What had Dennis said? He thought of Calista and her fury. Something about pushing the boundaries. His power was barely a blip of life, but he needed more, so much more. All he needed was a chance to use his exorcism ability and he could clear them a path, at least give them a fighting chance. Not believing what he was about to do, he shut his eyes tight and focused on what gave him power in this game.
No, not the game. What gave him power and strength in his real life. Calista’s love for Bishop pushed her beyond the limits. Jimmy’s ferocious protective instinct was what always drove him to be a healer. And he needed that now more than ever. Keeping everyone alive was his job, or was meant to be, and he was going to do whatever it took to keep them that way.
“Jimmy! What the hell are you doing! We gotta run!” Floyd hollered.
Floyd reached to grab him by the arm, but then he pulled back, eyes wide as he stared at something over Jimmy’s head. Jimmy didn’t have to ask to know what he was seeing. The blue glow from his power bar reflected like a shimmering ball of blue light in the man’s eyes. His jaw went slack and Jimmy felt the rush of power through his body like never before in this game. Floyd stepped to the side as Jimmy moved to be the front man as the next line of Demons charged.
He spread his arms wide, the tip of his staff glowing blue as he summoned his power. He whispered the words for the exorcism then he brought his hands together, his staff in between, and slammed his staff to the ground. The resounding boom sounded as if a clap of thunder exploded right before him. Blue and white streaks of lightning shot out from his staff, hitting the Demons. It struck the first row, then another and another until the three lines before him were all connected by that one casted spell. Those not affected directly by the blast succumbed to the scourge that flowed off their decaying bodies and deeper into the trees. The horrified screams of Demons made Jimmy smile, but his power faded and his strength vanished in a shot. He fell to the ground, Floyd muttering something overhead.
“Jimmy! Man, was that you?”
“Found Sorgon,” Jimmy whispered, trying to sit up, but he couldn’t get his legs to work.
“Just give yourself a minute, man,” Floyd told him. “Sorgon! Over here!” He waved his arm over his head and, a few moments later, Sorgon, Shamus, Alonso, and Zoe appeared through the brush. “Thank God. We were getting worried we were the only ones left.”
Shamus wiped his arm across his face and pointed to the southeast. “There’s another group not too far from us. Heard them fighting earlier, but whatever Jimmy just did obliterated all the Demons within a few leagues at least.”
“Sweet,” Jimmy said and grinned. But they couldn’t stay here. “Help me up.”
Floyd pushed him to his feet and draped Jimmy’s arm over his shoulders when the man couldn’t fully stand on his own. “The other group,” Floyd said, “take us to them. If we can get back together, we’ll have a better chance of reaching the next city alive.”
“Anyone seen Maverick?”
Shamus shook his head. “We’ll find her.” He brought up the roster for the guild. “So far everyone’s still alive.”
“She might be with that group they heard fighting,” Floyd said, trying to keep Jimmy’s spirits up. “Come on. Let’s get moving before the Demons have a chance to catch up to us.”
Jimmy bought them a limited window, wiping out at least three dozen Demons with that cast and gained the XP to prove it. He had boosted past level 66 to 67 and hadn’t even noticed. At least Dennis had been right about one thing that could help them: they could definitely push the limitations of the game when the time came.
He kept his eyes peeled for any sign of Maverick as they moved, making their way in the direction they heard more fighting. But when they reached the clearing, Maverick wasn’t amongst the players. Giles, Barry, Aiden, and Benji sat on a large cluster of rocks appearing to be catching their breaths. Dead Demons littered the ground at their feet, and their health was slowly going back up. By the looks of it, their gear was heavily damaged.
None of them could withstand another attack for long.
“Jimmy!” Benji said excitedly. “Please tell me that was you.”
“Yeah, me and my handy-dandy exorcist powers.” He thanked Floyd, but felt strong enough to stand on his own. “We’re just missing three, right?”
“Haven’t seen them, or heard them,” Benji confirmed. “Should we keep moving south?”
