《Moon Ashes》
Introduction
Introduction
The world is a terribly horrible place and it''s just looking for an excuse to end your precious existence in new and exciting ways.
This statement is broadly speaking rather untrue. At least for most people living on earth at the moment, and while we''re at it, during most moments of human existence. The problem is, that the first half of the 21st century proved to be so traumatic for the entire human race, that for a large portion of humanity this statement started to become a bit of a motto.
It turns out, that there was a finite number of catastrophic borderline extinction-level events including but not limited to continental forest fires, earthquakes, widespread wars, political scandals, plagues, pandemics and any scourges and curses found in all holy and unholy scriptures, that the human race was willing to endure before they just accepted that this is life now and that things just weren''t going to change for the better anymore.
Unfortunately, that finite number was reached in the summer of 2047 when a batch of genetically altered swans who had been successfully crossbred with komodo dragons escaped a research facility in Iceland. People saw angry, venomous honest-to-goodness dragons flying towards continental Europe and decided that enough was enough, went back inside their homes, and that going outdoors just wasn''t for them anymore.
In an ironic turn of events, the practice of staying indoors as much as possible and only going outside if somebody''s life depended on it turned out to be the stone that would start the avalanche that would solve many of humanity''s biggest and most immediate problems.
There was nearly instantaneous world peace. While there were still a few megalomaniac world leaders who insisted on declaring war on other nations. Since nobody bothered going outside to participate in the wars, simply because no punishment the previously mentioned megalomaniacs would possibly hand out could be worse than "being outside", these Leaders quickly lost all their power and resigned themselves to abusing what little followers they had left over very unfair and rather one-sided games of Axis & Allies, Battleship or Ticket to Ride, and in the rather peculiar case of the Hungarian prime minister, Bal¨¤sz Bartalan: Duck, Duck, Goose.
With people no longer travelling long distances to ruin beaches, mountains and forests as part of their semi-annual holidays, new or rather improved forms of home entertainment witnessed an all-time boom. To many people''s surprise, the long left to die and frankly presumed to be dead MMO-RPG genre, or massively online multiplayer game, saw the greatest revival of all times, as this platform was being used to replace most of the things people used to want to do outside, but that could now be done from the comfort of one''s own home.
By 2055 nearly every aspect of society had been uploaded into one of the legions of MMO-RPGs, most of which had managed to more or less successfully implement various VR, virtual reality modules, enabling people to accept abandoning the outdoors altogether and to live whatever life they wanted on their couch.
The most popular and successful of these games, which in 2061 began to absorb many of its competitors, was "Realms of the Aether".
While at this point Realms of the Aether was hardly a game anymore, but rather an all-encompassing simulator that also happened to have thousands of gaming modules as one of its prime features, it became the most successful all-encompassing reality simulator that also happened to have thousands of gaming modules, because you could practically do and be anything you wanted without any genre limitations.
Unlike some of its former competitors such as Everdream Studios¡¯ Darkforge Nexus or NanoNova Interactive¡¯s Ruin of the Last Dawn, who had doubled down on a single genre like steampunk or post-apocalyptic dystopia and offered that and only that, Realms of the Aether, or ROTA, provided its gamers with any number of worlds, making any genre you could possibly imagine available, including an impossible number of crossover worlds, so that if you wanted to delve into an old-school dungeon with a monk of the open fist, a pirate holding a comically large sword and a space cowboy wielding dual laser blaster as part of your party, you could.
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ROTA welcomed just about every imaginable play-style and offered a home for inexperienced casuals, semi-competitive try-hards, speedrunners, roleplayers and the unfortunately still-not-extinct internet troll in its many Realms. There were the obvious Player vs. Everything, or PVE realms, and Player vs. Player, or PVP versions of the same realm.
What set ROTA apart from other online experiences more than anything else, were the seasonal realms with a limited duration of a couple of months or sometimes mere weeks, where popular ESports competitions took place that pitched professional gamers in a race to reach the highest player level, most player kills or the best loot from epic dungeons.
WinWoTech, the developer that created ROTA, offered such enticingly outrageous prizes to the winners of its ESports competitions, that it quickly became the primary source of entertainment for most households worldwide. Besides substantial cash prizes, winners were often allowed to design personalised gear and mounts and contribute to the design of the epic quest chain for other players to obtain the gear for their characters.
In a couple of instances, winners of events with special significance were even allowed to reign over an entire realm of their own design. Players could spend in-game currency to be granted access to those exclusive realms where they could meet and receive quests from their Idols, for whom this special prize would practically have the same function as a highly profitable pension fund.
On Saturday, the 22nd of September 2068, after 6 months of not-so-subtle rumours in the form of a wide-spread promotional ad campaign across the globe, ROTA announced that a brand new competitive realm type was being released for the very first time today at 10:00 AM CET.
The world of gamers held its breath, as hundreds of thousands were ready to discover the mystery that had been the cause for myriads of theories, one more absurd than the other to come and go.
In a tiny, old studio apartment on the edge of a high-density residential zone on the eastern side of Strasbourg France, in his small entertainment corner, he sat in his gamer pod. His gear was a mixed collection of outdated, second-hand pieces, cobbled together and well-worn from constant repair and tinkering. He had spent a couple of hours playing vintage video games on a high-definition emulator in ROTA''s public digital library as a lite warm-up for whatever ended up being revealed today.
The countdown timer that had been ticking down in a corner of his visor screen for the last 6 months now showed that there were just 2 minutes until the long-awaited event would begin. He was staring at the event login screen that simply showed the words "Enter Event", currently greyed out.
One minute left.
He had been preparing for this event for what felt like an eternity. Since neither he nor anyone else had the slightest idea what was actually going to happen, preparing had simply meant mercilessly playing any and all games he could imagine that would be in any way useful, to excess, to gain the illusion of feeling prepared.
30 seconds left.
He could feel his heart pounding in his throat. With every breath he took, it felt like his chest was going to burst with anticipation. His scuffed haptic gloves stuck to the sweaty palms of his hands as he flexed and relaxed them again.
The final countdown began with a low, steady drumbeat in his headset. It was slow, reverberating like distant thunder in a storm, each beat resonating in his chest, matching the anxious rhythm of his own heart.
10......
9.......
8......
The rhythm shifted, picking up intensity. Layers of sound wove into the drums¡ªdeep brass and the faintest hiss of a synth that seemed to circle him, alive and ominous. His breath hitched, his gaze glued to the icon as his pulse quickened, every beat pulling him deeper.
7......
6.....
5.....
The beat grew heavier, each strike pounding like a hammer against his chest, pressing him into his seat. The drums deepened, primal now¡ªno longer just a sound, but a feeling, a visceral throb in his bones.
4.....
3.....
2.....
The sound grew deeper, fast and insistent. He bit his lip, his gaze fixed. He could almost taste the tension in the air. The drums hit their lowest, deepest note, a bass-heavy pulse that seemed to shake his entire pod.
1.....
The icon lit up red.
For the briefest of moments he hesitated, but then he hit the icon.
A sharp, rising crescendo of sound, higher and higher, filled his ears, then¡ªsilence.
He sat frozen in the stillness, his breath caught, his hands clenching the controls. The silence pressed in, heavy and absolute, stretching until he thought he couldn¡¯t bear it a moment longer.
Then, a voice¡ªsmooth, commanding¡ªfilled the silence.
It simply said, "Player Aiden, welcome to the game. Prepare for glory or be ready for death."
Chapter 1: No Tutorial
Chapter 1: No Tutorial
Out of the black, a "this is not a loading screen screen" appeared. The main reason it instantly became clear that what he was staring at, was a "this is not a loading screen screen" rather than a classic loading screen, were the words in bold and not at all reassuring letters proclaiming the message:
"This is not a loading screen."
The words started fading in, presenting a highly recognizable old-school text crawl with glittering stars in the background and were followed by:
"WinWoTech is proud to present you with what is likely going to be known as the greatest gaming experience of all times.
Before we let you witness this for yourself, we want to express in plain and simple terms, that life isn''t fair. Sometimes those who deserve to win lose and those who deserve defeat win.
