side and the two rogues fought the incoming ghost knights like skilled dancers. Bodies moved and twisted, dodging swords as their daggers cut along soft points in the armor. White daggers in hand, the elf shifted on her feet and sliced along exposed ghostly necks. Renner kept his movements tight as knights pushed with brutal force. The player used his power to knock them off their feet and drive his dagger into their throats. Ghostly moans rose up as they fought to stand.

  Thorrin stalked forward while slamming his hammer into a shadow knight and sending it back to the afterworld. Eyes on the Bone Queen, he moved with purpose toward her. Shadow knights rose up as Ro pressed a hand to her chest. Her armor blinked onto her body. The glowing gems on the bracers shined as the goblin activated her armor. Metal links slid into place and armor curled over her three fingered hands. Oversized metal gauntlets grew outward and when it was complete; she curled them into giant fists and began bashing the undead left and right.

  Thorrin reached the Bone Queen as she finished whispering an incantation. Lifting his hammer, he brought it down with every point of strength he had. The Queen lifted her arms and took the brunt of the strike, her body hurtling to the floor. The paladin stepped over her and raised his hammer once again.

  It was then when the paladin hesitated before dealing out holy justice.

  The pulse of battle seemed to ebb as the player glared down as the fallen necromancer. Dead eyes trembled. Thorrin could see the glint of fear written on her spirit as she gazed up, a hand up in defiance. It was the same look he had witnessed time and time again over the last number of months. She was awakened and now Thorrin stood, ready to smite her. Conflict surged into his heart as he gazed down not at an enemy NPC, but at a virtual living thing. It was enough to stay his hand for a moment.

  Vass cried out as a ghostly blade stabbed into her leg.

  Thorrin glanced up to see Vass and Renner struggling against the dead closing in around them. Seeing the elf’s face twist in anguish as they fought on pushed at his morals and his divine duty. Thorrin’s face smoothed into an unfeeling mask. Turning his attention to the fallen necromancer, his heart hardened as golden energy flowed into his hammer. The NPC had enslaved players and other NPCs. The necromancer had stolen from others to grow her own power. The Bone Queen had enlisted the aid of twisted players, helping with her dark plans. Just because she was awakened didn’t mean she was exempt from what was right. Now that she was aware, she would have a choice to live her life any way she chose. Instead she fell back to her old ways, the suffering of others having no effect on her new status as a living digital being. Her actions spoke of a monster that would never stop. Thorrin’s eyes looked down in judgment as he brought down his hammer with all his might.

  Master Nugan looked down at the storm of violence. Dark eyes drank in the warriors as they fought against greater odds. A small light glimmered and the troll master turned his head to see glowing arcane circles along the second floor. Armored skeletons rose up with arrows notched in bows. The troll master turned and took hold of Sora, slamming his shoulder into a private room door and ushering her in, closing it behind them. The skeletons looked over the railing and pulled back on bow strings.

  Jon slammed his staff against a shadow knight helmet. As it cracked, the paladin turned to face more of the enemy when something struck him in the shoulder where it meets the neck. Hit points drained as several more arrows slammed into him. Ro smashed her giant fist into a shadow knight’s midsectio
n when an arrow hit the floor next to her. Turning, she lifted her oversized gauntlets and curled her body into a ball. Arrows bounced off the armored gauntlets with ease and the goblin stood up and spun away. As she fought, her almond eyes glanced at Jon, her heart leaping into her throat.

  Jon fought on as arrows rained down. Shafts sticking out of his shoulders, he continued to fight like a man possessed. Aura fading, the paladin continued to bash the undead knights back to the afterlife. Several more arrows sank into his back and he fell to one knee. The goblin rolled across the floor and back onto her feet. She pushed through the chaos to get to his side, healing ability ready. Jon looked up and drove his staff into another knight. Several more arrows penetrated his armor and he fell to both knees. Ro was barely four feet away when Jon looked to her and smiled, an arrow striking the back of his head and the arrow point bursting through his eye. The paladin’s body cracked with light before he shattered to the floor.

  “No!” Ro said as she turned to the second floor railing to see dozens of skeleton archers pulling back bow strings for another volley.

