A host of players was charging at us between the trees. Over 50 eager and uninjured players, all seeking to spill goblin blood. I cast Shadow Hound, bringing my mana below 1,000, and five level 18 mastiffs jumped out of the darkness and ran to intercept the eager players. Thanks to the previous fight, the spell had reached level 25, increasing the number of mastiffs.
However, that only bought us seconds. The charging players cut through the hounds. Some of their weapons were ineffective against the insubstantial beasts, but then spells and enchanted arrows landed, destroying them one by one.
I sent my dagger flying and ordered the tanks to throw the poison bombs Guba had given us. The grenades hit several players, the glue rooting them in place while the poison slowly eroded their health. I teleported a meter away to an open gap in our line, leaving my shield in place like a stationary bubble and activated another one. Then I did it again, blocking another gap. All the while my dagger was airborne, nicking and cutting.
These tactics could only buy us seconds. Their healers soon arrived at the front line, negating the poison and closing the wounds. They were only a couple dozen meters from us and closing fast. My tanks braced themselves, and the gaps in our line filled with my glimmering bubble shields.
Kuzai and his shadow stood behind our line, emitting a shrill, demented laugh while hurling scintillating balls of energy. The two goblin adepts kept on healing, but it was not enough to counteract the damage and the tanks’ health continued to dwindle. Another hob fell, and now only four remained.
Someone was clearly organizing the players. This was not the same undisciplined force we’d fought before. The first wave of players consisted only of tanks. They crashed against us, locking their shields with my troops’ while a row of archers and magic casters behind them bombarded us from afar. Five healers formed at their rear. Only a few attacked without regard to order or formation.
The ten tank players pressed us, aiming to drive us back and clear a path for the rest.
I threw a Shadow Web over four of them, ensnaring one of my own in the process, then froze another. I sensed he lacked resistance and sacrificed him with my dagger.
Immortal Killed!
Boss Tier 3 Progression: 18/50 immortals killed.
The tanks pounded on my warriors and my shields. I struggled to keep the mana flowing into all three shields to maintain them a little longer, but the drain on my reserves was staggering. I was losing nearly 50 MP per second and was taking some hits as well.
Another hob fell.
I powered up with a level 40 void crystal, replenishing my pool by 400 MP, but it was barely enough. I spent a hundred MP, freezing another tank, and sent my dagger flying, but a flash of magic repelled it. I summoned another host of five mastiffs and used the momentary distraction they created to absorb another level 42 crystal just in time to keep my mana from draining completely.
The last two hob tanks fell, their bodies charred and full of arrows. More arrows and magical bolts rained on me and my hounds, extinguishing them one by one. The meager damage we were doing was healed almost instantaneously by their five healers, safely tucked behind their front lines.
I released the other two shields and they collapsed under the amassing damage. I was the only one left standing, holding the entrance on my own, surrounded by bloodthirsty players and burning walls.
The goblin adepts used their Fire Rods, and flames washed over the players around me, but their healers were ready, negating the damage. The players encircled me and pummeled at my shield with obvious pleasure.
“It’s the boss!”
“A weird one; why isn’t he waiting for us at the end of the dungeon?”
“It’s a camp, not a dungeon, you idiot.”
“So why isn’t he waiting for us at the end of the camp?”
“Gah! Whatever, let’s get him!”
My mana was down to double digits, my shield was a moment from collapsing, and some of the players streamed past me, targeting the adepts.
Then a large, furry white shape dropped from the trees on top of a charging rogue, smashing him into the ground. Two more figures dropped, also downing charging players and bashing at them with huge, furry fists.
The apes! I realized with a start. I had nearly forgotten about their existence. The lead ape was the alpha. It was no longer a baby, but a ferocious, 200-kilo beast of fury, albeit only level 12.
The players quickly adjusted to the new attackers. Several more moved away from me, engaging the flailing apes. The beasts had bought us some time, but not a lot.
Kuzai, take the adepts and retreat to the temple! I yelled at him mentally, taking advantage of the new distraction. At least there, with the enhanced bonuses, they stood a better chance of holding the line.
Step by step, I retreated, draining another void crystal, just to keep the shield active. The excited fools who surrounded me eagerly followed, continuously hammering at my shield while more arrows and spells rained down on me, several even penetrating the shield and drawing blood.
I positioned myself next to the burning walls. My mana was down to a hundred, and my health had trickled down to 60 percent.
The loss of health doubly charged my Blood Wrath boss skill. I grinned at the players and mouthed ‘bye bye,’ then activated the spell. A wave of power exploded out of me with the force of an oncoming train, hurling my attackers away. Three smashed into the flaming wall, the impact draining most of their health, and the flames did the rest.
Immortal killed X 3!
Boss Tier 3 Progression: 21/50 immortals killed.
That burst had bought me a small reprieve from the onslaught. Their ranged attackers were blinded by the flames and couldn’t see me. The three slain players started to melt on their own, their burning bodies converted into oozing darkness that gradually coalesced into void crystals. Upgrading Eternal Night to rank 2 was showing its usefulness.
The other players were already recovering, popping potions, getting ready to charge at me again. I had seconds to act.
