Primeval

by Eden Redd

  The player eyed his stats as Draygon cleared his throat.

  “You may want to spend most of them on your Will and Mana. It could be important.”

  Will saw Draygon’s mischievous grin and decided to follow his advice. Trying to be as even keeled as possible, the player mentally placed 5 points in Will, 5 points in Mana and spread out the remaining 5 points among his five attributes, increasing each of them by one. He looked over his new stats, seeing that he achieved a higher tier.

  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: 13 (Apprentice)

  Intelligence: 12 (Apprentice)

  Agility: 13 (Apprentice)

  Will: 13 (Apprentice)

  Mana: 11 (Apprentice)

  Path: Beast (Apprentice)

  Forms

  Wolf

  Draygon gave a small nod, keeping his intimidating smile. “Excellent, you are on your way to becoming very powerful. Now, I'm sure you have many questions. Don’t bother asking them because I can already read your mind.”

  The god blinked and his smile dimmed a little. “I see Yir got to you first. Shame, I would have enjoyed showing you a darker path. If you ever change your mind, pray to me and we can see if we can make some changes.”

  “There are more paths,” Will said simply.

  Draygon rolled his starry eyes, “Yes, there is. I see you don’t understand what I mean when it comes to reading your mind. Fine, we are going to do this the old-fashioned way, let’s begin.

  “Yir probably told you some things about paths. When you find an Idol, you are rewarded and luck will continue to follow you if you create places of worship. I am the same as are all of the other gods and goddesses here on Jova. What Yir couldn’t tell you was the finer details. It is forbidden across this celestial battlefield, but I don’t care for such rules. You have a blazing aura, one that will make most tremble when your strong enough. For that, I can’t help myself. I like the cloth you’re cut from and if we are going to make this relationship work, we need to work together.”

  “I’m ready,” Will stated.

  “Good,” Draygon smirked before he continued. “Let’s get the basic stuff out of the way. There is a celestial war across the universes and this place is one of the chosen battlegrounds.”

  “Yir told me that,” Will interjected.

  Draygon continued, ignoring Will, “Each battleground has thirteen gods, six gods of light, six gods of darkness and one neutral god to maintain the balance. The immortals of this world must gather the Idols or destroy them. There is a time limit, but you don’t have to worry about that. These battles can take generations to complete.”

  Draygon put his arms behind his back and paced from left to right and back again in front of Will. “Now, capturing Idols is the best way to ensure holding your power. Of course, you can destroy them, but it speeds up the time table and can cause an imbalance. If there are more idols of one side than the other, the battleground may suffer from cataclysms so I wouldn’t destroy any Idols if I was you.”

  “Why make that an option?” Will asked with an annoyed tone.

  Draygon threw up his hands, “I don’t understand it either but it's what everyone agreed to in the meetings. But I digress. The point of these battles is to influence living worlds across the cosmos. If the light wins, life will flourish. If darkness wins, life will diminish. If you’re on the winning side, you may even help influence how the universe will proceed until the next Convergence. Don’t like humans, they get wiped out. You get the picture.”

  A dark pulse vibrated along Will’s heart.

  Draygon continued pacing, “We, on the dark side, like what we see in you. You have a passion that fits with our goals. That is why I’m breaking the rules for you, so you understand what’s at stake. Your victory here will help across many celestial battlegrounds. Stay true to your ideals and you should be fine.”

  “Find and keep as many Idols as I can, got it.”

  “It goes beyond just finding Idols. To gain a greater edge, you need the peoples of this world to worship us. Set up temples, churches, anything you desire, but they must follow one or all of us. You must have an Idol to entice others.”

  Draygon’s shoulders sank a little as he let out a small huff. “Now, I have to tell you this part. You can have Idols from both sides, but the populaces may fall into conflicts. You must tread carefully. It goes with the master plan of collecting Idols. Whoever has the most Idols wins.

  “Now, before you start asking questions again, gathering all Idols is considered a perfect win. You get to decide which side you want to win and that influence will affect other battles in your favor just like they will affect you and this world. You are also granted a wish.