  Thorrin’s hammer came down and slammed into a ghostly sword. The player’s eyes remained narrow as a shadow knight parried the killing blow of his mistress. The Bone Queen gave the paladin a blank stare as shadow knights rushed to her aid. Thorrin had mere moments before he was overwhelmed. Vass and Renner continued to fight well enough though they had bleeding cuts along their bodies. The paladin glanced at Ro as she fought her way to his side, her eyes wide. Jon was nowhere to be seen and a dread took hold of the player. The hardness in his heart loosened as he realized if they stayed, they would all be dead.

  Thorrin threw himself forward, over the Bone Queen and to Vass’s side. The paladin struck out again and again, destroying undead knights until he was to the elf’s side. Vass’s hand reached out and took hold of the paladin’s strong shoulder. Arrows rained down as Ro slipped past the enemy with her gauntlets up. Shadow Knights crowded around their mistress and pulled her away, forming a defense around her. Renner pushed on but staggered when a sword cut across his mid section.

  Deidra emerged from the hidden hallway, hands reaching out and helping the dashing rogue to stay on his feet. Thorrin looked to his companions and glanced at the window. Ro barreled through, punching at shadow knight legs until she reached Thorrin. Seeing his gaze to the window, the goblin bended her knees and launched herself into the air. Curling in a ball, she smashed through the window and landed on the dirt street.

  Fire consumed part of the Black Garden District. Flames licked at the black sky while mages blasted cones of frost into the burning buildings. Thorrin saw their exit and barreled through with Vass’s arm over his shoulder. The paladin helped her along to the smashed window and they tumbled out. Deidra and Renner were next as they reached the edge and tumbled out into the street. The Bone Queen silently pointed as more of her undead servants rose up from arcane circles.

  Outside, Thorrin took two steps and came to a stop, “Go to the docks! I will go back in for the trolls.”

  Master Nugan had moved himself and Sora to the window to make their escape. They were half way out when he noticed Thorrin and the party below them. A large arm curled around Sora and held her close. With a heave, he jumped. Legs bent as he hit the ground and Sora slid down along with him. Renner was the one to glance back to see the trolls landing and wave them over. Master Nugan and Sora raced to their side and they ran together as a group.

  Thorrin led the way, practically carrying Vass as they pushed through the panic in the streets. The fire could not be contained as it jumped from one building to the next. The quarter burned as the group pushed on with their escape.

  Thorrin looked back to see Nugan and Sora with them, “I thought we lost you,” The paladin shouted.

  “We helped facilitate our escape as you were engaged with the enemy,” Master Nugan smiled.

  Bodies ran in all directions as the group barreled down a street.

  “We have to follow this street along the river to the other side of town. We have a ship waiting for us,” Thorrin shouted to his companions as they raced along the southern bank of the river.

  Bells rang as some townsfolk grabbed wooden buckets and ran to the river. Bodies formed lines as they tried passing buckets along to those closest to the burning buildings. Water splashed as several mages cast shards of ice into the flames.

  Thorrin looked to the burning sky and a piece of him wanted the whole town to burn to the ground. Mind returning to their escape, the paladin pumped his legs as Vass struggled to keep up. The town turned into a blur as they ran along the street. The crowds next to the fire fell further and further away. Thorrin hoped they wouldn’t run into anything else. Eyes taking in every dark corner, the player grimaced when he saw a man struggling on the ground as a small toddler ripped flesh from his neck. The man gasped as the child buried her little mouth at his throat.

  “This entire place needs to be burned down,” Thorrin grunted as they moved on.

  Renner looked up as Deidra helped him along. Looking to his right, a slow horror crept up his spine. The black river bubbled and shifted as skeletons and corpses rose up along the edge, by the dozens. Dripping decayed arms and hands reached up as they shambled upwards from the river and to the streets.

  Thorrin glanced over as an army of undead staggered out of the river, “Vass, can you run?”

  The elf nodded, “I think so.”

  Thorrin unhooked his arm from around her and held his hammer to him, “The ship is the Black Snake. The captain is expecting us. Keep going and don’t stop.”