Kaedric! I need you to access the temple and resurrect all our soldiers, NOW!
A long moment that felt like an eternity passed.
KAEDRIC!
I’m sorry my lord, I was unable to do so, the reply finally came. It appears that resurrection is forbidden while hostile forces are in close proximity to the clan.
Shadow-crap! I cursed, only now remembering what Guba had once mentioned: defeated clans usually recovered long after their assailants had disappeared.
“Damn, you’re one tough boss,” an elf player said as he stood up. I recognized him. It was Nesteph, one of the members of the scouting party that was sent to find us. Nesteph belted his sword and slung the shield across his back, then took out a long, wickedly spiked spear from his inventory. “But this baby ought to puncture your shield.”
I threw him a contemptuous gaze then froze him and launched dagger at his helpless form, sacrificing him on the spot.
Immortal Killed!
Boss Tier 3 Progression: 22/50 immortals killed.
The other players had all shuffled to their feet and charged me again. “Watch out for his health,” one of them shouted. “He activated his boss AoE when he hit 60 percent; he’ll probably do another one at 20!”
They resumed hammering on my shield, and I was reduced to popping void crystals as fast as possible to stay ahead of the drain. Just a little longer!
More players poured through the unguarded entrance, and the hail of arrows and magic bolts on my shield resumed. A few nasty shield-penetration arrows struck my body and I was reduced to half my health. If it weren’t for my tough new armor, it would probably be closer to 40 percent.
“Damn, that bastard’s got a lot of mana,” one of the mages wheezed. “I’m out, I need a moment to regenerate.”
I continued popping void crystals, straining to keep my mana above zero.
Shouts of confusion and the clash of battle came from behind the wall.
“Finally!” I exclaimed.
My troops had arrived.
I activated Shadow Teleport and reappeared 50 meters away on the path to the village, leaving the surprised players to attack an empty bubble shield.
From my new position, I could see my troops, led by Rhyno, charging headlong into the rear of the enemy. The seven Ogres and the remaining hobs hacked their way through the line of healers. A total of 28 soldiers, out of my original 68.
The Ogres made short work of the healers, then crashed into the mages and archers from behind, encountering hastily drawn weapons and magical barriers stopping their advance.
Wincing at the cost of what I was about to do, I took out one of my two strongest void crystals and absorbed it. It was level 200, and it filled my mana to the maximum.
I cast Shadow Web, capturing some of the melee players who were trying to protect their rear and froze a rogue who managed to evade it, thus effectively bottlenecking the entrance.
A line of immobilized enemies was almost as effective as a line of friendly tanks.
My dagger flashed across the open field, injuring the frozen rogue, but for some reason not sacrificing him. Probably countered by an unknown skill.
The battle was fairly even-sided as my forces were now engaging a similar number of enemies. They even held a slight advantage as they were better suited for melee. But once the players’ melee forces broke through to join the fray, we’d be in trouble. It was time to use my trump cards.
I opened my inventory and started dropping several items on the ground – 15 shining, pinkish Viridium spheres.
With a thought, the spheres came rolling together forming a single construct.
Viridium Bead Golem [Runecrafted]
Level: 15
HP: 187
Attributes: P: 15, M: -, S: -Skills: Slam 25
Resistances: Armor 75, Magic 50%, Fire 93%, Viridium: ignores 20 physical damage
Stored Mana: 1,500/1,500
Hey Vic, remember when I said I have a backup plan for operating the golem without distracting me?
I transferred control of the golem to my companion, similar to the what I had done with my shadow clone.
Vic!
The golem rolled toward the players. An errant fireball hit it dead center, but the metallic balls just burst through the flames, gathering more speed. It rolled into the players, throwing several of them down like bowling pins.
The golem reformed. It grew into a meter-tall column, and several spheres rolled up the top, reaching out, forming a giant ‘T.’ Then the arms started rotating like a fan, faster and faster. The spinning arms hit the players, crunching bones and caving armor with ease and throwing them backward. It might have been only level 15, but its weight and inertia could not be ignored.
My soldiers weren’t faring as well. Some of the player rangers were also proficient melee fighters, and with the aid of their mages, they were gradually decimating my ranks. Five hobs were already dead and the rest were injured. However, the Ogres and the two bosses, Yulli and Kilpi, seemed to be holding up well.
I watched as Rhyno flattened a mage with his huge mace then followed by launching a spear at a player who was about to finish a downed hob. The player was lifted off his feet by the spear and impaled on a tree. Kilpi was now barely holding his own against four players, but that gave another six hobs the opportunity to circle around two archers and pummel them down.
One of the player mages saw that and cast a spell. A cloud of green, caustic magic formed around all eight combatants and started eating away at their health. My troops screamed as their flesh was peeled off by the acidic cloud. The two players simply grunted in dismay as their own health bar plummeted. In seconds, all eight were dead.
With my mana bar fully replenished, I kicked into high gear. I summoned another host of five mastiffs and sent them snapping at the injured to finish them off. Then, reaching for their information threads, I froze and sacrificed a susceptible player.