Jimmy turned slowly on the spot, craning his ears, begging for a sound, any sound. “I don’t want to leave them behind.”
“Those three are some of the strongest in this guild,” Benji said. “I doubt they’re going to get themselves into that much trouble.”
“It’s not the Demons I’m worried about. Calict is still out there.”
Benji’s face fell. “Forgot about him. Crap.”
Jimmy tapped his staff into the ground, just as Maverick always did. Think! Think, you have to track them somehow. Have to find them…
“Willy.”
“What?” Floyd frowned.
“Willy, he could track them down for us. Willy!”
“Jimmy, no one’s seen Willy since Bishop took off,” Benji reminded him. “He doesn’t want anything to do with us.”
“Willy! Come on, boy,” Jimmy yelled again. That day outside Weston, he had sensed Willy watching him, but then Bishop had shown up and ruined everything. He held his head in aggravation. Leading was not his strong suit, never had been. That’s why he was the healer and not the leader. That was meant to be Bishop’s job, but he had to go turn all crazy mode and let their guild fall apart. “Willy!”
Benji stood up on the rocks, holding his hand up for quiet. Jimmy strained to hear anything and was about to say so, but Benji shushed him. “Something’s coming…something big.”
“On the rocks,” Floyd hissed. “Take the high ground, get ready for a fight.”
Jimmy saw his power and health were finally back at their fullest so he would be able to fend off an attack, but not indefinitely. They needed more help. They needed to get the hell out of here.
Pounding steps came closer and closer. His hands gripped and re-gripped his staff as he chewed his bottom lip, waiting for the swarm of Demons to surround them again. But what burst through the trees were far from Demons.
“Trajan!” Floyd yelled in relief and everyone relaxed.
He and the other four sat atop their mounts looking worried and relieved at the same time. Trajan dismounted and sent his horse away, rushing to check on his friends. “You all are in rough shape,” he commented, and Jimmy felt the sudden urge to deck him. “I’m sorry we ever left, really.”
“Eh, you know no big deal,” Jimmy told him as he took his hand. “Now you can join the party.”
“What’s going on? Someone said a Demon Lord was out roaming around with an army of Demons?”
“We think it’s Valen. We were at a farmhouse and they just appeared. Calict is still out there, somewhere. And we haven’t found Calista, Maverick, or Arthur yet.” Jimmy stood on his toes, trying to see deeper into the trees, but still no sign of them. “We have to get to them before it’s too late.”
“How did you find us?” Zoe asked.
“Followed the very helpful tracks the Demons left behind and then that blue light, had a feeling it was something to do with you lot.” Trajan glanced to the right then left. “Which way do you think they are?”
“We were supposed to head south,” Jimmy said and pointed his staff in that direction. “It only makes sense they would keep moving that way, too.”
Trajan pulled up the map and Jimmy peered at it with him. “If they headed south, they should’ve run into you guys by now.” He swallowed hard and asked, “Are you sure they’re still alive?”
“We checked a few minutes ago. They are.”
Trajan ran his finger along the map before him. “If they veered off course at all, they’d be running right into this mountain ran
ge. They’d be trapped if the Demons followed them in.” He closed the map and looked to Jimmy. “If they’re not here, I’m going to guess the Demons have them pinned down. Are we going to get them?”
“Hell yes we’re going. Everyone! Move out!”
Don’t worry Maverick, he thought as they marched into the trees, aiming for the mountains. This time, I’m going to save you.
***
Calista dug her feet in, yelling as the Demon pushed down harder with his sword, so close to her neck. Her health hadn’t been above half in the last few minutes and she doubted it would be again. This was the end. They had tried to rush around the mountains before the Demons could block them in, but it was hopeless. It took only a few minutes for the Demons to surround them and drive them with their backs to the mountains. The heroes were trapped.
And any second now, Calista was going to bite the dust along with Maverick and Arthur.
