by Eden Redd
Edric’s body began to vibrate. Pain and torment filled his muscles. Heartache spiraled and an engine deep within glowed with new heat. The player shook his head as the blade slowly pulled back from his body. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t let this happen. The player’s mouth opened, a small sound coming out until it turned into a growling roar. The enemy was walking all over him, just like his real life. The world pushed him around, making him do things he didn’t want to do. A life of servitude flashed and the player screamed “NO MORE!”
Edric grabbed his whip with both hands. The troll behind him pulled his blade out of the summoner, ready to cut him down. Edric turned with the whip and rammed his shoulder into the larger troll. The troll stumbled back as the summoner wrapped the whip around the enemy’s neck and pulled it tight. The troll gasped as Edric took hold of the whip handle and activated the Lightning Damage and Power Surge gem slots.
The troll’s neck seared with white energy before the surge blasted into digital flesh. Edric stood his ground as troll blood sprayed into his face and the brute’s head blasted off from its shoulders. The body began to crack with light but Edric placed a hand on the armored chest and pushed. The troll fell and shattered to pieces as Edric brought his whip around. One hand made arcane symbols while the summoner’s whip lashed out.
Citizens looked to the mad summoner as he fought like a caged tiger. An arcane symbol appeared as his whip smacked a troll helmet before it exploded from a power surge. An angel rose from the circle, blade in hand and armor gleaming in the light. She moved to Edric’s side, assisting as he coiled his whip around a troll and pulled him close, the angel stabbing her holy blade deep in the enemy’s chest.
Edric rushed toward the enemy by the new breach. Trolls and undead witnessed as Faye, Leeta and Elora’s citizens rallied to his side, fury in their eyes. When the enemy was stunned by their ferocious surge, Edric leapt in the air, bringing his whip down with a god’s wrath in his mad snarl.
***
Light danced around the walled city in the distance. Two figures stepped from the eastern forest, eyes on the dragon swooping down, burning the incredible hordes of trolls and undead. The area seemed to move like a living thing, the ground parting in places and fighting taking place across the vast land.
A knight in blue armor and a knight in white armor began to march. Their armored bodies moved with purpose as they made their way. The fighting grew louder with each step but the two never wavered. The enemy in the distance didn’t notice them, their eyes and hearts on conquering the city.
The white knight pulled a wide blade from his back and held it at the ready. He looked to the blue knight, his lips and thin mustache curving into a smile. The blue knight drew her sword from over her shoulder and held it at the ready as well.
“Send the signal and I’ll defend our position,” the blue knight said with confidence.
The white knight nodded. “Do you think he’s really here?”
Sonja looked out to the city, hope glimmering in her heart. “I hope so. He has a lot to answer for.”
Lance looked over to the blue knight with understanding eyes. “Take it easy on him. I’m sure it was hard for him to send that letter.”
“Let’s get this over with so we all can move on,” Sonja said with a sad edge.
Lance kept his small smile before lifting the wide blade and pointing it at the sea of trolls and undead. Shatter Light hummed with power as the white knight held his arm steady. With a mental command, the sword glowed white before a thick blast of energy burst forth.
Sonja watched as the white beam slammed into enemy troops and blasted them to bits of light. Lance brought his arm slowly across, the beam engulfing the enemy in a white brilliance before they became nothing but shards in the wind. Hundreds turned into over a thousand as the white beam continued through the crowd of enemy troops. The bodies lit up and were gone. When the beam petered out, Lance sheathed the blade over his shoulder and then drew his rapier.
Dazzled trolls and undead turned their attention to the two lone figures not far from the eastern forest. When the shock wore off, the ranks turned and charged. Parts of the main force broke off to charge the two knights standing in the distance.
“Here they come,” Lance sighed.
“Don’t let them scoff your armor,” Sonja said as she prepared a technique.
The blue knight activated a technique as the forest behind them writhed to life. Sonja’s body doubled and doubled again. Identical copies multiplied until fifty exact versions of the blue knight stood. All drawing their swords at once, they created a line.
“Call in the rest,” Fifty versions of Sonja said in unison.