So before you get any ideas about fairness or a level playing field, we want to make it clear from the very beginning, that the deck is very much stacked against you, so don''t waste any time feeling sorry for yourself and get a move on.
Finally, you should know that while a tutorial was initially created to help guide you through this new experience, we decided it would be in everybody''s but mostly our own best interest to get rid of it and to let you explore things on your own."
The text faded away, and nothing happened.
Not for a handful of heartbeats.
"I bet this came directly from the High Council," Aiden thought to himself. "It even sounds like old MadDog himself wrote this. Only a left-handed monkey wrench like him would come up with the idea of going through the effort of creating a tutorial, only to throw it away, with the sole purpose of telling people he''d done just that."
For a brief moment, he wasn''t sure if he should be delighted or terrified with what he had just read.
It was common knowledge that the three founders of WinWoTech had rejected all formal and common nomenclatures upon creating their company. Instead of naming their board of directors anything normal like it would have been done in any other company, they decided to call it the "High Council" which was an acronym that stood for: The Highly Intellectual Gamers'' and Heroes'' Council of Outstanding Nerdy, Strategic, and Intriguing Lore.
One theory fondly shared by many ROTA historians suggested, that the three founders who were only ever known by their gamer tags MadDog, Jester and Phenara, created ROTA as a result of wanting a game of their own design that transcended all other experiences, where they could hang out, and relive their glory days together.
Aiden interrupted the admiration he held for the High Council and dared to take a look around and quickly realised that he was floating in space.
Above his head, he could see an amazing display of what appeared to be twin moons intertwining their orbits. The first and larger of the two had a silvery grey light with hues of pale blue scattered across its surface. Passing in front of it, the second one struck Aiden with its deep notes of crimson and onyx. Gazing at this heavenly display, he could feel that the larger of the two whispered subtle notes of peace and understanding, while the second one radiated with bold and unapologetic energy, which invoked thoughts of primal chaos and hidden secrets in Aiden''s mind.
He stared at the celestial bodies and fondly whispered to himself as much as to the two moons, "It''s old MadDog alright. Only he would put you two up there".
His glance fell downwards, where he saw a large planet that instantly gave him the impression that an omnipotent cosmic being, or a well-paid and highly dedicated team of game designers, which as Aiden thought about it was much more likely, had seen the beauty of Earth and decided to do it all again, but on an epic scale, putting the original to shame. While the many azure-coloured waters did remind him of Earth, the shapes and colours of the landmasses caused him to gaze wide-eyed.
Massive continents painted a tapestry of colours that defied all earthly norms. Verdant greens melded seamlessly into rich ochres and fiery reds, forming intricate patterns.
"If there aren''t any dragons, or at least one dark lord down there, I''m going to be severely disappointed". He thought to himself as he took in the vast scenery that lay before him.
New location discovered: The World of Mythendel!
"What?" He thought as he read the system prompt on his screen. "Mythendel? That''s a horrible name!"
He was about to comment to nobody in particular, that he thought that every fantasy world ever created had a stupid name when suddenly, the world started getting a lot closer in very little time.
His screen started to shake violently, as his surroundings blurred and twisted. An irresistible force tugged at him and sent him hurling towards Mythendel.
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He found himself in the middle of a twirling roil of pure energy shining with the light of a million stars. With each passing moment, he had the impression that his speed was ever increasing at an exponential rate leaving him wondering what would happen when he''d enter the planet''s atmosphere.
He didn''t have to wait for very long to find out.
He broke through the invisible threshold between space and sky with a shockwave that cracked like cosmic thunder. A violent, deep and resonant boom burst all around him, abruptly altering his trajectory from that of a serene, steady fall to that of a panicked flail of a nerd who is likely to understand how the sperm whale felt¡ªfar sooner than he ever imagined he would.
In a fascinating transformation, the inky blackness of the cosmos abruptly yielded to the riot of spinning colours and sounds of Mythendel''s atmosphere.
A deafening screeching noise made him realise that he had been screaming the moment his plummet began. He tried to alter this by not screaming, but instead, he opted to increase his volume even more, just in case local surface dwellers might not have heard him.
In an act of desperate indignity, he managed to hurl a couple of words in all directions, "I''m gonna die! I''m gonna die! First I''m gonna puke and then I''m gonna die!!"
It took longer than he''d ever been willing to admit, but he eventually realised that while he seemed to be plummeting to his death, he was indeed, not dead yet. He calmed his relentless screaming and after much trial and error managed to correct his wild spinning to that of a controlled fall.
Once he had successfully stilled his nerves to the point of being able to form a cohesive thought, he had a look at his immediate surroundings and noticed that he wasn''t the only one trapped in a roil of energy. He saw at least a few dozen all around him, each of them transporting a figure towards the surface of Mythendel.
In the distance, he thought he could see even more, many more than he could begin to count or even guess their numbers.
"Well at least being launched from space towards certain death is something that''s happening to everyone, and not just the universe taking its frustrations out on me," he thought as he observed the other individuals who shared his current trajectory.
A few of them, like him, had managed to control their fall, while others were spinning and tumbling in ways that guaranteed that whatever it was they had had for breakfast that morning, was going to resurface at any moment.
He tried to get a notion of how long the rest of his fall was going to be. He looked towards his trajectory and noticed that he was above one of the larger continents that was quickly revealing more of itself to him as he got closer to its surface. From his current vantage point, he could see roaming green hills that stretched across the landscape, vast forests and distant mountain chains. He could see networks of rivers, large and small, feeding into lakes and fading out of sight as they spread across the continent.
It was a remarkable sight, but what stood out most of all to Aiden, was where the roil seemed to be taking him. Far down below he could see what appeared to be a vast, circular walled city. Even from a distance, it became immediately clear that the city lay in ruins.
He could see buildings with roofs that had caved in, clusters of trees growing in odd places as part of nature''s attempt to reclaim the area for itself and in many places where buildings had once stood, Aiden could see nothing but rubble. In the centre of the ruined city, there was a large circular patch of green. It seemed more than suspicious to Aiden, and to make matters worse, he was headed straight towards it.
As his gaze focused on the green circle, he could feel an intense pressure building up all around him. His vision very suddenly started to shake again and he had the immediate suspicion that he was approaching what one might call the final descent of his journey.
His priorities instantaneously shifted from marvelling at the scenery to a frantic brainstorm as to how he was to survive the landing.
"Is this the first trial?" He thought with a slight panic. "Try to survive falling from space unassisted? If so, they weren''t joking about life being unfair."
He felt at his person, hoping for a parachute to materialise out of thin air, but nothing happened.
"Perhaps", he thought, "the game placed something I can use in my inventory?"
He attempted the mental command to open his inventory. However, instead of the expected windows showing his character portrait, equipment and stored items, a system message flashed on his screen:
"Feature currently unavailable."
"That can''t be right," he said, frustration evident in his voice. "I know they said things wouldn''t be fair, but this?" he now began to shout at the sky, "This isn''t just unfair, it''s outright stupid!"
He gave the mental command to open his inventory three more times, and each time, he received the same system prompt.
In his panicked state, he didn''t notice the shaking ending, nor did he realise that the pressure around him stopped building. For a brief moment, there was complete silence, except for Aiden ranting about his unfair circumstances.
A cataclysmic boom instantly silenced him. All of a sudden everything he had previously seen and felt lost all meaning. His previous shattering of the sonic barrier upon entering Mythendels atmosphere had against Aiden''s expectations become an insignificant footnote. He was now shooting towards the planet''s surface with a yet unprecedented speed, which implied that the laws of physics, including but not limited to the principle of terminal velocity, had been at least temporarily put to rest.
With wide eyes, he examined his user interface, desperately hoping to find a clue or shred of information that could prevent his demise within the first 10 minutes of what had been promised as an epic event.
The only thing he noticed was that the user interface was all wrong. There was still his health bar on the bottom left and his mana and stamina bars on the bottom right sides of his screen, but the space in between the health and mana bars that was usually filled with icons representing his character''s skills was empty.
For a second, he thought he had figured it out. "A cinematic cutscene! That''s it!" he shouted with relief, ready to fist-pump the air. But once he finished his train of thought he rejected the idea, "No! no, no, no stupid! If that were the case the whole user interface would be missing, not just the skill icons!"
