Gamer for Love (Alpha World Book 8)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Two-souled, today I issue an open quest to the strongest of you in preparation for our upcoming assault on Stein and his followers. We are in need of components to work the large scale magics needed to send us to our foe. Go out into the deadliest of lands and bring back those items that are needed. You shall be rewarded with both riches and experience. Those who bring back the most components will receive an item from the vault, with the best of you granted a title of nobility.”

  The noise rose as everyone started talking all at once. Seeing the crowd already enthusiastic to do as he was bidding, the King motioned and a quest appeared.

  King’s Quest: Retrieve items for the upcoming raid.

  Required items: 50,000 pristine Trolls Tusks; 50,000 pristine Vermin Tails; 10,000 Mature Dragon Tongues; 50,000 Elder Lunine Shaman Tails; 1,000,000 Dead Shards; and 1,000 Elder Sandworm Hearts.

  Rewards: Gold and experience based on your contribution to the total required. The top five contributing groups will each be awarded three items from the vaults, and the best group will present one member to receive a title of nobility.

  “Damn,” Alburet said. “That’s a hell of a laundry list.”

  “It also covers every end zone,” Karen said.

  “What are we going to focus on?” Marysue asked Gerald.

  The trumpets sounded again, and conversation stopped as people returned their attention to the King. “This is the most important quest I have issued in my life, and only the next quest shall exceed this one. Go forth and return with what you can gather. The survival of Stormguard rides on your shoulders.” With that, he spun and left the balcony, still flanked by the High Priests.

  The surge of players for the gates was awful. The group edged further away to avoid being crushed by the bodies. A moment into the mass exodus, people began to vanish after they realized that using Homestones would be faster.

  “What are we going to focus on gathering?” Marysue asked again.

  “The undead and Sandworm pieces,” Gerald answered. “It’ll be easiest for us because we’re used to the Dead Lands. Go stock up on supplies. We’ll want to stay out there until we have a good number of the required things.”

  “Meet up at Progress?” Alburet asked.

  “Yes,” Gerald replied.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Entering Pablo’s Provisions, Alburet gave the owner a wave. “Pablo, we’re glad to see you’re still open.”

  “Business has been bad over the last week,” Pablo replied. “Not many are willing to risk the Final Death when it’s a certainty if they die.”

  “You’re likely to have an influx of people shortly,” Karen said. “The King just gave all the powerful Two-souled a quest that will see us out in the world for days at a time.”

  “We’re here to stock up,” Fluff added.

  “Of course,” Pablo said. “Would you mind if I advertise my wares as sought after by an Ambassador?”

  “Not at all,” Alburet smiled. “You’ve been good to us, and you didn’t balk when I entered today, either.”

  “Everyone has heard of your change, Lord Darkhand, and I knew you’d be around again. Honestly, you don’t seem as scary as I had feared you would.”

  “Aye. He still be the same sweet soul he’s always been,” Stacia said, walking around Alburet as she headed for the food section.

  Pablo blinked upon seeing her, “Lady Darkhand…”

  “Nay need to be so formal, Pablo,” Stacia said as she started to pick out what she wanted.

  “Right…” he replied with a look to Alburet, who nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

  “I’ll get the tent,” Karen said.

  “I’ll look at drinks,” Fluff added, splitting off from the others.

  “Going to need your best Campstone… actually, make it two,” Alburet told Pablo.

  “Should we pick up enough for Gerald and Marysue, too?” Fluff asked.

  “I’ll ask, but yes,” Alburet said, since he was the only one not loading up with things.

  Putting the Mindstone away a few minutes later, he told his wives, “Yeah, grab enough for the whole group.”

  “Pablo, do ya have any good cookin’ items tha’ will last a week?” Stacia asked.

  “I do have some, give me a moment,” Pablo replied and went to the back room.

  Everyone had gathered at the counter by the time he returned with a bag. “I have meat, vegetables, fruit, and the like that will be good for a week,” he told them, putting the bag on the counter. “Did you find everything else you wanted?”

  Once they had unloaded the items they selected onto the counter, Pablo took a while totaling their purchase up. A couple of other groups came into the store and hurried around picking out stuff.

  “Be with you all in a moment,” he told them and turned his attention back to Alburet. “The total for everything here is three hundred gold.”

  Handing over the coin, Alburet, Stacia, Karen, and Fluff began to stuff their purchases into their bags. “We appreciate the quality and low price,” Alburet said.

  “Thank you for the business,” Pablo smiled.

  Once they left the shop and climbed back into the carriage, they were soon dropped off at the Guild Hall. Vanessa sat behind the desk, and a pale-skinned, golden-eyed man sat beside her. “Good hunting to you all,” Vanessa smiled. “This is our new receptionist, Ferrin Giovin.”