A spear tip jutted through the Demon’s chest and it snarled as it was tossed to the side and Maverick appeared above Calista. “We can’t hold them back much longer.” She helped Calista to her feet, pressing their backs together. Arthur fought only a few steps away and, as he finished his Demon off, joined their tiny circle of defense.
“Anyone else debating if we should just log out?”
Calista told him to check, but just like with the milestone skill, she sensed that would be blocked too. Arthur’s furious curse was all the answer she needed to know they were indeed trapped.
“Why would she go to such lengths to keep us here? What’s the point?”
“I don’t know,” she replied to Arthur. “But whatever she’s up to, it can’t be good.”
The Demons formed a circle around them, but made no more moves to attack.
“What are they doing?” Calista frowned when the Demons suddenly parted and the answer to her question strolled forward to greet them, flanked by great black furry beasts, saliva and blood dripping from their fangs as their massive claws dug into the mud with each step. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’re going to live through this one guys.”
“What happened to you always being optimistic?” Arthur whispered out of the side of his mouth.
“Think my optimism just got stomped on repeatedly.”
There was no way they could withstand a fight against the Demon Lord. Their gear was shot, and they were down to barely any power or fury between the three of them. Maverick still couldn’t shift, and they were obviously outnumbered. Demon Lord Calict was also level 70 and since they had yet to turn in their quests, they were not. He had four levels on them, which only increased their chances of being slaughtered.
“Good of you to finally stop running and accept your fates,” Calict stated with a deep growl. “Any volunteers on who would like to die first? My hounds are quite hungry.”
Calista shivered at the thought of being torn apart by one of those beasts, in game or not.
“No? Perhaps you’re not as honorable as you appear for heroes.” Calict patted the massive head of the hound to his right. “I suppose I’ll have to choose for you. Any last words before my pet dines on your flesh and gnaws your bones?”
Calista opened her mouth to tell the Demon Lord off when movement caught her eye. Far back behind the Demon lines…she swore she saw a head jump up and an arm wave, but it wasn’t a Demon. She blinked, telling herself she was losing it, but then she saw it again.
Jimmy. That cocky bastard was hopping up and down behind the Demons trying to get their attention. He was going to get himself killed. She had no way to tell the others, but Maverick was gently nudging her arm and tilting her chin towards the cliff behind the other Demons. Dirt and pebbles ran down it as if something up top had disturbed them.
Or someone.
“Yeah,” Calista said, lowering her weapons and stepping forward. “I got some last words for you. How about you and your Demons piss off, huh? Go crawling back to your Demon Queen and just piss off into oblivion.”
Calict gnashed his teeth at her.
“Oh I’m sorry, does that anger you?” She spat at his feet and the hounds lowered to their front legs, growling at her. “You’re nothing to your Queen, you’re just cannon fodder. You’re going to die and it’s going to be at the hands of the heroes you hate so much.”
“Enough!”
“No, no it’s not enough! I’m not finished with you, you worthless rat!”
The Demons growled and howled in rage. “Uh, Calista, what the hell are you doing?” Arthur asked. “Have you completely lost it?”
“Maybe, maybe I have,” she said without turning around. “Well come on then.”
Calict’s lips twitched and he looked ready to set his hounds to attack.
“No, not them. You. If you’re such a great Demon Lord, you can kill us yourself.”
“Calista, seriously,” Arthur begged, but Maverick shushed him. She heard them bickering quietly, but she only had eyes for the Demon Lord. He bowed his great horned head and stepped forward.
“If that is what you wish—”
A dwarven battle cry split the air and Trajan slammed down between Calista and Calict, throwing the Demon Lord back into the ranks of Demons behind him. Trajan spared a glance over his shoulder to wink at Calista, then lifted his hammer high and bellowed to attack. She watched in disbelief as the entire guild rushed forward from the rear and more jumped down to join Trajan on the ground.
“Happy to see me?” he yelled as she rushed to his side to aid in the attack.