As his speed kept increasing into the absurd, he noticed two things appear just above his health bar. Like a bolt shot through his brain, he experienced confusion, understanding, relief, excitement, embarrassment and even a little bit of shame more or less all at the same time.
Two icons appeared above his health bar. One had a cross with a halo above it, and the other had a shield with two warhammers crossing in front of it. They each radiated with warm silvery light and caused Aiden to grin like an idiot.
The first icon represented the immortality buff, ensuring that while he could take damage, his total health couldn''t drop below 1. The second represented the invulnerability buff, causing him to be unable to suffer any sort of damage, loss of life or suffer any negative status effects while the buff was active.
"Now that''s what I''m talking about," he shouted with a bright smile. "I''m falling! I¡¯m falling with style!"
He instantly knew exactly how he wanted to land, realising he only had precious seconds to execute it. He had been attempting to belly fly ever since he entered Mythendel''s atmosphere, keeping his torso parallel to the ground while angling his arms and legs.
He leaned backwards, pressing his arms and legs together and narrowed his eyes, focusing on the spot he would be landing on. He tried to anticipate the precise moment he would need to shift his weight to pull off the stunt he had in his mind.
He took one final breath, and with a sudden surge of overconfidence granted to him by his temporary god-mode, he threw all his weight forwards, tucked his arms and legs in, in an attempt to perform a somersault, but with a sudden grasp of terror, he instantly realised that he threw in far more force than needed for a single rotation.
His arms and legs flailed as he unsuccessfully tried to regain his balance just as he came down to meet the ground.
"Noooooo! Not like¡¡"
All that followed was the sound of a tremendous force hitting the ground, a comically large amount of dust being thrown up by the sudden impact and a low moan filled with regret coming from the inside of a small crater in the ground.
Chapter 2: For death and glory and chocolate chip cookies
The dust slowly settled as Aiden found himself in a heap on the ground. Instead of the grand entrance to Mythendel and the countless adventures he would face as a direct result of it, all he had were feelings of indignation, embarrassment and a desperate hope that nobody had witnessed his less-than-graceful landing.
His hopes of having gone down unnoticed were almost instantly shattered by the sound of bright laughter coming from behind him.
"Well done Aiden!" he thought to himself as he felt his face turn bright red. "Not even 15 minutes in, and you''ve already made a fool of yourself!"
As he turned to face his audience, he was struck by a sight unlike anything he had ever seen before. Standing next to him was a tall slender figure with pale blue skin, her shoulder-length black hair shimmered like polished metal, all while flowing gently in the soft breeze.
Her features were marked by a long neck, at least according to human standards, and disproportionately long thin fingers. She was currently enjoying the entertainment Aiden was unintentionally providing, the sound of her bright laughter ringing loudly at his expense.
"I''ve seen a dozen different approaches when it comes to making an entrance," she said while attempting to mask her bright smile that was followed by another fit of laughter.
Once she''d recovered enough to be able to speak she continued, "But I must admit, yours was quite memorable."
Aiden, still slightly disoriented from his crash, pushed himself upright and blinked at the stranger who had approached him. His gaze landed on an amused expression, and he couldn''t help but offer a sheepish grin in return.
"You know, they say first impressions are everything," he quipped, brushing off the dirt from his clothes as he stood. "I just wanted to make sure I stood out."
She raised an eyebrow as she watched him regain his footing, his infectious grin causing her to grin right back at him.
"What a delightful choice of words," she said, as she took a few steps closer to him.
"Oh, the irony of me saying that right after crashing ungracefully is not lost on me," he added.
Her sudden burst of laughter caught Aiden by surprise, but its sound was so bright and clear that he couldn''t help but join in.
After they both recovered, Aiden couldn''t help but be curious regarding her appearance and asked, "I don''t think I''ve ever met somebody of your kind in ROTA before. Would you mind telling me what Race you have chosen?"
She looked at him with amusement and answered, "I haven''t made a choice at all. This appears to be the race we''ve all been assigned by default."
Aiden who suddenly felt very troubled by what he was hearing asked, "By default? Meaning, that in addition to not having a tutorial, there also won''t be a random government official, old wizard or seasoned professor who will ask us to tell them more about ourselves, which then cuts over to a character creator?"
"I take it, you haven''t opened your character sheet yet?" she replied, enjoying his ignorance.
He grinned, unwilling to yield to her superior knowledge of what he guessed couldn''t have been more than 10 seconds'' worth of additional time on Mythendel, and said "Between pancaking the ground and meeting you, I haven''t had the chance to take a look around."
He gave the mental command to open his inventory and was relieved when he saw three familiar holographic windows pop up in his field of vision, blurring out the rest of the world into the background . It was of no surprise to Aiden, that his storage and journal screens were both practically void of anything useful, so he focused on the one that currently mattered.
He looked at his character sheet, on which he could see his portrait and a summary of his character details.
Aiden
Racial abilities 1 of 3
Class abilities 0 of 7
Racial Abilities:
Ability: Arcane Scavenger
- Increased chance to find random magical objects.
When his gaze landed on his character portrait, he was able to see a miniaturised version of himself. He had similar features to the person standing next to him. The same pale blue-coloured skin, a similarly long neck and long fingers with shimmering metallic hair, except that his was fairly short and didn''t go past his ears. He was even wearing similar clothing made of white linen with dark blue geometric patterns on them. The only difference was that while his outfit hung on his wiry frame like a circus tent, hers seemed to fit perfectly, tastefully complimenting her figure without being revealing.
"Blue is definitely not my colour," he said while processing his current condition and poking at his face.
"Speak for yourself," she said, "They absolutely nailed my avatar. I''m Winterhell by the way," she said as her name and player level became visible to Aiden above her avatar¡¯s head. It was of little surprise that she, just like him, was level 1.
Had Aiden been looking for something to confirm that he wasn''t in a casual realm, Winterhell''s name appearing after she introduced herself to him would have been it. In casual realms, the names and levels of all players, NPCs and Monsters were visible above their character''s head. Only competitive realms hid this information as part of the experience, forcing players to try to obtain crucial details about any unavoidable fight, and in cases where that wasn''t possible, to take calculated risks when facing an unknown opponent.
He suddenly remembered his manners. His head shot up as he noticed his breach in decorum.
"Sorry, I''m Aiden. It''s a pleasure to meet you."
Aiden glanced around at his immediate surroundings and saw that there were already large amounts of players who had previously arrived, with more arriving by the second. He noticed that each new arrival had the same pale blue skin and shimmering metallic black hair.
As he took it all in he realised that he had severely misjudged the size of the green circular area he had landed in. From above it looked like a large field within the city. Now that he was no longer airborne, Aiden quickly noticed that the space he was currently standing in, was in itself roughly the size of a small city.
As he looked around, a system prompt appeared on his screen.
New location discovered: The Evergreen Glade
"What sort of place is this? It''s too large to be just a spawning zone right?" he wondered out loud.
"I''m not sure," Winterhell answered, "But imagine the size of the actual city surrounding it all."
Now that she had mentioned it, Aiden tried to guess just how huge the ruined city had to be, if it was large enough to surround the Evergreen Glade. But despite the glade''s impressive size and the steady stream of players arriving around them, there was an immediate issue they both felt that needed to be addressed. While the air was filled with nervous excitement and players conversing curiously all around them, with some already banding into small groups, there was an all-to-noticeable lack of any obvious danger or apparent threat.
"Any idea what''s supposed to happen next?" Winterhell asked, echoing Aiden''s thoughts.
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"Your guess is as good as mine," Aiden said.
¡°Do you think we''re going to have to fight all these players until there''s only one left standing?¡± Winterhell asked, a worried look appearing on her face.
Aiden gave it a brief thought, playing the scenario out in his mind, and finally shook his head. ¡°No, that doesn''t seem very likely,¡± he said. ¡°A bunch of under-levelled characters thrown into a sudden but predictable battle royale wouldn''t make for a very memorable contest.¡±
As he spoke, Winterhell''s face visibly relaxed, with some of the tension from her shoulders lessening.