“Yes, my love,” Lance grinned.
Figures emerged from the tree line, eyes on the incoming trolls and undead. Weapons cleared sheaths, bowstrings pulled back and crossbows aimed. Lance activated his harem, the very air beginning to vibrate.
A paladin, two rogues and an assortment of other players and awakened stepped from the forest edge. Hundreds emerged from the forest, eyes on the enemy. The gentle rumble of the enemy rushed closer. The world seemed to stop for a long second. Sonja eyed the incoming trolls while Lance slowly closed his eyes, enjoying the vibration before the storm.
Monsters of all kinds appeared around the white knight. The hundred monsters readied themselves as more of their allies stepped closer. When the trolls were within a hundred feet, Sonja whipped her swords, ghostly blades shooting out and stabbing into the front line. Trolls and undead faltered and shattered as more pressed on. Sonja unleashed sword swings, each ghostly blade sinking into the enemy.
Lance held up his sword and took a deep breath. “Attack,” the white knight shouted with the power of a cannon.
The gathered army of concubines and players cheered into a sonic storm as they rushed to the battle line. Sonja’s images cut down the enemy with every swing of her blade and just as the enemy approached, the army behind the blue knight rushed to meet them. In a blink of an eye, bodies and weapons crashed into each other like two tsunamis from opposing sides.
The symphony of battle filled the night. Light flashed as armored bodies were sliced and bashed to shards. Cleric’s healed the wounded as Sonja and Lance’s forces pushed the enemy back. The carnage knew no bounds as the war machines burned at each other with jagged power.
A gold and gray armored paladin held hammers in each hand, one gray and one white. He bashed his way through like a juggernaut. His mere presence sent some the undead fleeing. Paladins and clerics joined him as he dove headfirst into battle, each hammer strike true.
Two rogues rushed in with two elfish companions’ behind them. The rogue yawned as he pulled up his crossbow and fired into the crowd while paladins, clerics and knights fought on. A second rogue with long black hair, fired alongside him, her crossbow bolts striking foreheads and exploding.
“We’re missing it,” the male half- elf behind the couple whined.
“Yea, you can’t keep us on the side lines forever,” the female fay followed up.
Renner glanced back with a tired eye. “Venner and Lydia, I will turn this battle around and go home. Stay behind us and be ready if they get too close.”
Vass looked over and gave a sweet smile. “Let them join in. They are stronger than us. I’m sure they’ll be okay.”
Renner eyed the beautiful elf, his brow wrinkling, “You can’t be so easy on them. Remember what happened to Jayson’s kid? And don’t make me seem like the bad guy!”
Vass fired a bolt into the air. “But you are the bad guy,” Vass said with a sickly-sweet smile as an explosion in the distance sent several trolls into the air.
Renner looked forward and fired a bolt into the air. “This is bullshit.”
Vass turned to the two elf looking adults with black hair and golden stripes running from their foreheads into ponytails. “Go ahead. Just remember, if it starts to get too rough out there, what do we do?”
“Stab them in the throat,”
Venner and Lydia said in unison.
Vass smiled. “Have fun.”
The two awakened rushed ahead with wide smiles. When they were twenty feet from Renner and Vass, golden transparent wings appeared from their backs. With a leap into the air, their wings fluttered until they were nearly invisible. The two rushed to the battle line. Golden blades appeared in their hands as they flew over the trolls. The enemy looked up to see two elves with golden auras rush them, blades ready. When the elves flew close, their blades lashed out, slicing three trolls each with one strike. Bodies exploded into light as the two awakened cut into the enemy horde with little or no difficulty.
Venner and Lydia cut through lines of trolls and undead, creating openings for Sonja and Lance’s forces to advance. Troll forces continued to fall as they were decimated, hundreds at a time. A goblin paladin with giant armored gauntlets punched her way through while an orc whipped a red war hammer into the crowd, shattering trolls.
Undead began to flee as holy light burned their abyssal bodies. Sonja’s duplicates blended with her forces, aiding and carving her way through the trolls. Lance stepped along with his sword arm a storm of perfect slices. The white knight kept his pace steady as a confident grin lead the way.
