Primeval

by Eden Redd

  The right hydra head glared down as Morgan reengaged. Sword in hand, he zig zagged across the open field as lightning bolts blasted down. Explosions caused him to stumble but seeing Will trying to get away pushed him to move faster. Mist flowed off his sword as he approached before the head came down and snapped at him. Morgan jumped just as teeth and snout sank into the ground. Back on his feet, the black-eyed man stabbed at the creature’s head. Mouth opening, Morgan’s sword missed before sharp teeth came down. Morgan activated the sword’s ice stab ability, a blade made of ice flashing forward just as teeth clamped down.

  The hydra roared in pain as many of its teeth were shattered from the attack. It whipped its head, trails of blood flowing with it and struck Morgan hard. He went crashing to the ground, sword flying from his hand. Morgan tried to get up, seeing the hydra rear back and energy pooling in its mouth.

  “No!” Will shouted as he leapt in the air and slammed his flaming hammer against the side of the monster’s head.

  The lightning blast went wild, hitting the forest edge and setting it aflame. Morgan was to his feet and grabbing his sword before running. The area was littered with smoking craters and lightning blasts. The hydra continued its onslaught but never moving from the cave entrance.

  Cyndi looked up, seeing all three heads of the monster snapping and firing lightning at Will. He moved like a flea to the giant monster, hitting the ground and leaping away. The hydra roared as heads bore down to chomp on the jumping morsel. Cyndi was up and taking hold of Stella, putting her hands under the witch angel’s arms and pulling her toward the forest. Looking to her left, she saw that some of the forest was on fire and the flames were creeping in their direction.

  “Come on you piece of shit!” Will shouted as he landed, turned and jumped toward the lumbering monster.

  One head snapped at him as he shot past, followed by another. The middle head bore down as Will reared back his flaming hammer. Power filled the player as he whipped the hammer around hard, striking near the eye and causing the hydra head to look away. Blackened scales singed the head as it turned back to Will. The player landed as all heads glared down on him with a seething hatred.

  “Finally got your attention,” Will said as he turned and bolted for the trees.

  The hydra roared as it followed, blood lust in its three pairs of eyes. The ground shook as it stomped after the little man. The entrance cleared, Val, Sil and Nova crept in and disappeared into the darkness.

  Will’s legs blurred as he ran. He was faster than his normal speed, but only by a little. The hydra was gaining, heads snapping at his back and heels. The creature was big, but surprisingly quick. Flames roared from the burning forest. A quick decision caused the player to move faster, darting into the flaming forest as the hydra slowed its advance to skidding to a halt, flames licking at its scales.

  ***

  Cool air flowed as Val led the way. Sil and Nova stayed close behind, senses alert. Val kept her pace steady, moving deeper and deeper into the mountain. The sounds of fighting dimmed, but a new sound began to grow. The pale beauty looked to the walls, not seeing any webs, but sensitive ears picked up movement from deep within. Claws growing from fingertips, she kept her cool until she reached a high archway and a larger room within. Moving to the archways edge, Sil and Nova did the same. The green-skinned Stalker peeked over Val’s shadowy cloak, eyes widening a hair.

  Val stared out at a massive chamber. Moans and shuffling echoed off the stone walls as hundreds of ghouls walked in a swirling circle. Their gray and pale bodies marched, occasionally bumping into each other and in the middle, stood a glowing cube, a small statue on top of it. The cube pulsed like a living thing until something stepped out of it. Val watched as a ghoul moaned, slipping from the smooth surface of the cube and stepping into the vortex of ghouls walking around it.

  Val turned to Sil and Nova. “This is too dangerous. Both of you stay here and I will attempt to fight my way through to the Idol. Once I have it, get ready to run.”

  The kobold shook her head, “We can’t let you do that. We came here together and we will do it together.”

  Val gave the kobold a small smile, “I’m open to ideas.”

  Nova looked to the massive crowd of ghouls before looking down. “I think I can clear out a path for you,” she whispered.

  Sil looked to the Stalker, “Will said no big boom.”

  Nova nodded. “I know, but I can do a small one. If I get in deep enough, I can take enough out to make a path but I have to go alone.”