  “A perfect loss is if all Idols are destroyed. We don’t want this because your soul will be shattered and this world will die in horrific ways. It will also cause a backlash against other battlegrounds, giving them more power and influence, disrupting the balance. Do I have to tell you that is something nobody wants? The Convergence allows a soft reset and I would like to see my influence grow. Nobody wants the nuclear option just yet.”

  Will’s thoughts colored with Milly’s image.

  Draygon stopped pacing and faced Will. “I’m the only god who will not give you cryptic sayings or mysterious directives so make sure you don’t fuck this up. The six gods of light are pains in the ass. Despise is not a strong enough word. There is one goddess I want dead, but I’ll have to talk to you about it during your prayers. The Idols you collect allow for worship and we may come to you if you pray hard enough. Yir started you on the right path, but worshipping me will lead to victory.”

  “What is victory to you?” Will asked, his gaze sharp.

  Draygon gave an evil grin. “I want the old worlds and orders dead. I want a clean slate to start again. I want the strong and intelligent to rule, bringing a new peace across the multiverse.”

  The god looked down. “Places where enlightened minds can be free of persecution and ignorance,” Draygon whispered.

  Will didn’t blink as he stared at Draygon. The god’s words spoke to his soul and the player felt a bond cement into place.

  Draygon looked up, his gaze meeting Will’s, “Chaos culls the weak. The strong will inherit the universe.”

  “Find me. Worship me. You will be rewarded,” Will chanted.

  Draygon gave a slight nod, “You understand. You understand what it means to have faith.”

  Will’s heart beat with power. Purpose painted across his soul and fused with his desires. A higher understanding touched his mind and he dove into its deepening waters. A path glowed before him as he emerged from baptismal waters to take the first step.

  Draygon gave a sinister smirk, “And now for your rewards.”

  Alerts flashed across Will’s vision and knowledge sank into his mind.

  You have learned Mystic Crafting! You may now create spells and books.

  You have learned Alchemy Crafting Table! You may now brew potions.

  You have learned Iron Crafting! You may now build tools, weapons and armor from iron metals.

  You have learned Black Smith Crafting! You may now upgrade weapons, armor and tools.

  You have learned Basic Town Core Stones! You may now build improved structures to form towns.

  “And a little something to help one of your friends,” Draygon grinned.

  You have learned Wine and Spirit Crafting! You may create wines and spirits.

  The alerts faded as Draygon stood by Will and curled an arm around his neck.

  “The creators of this world didn’t want the players to know too much about getting stronger, thinking it was better to discover it on their own than game the system. I think, for bot
h of our benefits, you should know what you’re in for.

  “Your stats have a cap of ninety-nine. No immortal can go beyond ninety-nine. From 1 to ninety-nine, there are ten tiers of power. You just entered the second one. Keep using your talents and they will grow. Find heroes and they will grow in small leaps. Find Idols and they will grow extremely fast. Remember everything I have told you and we should be fine. If you falter, your enemies will smell blood in the water. It won’t be pretty for you and those you love.”

  The last sentence hung in the air like a dark cloud.

  Draygon uncurled his arm and walked toward the altar, his back to Will. “I expect my temples to be grand. Pray to me so we can talk again.”

  The temple melted into a vortex with Draygon turning and being the last thing Will saw before the abyss swallowed it whole. Mind floating, knowledge caressed Will as it all rooted deep.

  “I’ll create a better world than the one I left behind,” Will declared to the void before he woke up back in his body.

  Time was moving slowly as Will’s eyes looked to the side, Cyndi reaching for the idol in his hand. Morgan’s face contorted into silent fury while Val’s expression growled. Sil and Nova’s eyes narrowed as Stella stood, hat covering her eyes and body still. The moments began to quicken, but Will’s own rage burned as bright as a storm and twice as deadly.

  Time returned. Cyndi’s fingers just touched the Idol before Morgan’s fist crashed into her cheek. The woman stumbled to the side as Val burst forward, driving an elbow into Cyndi’s head and sending her to the ground. Nova and Sil stood on each side of Will while Stella stepped back, out of the way.