The chains of morale began to crack. Trolls watched their brothers and sisters rush to their deaths against the new army in the field. There was no stopping them and the chains binding them together shattered. Trolls watched as undead fled and then they began to follow. Weapons hit the ground as the troll army began to fall apart. Soon, panic swelled and most of the trolls turned and tried to run, pushing others out of the way. The stampede crushed fellow soldiers as the enemy forces collapsed. War horns sounded a retreat and soon every troll soldier was running.
A blackened body sat up. Kadvar looked down at large shards of golden metal impaled in his undead body. Looking up, he watched as his troll forces rushed past him, not giving him a second glance. The dread lord struggled to stand up, his body not functioning correctly. Turning, he watched as fleeing trolls fell into new pits and ravines that had opened. The night filled with flashing light as the troll legions were cut down in their hasty retreat.
Kadvar could see the battle was lost. Turning, he moved to join the fleeing trolls when a lightning bolt struck him on the back and sent him flying forward into the muddy ground. The dread lord lifted his burnt and muddied face up. Turning again, his white eyes widened.
The battlefield was nearly empty as trolls ran for their very lives. Several paladins and clerics walked slowly toward the dread lord. The leader with blonde hair looked down, a hammer in each hand. Kadvar growled until he saw the white hammer in the leader’s hand.
“It looks like we have a dread lord in our midst,” the paladin said slyly.
Kadvar slowly crawled to his feet, eyeing the paladin. “Thorrin Rivers. I can see your carrying a Thunn bracer. It may give you an edge…but not enough to stop my power.”
Thorrin gave a small nod, eyes holding back a storm. “Your kind has done enough damage to this world. I’ve killed two dread lords and now it looks like I will kill my third.”
Kadvar let out a sarcastic laugh. “Hardly, Mad Morgan was weak and Vyle Wrath had been imprisoned too long to fight effectively. Even now, my power regenerates. Your pitiful Thunn hammer will not claim me.”
Thorrin kept his gaze steady for a long moment before he closed his eyes. “Normally that would be true but we are no longer in normal times. Your lord has killed many dragons and unlike before, they have decided to no longer be impartial in the war.”
Kadvar’s smile slowly faded as all the paladins and clerics gathered showing their own Thunn bracers. White light filled the area as maces and hammers appeared in their hands, radiating power.
Kadvar took a step back as the large group of holy warriors took a step closer.
“The dragons who escaped were very helpful on replicating the enchantments of Thunn’s powers. I would say most of our forces now have a weapon that can kill dread lords. Tonight is perfect to test it out,” Thorrin said with a grave tone.
Kadvar backed up as the paladins and clerics formed a semi-circle before him. Real fear bled into his eyes as he turned and bolted. Venner and Lydia landed in front of him, golden energy blades in their hands. Transparent fairy-like wings fluttered as they cornered the dread lord.
Kadvar turned to Thorrin with wide eyes, “I know a lot about you, Thorrin. I can help you with your children from the bog hag. I can…”
Thorrin smiled. “Your information is already out of date. I connected with them already and I have to say, they seemed to come around that I’m not some monster. Thank you for trying to bring my family together.”
Thorrin stepped closer, hammers at the ready.
Kadvar eyed him, sword in hand. “Then it ends.”
The paladin nodded before rushing in. Kadvar let his sword drop as the white hammer came down on his head. Paladins and clerics rushed to Thorrin’s side, pummeling the dread lord as he sank to his knees and then to the ground. Digital bones shattered in his back. Venner stepped into the fray, slicing open the dread lord’s back. Thorrin looked down at the black heart and brought his hammer down. As soon as he raised it, others joined in on smashing the black heart to paste. Light cracked along Kadvar’s body before it shattered to pieces, the abyss engulfing his fractured spirit a final time.
***
Maggar looked out to the battlefield with sardonic sorrow. Trolls retreated en masse as the undead scurried away from the holy light glowing across the field. A stab of pain licked his black heart as he felt Kadvar’s power dissipate into the void.