  The man stood up and bowed deeply to them. “It is a pleasure and honor to meet you, Lord and Ladies Darkhand.”

  “A pleasure to meet you as well, Ferrin,” Alburet said slowly. “If it’s not rude, what bloodline do you have?”

  “I am the son of an Archangel, Lord.”

  “Your mother was a Summoner of Light?” Karen asked.

  “Yes, may Peace hold her close,” Ferrin replied.

  “I’ve never seen a man who had Angel blood,” Alburet said.

  “We are even more rare than our Infernal counterparts, and we aren’t as hated as they are,” Ferrin said with sadness. “My mother always believed that, in time, the Brother Gods would reconcile. I’m happy to meet the man who seems to be helping this happen, Lord.”

  “It just happened,” Alburet said, at a loss for what to say, “I didn’t set out to change the world.”

  “No one does, besides egotistical maniacs,” Karen snorted.

  “Please don’t let me detain you on your hunt, Lord. I was surprised when my old friend Vanessa approached me about the job, and more so when I found out who was associated with the Guild,” Ferrin said, taking his seat again.

  “We be sorry we do nay have the time to chat now, Ferrin. Mayhap we can change tha’ later. I would be glad to have ya for dinner to hear more about ya Ma’.”

  Ferrin looked lost for a moment. “I wouldn’t presume to—”

  “We’ll talk later,” Karen chuckled. “Stacia isn’t used to being denied.”

  Vanessa seemed amused at the whole conversation. “Good hunting.”

  Leaving the room, Fluff overheard Ferrin speaking to Vanessa, “He does seem as approachable as I’ve heard said.”

  Smile on her lips, Fluff was the last one to the portal. “You’re a good man, Al.” Kissing him, she slipped past and left him standing there, wondering what had brought that on.

  Alburet stepped onto the glyph and appeared in the middle of a fight. The graveyard was swarming with undead, and Alburet threw himself into the air, Bob and Stacia following him. Fluff and Karen were next to the handful of guards, helping them try to hold off the mobs.

  “Tiny, grab them,” Alburet called out as he Copied Bob. “Light them up, Bob.” As soon as BJ showed up, he triggered Demonic Inspiration and followed with Imp Storm. Over one hundred Imps appeared and began to Fire Blast the undead.

  “Get out!” Fluff roared at the guards before she grabbed the closest one and threw him over the undead.

  “Get the others out,” Alburet ordered. A small squad of Imps descended on the other three guards and pulled them int
o the air. “Now bomb the monsters.”

  Stacia landed beside the most injured guard and used Comforting Touch on him. “Did ya notify the others?”

  “The Captain is on his way, as well as Alpha Company,” the guard said, getting back to his feet from where Fluff had thrown him.

  Another swarm of Imps appeared above the graveyard. Fluff snagged Karen and Leaped out of the area, barely making it out before Fire Bursts began to fill the graveyard. “Thanks,” Karen exhaled when she saw the conflagration behind them grow into a firestorm.

  “Welcome,” Fluff growled before kissing her.

  Alburet landed beside them, “Tiny, you okay in there?”

  “I’m fine,” Tiny rumbled, doing his best to keep the undead from charging up the ramp.

  The fires faded after thirty seconds, and the graveyard was now devoid of undead. A moment of silence stretched out before a pop-up appeared.

  This zone has been purified by your efforts.

  Your reward has been placed into your bags.

  For the next five hours, this zone will not be targeted by the undead scourge.

  “Well that explains that,” Karen said. “Only the city is safe, it seems.”

  “That makes things complicated,” Gerald said, arriving a little out of breath.

  The few dozen people behind him were also gasping for air. One of them, Violet, was being carried by her Destroyer. “Did I hurt you?” Violet asked as her minion set her on her feet.

  “We got out,” Fluff replied. “The pause between them showing up and casting let us get out of the way.”

  “I hoped it would give anyone involved a chance to scramble.”

  “You had the right idea,” Alburet told Fluff. “I hadn’t considered getting the guards out first until you threw him. Anyone not in my party or raid would have been hurt.”

  “Report,” Mantoya said, coming alongside Gerald.

  “Sir, everything was normal, and then the ground buckled and undead began to spawn,” the guard who had been thrown replied. “I was able to message you just before they stood up, sir.”

  “I would suggest tripling the guard stationed here, Lord Stoutheart. Maybe you could spare a group of Alpha Company to assist them?”

  “Any takers for coming by every five hours to keep the town clear?” Gerald asked.

  One of the groups behind Gerald raised a hand. “We’ll handle it, if you think we can.”

  Gerald looked at the player, whose level was seventy-three. “It’ll be rough on you, but if you want it, it’s yours. I’ll put together a quest for you so you’ll get paid for it. Your task will be assisting the guards when they are attacked. Prioritize keeping them alive until more help can arrive to put the undead down.”