  Cyndi’s upper body rose up. A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of her mouth as she looked over to the group gathered at Will’s sides.

  “You’re faster than I thought,” Cyndi smiled as she slowly stood up.

  Will’s eyes narrowed, “Someone woke you up first.”

  Cyndi stood to her full height, wiping away the thin streak of blood. “How did you know?”

  “Your tomb, it was empty except for you and a scroll. When I woke up Val and Morgan, they each had something binding them to it. I don’t know how it all works, but my instincts knew something was different, wrong. I didn’t put it together until you made a move for the Idol.”

  “I never liked playing the long game,” Cyndi smiled. “I was supposed to earn your trust, but I knew that if we made it back to your home, you would hide that Idol away so no one can get it. Considering your strengths, it was now or never.”

  Will pulled up his inventory and placed the Idol in a slot. The small statue disappeared from view. Will drew his hammer from over his shoulder and held it at the ready. Morgan drew his sword as claws extended from Val’s fingertips. Sil gripped her spear while Nova drew her large dagger. Stella stood; eyes half closed.

  Cyndi kept her grin. “You do know I can loot your corpse? Hand over the Idol and we all walk away.”

  Will looked up at the last rays of light swallowed up by a darkening sky.

  Cyndi lifted up her hands and made two fists. “Nights coming and the forest is going to be full of ghouls and Stalkers. I’ll have to beat you all pretty quick if I have any chance of surviving the night.”

  “What makes you think you have a chance,” Will said in a low, menacing tone.

  Cyndi’s eyes glowed with confidence. “I’ve been holding back. My skills and powers are a few tiers above yours, a gift from whoever put me in that tomb in the first place. You’re on the wrong side, Will. Jova is a new start and we need to cut out the cancer before it spreads.”

  Will’s grip tightened along the shaft of the hammer. “You don’t know anything about me.”

  Cyndi kept her arms loose. “I know enough to know you’re a bad man. Why else would you have a shapeshifter, a vampire, a kobold, a witch, and a Stalker as your people? I’ve dealt with a lot of bad people in my past and you hit all the marks. No sense in lying to ourselves any more. Yir and Draygon don’t fight for the light and neither do you.”

  Will took a step forward, “Run or your life ends here.”

  Cyndi kept her unwavering gaze, “No.”

  Will's last drop of patience evaporated as he burst forward, hammer up. Morgan and Val were at his sides, charging like demons. Cyndi held her ground until the hammer came down. Twisting her body, the hammer head hit the ground, sending up dirt and debris. The lithe woman was spinning away as claws flashed, missing her by inches. Morgan leapt into the air, sword pointed and ready to activate its ability. When he was close, an ice blade stabbed out.

  Cyndi’s body bent back, the frosty blade an inch above her face as a leg came up, striking Morgan against his wrist. A grunt of pain rewarded Cyndi’s ears as the blade twisted away. Snapping her body forward, a fist connected with Morgan’s stomach, bending him forward, air leaving his lungs. Will and Val were moving around Morgan when Cyndi grasped Morgan’s sword arm, twisted it and took hold of his copper ice sword.

  Time ebbed as Will was swinging and Val was slashing. Cyndi’s body fell to the floor, aiming the sword up and activating its ability. An ice blade shot out stabbing through Morgan’s shoulder. Black eyes widened as pain strangled his voice. Val turned in mid swing, striking her palm against Morgan’s chest and sending him flying backwards, the ice blade pulling from his shoulder. Val turned and rushed Cyndi as she brought up her new blade, parrying Will’s attack. Metal rang out and sparks flew as Will pressed the power in his shoulders forward.

  Cyndi smirked as she leapt backwards, claws missing her by inches. The lithe woman landed on her feet, her heels digging into dirt as Val came at her, full tilt. Claws slashed as Cyndi parried each strike with the finesse of a formal fencer. Sparks flew with each strike until Cyndi stepped in closer, driving her palm into Val’s chin. The pale beauty stumbled back before several fist strikes to her chest and a hard heel to her thigh sent her crashing down.

