Midnight War

by Eden Redd

  Darkness poured from Harkkon’s eyes. “I will slay you first. I will crush all hope among your friends and allies as I smite you forever from the game and your real life. It will be my first royal decree in our new world. Goodbye, Edric.”

  The summoner stood up and walked toward Harkkon, eyes containing a rage and tight fists at his sides. Leeta struggled to get up, reaching out to her master, eyes filled with fear. Juna looked to Edric, his body moving with purpose. Faye readied herself as Venner and Lydia looked to the summoner, to Harkkon and back to Edric. Rayna struggled to sit up, her voice cracking as she tried to shout to him, telling him to stop.

  Edric stood before the imposing from of Harkkon. “You’re right. I have hidden behind everyone. I love my friends but I have never truly proven myself in the game. In reality, I have taken my destiny back. It’s time to take my destiny here in Lukken.”

  Magnys sat against a pillar, holding his stomach as blood spilled. He watched as Edric stuck his chin and chest out to Harkkon.

  Edric…I have enough power to aid you. Soul bond…with me…

  Edric heard Magnys’ words float through his mind. Mentally calling up his character sheet, the cursor hovered over the Soul Bond ability.

  Harkkon gave an amused nod. “Please Lord Temple, make the first move. I want to see the look of disappointment on your friends and allies before I crush you.”

  “For you…Elora,” Edric whispered before rearing back his fist and tapping the Soul Bond ability.

  “Power of love,” Magnys said with a tear streaking down his cheek.

  Harkkon’s amused expression melted away as power surged into the summoner. Edric’s body glowed as all his stats powered to 99! The player had never felt such power as invisible energy struck out like a spear from Magnys and into Edric. The digital world burned white hot against Edric’s senses, nerves and neurons firing with celestial heat.

  The God-King could not react fast enough as Edric’s fist shot forward in a blink. The glowing fist slammed into Harkkon’s chest, smashing his breast plate and sending him rocketing back. The God-King smashed into a wall, the entire cathedral shaking. Eyes wide, Harkkon tried to lift himself up from the sideways crater when Edric was on him. Harkkon couldn’t react fast enough as powerful fists slammed into his helmet, shattering it. Edric pounded Harkkon’s face, again and again, eyes fueled with universal rage.

  “KICK HIS ASS,” Rayna shouted with a mad edge.

  Claudia’s eyes opened. The lancer and vampire watched in astonishment as Edric pounded the God-King so hard; the very cathedral shook from each blow. Faye, Juna, Venner and Lydia joined the unleashed summoner as the air blasted out with shockwaves. Edric growled as power surged through him. Juna slashed and stabbed in a flurry of attacks. Venner and Lydia joined in; cutting and stabbing at the God-King’s legs while Faye punched alongside Edric, ramming fists into his partially exposed flesh. The brutal assault continued and every time Harkkon tried to reestablish his power, it was disrupted by the onslaught.

  Edric wasn’t finished. Hands opened and he grabbed bone armor, pulling and ripping away pieces at a time. Faye joined him and soon Juna, Venner and Lydia did the same. Like wild beasts, they stripped down the God-King to nothing before their fists resumed pounding on his flesh. The health bar above Harkkon turned red. The onslaught continued until the red bar grew smaller and smaller. When it reached less than five percent, Edric’s hands whipped out to touch those around him, signaling them to stop.

  Harkkon lay, bones broken and flesh ruptured. He gibbered incoherently as he couldn’t even turn his head to see his attackers.

  “We should finish him,” Venner and Lydia said in unison.

  Edric looked down, “No, we can’t. If he dies, the dead will rise all across Lukken. For now, he must remain like this, broken. We’ve beaten him and he will always know we achieved it without killing him.”

  Edric stood up. “We have taken our destiny and now we will show mercy.”

  Power drained away and Edric felt light headed. Stats dwindled until they reached one point. The summoner didn’t know the side effect of using such a powerful ability. Arms and legs shook as he couldn’t keep himself standing any longer. The summoner fell, weak as a kitten. Juna caught him and held the summoner in her arms.

  Edric gave the beautiful half-troll a weak smile. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” Juna gave him a playful smirk as she held him close.