  “Sweet,” the player grinned at his group. “We get town duty; four hours off and then on until the undead show up.”

  “Works. Let’s go hit the inn,” another member said as the five players left, clearly pleased with their new job.

  “We good to go, or do you need a bit first?” Alburet asked Gerald.

  “Let me get things settled… so, maybe an hour?” Gerald replied.

  “We’ll head over to the inn. Just tag us when you’re ready,” Alburet said.

  “We need to go stock up,” Violet said.

  “My group, too,” Ironhand added. “We good, or do you need me and Leggy?”

  “I’ll get it squared. Go ahead and get your stuff and head on out. I want at least two of the top five spots,” Gerald said.

  The mass of people began to split off in different directions. Alburet waited a moment and snagged Gerald before he started back up the ramp. “Two of the top five?”

  “At least,” Gerald smiled. “I think we’ll be one of them. I just want them to go all out, too.”

  “Fair enough,” Alburet said, offering his arms to Fluff and Stacia.

  “Tha’ was quick thinkin’ with the guard, Fluff,” Stacia said as they started down the street.

  “And with me,” Karen said.

  “I saw the Imps show up and knew what Al wanted to do. That was why the Imps paused,” Fluff said, looking up at Bob.

  “I knew he wouldn’t want them hurt,” Bob grinned. “Who has two thumbs and thinks ahead for his master? This Imp, that’s who,” Bob hitched both thumbs back into his chest as he flew above them.

  “Thanks, Bob. I didn’t even think about it, and I would have felt horrible if you hadn’t been ahead of me,” Alburet said.

  “You’re welcome,” Bob’s smile grew wider.

  “Remind me to tell Loralee that Bob deserves a special reward,” Alburet whispered to Stacia.

  “Aye. I can tell her now, iffin ya want,” Stacia whispered back, pulling her Mindstone out.

  “Go on. It’ll surprise him later tonight,” Alburet chuckled.

  “He deserves it,” Fluff murmured from his other side.

  Arriving at the inn, they saw that it mostly empty with just the other Alpha Company group inside. “Did we come at a bad time?” Alburet asked Stewart, who was standing next to Tabitha behind the bar.

  “It’s early,” Stewart said. “Most of my business shows up in the evening. I didn’t expect to see you here… You’re not level one hundred yet, are you?” he asked, a single eyebrow rising.

  “Not yet,” Alburet chuckled. “But there’s no doubt that we’ll be making headway on that over the next few days. The King just announced a quest for the strongest Two-souled. We’ll be heading out onto the Sands to collect the items he requested.”

  “I was meaning to ask... why are we doing the Dead Lands and not one of the other zones?” Karen asked as they took over a table.

  “Home field advantage. We know what we’re likely to meet and how to combat them,” Fluff said. “At least that’s what I think.”

  “I think that’s what Gerald was thinking, too. He wants us to be in the top five, which means we have to play to our strengths. The only downside for us will be Stacia not being able to use her crowd control for us.”

  “It be somethin’ I have grown used to,” Stacia said, patting his thigh. “I can still use me blades and a couple of me other Abilities for ya.”

  “Marysue will be doing double with healing and damage, which helps tons,” Fluff said.

  “What’s the quest the King gave you?” Stewart asked, bringing over a bottle and glasses.

  While Alburet explained, Stewart poured for everyone. Picking up his glass, he sipped at it. “That is quite the quest. I wonder what the parts will be used for?”

  “Rolland,” Alburet said with certainty. “I think our mage is going to be opening us a portal. The portals normally take parts from the mobs out here. I’m wondering— since we’re gathering items from all the end zones— if he isn’t going to open simultaneous portals so the combined army can move together.”

  Karen nodded slowly, “Yeah... that would also cut down on problems gathering everyone to start with.”

  “Is tha’ even possible?” Stacia asked.

  “Who knows?” Alburet shrugged. “I’m just guessing.”

  “He was very happy to get the book about his bloodline,” Fluff said. “Maybe it’s in there?”

  “He did speak with the King about the book a day or two ago,” Alburet nodded. “Today, we get the quest to collect items? It fits.”

  “Let’s drink to your success in securing some of the required pieces, then,” Stewart said, raising his glass.

  Chapter Nineteen

  They were heading southeast out of Progress and had already encountered two sets of undead. Amongst the loot, they had three Dead Shards, some coin, and random items. Bob, BJ, and Kitten flew above them while the others trudged along.

  “About an hour before we should set camp for the night,” Gerald said. “It’s different being out here without everyone else.”

  “It’s certainly easier to kill the mobs with only a single group to deal with at a time,” Marysue added.

  “It could be challengi
ng if we didn’t basically have two parties in one,” Karen chuckled.

  “Not a full group. Stacia can only heal a little,” Alburet snorted.

  “It’s still six more bodies than most others have,” Fluff said.