Vic kept the Viridium golem spinning like a blender, mowing down the enemy’s melee fighters, killing two more and injuring several others.
We reduced their numbers to less than 50, but the remaining players fought back. Several drew potions, healing and buffing themselves. A mage launched a brightly colored spell at my web and vaporized it, freeing the captured players within.
Now free, half the melee fighters returned to support their rear, cutting down the hobs and harassing the Ogres. One reckless player drew two poniards and charged straight for Rhyno, yelling, for some reason, “For the King!” He jumped at the Ogre, sinking both weapons into his chest again and again, using them to pull himself up the giant’s torso. Rhyno roared in pain, reached out with one hand, and plucked the stupid player from his chest, leaving deep, bleeding holes behind. With another roar, his fist crushed the man’s body, snapping his spine, then threw him over his shoulder like a rotten apple. The Liquid Darkness blessing was hard at work, oozing over the Ogre’s open wounds, slowly knitting his flesh together.
The players near the Viridium golem started to retaliate in earnest. Their swords had little effect against its superior armor, but a big woman holding a hammer delivered a powerful hit to one of the spheres, denting it and sending it flying away.
The battle had shifted, and we were now losing soldiers faster than the enemy. Four more hobs and an Infernal Ogre fell. Only 18 remained.
The two hob bosses fought valiantly; Yulli continued to rain arrows on the engaged fighters, taking down a player, but Kilpi was pressed hard, his health at half.
I redoubled my effort. Channeling the mana through my staff, I launched my three drilling arrows, each one at a different injured player, killing two of them. Then I commanded the shadows to amass around five players, effectively blinding them. My hounds took down two more, but three of them had also been banished. Despite losing one of its spheres, the golem continued to plow through the enemy ranks, killing another.
This was not a well-organized battle. This was a chaotic skirmish where everyone was fighting for their lives. Realizing that, I took advantage of the situation.
Rhyno! On my mark, take your Ogres and breach through their ranks toward me. The rest of the soldiers, follow the opening and throw the remaining poison grenades. Ready? Charge! Now!
As one, the Ogres led by Rhyno formed into a spearhead. They charged through the players’ ranks, flailing their giant spiked maces, hitting players and throwing them back. It was the Ogres’ version of a cavalry charge.
The rest of the soldiers followed the bloody path, throwing grenades at the downed players as they passed. They didn’t go unscathed. Two of the Ogres sustained massive damage, but none of them were killed. If it weren’t for their enchanted armor and the Eternal Night bonuses, half of them would already be dead.
The players fared much worse. Unorganized and undisciplined, their tanks weren’t positioned to protect their mushier units and the sudden charge took a heavy toll on them, killing five and critically injuring several more. Those who were hit by the poison glue grenades were desperately trying to scrape it off, which only increased the amount of damage inflicted.
Once my people reached me, I cast Heal Follower, healing everyone for 25 HP.
Several players recovered and were already back on the offensive. I recognized Nitrohawk, another member of the original scouting party. Nitrohawk raised his hands and cast a fireball, taking advantage of our tight formation. The fireball exploded in our midst, dropping two more hobs and injuring another three.
The bastard had high resistances, so I couldn’t freeze him, but Drilling Arrow was created specifically to punch through an enemy’s defenses. I launched a trio of spinning missiles at him. Empowered by my staff, the arrows dealt enough damage to bring him down, a p
ayment for his destructive attack.
The golem was left behind, alone in a sea of enemies and was taking a heavy pounding. More and more spheres disengaged from it, lowering its overall strength and level. It wouldn’t last long.
“You freaking noobs!” a level 27 player shouted. “You let a bunch of hobs and Ogres destroy half our force! We’ll be the laughingstock of the forums! Regroup! Tanks to the front, ranged attackers at the back. If anyone got an AoE buff, use it now! Kill the adds first, leave the bosses for last.” The remaining players hurried to follow his orders.
I sent my dagger flying at the commanding player, but without Freeze to back it up, he raised his buckler and deflected it.
My golem managed to take down one more player before it was destroyed. We were now 16 against 37.
Full of doubts, I reached for the magical bracelet around my wrist, then thought better of it. No, it was too soon. I had to save it for the second wave. This group of players was just the warm-up act.
During the short reprieve, while we each regrouped for another clash, two more players succumbed to the poison damage and their bodies liquified into pools of darkness. The others didn’t seem to care much that their friends’ bodies were turned into crystals. I wondered if they would care more if they knew their deaths also granted me Faith Points.
That gave me an idea.
Glancing at my FP counter, I saw it was now set at 1,260. I grinned, opened the Eternal Night upgrade options and purchased one of the tier 2 upgrades for 1,000 FP.
Eternal Night upgrade purchased: Dark Horrors
Dark Horrors’ level: 10 (blessing rank X 5)
The darkness around us seemed to recede and gather, building up like a mounting wave. Then it washed over the players. Deeper patches of darkness grew from the inky substance, taking physical shape, looking a lot like my own Shadow Hound spell.
“What the crap is going on?” one of the players exclaimed, taking a step back.
Life Reset_EvP_Environment vs. Player Page 58