¡°I think it''s far more likely that our main objective will either reveal itself to us once somebody stumbles across the trigger for the quest chain by accident, or it will do so on its own in due time. Whether the first or the latter or perhaps an entirely different scenario is proven to be correct doesn''t really change our current options though.¡±
¡°I think your guess was way better than mine,¡± Winterhell said, giving Aiden a flat look. ¡°Hopefully you''re right about there not being a spontaneous large-scale fight to the death,¡± she continued, ¡°I don''t think the odds would have been in our favour.¡±
Aiden was about to respond, when he was rudely interrupted by the sudden impact of a new arrival landing no more than a handful of metres away from where he and Winterhell were standing. The ground shook with terrible force and the air was torn by a deafening crack that gave Aiden uncomfortable flashbacks of his own less than elegant arrival, while dust and grass was blown into their faces.
As the dust settled, the sight that presented itself left Aiden and Winterhell staring in disbelief. The new arrival had landed forcefully on one knee, his right fist slammed into the ground, where the impact had left an inexplicable spiderweb of cracks radiating around him.
For a moment, he remained crouched in his landing pose, head bowed, as if gathering the wrath of the storm he had just ridden in his descent from orbit. Then, with dramatic flair, he lifted his head, his eyes blazing with smouldering intensity.
A deep gravelly voice pierced through the veil of dust, as the newcomer slowly rose to his full height, ¡°Behold, forces of darkness! The light rebukes thee, and thy doom is at hand. I am justice.¡±
¡°A Superhero landing,¡± Aiden whispered with reverence, as the behemoth of a man turned to face him and Winterhell. As he did, Aiden could swear he could hear a swell of inspiring cinematic music emanating from nowhere in particular. It was as if the universe had queued an epic soundtrack to reward a flawless landing, further pointing out just how poorly Aiden¡¯s own had gone.
Doing his best to shrug off his awe for the scene unfolding in front of him, Aiden gave the stranger, who was impossibly tall with the the stature of a man who had eaten a herd of bodybuilders and was looking to get into a brawl with a grizzly bear just to burn off the calories, a look filled with disbelief.
¡°What a show-off,¡± he muttered, not at all trying to lower his voice.
Winterhell caught his mutter and nudged him playfully. "Oh, come on, Aiden. Admit it, you''re just jealous," she teased, her voice mingling with the fading notes of the music. "That was exactly what you were trying to do, wasn¡¯t it? But, let''s just say, your version had a bit more... impact."
"Yeah, impact right into the dirt," Aiden grumbled, but he couldn''t help the small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He turned back to the newcomer, who was now strikingly posed in front of them, still basking in the glory of his cinematic entrance.
The newcomer, catching Aiden''s look, spread his hands wide as if to say, ''Can you blame me?'' "Couldn''t resist making a grand entrance," he said, his voice carrying a playful arrogance that somehow didn''t irritate Aiden as much as he thought it would.
¡°But definitely not as much as it should,¡± Aiden thought to himself trying to hate the newcomer, but failing.
¡°Well you did alright, I suppose,¡± Aiden said with a shrug, then continued, ¡°I personally would have gone with a dark avenger approach, I can see you took a different path, but to each their own.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± the stranger said, ¡°Was that how you arrived? A dark knight, come to strike fear into the hearts of evil-doers?¡±
¡°Aiden is too grounded for that kind of theatrics¡± Winterhell laughed, cutting Aiden off before he managed to give a clever answer, ¡°He wanted to take a practical approach to the question why do we fall?¡±
Aiden gave Winterhell an indignant glare that promised nothing good, swallowed his pride then raised his arm towards the newcomer with a challenging motion. ¡°It¡¯s not about how we arrive that matters, in fact, I would say that those circumstances are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of time that determines who you are.¡±
He could feel his words carrying him away, but at this point, he didn¡¯t care, and gave in to the surge. "Your arrival was indeed something to behold,¡± Aiden remarked, his words deliberate, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. He let the silence hang just a moment too long before adding, "Forgive me¡ªwhat was your name again?"
¡°Gavril,¡± the big man answered, perplexed by Aiden¡¯s sudden presence, his name and level becoming visible above his head.
Aiden¡¯s voice carried a newfound determination as he turned back to face the towering figure. "Your arrival was indeed something to behold Gavril! But in Mythendel, and all of ROTA for that matter, it¡¯s not just about how we enter, but what we do once we hit the ground.¡±
He winced as he could feel Winterhell positively gleaming with delight. He clenched his fists and took his foot out of his mouth, while summoning his resolve, not willing to lose his momentum.
¡°It¡¯s about reaching out and seizing our fate with our own hands¡ªthrough the sweat of our brow and the strength of our back," he continued.
Aiden stepped closer, his gaze locked with Gavril''s, intensity burning in his eyes. "We might not all choose to enter with thunder and spectacle, but make no mistake, we¡¯re all here to carve out our destinies, and sometimes, the quieter steps tread the deepest."
Winterhell joined Aiden, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, her presence reinforcing his words.
"And so, Gavril, while you seek your glory in high tales," Aiden continued, "know that we, too, will be forging our own paths. Perhaps our roads will converge again. Whether as allies or as rivals, you''d do well to remember this day¡ªthe day you witnessed the rise of Aiden and Winterhell."
With a firm nod, Aiden stretched out a fisted hand towards Winterhell, signalling it was time to depart. "Come, Winterhell, let''s find our adventure, one that speaks of our deeds and not just our entrances."
Winterhell, not missing her que bumped her fist against Aiden¡¯s and asking him, ¡°But we still don¡¯t have a quest, or a real purpose, what shall we do? Where shall we go?¡± a bright smile on her face, setting Aiden up for his big finale.
Aiden who was now buzzing with bold excitement continued, "We might not have a clear path, and the dangers are unknown, but let¡¯s not back down, not when now is the hour for us to show the world what we are made of.¡±
He frowned for just the briefest of moments, as if deep in thought, then pointed towards the edge of the glade nearest to where they stood with an exaggerated gesture and said, "Those ruins seem quest-worthy!" He turned towards Winterhell and exclaimed ¡°Let¡¯s go forth, boldly and without fear. Onwards!¡±
"So be it!" Winterhell exclaimed with a bright smile. "Onwards! For death and glory!"
"How about something a bit safer, like for minor injuries and moderate fame?" he answered, suddenly taken aback by her outburst of bravado.
"No Aiden! Nobody ever achieved greatness by taking the safe road."
She took a deep breath and shouted as loud as she could "For death and glory!"
Aiden who couldn''t resist her infectiously grim optimism replied equally loudly "For death and glory and chocolate chip cookies!"
Aiden and Winterhell suddenly both started to run towards the ruins that were nearest to them, all while laughing with delight and excitement. Their absurd display was earning them a fair amount of attention, to the point that a few players who had witnessed Aiden and Winterhell facing off with Gavril, waved and cheered them on, as the duo took off towards the ruins encircling the Evergreen Glade.
Gavril, who was left both in the dust of Aiden and Winterhell¡¯s departure, as well as utterly speechless by what he had just seen and heard, took a couple of moments to take it all in. Finally he smiled and spoke in what was almost a hushed whisper, ¡°I look forward to meeting you again soon Aiden,¡± and with a stride, made his own way towards the ruins surrounding the Evergreen Glade.
-
Once Aiden and Winterhell arrived at the border between the Evergreen Glade and the ruins encircling it, both Aiden and Winterhell were reminded by their depleted stamina bars that they were, for the time being, still low-level players.
With their hands resting on their knees, and their hearts pounding inside their chests as if trying to get out by any means necessary, they were panting while catching their breaths again.
"You know, we could have gone for a dignified slow walk instead of running at full speed the entire way here," Aiden complained in between deep gasps for air. ¡°I bet that¡¯s what Gavril did.¡±
"I didn''t hear you complain when that small band of players was cheering us on," Winterhell replied while trying to keep a smile on her lips, which only yielded mixed results.
"Fair enough," Aiden said, his heart still racing. "We''re here now, so let''s make the most of it."
