The Dragon's Wrath: Ashes of the Fallen

by Brent Roth

  Now it was time to get things started.

  "Welcome to Dragon's Breach," I stated to the twenty-four NPCs that had gathered at the village square. Pacing back and forth, I looked at each and every one of them as I walked by. Satisfied with what I saw, I decided to give a welcoming speech.

  "I go by Sigurd around here, and you'll find that I run a tight unit."

  They listened intently and silently.

  Not even a whisper escaped their lips.

  Yeah, they were moldable, alright.

  "You'll be free to live your lives as you see fit, so long as you devote half of that life to the cause. You’ve been brought here to one of the best locations on this forsaken continent, far from the greedy hands and eyes of the central kingdoms.

  "You will live in relative safety here in this paradise. Though… occasionally, you will have the right to defend yourselves when attacked. And we will be attacked, make no mistake… but remember this, we grow through trials and evolve with tribulation. Every encounter strengthens us, and nothing will break our will.

  "This is your home, this will be your land, and when the time comes, you will defend it. You won't be ill-prepared, as every day is an opportunity to improve yourself and your worth. They say when we leave this world, only our names will be left.

  "I intend to make all of your names, worthy of remembrance."

  Standing still, I continued to look around at the men and women gathered before me. Most, didn't seem to have an opinion. At least, not an opinion visible on their faces. Happy with my spur of the moment speech and having run out of things to say, I decided to call it quits there.

  It was time to start the drills.

  "Katherine here is my number one, and thus your number two," I said while pointing to the girl at my side. "She will be in command when I am not around."

  Katherine nodded but remained silent.

  "Havardr and Sigsteinn are your senior warriors, they will lead you in the training exercises and hunting parties, and will prepare you for the raids," I explained while nodding and pointing to my two strongest NPCs. "They are battle-hardened and tested warriors, and are men to be looked to, when one is in need."

  Clasping my hands together with a grin, it was time to start.

  "All you casters, come with me," I said with my best drill instructor voice, rough and deep but without the hoarseness of a man accustomed to yelling.

  Turning my back to the fresh recruits, I began walking towards the forest with ten casters in tow. Katherine followed, as she had yet to leave my side since Selene's death, but I allowed it for now. She was my only Companion… and I wasn't going to lose her.

  "Havardr, Sigsteinn, I leave the rest to you," I yelled out with a wave.

  "It'll be a pleasure Sigurd," laughed out Sigsteinn.

  "Hah, we'll turn these lads into men," bellowed Havardr after.

  Yeah, I believed it.

  They lived through the battle against [FWB] and killed numerous players. Havardr was actually fighting by my side for the majority of the battle, only separating near the end. Sigsteinn was keeping the priests protected, and did some marvelous work.

  I could trust them.

  "Excuse me, Sir Sigurd," asked a female caster after some time had passed.

  "Yes mi' lady, what can I do for you?" I replied kindly.

  "Where, are we going?" she questioned with some concern showing on her face. A petite girl with cute features, she would be quite the catch for one of the other NPCs. At least, that's what I thought. There was no telling if her personality was decent yet, but I recruited only the best.

  High Potential ratings were the most important feature of course. The second most important feature though, at least for me, was their character disposition. I picked those with Optimistic or Neutral Outlooks, and those that had positive traits listed.

  There wasn't a single Pessimist in this village.

  Well, maybe not, I could be considered a pessimist at times.

  Excluding me though, and there was only optimism.

  "We're going hunting my dear," I stated rather casually while activating my [Keen Sight]. "All of you are going to become advanced magic users, within short order."

  Eyeing the girl that had spoken up, a quick inspection showed me all of her details. She was only level one with a base proficiency in Lightning Magic. Effectively, she only knew how to use [Lightning Bolt] and nothing else. Everyone else in the group was the same, minus the Dark Magic users.

  The Dark Mages were able to use [Shadow Flare] as their first spell… which according to the description, was a straight-line skill shot that looked, essentially, like a flare. Exploding on contact in a small radius with the possibility of being chain cast, it was a fairly standard, efficient spell.

  I couldn't teach them anything else, nor did I know of anyone that could… so for now, they were going to get dual training from Katherine.

  Actually, everyone was.

  "What's your name," I asked as I raised a brow while looking at the female caster.

  I already knew her name, so this was formality.

  As the one who ruled Dragon's Breach and in turn, ruled her, I was privy to such information. But, I wanted to be realistic. I would ask, as normal people would, rather than cheat like a stalker and come out already knowing everything.

  That sort of behavior, was painfully awkward.

  "My given name is Astrid, Sir Sigurd," she answered tactfully.

  "A lovely name," I said playfully with a smile. "Alright, Astrid, there's a wolf just behind that bush, between the three pairs of trees. The one with the white flower. I want you to cast a Lightning Bolt directly into the center of that bush."

  "Ah-h as you command Sir Sigurd," she stuttered, clearly scared of attacking a beast much stronger than herself. She had little reason to worry though, I was here after all.

  Astrid took her stance and began to build up electrical energy between her fingertips as I carefully watched. Two seconds later, and she extended her palms and shot the pathetically small ball of lightning out with little force.

