Lewd Kingdoms: Fallen Throne: A High Fantasy Digital Adventure

by Eden Redd

  The dread lord moved the dagger to the side of Elora’s neck, keeping it an inch from her skin. “If I kill her with this Abyssal Dagger, it will distort her program, rendering it unable to function. In effect, she will die permanently. The rules of our world will treat her malfunctioning code as a virus and delete every bit of her so she will not infect the game world.

  “In my experiments, it works on awakened and immortals. Should one of you die by this blade or similar ones, your avatar will be permanently deleted. Such a shame since everything you worked for will vanish.”

  Edric’s hands balled into tight fists. “Leave her out of it! She’s an innocent,” Edric shouted with rage.

  Maggar smirked. “Deliver Juna to us and…,” The dread lord grew silent as a figure jumped from the battlements.

  Edric, Claudia and Rayna turned their eyes in disbelief, staring as Faye leapt over the side of the battlements. The wood elf’s body soared over, eyes forward as Edric tried to grab her. Missing by a foot, he leaned over the side, looking down as Faye landed on her feet and bolted.

  Time slowed down as all watched the wood elf running full tilt toward the two giant drell-kai, dread lords and troll army beyond. Arms behind her, legs were a blur as she raced across the empty field.

  Battle for Elora has begun!

  Death will be a three-day lockout.

  All city core building is halted until the battle is concluded.

  “No more speeches. Just hit them with everything we got. They won’t give us an inch and we will return the favor.” –Jayson Reed. Battle for the Serpent Throne

  The Dread Lord Kadvar crossed his arms. “She is a challenge,” he stated.

  Maggar nodded before turning and facing the field where the wood elf sprinted toward them. “Let her come. Better to kill them one at a time to diminish their strength and morale.”

  The tattooed dread looked up to the giant monsters, “Stomp her to paste.”

  The three armed and spider eyed abominations roared as they advanced. A row of trolls stepped beyond the front lines, pulled bows from their shoulders and nocking arrows. The last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon as the shroud of night cascaded across the lands. Piles of thick wooden logs were set ablaze on either side of the vast army, sending up pillars of flame to cast light on the battlefield. Trolls pulled blades, hammers, axes and maces as black eyes drank in the lone wood elf, her expression holding no fear.

  “Leeta,” Edric shouted before arcane words fell from his lips and hands moved in strange ways.

  The ogre stepped closer as Edric finished the final phrases of the incantation.

  (Spell Casting)65+(Int)7=72/(Encounter Roll)40! Spell successful!

  Summon Elemental! Mana: 205/230

  The air whipped around the summoner as he pressed a boot to the battlement edge, pushed himself up and jumped. Leeta looked over the side as the very air formed white strands and catching him. Edric floated down to the ground and bolted after Faye, the air elemental forming into a contained whirlwind and flying over him.

  The ogre looked over at the sack with straps, containing the magical cannonballs for the scorpion crossbows. One hand lashed out, taking the sack and pulling it over her shoulder. Stepping closer to a scorpion, the guard’s eyes widened. Out of fear, they moved aside as the ogre took hold of the giant crossbow and wretched it from its base. Metal and wood shattered as the oversized crossbow looked half as large in the ogre’s arms. Without another word, Leeta stepped to the edge and vaulted herself over the side. Hitting the ground hard, knees bending before she propelled herself forward, following her master into battle.

  Claudia looked over to Rayna. The bard’s eyes were wild in disbelief as her friends jumped over the side and rushed to certain death. Rayna looked to the lancer, seeing a perfect calm filling the lancer’s eyes. A knowing thought passed between them but the bard refused to accept it.

  “Claudia…I can’t,” Rayna began.

  “You’re in charge of the city’s defenses,” the lancer ordered and smiled. “We believe in you.”

  Rayna watched as the lancer bent her legs and launched forward into the air. The bard turned to the guards, the scattering of people in the streets below, Juna and Jinn. The uncertainty painted her expression with edges of fear. The player had spent so much as a support character that the leadership thrust on her set the bard on edge. Fingers trembling, she looked down at them before eyes turned to her lute. A fire boiled in her belly as she saw what she was meant to do. Stark madness and logic took hold when she saw the hints of fear in Elora’s guards and citizens looking to her for guidance.