They were standing on a moss-covered road that led from the ruined city and ended no more than a dozen metres into the Evergreen Glade, after passing through an ancient arched gateway. The remains of the heavy reinforced wooden gate were now but a mess of rotten wood, rusted metal and broken hinges lying on the ground.
The city once had a tall inner wall that separated the city from the glade, which just like the rest of the city had lost its fight against time and the elements. From where they stood, Aiden and Winterhell could see several gaping holes in the wall being used by other players as an entrance to the ruined city.
Winterhell suddenly spoke with excitement, "Are you seeing what people are saying in the world chat?"
"No, I have it faded out by default. I grew tired of the endless stream of 1V1 challenges and players who think that spamming that they''re new and looking for a guild is an intelligent use of their time," Aiden answered.
"Well aren''t we a bundle of joy," she said teasingly. "You''ve got to see what other players are writing. A couple have already claimed to have found magical items in the ruins!"
While Winterhell was speaking, Aiden gave the command to open the world chat window on the left side of his visor screen.
EpicGonzo: Yo, just found a rare magical item! #loot
Fruity_Ninja: Got an epic consumable here!
DemonHunter: What did you guys find? There''s nothing in the Glade where people are landing¡ Where can I find some?
Coonicon: In the ruins duh!
DemonHunter: You''re not helping @Coonicon. Guys, what exactly did you find? Did you have to fight mobs?
Coonicon: Go to the ruins and figure it out for yourself kiddo.
DemonHunter: @Coonicon stay out of it, @EpicGonzo and @Fruity_Ninja, what did you guys find?
Lanzalot: Dude, calm down, they''re obviously in the ruins. Just go there yourself.
DemonHunter: @Lanzalot, shut up, I¡¯m a sponsored player and will take you 1V1 if I have to!
Lanzalot: Troll in the dungeon!!!
Aiden sighed softly as a flame war erupted and closed the world chat window again. "You believe these guys?" he asked Winterhell. "Don''t you think they''re just baiting casuals?"
Winterhell gave him a flat look, "This isn''t my first day in ROTA thank you very much. Of course, they might be making it all up, but is that a risk you''re willing to take?"
Aiden who knew when he was beaten conceded and answered, "Alright, let''s not waste any time then. If those guys can find rare and epic items, then we''ll just have to find legendary ones ourselves, just to shut them all up."
They passed through the gateway and entered the city. As they did, they were greeted by a system prompt:
New location discovered: The Ruined City of Lockhaven
Chapter 3: Better than a stick
Aiden and Winterhell had left the gateway behind and were following the road leading deeper into the Ruined City of Lockhaven.
They found themselves surrounded by a once-majestic metropolis that had long since been forgotten by time. As they marvelled at the scenery, they could see that every structure and every street was crafted from an ivory-white stone.
The buildings rose proudly, their elegant architecture reaching toward the heavens as if aspiring to touch the sky. These structures, once gleaming in their pristine whiteness, had weathered the centuries, their surfaces bearing the marks of age and decay with their once-glowing white colours taking on a matted grey.
Despite it not even being midday, the city was cloaked in shadows, and a soft, haunting breeze whispered through the crumbling buildings.
Inside the city, the moss-covered road was replaced by a broken cobblestone street that was littered with rubble from abandoned buildings. The stark contrast to the vibrant Evergreen Glade they had just left behind rendered both Aiden and Winterhell silent. The ruins exuded an air of mystery and foreboding, while a sense of excitement mingled with trepidation coursed through their bodies. As they carefully made their way through the bleak scenery, their every step was accompanied by the crunch of debris underfoot.
As they ventured further into the desolation, they came to a crossroad where they halted in front of an ancient-looking street sign. When they inspected it, they saw letters etched deep into the weathered surface, a green patina embraced the grooves of each character, a testament to the centuries during which the city had been abandoned. The sign informed them that the street they had been following was called ¡°2nd Street¡±, and the street crossing it, was called ¡°Bleeker Street¡±.
¡°That¡¯s an odd name,¡± Winterhell said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like one of the typical names we normally come across in high fantasy settings.¡±
Aiden paused for a moment before answering.
¡°It¡¯s a strange name¡" he finally said pensively.
¡°That¡¯s what I just said,¡± Winterhell said with a frown.
¡°No, you said it¡¯s an odd name, which fair enough, it is. I simply added that in addition to being odd, it¡¯s also a strange name.¡±
"Wow, that¡¯s what I get for talking to you? Well aren''t you a natural conversationalist," she said mockingly.
Aiden¡¯s lips curled into a small smile as he leaned back, seeming to enjoy her exasperation.
"You know, the High Council is known to occasionally do weird things just to throw off the playerbase," he said, with a facial expression as if smiling at a joke only he understood.
"Do you really think something as unimportant as a street name would have come all the way from the High Council?" she said, sounding unconvinced, as they turned to the left and onto Bleeker Street together.
"Not necessarily,¡± Aiden said. ¡°They obviously have legions of world-builders and lore-crafters who are typically granted astonishingly large amounts of creative liberties, but there have been cases where the High Council specifically requested minor details to be added or changed simply because they thought it would be funny, or they wanted to make a reference to something just to see if players would catch on to it."
"Huh," Winterhell said with mild surprise in her voice. "I didn''t realise they were that involved."
"Oh they are," Aiden said. "There was this one time during the early ROTA days where players had to enter a 6-digit code to be able to participate in an legendary raid. The code was a ranking of each of the films from the first two Star Wars trilogies according to Jesper''s own personal opinion."
"That doesn''t sound so bad. I bet one of the deep nerds or ROTA scholars was able to dig up the answer from an old interview or a forgotten forum post right? Plus there are only so many different codes one can try before eventually getting the correct one," she said while mentally trying to guess what the correct ranking might be.
"That''s the thing," Aiden answered. "It turns out that MadDog and Phenara had already made their own personal rankings known to the public, but Jasper never did, and since each player only had one chance to enter an answer as part of the event, people had to make uneducated guesses while hoping for the best. In addition, since it¡¯s absolutely forbidden to share any details relating to high ranking events, nobody even dared to post any speculations or actual answers anywhere for fear of getting hit with the ban-hammer.¡±
¡°Did anybody end up getting it right? Winterhell asked while stepping around an old guardhouse that had fallen into the street.
Aiden who seemed to deeply enjoy delving into ROTA lore raised a knowing finger, and said ¡°From what I recall, there were less than 100 who ended up answering correctly. Apparently, Jesper¡¯s favourite character was Count Dooku, so Episode II was ranked first, and Episode III dead last.¡±
¡°Those must have been lucky guesses though, right? There¡¯s no way anybody knew that for sure,¡° Winterhell said. "Then again, I¡¯m not that big of a fan of space operas to begin with, so I wouldn¡¯t have known the first thing about Jesper¡¯s likes or dislikes.¡±
Aiden felt an avalanche of sudden emotions flood through his being, beginning with incandescent nerd-rage, confusion and sadness, followed by the suspicion that Winterhell was simply lying or that she came from a parallel universe were for reasons unknown to him, people never learned to appreciate one of the most iconic pieces of cinematic epicness of all times, and then finally, acceptance that not everybody has to like the same things as he does, only the throw out that last idiotic thought because while he subscribed to the idea of the many-worlds interpretation, which suggests that there are an infinite number of worlds with an infinite number of versions of himself who have an infinite number of opinions, he refused to accept that in any one of them, he or anyone else could ever perceive Star Wars as "not awesome".
In the sudden and uneasy silence that followed, they each looked at their surroundings more closely, their previous conversation having soaked up much of their attention. Bleeker Street proved to be little different than 2nd Street. While it appeared to be marginally narrower, the overall cityscape continued unchanged, with rubble and fallen blocks of occasional decorative archways slowing their progress. The broken cobbled street was slightly curved and seemed to go on endlessly, giving them the impression of perpetually rounding a bend with every step.
After following Bleeker Street in an awkward silence for what felt like an eternity, Winterhell was about to suggest they enter any building at random to start exploring, when a large circular plaza presented itself to their left. She pointed in its direction and they made their way towards it.