  Jinn looked to Juna and Edric before turning his attention to the pink-haired troll walking toward him. Oksuna smiled as she approached. A self-conscious feeling over took the assassin. He had no idea if she really knew it was him. Doubt lingered until tears streamed down from her eyes and she dropped her sword. The troll rushed the assassin and threw her arms around his neck. Jinn looked up to Oksuna’s wet eyes.

  “I can still see you,” Oksuna cried.

  “I never truly left you, my love,” Jinn said as tears flowed down his cheeks.

  The air in the vast chamber cooled as hearts glowed in victory.

  Thirteen

  Renner and Vass launched themselves at Venner and Lydia. The Awakened children blinked before they were smothered in hugs. Giggling touched the air as the family held each other fiercely. The rogues clutched at each other, lost in the moment as love poured from their hearts.

  The sun dipped lower to the west, the light dying with each passing tick of time. The remaining stained-glass windows glowed with many colors as the day cooled into the evening. Outside, the dead army fell to the ground, bodies turning to dust. Players looked to the cathedral and roared in victory, the war seemingly over. Players across the city of Kraznith embraced. Many tears were shed as weapons and fists touched the sky. The storm of shouts and yells clouded the city as the last rays of sunlight vanished behind the horizon, a sudden bright glow filling the heavens and then burning embers as evening cloaked the lands. Stars twinkled one by one, the war finally over.

  Faye, Claudia, Rayna and Leeta surrounded the half-troll and summoner. Edric looked up weakly as they stared down with wide smiles. The four women fell to their knees, reaching out and touching Edric. The unseen connection burned bright, their hearts already knowing what didn’t need to be said.

  Thorrin stepped to Magnys while Drakkus helped Sonja to her feet. The vampire and blue knight looked to one another before touching lips in a wet embrace. Thorrin kneeled to the wounded Sormir, placing his hand on his shoulder. Healing energy flowed as wounds closed. Magnys relaxed as the corruption burned away, his body repairing itself with the help of the paladin.

  Juna looked from Edric to Jinn and Oksuna. The pair simply stood; the pink haired troll six inches higher than the grizzled assassin. Jinn’s head rested against Oksuna’s large breasts. The two simply swayed, the time apart slipping away and love glowing between them. Oksuna turned her eyes to Juna as she sat, holding Edric. A loving warmth glowed in her dark eyes. Juna smiled.

  Edric looked to the alerts in the corner of his vision and frowned. “I will be like this for 24 hours!”

  The gathered women looked down in surprise. Magnys stood up with the help of Thorrin.

  “A side effect for using so much power,” the elder Sormir smiled weakly.

  Magnys hobbled forward, holding onto Thorrin’s arm. “Soul Bond allows a summoner to use the power of his summoned creatures. It is powerful but I don’t think anyone expected one of my kind to ever be in the service of a summoner.”

  Magnys knelt to the ground by the gathered group around Edric and Juna. “A Sormir’s power is great but it becomes greater in another. We have to use a portion of our power to keep ourselves alive. You don’t need as much as we do. That is why the soul bond with a fraction of my power maximized your strength.”

  “I felt like I could have done anything,” Edric smirked.

  Magnys nodded, “For a time, you could have. But such a surge weakens your body. I fear you won’t be able to do much for the next day.”

  Juna looked down with a misch
ievous smile. “It looks like you are powerless against me.”

  “Or any of us,” Rayna grinned.

  “I might be able to...,” Faye began.

  “Powerless,” Claudia laughed as she cut off the wood elf.

  “Ladies…ladies…one at a time,” Edric laughed weakly.

  Everyone laughed except Leeta. The single horned ogre’s cheeks streamed with tears as she embraced Juna and Edric together.

  “I was so worried! I thought you were going to die! Never do that again,” the ogre said in near hysterics.

  Juna and Edric grunted as the seven-foot ogre held them to her bosom, swaying from side to side with them. Edric wanted to protest but simply didn’t have the energy. The mood was euphoric as the summoner found himself lost in the embrace of Juna and Leeta.

  Rayna turned to Faye, “You were amazing! I didn’t know you could do all of that!”

  Faye’s eyes closed as she rubbed the back of her head, “I wasn’t sure either. I can open an elemental gate but I didn’t know I could open two at a time. But now that I have opened all four, the cool down is three days.”