  “You can do that?” Val asked.

  Nova nodded again. “Yes, but my kind become unconscious for a short time after each boom. That’s why we only hunt single prey. I’ll recover, but I’m not sure if it will be soon enough. The ghouls that survive will attack me.”

  Val nodded. “Sil can grab you after your boom while I make my way to the Idol. I don’t know what that giant glowing cube is, but it’s creating ghouls to protect it. We are only doing this if we all agree.”

  Sil eyed Nova and nodded, “I will get you out.”

  “Nova, this is dangerous,” Val said.

  The green skinned woman firmed up her resolve. “I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I wasn’t willing to do it. The Idol is important. We can’t have come all this way for nothing.”

  “Okay, when you’re ready,” Val said before turning to the chamber.

  “Remember what I showed you,” Sil whispered to Nova.

  “I will.”

  Nova stood up, spear in two hands while a third hand drew her copper dagger. Taking a deep breath, she mentally repeated 'No big boom.' Taking a second breath, she gazed on the swirling horde of pale bodies. One ghoul turned its head toward her and snarled. The snarl spread out as more and more turned to see the four-armed woman ready herself.

  “For Lord Asher!” Nova shouted as she charged.

  Val and Sil watched as Nova barreled into the edge of the ghoul horde. Spear at the ready she stabbed and slashed like a hornet. Lower arm moving, she slashed at bellies as the ghoul horde turned and attacked. Clawed hands reached for her before her spear whirled around, smacking them away and slicing with her dagger. Limbs flew as internal organs spilled. Ghouls fell from the attacks as other stumbled over their fallen brethren. Val’s arms tensed as the horde swarmed the lone Stalker.

  All fear vanished as Nova became a whirling dervish. Legs moving, she kicked with her feet, sliced with her dagger and stabbed her spear point into heads. The rush of ghouls slowed her down, her spear now functioning like a staff. A clawed hand raked across her thigh while another slashed against her arm. The swarm began to overpower her as she could barely move.

  “You won't stand in our way,” Nova seethed as she let go of her spear.

  Dagger falling to the floor, all four arms flashed open. Ghouls grabbed hold, biting her and she grimaced before embracing a ghoul in front of her. Energy glowed from her midsection as teeth bore into her exposed flesh. The rippling energy reached its zenith.

  Val and Sil stared as energy bloomed and exploded. Ducking back, limbs and gore blasted hard stone. Looking back out, a swath of the horde lay in pieces and blood while around the chamber, ghouls shook their heads and slowly began to stand up. Nova lay in the middle of the carnage, blood dripping from wounds along her body.

  Val and Sil burst into the chamber. The pale beauty vaulted over Nova’s fallen form and charged for the giant glowing cube. Sil reached Nova, grabbed her and began to pull. The kobold’s arms trembled as she growled. Nova was heavy compared to her, but her legs pushed as arms pulled. Progress was slow as she pulled Nova, ghouls turning their attention to the kobold and stalking forward.

  Val rushed up to the cube, several ghouls growling before rushing her. Claws flashed and heads fell from necks. Val saw that the ghouls were already recovering and time was running out. Leaping up to the edge of the cube, she slashed at attacking ghouls until a clawed hand emerged from the cube. Grabbing its wrist, she pulled and slashed. Blood
spurted as the hand came away. Val bent her knees and leapt up. Landing on top of the cube, she looked to the small stone statue of a man in a long trench coat and tentacles emerging from within the coat. He had a devilish smirk etched into his face as he stared on.

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Sil let go of Nova and pull her spear, several ghouls running toward her. The kobold charged, driving her spear into necks and slashing away. Heads rolled to their sides, the ghouls unable to coordinate with their bodies and crashing into others. The lone kobold was a miniature tornado, her spear stabbing into anything that moved too close.

  Val turned to the statue and reached for it. “Time to go home,” she said as she grasped it and picked it up.

  Val thought something would happen like a glow or flash, but nothing happened. Turning, she leapt over the side as a swarm of ghouls closed in. Legs pumping, she cut and slashed at the few ghouls in her way. Sil kept several more at bay until her spear point ended their existence. Nova’s eyes opened and she sat up. Glancing at her wounds, she slowly stood up.