The plaza was a beautifully crafted place, its perimeter defined by a low stone wall. Half a dozen benches placed on its outer edges facing inwards, made of the same stones as the rest of the city around them. Inside the ring of benches were four circular fountains with shallow basins. Rising from the centre of each fountain was the impressive figure of a wyvern. Each of the identical figures was poised to take flight, their wings unfurled, their heads facing towards the sky with their jaws wide open in an eternally silent roar that in a forgotten era used to spout a stream of water above its head.
At the centre of the plaza, on a tall pedestal stood a statue that appeared to depict what Aiden would have described as a classic rpg-adventuring party. He could see the familiar shapes he had witnessed on countless occasions in similar constellations. On the left side, a broad-shouldered Half-Orc barbarian raising a large two-handed sword towards the sky. To his right stood an Elven hunter holding an impressive-looking longbow, an arrow nocked and ready to be shot. On the right side, in a crouched position was a cloaked Halfling rogue, twin daggers in hands and ready to strike. Beside the rogue was a Dragonkin mage, staff held aloft, her robe flattering behind her as she prepared to command the elements. In the centre of the group stood a Satyr bard, holding a harp in one hand, the other hand gesturing forwards towards an invisible foe.
The statue and the plaza, set against the backdrop of their surroundings,offered a striking contrast, as they appeared to have been spared the crumbling fate suffered by the rest of the city. While there were large cracks on the benches, stones from the wall that had fallen onto the ground, and parts of the fountain¡¯s basins that were missing entirely, it still only appeared to be in a state of disrepair rather than one of utter ruin.
¡°Can places have plot armour?¡± Aiden said more to himself than Winterhell.
Winterhell gave him a cautious glance. ¡°I''m pretty sure I''m going to regret asking, but what are you talking about?¡± she said.
Aiden, who felt drawn by the characters on display, ignored Winterhell¡¯s question and stepped closer towards the statue. He was curious to see if there was an obvious reason as to why the plaza was in better condition than its surroundings. As he stepped closer towards the middle of the square to inspect the statue more closely, something laying at the feet of the statue¡¯s carved characters drew his attention. He thought he could see something small glimmering, when a brilliant azure light erupted behind them, piercing the eerie silence, all while illuminating their surroundings with an otherworldly radiance. Its brilliance was followed by a deafening boom of thunder, so loud that it rattled the crumbling cityscape all around them.
Startled, Aiden and Winterhell instinctively turned towards the source of the commotion. The Evergreen Glade and the ruined city, which had until moments ago been fairly quiet, was now in the throes of a sudden, violent thunderstorm. Lightning streaked across the sky, arcing with furious intensity, and the heavens themselves seemed to weep torrents of rain.
"What in the world is happening?" Winterhell shouted over the tempestuous winds.
Aiden, drenched by the sudden pouring rain and with windblown hair plastered to his face, couldn''t help but offer a sly grin, his voice barely audible over the storm. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? On top of everything, It¡¯s raining!¡±
With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Winterhell quipped, ¡°Oh, I thought it was just nature¡¯s way of making us look dramatic. Who needs an umbrella when you can have cinematic flair?¡±
Aiden nearly choked with laughter as a gust of wind blew torrents of rain in his face, causing him to stumble over a large stone laying in front of him. As he was recovering, Winterhell pointed towards a nearby villa that had a tall turret rising above it.
¡°We should be able to see what''s going from up there,¡± she said while walking towards the building.
Aiden, who didn¡¯t like the sight of the dilapidated structure one bit said,¡±Great idea. Let¡¯s escape this horrible weather, that could very well have been summoned by an evil wizard, by entering the crumbled ruins of a house and its charming tower that probably hasn¡¯t been up to code for at least 200 years.¡±
Before following her, Aiden approached the statue to look for the source of the glimmering he had seen before the storm had announced its intention to end all mortal life in the area.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Laying on the pedestal, between the feet of the Elven Hunter and the Satyr Bard, Aiden could see a fist-sized orb. It was sleek and dark, like a perfect liquid black mirror. An orange light was emanating with a veiled brilliance from within its core, and as Aiden stared at it, he had the impression of gazing into a deep void.
Without a second thought, Aiden gave the mental command to move the orb into his inventory, after which it immediately faded out of existence. He made a mental note to inspect it as soon as he and Winterhell found a safe place that would provide them with shelter from the storm. He then promptly turned around and ran to catch up with Winterhell.
While approaching the villa Winterhell and Aiden quickly realised just how bad its state of disrepair truly was. The villa, once a grand and imposing structure, had stood taller than most buildings around it but was now little less than a testament to the ravages of time. Its stone walls were cracked and weathered, and large parts of the roof had caved in, leaving a pile of broken tiles and beams scattered across the courtyard. Vines and Ivy had crept up the walls, reclaiming the building as their own.
Winterhell, undeterred by the building''s sorry state, began to make her way through the courtyard, but was held back by Aiden calling for her to wait.
¡°Hang on a second, I need to check something,¡± he said, while giving the mental command to open his inventory.
Winterhell turned around to see what was holding him back, when she saw that there were three grey dots above Aiden¡¯s head, indicating that he was currently looking at his inventory.
As the three windows appeared in front of him, this time Aiden didn''t pay any attention to his character sheet and dismissed it with a thought. Instead he decided to review the content of his storage. He had noticed that it wasn¡¯t entirely empty when he first opened his inventory while reviewing his character sheet in the Evergreen Glade, but inspecting its contents had slipped his mind.
There were currently only three items in his storage, a red apple, the mysterious orb, and a wooden club. He wasn¡¯t expecting much, since he knew better than to hope for anything all that useful, but even this felt a little thin. He selected the wooden club and gave the prompt to inspect its properties.
Item: Wooden Club
Rank: Common
Effect: None
¡°It¡¯s better than a stick, but only just barely.¡±
Aiden couldn''t help but let out a short, humourless laugh. "Looks like we''re not being set up for success here," he said with a frown. After coming to terms with his disappointment, he accepted that something was indeed better than nothing and added the wooden club to his weapon slot. As he did this, the club materialised at his side, attached to the thin belt at his waist, held in place by a worn leather strap.
He dismissed his inventory with a flick of his wrist and as the world came back into focus, he saw that Winterhell had followed his example by examining her own inventory more closely, made evident by an identical wooden club attached to her own belt.
¡°It¡¯s definitely not my weapon of choice, but if we need to kill rats in a village basement, I guess it¡¯ll do the trick,¡± she said as they crossed the courtyard and made their way up a flight of stairs and through a set of broken double doors, into the villa''s interior.
Inside, the villa''s grandeur was a distant memory. The main hall was dark and foreboding, while the furious storm outside provided the only light, filtering in through shattered windows. The air was thick with the musty scent of age and decay, and cobwebs hung in every corner.
As the storm continued to rage outside, the villa creaked and moaned, protesting against the wind. Aiden had the uneasy feeling that the whole structure wanted to come crashing down, burying its intruders under dust and rubble.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he muttered as he took in the main hall¡¯s ruined state.
The pair walked past a once-luxurious candle holder that had crashed to the ground when a portion of the ceiling had caved in. Its fine craftsmanship, a blend of bronze and glass, now lay in a heap of bent and broken arms, while shattered fragments blended into the rubble strewn across the main hall.
Winterhell flashed him a grin. "Where''s your sense of adventure? Besides, what''s the worst thing that could happen? If we die, we''ll just respawn in the Evergreen Glade."
Aiden''s voice shifted from the previous lighthearted banter to a more serious note, "You don''t know that for sure," he said. "Competitive events like this one have a permanent death rule just as often as they don''t."
As he spoke, Aiden realised that he may have already been given clues, suggesting that he might be right.
As he pieced together the puzzle in his mind, he asked Winterhell, ¡°When you logged into the event, what message did you hear?¡±
"I wasn''t paying that much attention, to be honest," She answered, "I was busy feeling excited to see what the hype was all about."