  Claudia squeezed Faye’s arm, “I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all of us.”

  “Me…too…” Edric managed as he was slowly crushed to death.

  Magnys turned his attention to the oversized arcane sword on stone floor, in the very spot where Skalor was slain. The Sormir slowly stood up and made his way over. Hand reaching down, he picked up the immense blade. It shrank down until it was small enough to wield in his human form.

  “I will return the sword to Skalor’s people. With the dead gone and Harkkon crippled, the Sindrell will be able to return to their kingdoms and homes once again.”

  The group nodded as they felt the bitter sweet moment of losing such a powerful hero.

  Harkkon’s body trembled in agony as his body refused to regenerate. Eyes stared off to the darkness by a large pillar. He heard everything but he was too damaged to move or even care. The magical damage from the Awakened and Edric’s power stunned his body in vile torture. Spirit broken, he lay, his body trembling like a feeble man on his last days. Weakness and fear curled around his black heart.

  A shadow melted away in the torchlight. Kurss stepped into view of Harkkon but remained hidden behind a pillar from the group. The troll master looked down with dark, hungry eyes at the broken Harkkon.

  “…destroy….them…,” Harkkon said with a weak whisper.

  Kurss kept his gaze on the naked Dread Lord, a tongue slipping out to lick his lips.

  Harkkon’s expression didn’t change as he whispered, “…Kurss…..”

  Red energy glowed in the master’s eyes before he pounced from the shadows and landed on the prone Dread Lord. Harkkon hissed as large dark blue hands reached down. Fingers penetrated pale flesh and ripped out chunks. The troll master hefted up hands full of flesh, dripping black blood.

  Eyes and heads turned, horror cascading over the group at sight of Kurss devouring large pieces of Dread Lord flesh. Power rolled through the area as Kurss’s mouth elongated, stuffing hand sized chunks of flesh into his mouth. The sound of mongrel chewing and swallowing sent a sickening vibration along the waves of power blanketing the area.

  “Kurss….you…fool…,” Harkkon barely whispered as pieces of him were devoured by the troll master.

  “No,” Magnys shouted as he rushed toward the troll and Dread Lord.

  Bodies began to stand as Magnys reached Kurss. The troll smirked as red and black power rolled off his body. A moment later, a shockwave blasted out. Magnys positioned himself between the group and the troll master, his body disrupting the shockwave like a pole against the tides. It wasn’t enough to stop everyone from being thrown into the air and scattering to the hard-stone floor.

  “Too long the dragons and the Dread Lords hoarded power! Now is my time to remake Lukken into what it was meant to be, a troll dynasty to rule over the lesser races,” Kurss shouted before swallowing a large piece of bloody flesh.

  Oksuna slowly lifted her upper body up, Jinn underneath her. The Rose Seer turned her head to the troll master as he wolfed down parts of Harkkon.

  “Kurss! Can’t you see it? If you take his power, it will begin the end of Lukken!”

  Purple power exploded from Harkkon as pieces of him were ripped off. The Dread Lord smiled for a moment, eyes lost.

  “I….win…,” Harkkon hissed.

  Magnys tried to sit up, his arms and legs not working. Edric moaned weakly, as did almost everyone around him. Juna, Venner and Lydia were the only ones to get up, weapons drawn. Juna eyed the troll as he ate chunks of Harkkon. Looking at her list of abilities, they blinked with timers. She had used up all of them and now she stood without an edge.

  “I’m out,” Venner said.

  “Me too,” Lydia added.

  Magnys slowly crawled back, “It’s too late.”

  Kurss ripped off one of Harkkon’s arms, black blood dribbling down the sides of his mouth and chin, a mad gaze in his dark eyes.

  “Knowledge! Power! It’s all mine! I will control life and death,” Kurss howled with insane glee.

  Edric and all those gathered watched as Kurss shoved the bloody stump into his elongated mouth and stuffed it down his throat. The limb slipped down into his mouth, the troll barely chewing. When the hand disappeared down his maw, Kurss grabbed hold of Harkkon’s chest, fingers digging in and taking hold of his rib cage. A foul ripping bloomed before Kurss reached into the open chest cavity and ripped out Harkkon’s black heart. Sharp teeth bit down on the pulsating organ before the troll swallowed the rest.