“You have no idea.”
Together, they launched themselves at Calict, driving him to the ground again. But the Demon lord swung his scepter wide and wiped them both out. They landed hard on their backs, rolling out of the way in time to miss him stabbing the three points of that wicked looking scepter on them. Trajan was back on his feet quicker and swung his hammer around in a wide arc before using his Slam Attack against Calict. The Demon Lord stumbled backwards, but the damage was minimal. It was going to take all of them targeting the boss to take him down. However, the Demons were still there and the guild was busy trying to fight them off, as well as the hounds.
Calista yelled for their heaviest hitters to switch their focus to the boss, leaving the rest to try and fend off the Demons. She yelled for the healers to move in closer and partner with a DPS to keep the Demons off them. She needed a bubble of some kind, a way to break them off from the rest of the fighting and just focus on the Demon Lord, but this wasn’t a dungeon and no bubble ability like that existed.
With the Demon army barreling down on them, their attacks against the Demon Lord were split and Calista’s fury hardly had any time to recharge itself before she had to expend it against the Demons instead of her main target. Even with the entire guild here, the fight seemed hopeless. With every swing of Calict’s scepter, he sent a blast wave of damage that brought them all to their knees. Calista’s chest piece was nearly destroyed and her weapons felt brittle in her hands. Calict yelled as he charged right for her and she waited for his scepter to break her mace and ax then smash into her body, killing her character for good.
But a hammer appeared at the last second and threw Calict back enough for her to roll away from the attack. Trajan offered her the staff of his hammer and she took it, dragging herself back to her feet when the unthinkable happened.
“Watch as your friend dies!” Calict yelled.
Calista and Trajan whipped around to see him holding Alonso by the throat. He hoisted the player high, brought back his scepter and, before anyone had even taken a step closer to try and save him from the death grip of the Demon Lord, he drove the three points home into Alonso’s chest.
“No!” Trajan bellowed as Alonso’s body was tossed aside. His health bar was already at zero when he hit the ground and, a moment later, a blue orb hovered over his body. It remained for a few seconds then exploded into nothing.
Alonso was gone.
Tra
jan rushed in, attacking with a new fury driving him. Calista watched as his fury bar pulsed as hers had the day she had attacked Jinx solo. Each slam of his hammer against Calict increased that fury until the bar glowed bright, filled to the brim. He kept driving the Demon Lord back further and further, shoving him towards the cliffside. She had no idea what Trajan’s plan was, but she pushed the attack with him, using whatever fury she had to fuel her Slashing and Blazing Fury. Calict was attacked on all sides and couldn’t fight back effectively. The plan was working, whatever plan this was, and Calista begged for whatever computer gaming gods were listening to keep it up.
“Get down!” Trajan yelled. And as the players dropped to the ground, he spun around in a circle. When his hammer bashed into Calict, the Demon Lord sailed hard into the cliffside. His body left an imprint around him as stone crumbled.
The ground shook and Calista watched in amazement as the cliff began to break apart. “Move! Get out of the way!” she yelled, shoving others ahead of her to keep them safe from the rockslide.
Boulders crashed around them, shaking the ground and making it difficult to keep moving. Calista dove out of the way and turned in time to see the rest of the cliff collapse in on itself, burying the Demon Lord. More boulders rolled through the Demon ranks, crushing them and sending the rest running into the trees in a desperate attempt to flee. Calista coughed as dust covered them and blurred her vision.
“Is he dead?” Maverick asked from somewhere to her left.
The players stood, wiping dust from their faces. Shamus was the first to approach the pile of stones. Carefully, he crept up them, careful not to slip, and dug around a bit. “I don’t see anything. No name bar or nothing. I think he’s dead.”
Calista fell back to the ground, smiling in stunned disbelief. They had done it. They had killed a level 70 Demon Lord outside of his dungeon, below level. They had vanquished him. He was—
“Shamus!” Benji yelled in alarm.
The Final Chapter Page 12