Aiden rested a finger on his lips for dramatic effect, then said, "The game told us to prepare for glory or be ready for death. And if that''s not enough, that ominous text-crawl wasn''t exactly reassuring. If anything, I''d be willing to wager that its claim that life isn''t fair and all that isn''t just a warning to keep us on our toes, it''s a promise.¡±
Winterhell''s playful expression was replaced with one of slight concern. Her eyes widened as Aiden''s words sank in, and she realised that despite the wonders and secrets ROTA had to offer, events such as the one she was now a part of, meant business for a lot of people.
Her voice quivered slightly as she admitted, "I... I didn''t realise it could be this serious. I thought it would be just another adventure, you know?" After a pause during which she stared down at her feet, her hand slowly gliding down one of the candle holder¡¯s bent arms, she continued, ¡°This is my first competitive event. I knew that it could be over quickly, but it never occurred to me that something as harmless as entering an empty building could mean the end.¡±
Aiden, seeing her distress, moved closer and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it''s okay," he said softly. "I didn¡¯t mean to upset you. Just remember, we need to be careful, stay smart, and not take unnecessary risks,especially since we still don¡¯t know all that much about the event yet."
Winterhell nodded, her embarrassment slowly passing. "You''re right. I¡¯d hate to miss out on the whole thing because of a stupid mistake."
They made their way through the grand hall and up a once-proud staircase, its steps hewn from the ivory-white stone prominently seen all over Lockhaven. Their clothes and hair were dripping onto the dust-covered stairs after having been soaked by the storm outside. The railings, intricately carved with long-forgotten motifs, were cracked and their overall state caused Aiden to believe that they were best left untouched. He led the way, on the lookout for any signs of danger, while Winterhell followed closely behind, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
While carefully climbing the broken stairs leading to the upper floor, Winterhell gave Aiden an inquisitive glance. She had noticed that while he¡¯d given in to her playful banter willingly enough, he seemed to be more cautious regarding the nature of the event. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that was because he was generally more experienced in ROTA than she was, or just due to him being a little paranoid, seeing dangers when there were none.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she bit her lip and asked him, ¡°Say, you¡¯re not just a casual participant am I right?¡±
Aiden stopped climbing the stairs and looked at her, taken by surprise by her direct question. It was common practice to not ask any questions about another player¡¯s real life unless you had explicit consent to do so. One¡¯s status as a pro, or even semi-pro was however generally seen as an aspect of ROTA, though there were conflicting views regarding the tactfulness of asking about it outright.
He smiled at her question and said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say calling myself a casual is entirely accurate, though I¡¯m not exactly a high-ranker in the global standings either. I like to think that I''ve done well enough for myself.¡±
¡°You know, answering a question with both yes and no doesn¡¯t make you modest. It makes you sound smug,¡± she said, her signature smile back on her lips.
Aiden took a theatrically deep breath, as if summoning the patience to speak to a child, then said, ¡°Well, one should know better before going to an Elf for counsel.¡±
¡°Oh, so we¡¯re just doubling down on the smug thing, are we? Also, we¡¯re both just about as distant from being Elves as possible,¡± she said, as they both started laughing while approaching the top of the staircase.
Upon reaching the landing, they found themselves at the precipice of a grand balcony, from where the main hall they had just left behind could be seen from above. On the landing, they faced a large empty wall, where an opulent tapestry once hung, that now formed a moth-ridden heap on the ground. To their left was a corridor that had been made entirely inaccessible due to the ceiling having collapsed. To their right, another corridor was filled with portraits of long-forgotten nobility hanging askew on the stone wall.
As they made their way down towards the right, they walked past a number of rooms. Some had smashed in or broken doors, allowing Aiden and Winterhell glimpses into rooms filled with ruined furniture, torn curtains and shattered mirrors.
At the end of the corridor, they found a narrow, spiralling stone staircase that led upward. It was evident that this staircase would take them to the villa''s turret, the tallest point of the building, where they hoped to gain a vantage point to observe the strange occurrences in the Evergreen Glade.
The spiral staircase was so worn and crumbling in places, that Aiden half-expected him and Winterhell to fall to their deaths. It was a tight squeeze, and they had to be cautious with every step, but their determination, mostly Winterhell¡¯s unwillingness to turn around, pushed them forward. Aiden, who much to Winterhell¡¯s delight was slightly taller than her, had the repeated privilege of clearing out dozens of barely visible spiderwebs with his face.
When they emerged onto the turret¡¯s uppermost platform, their efforts were rewarded. The circular chamber at the top of the villa provided a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Lockhaven and the Evergreen Glade. Despite the ongoing storm, Aiden and Winterhell stood side by side, their breaths visible in the cold air, as rain lashed at them from all sides and the wind threatened to knock them off balance.
From this vantage point, Aiden needed a couple moments to take in the sheer scale of the Evergreen Glade. He could see the distant shapes of other players running towards the ruins of Lockhaven, seeking shelter from the storm. He could see the remaining walls of a round building that may have once been a watchtower losing their battle against the storm and crashing down into the ruined streets.
While taking in the scenery around him, he couldn''t help himself from noticing an odd feeling come over him. Despite the bleak ruins and the violent storm raging around him, despite the wind lashing at his clothes and the thunder rolling in waves that shook the ground, something about the scene felt strangely¡ peaceful.
He knew that in all reality, there was nothing altogether peaceful about the entire situation. He still wasn¡¯t entirely convinced that the tower he and Winterhell were standing on wasn¡¯t going to yield to the elements and crumble at any given moment. He could hear the creaking and moaning of the heavy wooden beams. He could feel the tower shifting with the heavy gusts of wind. He could hear his inner voice shouting at him to leave the tower and to find proper shelter, but against his own expectations, he let himself breathe. He closed his eyes briefly, letting the sounds of the storm blend into a steady rhythm. He was here. Standing above it all, watching the world unfold in all its wild, chaotic beauty. And for reasons he couldn¡¯t quite understand, it was enough.
¡°Aiden look!¡± Winterhell¡¯s voice shook him as he felt himself being pulled back into the present moment.
He shook his head and the reality of the situation came crashing back to him. He could see Winterhell point out towards the centre of the Evergreen Glade.
¡°Aiden, look!¡± she repeated, her voice carrying a blend of awe and excitement. ¡°There¡¯s something happening down there,¡± she said, her finger tracing a line toward a single point where the storm seemed to be swirling tighter and the darkness thickened, pooling like ink.
Aiden followed her gaze, his sense of calm replaced by a sharp, electric tension. There, in the heart of the Glade, the rain twisted into a tight spiral, as if pulled by an invisible force.
¡°Do you see that?¡± Winterhell whispered, eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s like the storm¡¯s¡ bending.¡±
He nodded, barely able to tear his gaze away. ¡°Yeah. And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s stopping.¡±
A blinding spark burst from the centre, expanding outward in jagged, crackling lines that tore into the ground, marking the grass and soil with harsh, angular symbols. The circle of light surged with an unnatural energy, each symbol gleaming like molten metal against the rain-soaked ground. The air around it grew thick, almost charged, and Aiden felt a prickle along his skin, like the space itself was vibrating.
¡°Is that¡ a summoning circle?¡± Winterhell asked, her voice laced with both awe and unease.
Aiden swallowed, feeling a knot of anticipation and dread forming in his stomach. ¡°Looks like it. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s summoning anything small.¡±
The ground within the circle began to tremble, splitting along the glowing lines as the summoning circle surged brighter, casting long shadows across the Glade. The light pulsed erratically, casting a cold, metallic glow that painted harsh shadows across the Glade. A portal began to rise; it lurched upward, jolting as arcs of energy crackled across its surface, scorching the earth wherever they landed.
Winterhell gripped the edge of the crumbling stone wall beside her, her knuckles white.She let out a shaky breath, still watching the circle pulse with unearthly energy. ¡°So... should we be getting closer or running the other way?¡±
Aiden, eyes fixed on the scene below, needed some time in order to find his voice. ¡°Uhm¡.Yes?¡± Was all he managed to say after two failed attempts to answer.
Bit by bit, the portal began to rise from the centre, swirling in shades of azure and violet, lifting itself from the earth. Arcs of energy crackled along its edges, casting a stark, unnatural glow across the Glade. For a brief moment, Aiden thought he saw twisted shapes flickering within the vortex¡ªlike jagged shards caught in a storm, barely contained.