  “Courage,” Rayna whispered as her fingers touched the lute strings, “We need courage.”

  Running her fingers hard against the lute, the sound of electric guitar blasted out. The world seemed to stop as she played, driving her spirit through her fingers and into the instrument. The music blared as she played on, eyes on the lute before they closed, letting the music take hold.

  The people of Elora looked to the bard, playing her heart out. A calm courage sank into their hearts. It spread like wildfire as she played on, filling them with a burst of internal strength. Hands took hold of scorpion triggers while others touched levers on catapults. The confusion bled away as every single citizen readied for the command.

  Rayna stopped playing and looked out to Elora’s people, “Unleash our hellfire and BURN THE ENEMY TO CINDERS!”

  Faye ran, eyes looking up at the two giant monsters coming toward her. The three armed one opened his maw, flames leaking out. The four legged one galloped; multiple eyes on the wood elf. Faye readied her chi and prepared her fighting styles when the sky lit up with magical fire.

  Triggers and levers pulled. Magical cannonballs launched into the air. The stone surfaces of the stone cannonballs exploded into fire, ice and blazing auras as the evening sky flared. The two monsters looked up from the advancing elf as a wave of magical death came rushing down. The orbs smashed into the monsters, exploding in a cacophony of light and sound. Immense bodies stumbled back as their deformed skin was blasted by the city’s defenses.

  Edric ran as the air elemental followed above him. The summoner cursed himself for running into battle but deep down, he knew he couldn’t stop himself. Cold logic washed over his mind as his eyes darted from Elora to Faye and back to Elora. The summoner ignored the giant monsters as the city’s defenses hammered at them. He needed to protect Faye. If any of them had a chance to save Elora and fight off two dread lords, it was the monk wood elf.

  Faye bolted past the drell-kai, oval eyes on the raised platform and Elora on her knees. To the right and left of the platform, archers lowered their aim, watching as the wood elf drew closer.

  “Let’s not make it easy for her. Fire a volley,” Maggar laughed.

  The glint of steel arrowheads shined before bow strings released. A volley of arrows shot up and came down as the wood elf lowered her upper body, bent her knees, pumped chi into her legs and launched forward. The arrows came down, striking the grassy earth, missing the monk’s heels by half an inch.

  Maggar’s smile dimmed, “Again.”

  Arrows pulled back and were set loose. Faye closed the distance but saw the archers had adjusted for her speed. Pumping chi into her arms, she crossed them over her face when the wind picked up and slammed into the arrows. Faye glanced past her arms as the arrows scattered in every direction away, an air elemental above her. The wood elf didn’t slow down as she was forty feet from the platform.

  Edric whispered arcane words as he called on another spell.

  (Spell Casting)65+(Int)7-(Running)15=57/(Encounter Roll)88! Spell Unsuccessful!

  The spell fizzled as Edric tried again. The player cursed himself as he reattempted the spell. It was only a matter of seconds before the dread lords would tire and unleash their entire army.

  Claudia landed next to the summoner as her legs bent. Edric turned to her, eyes taking in her confident smile as she winked and l
aunched herself into the air, the dirt under her boots scattering upwards.

  The lancer launched herself straight up toward the three-armed monster. It held up one arm, blocking the incoming magical fire while a clawed hand opened, ready to swipe at her. Claudia’s brow formed a hard V as she pulled back her arm and threw her spear. It launched like a rifle shot, speeding toward the monster’s neck and penetrating halfway down the shaft. The monster roared in pain as the lancer landed on his neck, hands gripping the spear and twisting it. Like a flea hanging on for dear life, the lancer set to task, driving the spear point a little deeper and using leverage to open the wound.

  A green bar appeared over the three-armed monster as it roared and clawed at its neck. Claudia planted her feet and pushed against the monster’s neck. The spear came loose as she fell backwards, the monsters claws just missing her. Like a falling dancer, Claudia spun her body until her feet pointed down. She hit the ground, spear in hand and looking up.

  The three-armed drell-kai looked down on the lancer as magical explosions struck its chest. A growl of rage as it opened its maw and blasted out a thick stream of fire. Claudia leapt into the air backwards, eyes on the monster and spear at the ready. Gravity had little hold on the lancer as she landed tens of feet away, adjusted her footing and jumped. The drell-kai continued to vomit a stream of fire as the lancer reached the zenith of her jump and launched her spear. With deadly accuracy, the spear bolted forward and the monster blinked. The spear penetrated the eyelid and sank in dead center of the left eye.