  The lightning, thin as it was, almost failed to cut through the air as it impacted the wolf on the other side of the bush. Not visible to those without [Keen Sight], the other casters looked on with confused expressions.

  Angered by the weak attack, the wolf burst through the brush as the casters jumped back in fright. Their legs shook as they wanted to run, but most knew better and froze in place. They watched with terror in their eyes as the wolf charged forward.

  Then, at the last moment, when hands had been thrown up to shield their faces. In utter panic, some screamed and jumped, while others fell to the floor. But nothing had happened, no noises could be heard except for the sound of crackling electricity.

  The confused recruits opened their fingers to take a peek.

  There, in front of them, was a wolf completely immobilized as a single tether of electricity extended from my hand and connected the two of us. A few seconds later and the wolf collapsed to the floor with nary a sound.

  Amazement, shone from their eyes.

  "Sir Sigurd!" shouted one man. "You, you must be a master magician!"

  "Lightning Magic of such strength!" yelled another.

  "Will we be able to do that too, Sir Sigurd?" asked Astrid as she tried to regain her composure. She was trembling. She was the closest one to the wolf and feared for the worst, right up until electricity shot forth from my hand. She didn't retreat though.

  She didn't cover her eyes either.

  Astrid, was the most promising one here.

  "To a degree, you will all be capable of this," I started to explain. "I have… many years of experience and a lot of time, too much time, ahead of you. But, I can help you develop, to the point where wolves, bears, and maybe even trolls will cower before you."

  "What would you ask me to do?" followed up Astrid as she stared at me with her large blue eyes. A cute blonde haired and blue eyed girl, she was going to be a hit.r />
  She was already a hit with me.

  I liked her willingness.

  It was an endearing trait.

  "Simple, we'll be finding creatures and all of you will simultaneously cast your spells. I will correct your stance and teach you of Chanted Verses. And, when you've progressed enough, I will teach you a new spell," I said to the group, spreading my arms out and turning my palms up in a welcoming gesture. "Let's get started then, shall we?"

  "Please, lead the way Sir Sigurd," said Astrid with confidence in her eyes.

  Yeah, she was promising.

  "Heh, as you wish hun."

  Chapter 70: Infested Zones

  (Wednesday, November 1st Game Day / Monday, April 12th Real Day)

  "Keep the line tight," I said sternly to the casters as I watched them from behind. They were going to engage a bear only three in-game weeks after arriving. Their development thus far, had been spectacular. Astrid and the others were already nearing level thirty as their high potential conferred a boost to experience equal to their rating.

  Some were at a seventy-percent increase, others near or over ninety-percent.

  It was needless to say really, but they were growing, rapidly.

  "We're ready Sir Sigurd," called out Astrid as she finished checking the other nine casters on her flanks. "Shall I give the order?"

  "You're in charge Astrid," I stated reassuringly.

  "Commence Chanted Verses," she commanded without hesitation.

  In an instant, ten pairs of hands started to glow two distinctly different colors.

  Four pairs of hands had started to glow a dark purplish-black as tiny balls of flame began to take shape. Simultaneously, six pairs of hands on the other side of the color spectrum began to glow with an off-white color, electricity buzzing and cracking as little streaks of lightning started to accumulate and form into balls of their own.

  Three seconds of chanting, followed by two seconds of casting.

  And then a chorus of voices, all calling out.

  "Lightning Bolt!"

  "Shadow Flare!"

  The dark magic shot forth with a strange sound, not too different from the sound of a roman candle shooting off. A pop, a whizz almost, as the small dark energy projectiles flew through the air with slight shadowy tails. The projectiles were quick, extremely quick as I struggled to track their trajectories with my eyes.

  Yet despite such speed, lightning was faster.

  The counterbalance to the quiet sounds of the shadow magic, the deafening crack of thunder and blinding flash of lightning filled the air. The flares struggled to keep up as sparks exploded from the impact of six lightning bolts. Electricity surged through the chest and ribcage of the poor bear while one or more spells had trigged the stun.

  Paralyzed, the bear struggled in place as four shadow flares impacted soon after with an odd soundless explosion. The roar of the white bear was heard loud and clear, while completely engulfed in dark flame. It rose up on its hind legs for only a second, then fell back to the ground below.

  The barrage of spells was powerful, quick, and most importantly, deadly.

  "I think they might be able to split into two groups now," I said to Katherine, who was attached to my arm. "What do you think?"

  "I believe they're capable," she replied. "But who would lead the second unit?"

  "You," I answered with a nudge.

  She looked at me with confusion clearly displayed on her troubled face. Katherine had yet to leave my side in weeks… she was beginning to lose her independence. What little of it she had, that is.

  "You'll be fine, we'll stay close together," I reassured her.

  She simply grabbed my arm tighter, squeezing my arm between her chest.

  Ah, her flirtation wouldn't work here.

  This was necessary for her.

  "Alright, we're going to split into two groups, Astrid sort them out," I explained to the casters who were celebrating their new kill. "Katherine will lead your group Astrid."

  Kate shot an angry look at me but I ignored it.

  She could pout all she wanted.