  “Back! Back outside!” Val shouted as she reached the two monster women.

  All three made a run for the entrance as a horde of ghouls chased after them with gnashing teeth and hissing moans.

  ***

  Will stumbled through the burning forest. Smoke and flames blinded him as his digital lungs cried out for air. Making his way further into the flaming forest, lightning flashed and struck the ground from five feet away. The shockwave sent him flying sideways and crashing into a burning tree. Flames burned and he pulled away.

  You have taken 4 damage! You have 6 Hearts remaining.

  A small gray cloud blinked in the corner of his vision and a timer began to count down. Seeing the alert, Will guessed it meant he was going to suffocate and take damage if he didn’t make it out of the burning forest. Moving on, he heard the roars of the hydra before lighting blasted through and shattering burning trees. The area around him turned into hell as he coughed and forced himself to march. Hammer heavy in his hands, the timer reached zero and pain stabbed at him.

  You have taken 1 damage! You have 5 Hearts remaining.

  Will charged through, looking for any break in the flames, a patch he could run for. A shadow appeared at his side. Looking over, Cyndi rushed him, took hold and began to pull. The player let her lead him through the flames as he took another point of damage. The smoke blocked all vision and Will wasn’t sure what was happening until they stepped out of the burning forest.

  Cyndi carried on, coughing and her face covered in soot. Will barely sheathed his hammer over his shoulder as weakness sank into his muscles. Falling, Cyndi with him, both crashing to the floor, nearly side by side. The pair coughed and struggled to breath. Will looked to her and she looked to him. Gazes meeting, something flared like a candle on a dark night.

  Roars filled the sky. A figure stumbled from the forest. Morgan saw Will and Cyndi on the ground and rushed to them. Without a word, he helped them both to their feet. Cyndi pointed in a direction and the black-eyed man moved. Will soon moved under his own power, as did Cyndi. The roars grew louder as the three of them reached Stella. The witch was slowly getting to her feet and looking past tree tops.

  “It’s coming this way,” Stella yelled.

  “We…have…to fall back,” Will wheezed.

  “Val and the others,” Morgan stated.

  Will took a deep breath before squaring his shoulders. “You three go. I’ll go back for them.”

  Morgan shook his head, “You’re in no condition to go back.”

  Will grabbed Morgan’s leather collar and pulled him close, “I won’t leave them behind. Get out of here and we will meet you…” Will trailed off as a triple roar vibrated across the sky.

  Val, Sil, and Nova darted out of the entrance, greeted by destruction, a flaming forest and the hydra looking around. The flames kept the beast at bay. One of the heads opened a mouth and blasted it into the forest until sensitive ears picked up a storm of moans. Another head turned to see three figures running for the tree line. A second later, a stream of ghouls flowed from the mountain entrance.

  All three heads turned, snarls forming. Part of the wave of ghouls shifted and broke away, hungry eyes on the hydra. Val glanced back to see what was happening. The ghouls spent so much time around the glowing cube, she guessed they never ventured out. The hydra was so big, it never went further than the large entrance. Mindless ghouls charged the giant three-headed monster before streams of lightning blasted them to burnt chunks. It barely slowed the ghouls as they turned toward the bigger target.

  Val watched as even the ghouls chasing them veered off and advanced on the giant monster. The hydra growled before lightning lit up the area. Several ghouls made it past the bolts of energy, but were quickly smashed to paste by the giant creature. One head roared as the other two blasted out streams at the hundreds of ghouls.

  Will and Morgan waved their hands at the tree line. Val, Sil and Nova changed direction and ran with all their might. When the groups met, hands grabbed at each other and everyone pulled into the forest. Will looked down at the statue in Val’s hand, a small smile blooming.

  Thunderous roars and dark moans echoed off the mountain as the hydra stomped on the ghouls, the setting sun touching the western horizon.