  “Stay down,” Cyndi said before she raised her sword, parrying Will’s hammer.

  Bloodlust fueled the player as he swung his hammer like a titan. Despite its size, Will moved easily, bringing the hammer down in a flurry of blows. Cyndi remained patient, parrying each blow, her expression calm and serene. Will’s rage boiled as he powered through. Each attack forced Cyndi to step back, the player betting that it would give enough time for one of his teammates to counter.

  Sil and Nova moved in opposite directions of the fighting. The kobold readied herself as Nova watched for an opening. Stella stepped closer, moving behind Will, eyes on the fight. Metal rang out again and again as Will advanced a foot at a time. Cyndi continued to parry each blow before her heel struck out, hitting Will against a kneecap and causing him to lose his balance.

  A spear shot out and Cyndi smacked it away. Nova charged. Cyndi leapt into the air, each foot kicking out. One struck Will in the face and the other did the same to the Stalker. Nova stopped her advance only for Cyndi to step in close and unleash a barrage of fist strikes. Arms went up to block, but the lithe fighter was so fast, she couldn’t counter, the attack was so powerful, it sent the stalker crashing onto her back and gasping for air.

  Sil leapt as Will charged. Cyndi’s body moved like liquid, bending to dodge small claws and a giant hammer. Will could hardly keep up as she evaded their attacks without breaking a sweat. Sword slashing, it nicked Sil’s snout. The kobold didn’t make a sound as she landed and slashed, claws raking across a thigh. Cyndi spun and roundhouse kicked the kobold in the chest, sending her small form crashing into a nearby tree.

  “Sil!” Will shouted as fire burst from the end of his hammer and he swung it hard.

  Cyndi parried the blow, flames licking her face before her heel came straight up under Will’s chin. The force of the blow sent Will flying up and onto his back with a 'thud.'

  You have taken 4 damage! You have 1 Heart.

  Will cursed himself as he struggled to get back up. He hadn’t had a meal and his body had not regenerated from the fight wi
th the hydra. Cyndi stepped closer, sword pointing at Will and a sardonic smile on her lips.

  “Hand over the Idol,” Cyndi commanded with a cold edge.

  Will wiped blood from the corner of his mouth as he slowly stood back up. “No, this is your last chance…to surrender.”

  Cyndi shook her head, eyes open and watching as Stella moved to Will’s side, hands curled into fists.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” Stella said with a pleading edge.

  “All that strength and you don’t like to hurt the living. That is your weakness,” Cyndi scowled.

  “Judging from this fight, it’s your weakness too,” Stella said with a blank expression.

  “Stella, stop her,” Will managed before he coughed up more blood, his arms shaking.

  “Don’t mistake mercy for weakness,” Cyndi growled before heaving the sword back and throwing it.

  The blade spun through the air, aiming for Will when Stella stepped in front of him and smacked the spinning sword away. Cyndi was already leaping into the air, catching the sword, turning it and aiming for Stella. The witch held her ground as an ice blade stabbed out. Lifting up the palm of her hand, the tip of the ice blade shattered against it.

  “My soul is already made of ice,” the witch said as Cyndi landed in front of her.

  Cyndi moved with skill and power as her hand shot out and leg up. Stella blocked each of the incoming blows, her pale gray body moving in sync with Cyndi. Will backed up, taking in the spectacle. Cyndi was using her hands and legs to fight, but the sword was held back behind her. Stella blocked each incoming blow, taking a mental note of the sword.

  Will couldn’t let this go on any longer. Calling on his wolf form, energy exploded along his body. Muscles grew bigger as his body grew longer. A snout formed as hair sprouted along his skin. Talons lengthened as the monstrous form took hold. Hearts regenerated to 10 instantly. Stalking forward, Will growled with murderous intent.

  Cyndi continued her attacks until she brought a foot in closer. Body spinning, she became a blur, the sword in hand taking on mirror images. Stella brought her arms up, ready to parry since she couldn’t keep up with Cyndi’s spinning body until metal flashed.