  “What are you going to do?” Vass asked as she looked to the teeming dead rising from the river.

  “Watch our backs, now go!” Thorrin commanded.

  The group pumped their legs faster as Thorrin ran alongside them. Hammer out, he watched as the dead shambled up from the banks. Some spilled into the road with open mouths trapped in a silent scream. With a contained roar, the paladin swung his hammer, smashing a skull and then another. The rogues and trolls ran in a group as Thorrin kept the undead at bay with every swing of his hammer. Ro clenched her giant mechanical fists as she readied herself to join her fellow paladin. Nugan held Sora’s hand as they ran along the street. Renner slipped from Deidra’s hold and was running on his own two feet. Pulling his crossbow out, he loaded it on the run, aimed and fired. A bolt sank into a meaty corpse before fire burst forth, consuming it from the inside out.

  “Where’s the boat?” Renner shouted as he reloaded.

  Thorrin looked forward to see the eastern docks of Moon Haven and a crowd of undead already on the dirt street. Bodies turned and they began their march toward the living running toward them. Thorrin quickened his pace as he ran to the front of his group. Hammer glowing, he let out a grunt as he crashed into the undead ranks. Dripping skeletons and zombies burst into light as the player smashed his way through. Vass, Deidra and Renner did the same but it was Ro who was unleashed. The goblin leapt up, smashing a skull, planting her feet on the bursting corpse, pushing off and smashing another skull.

  “Die again! Die again! Die again!” The goblin paladin shouted as she took down one after the other.

  Renner smiled as he fired his crossbow and watched the holy goblin rant with each of her attacks. Their progress slowed to a crawl as Thorrin tried to break the undead ranks. The dead moved in closer with hands out and trying to grasp any bit of flesh. Nugan’s hand blazed with fire as he fended off the dead. Sora nearly clung to him as he smashed a skeleton, then picked up a zombie and threw it into the river.

  Thorrin’s hammer moved in a blur until the dead parted from his onslaught. Seeing the dock a mere fifty feet from them, the paladin turned and ushered Vass and Deidra through. Renner was next when Thorrin looked past him to the trolls lagging behind. Sora’s eyes were wide as saucers as Master Nugan fought the horde. Undead hands grasped at his exposed flesh and pulled. Fingers dug into blue skin and the master grunted his frustration.<
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  “Get on the boat,” Thorrin ordered as he dived right back into the horror melee.

  Renner glanced to the boat, the captain on the upper deck waving his arms. Turning his gaze back, he watched as Thorrin’s aura glowed against the shambling undead. The paladin was unchained as he bashed his way through. Ro fought her way to his side and the two moved as one. Hammer and mechanical fists punched and slammed outwards as the dead marched to their final moments. Nugan pulled Sora along as he bled from open wounds. The pink haired troll yelped when a rotting hand took hold of her leg.

  Thorrin pushed through with every bit of his strength as Ro leapt into the air. The goblin landed at Sora’s feet. A large hand closed on the rotting arm and squeezed. The zombie’s arm shattered into light as it reared back. Ro pulled back her arm and punched it square into the stomach. The corpse disintegrated on contact and fell into pieces of shattered light.

  Master Nugan fell to one knee but Thorrin was there to snake his arm around the troll and help him to his feet.

  “I promised to protect you!” Thorrin said with commanding flair.

  “Thank you,” Nugan said meekly.

  The paladin helped the troll along as Ro helped Sora. The undead continued to rise from the water. A crossbow bolt stabbed into a zombie’s skull. It turned its head to Renner’s smiling face from the docks. Runes glowed along the shaft before the zombie let out a moan and exploded. Thorrin and Ro shielded the trolls as body parts rained down on them before bursting into light.

  An opening appeared and the remaining group rushed to it. Stepping onto the docks, they raced to the river ship. Vass, Deidra and the crew held out their hands as they helped the paladins and trolls onto the boat. Renner fired a bolt down the length of the dock to the incoming undead. Stepping onto the boat, Renner watched the undead horde as the crew pulled the mooring lines. The bolt was sunken in the chest of a zombie as it surged and exploded.