  The drell-kai’s fire breath stopped as the monster roared amid explosions. Opening its good eye, it watched as the lancer came at him, eyes filled with confident ease. Claudia landed on its snout, ran across it, grabbed her spear and pulled it. The lancer flipped into the air as the monster smashed a fist into its own face, causing it to stumble back.

  Juna watched from the battlements, her friends taking on the threats head on as Rayna played her lute and shouted orders. Determination filled her eyes as hands reached up to the pommels of her swords crisscrossing her back. Unable to watch any longer, she prepared to join them when something sharp cut across the back of her neck.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t risk you going into battle,” said a fatherly voice from behind.

  Juna turned to see Jinn sheathing his dagger. “I have to...” the half-troll trailed off as weakness spread into her limbs.

  “It’s a paralyzing poison, you will be fine in a few hours,” Jinn said with sad eyes.

  Juna’s legs trembled before their strength gave out. Jinn caught her and held her close as everyone around them focused on the battle. Holding the half-troll, Jinn sank down with her.

  “…help…them…” Juna said in a faint whisper, eyes blinking slowly.

  Jinn’s arms held the half-troll to his chest, “I lost you once. I will not lose you again. Your friends are strong and you will forgive me, one day.”

  Juna tried to call out but her lips didn’t move. She lay helpless against the assassin’s chest, hope dwindling.

  Elora’s eyes gazed on the wood elf sprinting toward her. Eyes shifting, she focused on Edric as he and his ogre barreled toward her amid all the chaos. Maggar’s smile disappeared and turned his attention to the captive. Reaching down with one hand, he hoisted her up to her feet, the dagger still in his other hand.

  “This will be succulent,” Maggar said with a menacing edge.

  Faye reached the edge of the platform and launched into the air. The flow of time thinned as several actions took place. Maggar reared his arm back past his waist, the black dagger point aiming for Elora’s neck. Faye pumped chi into her body as it surged forward, protective intent etched into her smooth brow. Edric ran past the two drell-kai monsters, his elemental blasting away arrows. The summoner’s heart leapt in his chest as bodies moved in slow motion, eyes connecting with Elora’s.

  Faye’s oval eyes drank in every moment. She watched as the dagger moved toward the bound Elora, the roar of trolls behind the platform as they readied for battle. Kadvar Grey stood with his arms crossed and a bored expression on his face. Faye felt sensations of air gliding over her skin, bringing a moment of peace in a world filled with jagged edges. Every ounce of focus spilled into the wood elf as time flashed back to normal.

  Maggar drove the dagger toward Elora and before the blade could penetrate her neck, a hand grabbed his wrist like a steel vice. Maggar turned his wild eyes to the wood elf as she glared at him with almost divine power. Faye’s feet planted on the platform as her left fist pulled back; ready to punch the dread lord to pieces. Edric’s eyes widened as hope flared around his heart.

  “Enough,” Kadvar spit as he grabbed Elora and shoved her against the black dagger.

  Faye’s eyes shifted and pain roared. The wood elf watched as Elora was impaled on the black dagger, its length buried in her chest. Elora cried out as the dread lords grinned evilly. Faye’s body went on automatic. Fist ready, she thrust it so hard into Maggar’s cheek that the dread lord’s eyes bulged. The dread lord’s body lifted into the air as the monk pulled back her fist and drove her heel into his midsection. The dread lord bent in half as he was thrown twenty feet into the air, taking the dagger with him as he fell into the troll troops behind the platform.

  Kadvar’s eyes widened as an aura appeared around the monk, turning her attention on him. Before he could draw a blade, hands grabbed his tunic and lifted him up like he weighed nothing. With a spin, the dread lord went flying in the opposite direction, smashing into several trolls, sending weapons and bodies everywhere.

  Elora fell, her body twisting and vibrating. Faye turned and grabbed her, guiding her fall until they were both on their knees. The wood elf’s eyes were wide as Elora’s body shifted and vibrated out of control. The woman turned her purple eyes to Faye, pain and torment rippling through her digital form.