Wide eyes turned to Juna as she marched along, slicing through the last remaining trolls in her way. Beyond her, the rulers of Elora crushed what few forces left at their walls.
The blue and white knight led their army in, chasing away stragglers and Maggar sighed.
“So ends Lukken’s future,” Maggar said with heavy breath.
The dread lord pulled out another vial and pulled the cork from the top. Ingesting the clear liquid, he let the vial fall to the ground. Looking on, his body dissolved into mists and he floated away, vanishing into the night.
***
Edric heaved, his body covered in cuts and bruises. Faye and Leeta stood at his sides, their bodies covered in wounds and breathing heavy. On the damaged battlements, Rayna looked out as the enemy fled and she stopped playing. Weakness filled her muscles and she slumped down, pressing her back to a cracked wall and letting her lute slide down to her lap.
“This is why I don’t do two shows a night,” Rayna laughed to herself.
Edric took a shaky step forward, eyes catching dragon fire as Skalor flew down and burned fleeing trolls. The summoner’s eyes lowered until they focused on a figure wearing white armor, walking in his direction.
Juna looked to the city, heart beating faster as she saw Faye, Leeta and Edric. Muscles trembled as she kept her steady pace. The half-troll wanted to run, her mind painting a picture of hugging them all. The battle took more than she wanted to admit but she was content to smile, hoping they would see how happy she was to see them.
Edric stepped forward, haggard and exhausted. The summoner took slow steps as he hooked his whip to his belt. A peace fell across the land and Edric reached into his satchel, pulling out several healing potions. Tossing one to Faye and then Leeta, the player held onto two more; ready to drink his with the beautiful half-troll making her way to the city.
From the east, a large army walked toward the southern gate. Two knights led the impressive force, their eyes looking to Edric, Faye and Leeta. Sonja and Lance pressed on to meet them when a white glow caught their eyes. The white and blue knight turned their heads to see a troll woman in white armor slowly make her way to the city. For a brief instant, they thought it was a lone warrior making their last stand until she came into focus. Hearts beat widely in their chests. The two knights rushed ahead, swords sheathed and joy rising.
&n
bsp; Juna turned to the two knights running toward her. When she noticed the white and blue armors, strength returned to her limbs. Bringing her blades up, she sheathed them behind her back as the two knights rushed to her. Sonja and Lance slowed down as they looked on the troll in disbelief.
“Juna…,” Sonja began.
The half-troll looked to her father’s friends and tears flowed down her cheeks. Without any further word, the knights rushed to Juna and hugged her fiercely. Juna could not stop the rivers of tears as she held them close. Lance sobbed as they held their embrace.
Edric’s small smile faded as he watched the three hold each other. Players moved to the breach, weapons returning to sheaths. The summoner’s heart beat with a dull ache. Senses slowly returned to normal, as did his memory. Edric clenched his jaw as the image of Elora slain curled around his spirit like a thorn covered blanket.
Faye looked to their new friends, smiling. She glanced to Edric and her smile faded away. The darkness under his eyes grew longer as his body took on an uncomfortable demeanor. The monk’s almond shaped eyes wilted as she stepped closer to her friend.
“Edric…” Faye began.
The summoner looked to the wood elf with hollow eyes.
Faye’s lip wrinkled as she summoned the strength to speak. “…Elora…She said something to me…before she died.”
Edric stared at Faye, eyes taking a cloudy edge.
Faye’s heart stuttered before she knew she had to say it now. “…She said…she remembered everything.”
Edric’s expression did not change. The summoner’s eyes looked down and a small breeze passed over him. Leeta stepped closer to his side, eyes holding a pain, feeling and knowing her master’s heart had cracked in half.
“Thank you, Faye,” Edric said simply. “I know you did the best you could to save her.”
Edric fought to keep his heart together and continued. “If you don’t mind, please see to our new guests.”
Faye nodded, her eyes watering.
The summoner turned and began walking through the breach, Leeta following. The gathered citizens parted as the summoner made his way in. Faye stayed where she was, watching Edric as he stepped over rubble and made his way into a cobblestone street, Gray Haven Keep standing in the distance as stars shined from horizon to horizon.