  As I walked through the forest, I was reminded that our selection of creatures had dwindled to our surprise. The rabbits, foxes, and wolves had all but disappeared due to our overhunting. At first, I was scared that we would be without beasts to kill… but my fears were soon allayed.

  The game had already accounted for such scenarios, much to my delight.

  Bears had flooded the forest, far more than usual.

  And as we continued to hunt those bears, their population started to thin as well. Replaced in turn, with random Rattanorvs, Goblins, and Dire Wolves. The Dire Wolves frightened me… as my experience the first time had left an impression.

  Out on a walk with Katherine in the middle of the night a few days back, it was a regular evening stroll. Only to be interrupted by a howl far more distinct than any I had heard before. I was curious as to the noise. We investigated, following the sounds far off in the distance until we finally came upon our quarry.

  At first, I thought my eyes deceived me.

  I mistook the wolf, for a bear.

  And by the time I realized what I was looking at, it had already noticed us.

  I thought it strange, scary even, eyes as large as my fist glowing a deep red in the moonlight. Then the head, the size of my chest, fangs as long as my hands, and the body itself, far too large, far too large to be normal.

  We stood frozen in place while staring at the massive creature until it made its move. Katherine broke into action first, blinding the creature as it charged and giving me the time to hit it with a single lightning bolt. The beast crashed to the ground shoveling dirt along with it as it dragged for a second.

  Shaking off the dirt and springing back up, it charged again and with its massive length, covered the distance between us almost instantaneously.

  Meeting the charge, my halberd swung with full force collided with its body as I was knocked into the air and sent flying. Crashing into a tree, a few ribs broken, I coughed as I threw my hands up and channeled an arc lightning.

  My weapon, still stuck in the beast's side, dangled awkwardly as the beast slowly moved forward. Arc lightning had failed to completely paralyze the beast. It continued to power through my spell, resisting my God-tier magic as if it were a small annoyance.

  Katherine hit it with another spell, a holy blast that should have knocked it down.

  Yet it shrugged off the damage as if it weren't a thing.

  Then the paralyzing effects of my lightning diminished to nothing and the beast lunged forth. Dodging with a roll, the wolf bit the tree nearly in half as it started to teeter. I yelled to Katherine, to dodge the tree, as the wolf continued to attack.

  Another golden-white explosion hit the beast, right as it mounted on top of me. The blast did nothing, as I stared down the jaws of the wolf. It tried to bite me, to eat my face but I wrapped my arms around its neck and clung to its body.

  Knives pulled out, I stuck them both into the thick muscular neck of the wolf as it tried to buck me off. Katherine switched to a holy barrage, and sent the homing balls of energy flying in my direction.

  Even with the erratic movements of the wolf, the spell swerved with it and exploded right on target. The wolf finally reacted, as I pulled my one-handed axe and started to hack away. The knives, firmly planted into the nape of the wolf served only as pegs for which to hold.

  Sliding and bouncing, I continued to hack away at the wolf until I was finally thrown clear off. Falling to the ground with a hard thud, the wind had been knocked out of me.

  Large red prideful eyes filled with anger, glared at me in the darkness of the night.

  And then I saw the soft-white hue form underneath it, and immediately ran towards the wolf to keep it in place. I grew angry too, rage filling my mind at the thought of losing to an overgrown wolf. I entered the enraged state, I went into a frenzy.

  I clipped the nose of the wolf with my one-handed axe
, causing it to recoil in pain as a plume of holy fire shot up underneath it, engulfing it partially in flame. It yelped once before jumping to the side and out of the fire.

  It had been burned, cut, and stabbed… but it was fine.

  The two of us circled each other, as Kate regained mana in the distance.

  We were both angry now.

  Tired of the beast's patience, I charged with blind aggression overwhelming me.

  Jumping up and swinging down I cleaved into the face of the wolf as it managed to bite through my chest. Pain immediately shot through my body as blood filled my lungs. Grabbing the axe I yanked, tearing through the side of the mouth of the wolf and forcing it to let go. I fell to the floor once more, as I began to feel numb to the pain.

  My state of mind beyond gone.

  I ran back in, only to slide underneath the wolf and grab at the halberd that was still stuck in its side. Utilizing the momentum of my slide, I pulled on the halberd and ripped it free, taking a rib or two with it.

  The wolf growled a nasty growl that should have sent a shiver down my spine.

  Except, I was nearly immune to negative mental effects.

  Tilting my head slightly to the side, I stared at the beast.

  We locked eyes, challenging each other to see which of us was the more dominant.

  I raised my weapon.

  It turned and ran.

  That, was the first encounter.

  The first time Katherine and I had ever seen a dire wolf. To say the experience was a frightening one, didn't give the beast enough credit.

  Yet the funny thing, was what came next.

  I soon found a single dire wolf wasn't much to a group of casters. They weren't much to a group of warriors with a team of healers behind them either.

  Still, the sudden influx of Goblins, Rattanorv, and Dire Wolves was a surprise. The game called this state of affairs, an Infested Zone. An ever-changing game state that evolved to the needs of the surrounding players. The more we hunted and the faster we hunted, the quicker the game would adjust the difficulty.