  A purple surge of power blasted out. Juna braced herself as it passed through her with no effect. Eyes wide, she spread out her senses, the screams of the dead rising up in all directions.

  “We...have to retreat,” Edric barely shouted before weakness overcame him.

  Leeta took hold of her master, lifting him up in her strong arms. The waves of dark power continued to pulse as Kurss continued his divine meal. Those who could stand helped others too weak to walk. The group turned to the entrance, running and hobbling along. Magnys was last to follow, looking back as the waves of power grew in intensity.

  “This is the end,” the Sormir whispered and he turned and stumbled behind his friends and new family.

  Outside, pulses of power surged out. Players looked up as the troll cathedral glowed with supernatural light against the dark skies. Uncertainty filled brows and eyes as no one was sure what was happening. A skeletal hand burst from the ground, followed by another. Ghostly heads rose from the stone streets, black eyes on the living as they meandered about. Shadows took forms of strange humanoids, red and purple eyes glowing. Bodies rose up, the stench of decay rising up with the dead.

  Swords and hammers rained down on the dead, smashing skulls and cleaving bodies. A fearful cold grip touched warm hearts as they watched the dead rise up, not by the hundreds or thousands but by the hundreds of thousands. Panic swelled as the dead appeared everywhere. Players shouted and attacked but the dead replaced the fallen destroyed by the hundreds.

  Edric held to Leeta as their group rushed out of the cathedral, down the steps and into the streets. The summoner mustered all the strength he could to shout to wide-eyed players, fighting the sprouting dead.

  “Retreat to the portals! Run,” the summoner shouted with all his might.

  Faye, Claudia and Rayna did the same. Word slipped through the fighting like wildfire and soon every living player fought tooth and nail for the closest portal. The sky filled with ghosts as the lumbering dead rushed down streets. Moans and screams pierced the night as the dead rose up, hungering for the flesh of the living.

  Edric looked to the glowing portal, hopeful they would make it in time.

  ***

  Lunatina looked out from a balcony, eyes on the peaceful kingdoms. Lornus stepped to her side, body covered in sweat. The troll glanced back to the royal bedchamber, the bodies of men and women passed out fr
om sensual exhaustion.

  “I can’t rule the Middle Kingdoms by myself,” Lunatina sighed as he bent forward, leaning her arms on the balcony edge, her alabaster body glowing in the evening air.

  Lornus nodded.

  “There are four kingdoms. You would have your pick of the other three,” the queen smiled.

  “I’m not sure I’m cut out to be royalty,” Lornus smiled politely.

  “I thought the same thing for myself…but here we are,” Lunatina eyed him with an impish wink.

  “I’ll have to think about it,” Lornus nodded.

  “Don’t think too long. I will need…,” Lunatina trailed off as something caught her eye.

  Lornus followed Lunatina’s gaze to the sky. A purple wave filling the southern horizon rolled like a tidal wave. It moved so quickly, Lunatina and Lornus barely had time to react as it washed over them and continued up northward. The pair looked down at their bodies, unsure what just happened. Lovers began to stir as the crawl of death touched sweaty skin.

  Lunatina looked over the edge, eyes growing wider as cobblestone shattered and broke. Dead hands grasped in the air before bodies began to crawl out. Guards shouted and began attacking the dead before numbers began to swell. Lunatina and Lornus looked down in agitated horror as the Middle Kingdoms began to fill with all manner of undead. Ghosts leapt into the sky while skeletons and decayed corpses moaned and marched. Guards screamed as fighting broke out in patches.

  World Event!

  The Rebirth Cycle has begun!

  Death is Permanent!

  “The end is only the beginning.”

  Lornus and Lunatina stood, stunned.

  “Harkkon is dead,” Lornus whispered.

  “No,” the queen said before her eyes narrowed.

  Lunatina turned to the tall troll, “We have to evacuate the kingdoms. We have to open the portals to Elora!”

  Lornus looked down on the queen, “Elora? It will be happening there too. No place is safe.”

  Lunatina shook her head, “Elora has a better defense because it is a small city. The undead are already within the Middle Kingdoms walls. Plus, Elora has a dungeon core! I doubt she will let the dead rise up without a fight.”