  Fifteen

  Lungs burned as bodies rushed through the forest. Will huffed, energy bottoming out and his pace slowing. The sun sank lower in the sky, a handful of stars struggling against the dimming light. Air cooled as Morgan and Cyndi slowed, huffing loudly. Stella clutched the side of her head, regaining her wits while Val’s strides turned into normal steps. The Idol in her hand looked on with dead eyes while Sil and Nova slowed, chests rising and falling in rapid succession.

  Will turned his head, mouth open and gasping for air. A plume of black smoke rose in the distance behind them, faraway roars touching the sky. The orange glow of fire licked the air as a thrashing barely touched sensitive ears.

  Will turned his gaze to Val before it fell to the Idol in her hands. The pale beauty looked to Will and smirked, lifting up the Idol for him to see. Sil and Nova moved to Val’s sides while Stella, Cyndi, and Morgan approached. The group came together, eyes on the small statue of a man with tentacles emerging from his trench coat.

  “We should build a shelter first. We only have about ten minutes before the sun goes down,” Morgan huffed as he slowly regained his breath.

  “This will only take a moment,” Will said, his gaze never leaving the Idol and lifting his hand to touch it.

  A trickle of power touched Will’s senses as his fingers extended. If touching this Idol was anything like touching the Yir Idol, he was going to gain enough power to create a real kingdom, strong enough to protect everyone from the monsters that prowl across Jova.

  Val gave a small smile, “I hope for all our sakes there is a recipe to make wine.”

  Nova and Sil watched with profound intensity. Stella lowered her hat to cover her eyes, but glancing to her side, she caught Cyndi’s finger twitch. Morgan watched as his senses took in the area around them, listening for any ghouls or monsters that may approach. Cyndi didn’t blink as Will’s hand was inches away.

  “Tell me your secrets,” Will whispered when a hand shot forward.

  Time slowed as Cyndi reached for the Idol, her gaze turning into determination. Will’s hand bolted forward, touching the Idol a half a second sooner, the area turning dark, bodies melting away and a stone temple filling the space around him.

  Will stood, hand out and touching nothing. Temple pillars filled the vast space, creating a path to a high altar. On the altar, a larger statue stood of the man with wild eyes, arms out and black tentacles emerging from his coat. Torches burned, light dancing along with shadows.

  A figure stepped from behind a pillar near the altar, the same man as the Idol, hands in a slow clap.

  “Bravo…bravo, Will Asher,” the man smiled widely.

  Will watche
d as the man approached, a saunter in his step. The closer he came, the greater the details came to light. A large forehead sharpened down to a near pointy chin. Large eyes were black with white dots, like stars in the black sky. The trench coat fluttered with each step but no tentacles writhed from its dark confines. The air took on a chill, Will’s breath coming out frosty.

  The man stood before the player, eyes never blinking. “Congratulations, you found me. I am Draygon, Elder Star Spawn, God of Chaos and all-around divine being of darkness. I’m sure you’re ready for your rewards.”

  Will nodded, his mind distracted by what Cyndi attempted before he arrived.

  One of Draygon’s brows rose up before giving a sinister chuckle. “No need to worry about anything else right now. When we are finished, you will return to the spot in time where that hero betrayed you. For now, let’s talk about the past and the future.”

  “Talk?” Will said, not sure what he was expecting. Yir wasn’t much for words, but this god seemed different. He wondered if they were all different.

  “We are different,” Draygon grinned. “I’m not supposed to tell you the finer details of what is happening, but I was never one to follow the rules. But before we get to the nitty gritty, I reward you with 15 points to increase your stats. Spend them and we will continue.”

  An alert filled Will’s gaze as he brought up his character stats.

  William Asher

  Hearts: 5/10

  Armor: 6

  Primary Weapon: Copper Hammer: Gem slot Ruby: Fire Damage

  Secondary Weapon: Copper Sword

  Tunic: Stone Protection

  Leggings: Swiftness

  Boots: Leaping

  Strength: 12 (Apprentice)

  Intelligence: 11 (Apprentice)

  Agility: 12 (Apprentice)

  Will: 7 (Novice)

  Mana: 5 (Novice)

  Path: Beast (Apprentice)

  Forms

  Wolf