  “Tell…Edric...I…remember…” Elora managed before her body twisted into shards of bent light.

  Faye held Elora close as she trembled, her body rippling with malformed pulses.

  “I will,” Faye whispered, a tear forming in the corner of her eye.

  Elora clutched to the wood elf before cracks ran along her form and she shattered into a thousand points of light. Faye stayed on her knees, bits of light floating around her until they faded away, a song of sorrow in her heart.

  Thirteen

  The sounds of explosions and roars faded into silence. Edric slowed down his charge, eyes drinking in Elora huddling in Faye’s arms, her body twisting in unnatural ways. Lips moved before she held onto the wood elf, her eyes looking down and seemingly accepting her fate.

  Edric’s silence soon filled with his rapid heartbeat, his internal light dimming. Lines of light ran along Elora’s body. Edric witnessed her end like brown leaves falling from a dying tree. The moment she shattered, the player’s heart cracked and numbness took root. It ran deep, the player’s eyes watching each point of light winking out until she was gone.

  Amid the rhythmic pulses of his heart filling his ears, the player stood. Leeta barreled past him, falling to one knee, aiming the scorpion crossbow in her hands and pulling the trigger. The magical orb launched into the frontline, stabbing out explosions and sending troll bodies up like rag dolls. The ogre reached back and plucked another stone orb. Slamming it into the front of the oversized crossbow, she pulled it back in the crossbow cord until it locked into place. Re-aiming, she pulled the trigger and another explosion stabbed into the front line on the left side of the platform. Dirt and debris shot into the sky as bodies were thrown back. Faye slowly stood up, her back to the ogre and summoner, facing the vast troll army before her.

  Leeta turned her head and yelled back at Edric. The summoner watched her lips move but he couldn’t hear a word. Her hand moved with almost practiced ease as she reloaded and fired again. The troll army seemed to bristle as a blood need of hatred and violence rippled through the ranks. In Edric’s logical mind, he saw that the immense army was ab
out to attack but he continued to stand, his spirit trying to pick up each half of his heart.

  The numbness fell away as heat pumped into his veins. The sliver of disbelief was swallowed up as the battlefield churned into a war machine. Leeta aimed and fired while Faye stood, the wrappings around her arms unrolling and falling away. The sounds of explosions, roars and yelling snapped back into place and Edric’s eyes fell to the loyal ogre firing and yelling over her shoulder.

  “We have to save Faye,” Leeta roared to her master and fired again.

  The wood elf monk stood, facing the troll army. Oval eyes narrowed into slits as the wrappings around her arms and legs fell to the platform floor. Chakra points appeared along her tanned arms and legs as she stood legs apart. Memories flashed of Edric staring at her as his seed splashed on her stomach, an alert appearing in her vision as they held each other, bodies blending into one, a technique filling her as she unlocked it.

  The wood elf knew it was only matter of time before she would achieve the Stone Mountain technique. Triangular symbols emerged on her forearms, shins and her chest. Power welled up as she gazed on the horde of trolls roaring and charging. The distance between them was small, merely twenty feet but it was more than enough for the wood elf to unlock one of five master techniques. A litany of sharp and blunt weapons rose up as the monk stared down the horde. Edric’s pain and Elora’s last moment painted her mind with purpose.

  Brutish trolls charged the monk as explosions to the left and right of her seemed to make her larger in their black eyes. Fear stabbed at the front line but it was too late, the momentum of the flood pushing them toward the lone elf was unstoppable. Roars turned to shrieks as the wood elf bent at the knees and charged. Faye crossed her forearms, mountain symbols on each one. The front line surged toward her until both sides met in a storm of swords and flying bodies.

  Leeta’s brow rose as she loaded the scorpion crossbow. Golden eyes took in the spectacle as the wood elf met the enemy head on and sent bodies into the air. Faye’s thin face became a mask of indifference as her body crashed into armored trolls and sent them screaming into the air. Limbs turning into a blur, she clamped down hands on troll shoulders and lifted them up as if they weighed nothing. Spinning, she used them, whipping trolls into each other. Roars turned into screams as she became a whirling dervish. Trolls moved in, trying to fill the gaps before they too were thrown into the air. When the two trolls in her hands took enough damage, their bodies shattered into light and then she pressed her attack.