¡°Aiden¡ what do you think is going to come out of that thing?¡± Winterhell murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
He shook his head, transfixed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning.¡±
-
A system message appeared in front of both Aiden and Winterhell.
New Quest available - Defend the Portal
Aiden stared at the system window in his field of vision with an expression of disbelief.
Then after a moment, he finally managed to speak, ¡°Uhm¡.what?¡±
Chapter 4: The Evil Portal of Evil Evilness
Aiden was having a hard time believing the words written in the system message he, Winterhell and presumably every other player in the city of Lockhaven had just received.
He gave the mental prompt to open his inbox for a third time, reselected the message and read it again.
New Quest available - Defend the Portal
A mystical portal has appeared in the Evergreen Glade and forces are gathering to destroy it.
Objective: Defend the portal
Duration: 12 Hours
Reward: Individual rewards will vary based on personal performance
With a deep sigh, he closed the window and gazed out towards the portal at the centre of the Evergreen Glade, its swirling lights of azure and violet towering menacingly.
¡°Aiden, If you read that message one more time, I¡¯m going to push you off this tower myself,¡± came Winterhell¡¯s voice from behind him.
They were still standing on the highest platform of the tower they had climbed to gain a better view of their surroundings as a result of the storm erupting without warning.
Winterhell¡¯s initial reaction to Aiden''s speechlessness had been a mix of surprise and amusement, though it was gradually being replaced with confusion and a hint of annoyance.
Aiden on the other hand wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about the most recent developments.
¡°Did you see those shapes on the other side of the portal?¡± Aiden said.
¡°Shapes is a great word to use here,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°because you didn''t actually see anything.¡±
¡°If you asked me to design an obviously evil portal that should under no circumstances be protected, I would have probably come up with something practically identical to what¡¯s standing over there,¡± Aiden continued, ignoring her comment, all while gesturing towards the Evergreen Glade.
¡±Have you ever eaten something that''s both frozen and burnt?¡± Winterhell asked Aiden before he could continue with what she guessed would turn into a long rant going nowhere.
¡°Frozen and burnt? What are you talking about?¡± He asked with a bewildered look.
Winterhell smiled to herself for having potentially intercepted Aiden¡¯s mental escalation. She started to walk back towards the stairs leading down into the inside of the ruined villa.
¡°Come let¡¯s head down, we¡¯ve seen what we came to see. I don¡¯t think that anything good is going to come from staying up here,¡± she said casually, leaving a perplexed Aiden behind.
¡°Frozen and burnt?¡± Aiden repeated as he followed Winterhell down the spiralling stairs.
¡°Yes Aiden, frozen and burnt. You''re clearly both over and underthinking this entire situation to the point that it''s only a matter of time until you reach a state of total mental paralysis which will only cause you and your teammate to suffer. So why don''t you skip the theatrics and let me in on what you''re thinking about, so that we can sort out the insightful from the crazy together?¡± Winterhell said with an authoritative tone Aiden hadn''t heard from her before.
As they reached the bottom of the staircase together, Aiden gave Winterhell a long and assessing look. Her usual smile was gone, replaced with a steady unyielding gaze.
¡°Alright,¡± he sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡ªI mean, look at that portal. It¡¯s practically radiating ¡®ominous doom¡¯ vibes. And now we¡¯re supposed to defend it? I would have expected to have to destroy it so that whatever is waiting for us on the other side stays wherever it is they are being summoned from.¡±
He paused for a moment, looking at Winterhell, who in turn gave him an expression informing him that he had more explaining to do.
¡°So if the portal is going to summon dark forces, and we¡¯re tasked to defend it, what does that say about us? What if the forces gathering to destroy it are the depleted remnants of a last alliance of mortals trying to prevent this evil from entering into their world? Or perhaps, this entire event could be an evil campaign?¡±
His speech began to speed up, as he unravelled his train of thought to Winterhell, who remained silent, letting Aiden get it all out of his system.
¡°You know, I¡¯ve tried an evil campaign once, and it¡¯s really not as fun as it sounds. Sure you feel pretty badass when it all starts. You build dungeons, make evil plans, practise one-liners in the mirror, choosing what sort of laugh you want to have and all that, which is pretty cool, but eventually you realise you¡¯re not the world¡¯s greatest misunderstood megamind, you grow tired of being a huge jerk all the time and go back to joining the rest of humanity in the battle against evil.
But even if this isn¡¯t an evil campaign and we¡¯re just caught up in the conflict between two opposing dark forces, who¡¯s to say we shouldn¡¯t be teaming up with the one who wants to destroy the portal, because what will come out of there might end up being much worse in the long run. You know, I¡¯ve read about this theory that claims that there¡¯s an eternal war between hell¡¯s devils and the demons of the abyss. But then again on the other hand¡..¡±
Aiden felt sudden and entirely unexpected, though probably not entirely undeserved impact against the side of his head, accompanied by a brief window of opportunity during which Aiden learned a number of important facts pertaining to his current situation.
Firstly, that the event was PVP enabled, meaning that any player could attack and inflict damage to another player at any given moment.
Secondly, he was reminded that every person had a limited capacity regarding the amount of panicked rambling they were willing to expose themselves to, before interpreting their situation as an extraordinary event that calls for extraordinary action, to use sudden violence.
Thirdly, he learned that discovering and obliterating Winterhell¡¯s previously mentioned limit wasn¡¯t worth the pounding headache that had presumably just been brought into existence by her wooden club.
Finally, he discovered, that this would now constitute the second time today, that he would be greeting the ground, unceremoniously, with his face.
Aiden¡¯s short-lived yet very insightful window of opportunity was shattered with the cold slap of skin hitting the dusty, chilled stone tiles.
He blinked, dazed, as a fine cloud of dust billowed around him, clinging to his face and coating his soaked clothes in a thin layer of grime. For a moment, he lay there, blinking up at the cracked stone ceiling, his head throbbing as he tried to process what had just happened.
¡°Feel better?¡± Winterhell asked, holding her club with a raised brow, daring him to start up again.
Rubbing the back of his head, Aiden managed a wry smile. ¡°Yeah, actually, I do.¡±
He slowly got back to his feet with a slow moan, shaking dust from his hair. He gave her a look. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have given me, I don¡¯t know, a polite nudge?¡±
¡°That was the polite version,¡± Winterhell replied, though the corner of her mouth twitched in the faintest hint of a smile.
Aiden raised his hands in surrender towards Winterhell, and they both laughed, releasing the tension that had built up inside Aiden¡¯s chest.
¡°You know,¡± Winterhell said, you¡¯ve made your assumptions based on very little evidence.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Aiden said, ¡°How so?¡±
¡°Well,¡± Winterhell replied, ¡°You¡¯re assuming that the portal is evil, and that nothing good will come from defending it. But the fact is, you don¡¯t know that for certain.¡±
Aiden gave her a flat look of disbelief, to which she just rolled her eyes.
¡°I mean yes,¡± she continued, ¡°it would appear to be an evil portal of evil evilness, but this could just be the High Council having a laugh. You said it yourself, they love doing something totally unexpected, just to see how people react.¡±
¡°So what you¡¯re saying,¡± Aiden trying to continue her train of thought, ¡±is that this could be one of those situations, where good men go bad, or bad men get worse, so they send us to sort things out?¡±
There was a long silence.
Followed by another long silence, during which Aiden and Winterhell exchanged long pensive looks. Aiden was feeling excited because he thought they might be onto something. Winterhell, who was feeling very clubby, just wanted to hit him again.
Then finally, she took a deep, calming breath and said, ¡°No. That¡¯s not at all what I¡¯m saying. I¡¯m merely saying that there are too many unknown factors for you to jump to conclusions and panic about something over which you have no control.¡±
¡°Oh right,¡± Aiden said, with fake understanding, ¡°yeah that¡¯s what I was going to say as well.¡±
Winterhell gave a low moan as she gave up on the conversation and continued walking down the corridor which would take them back towards the grand staircase, followed by a grinning Aiden.
After a few precious moments of peace and quiet, Aiden gave her a sideways glance.
¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice what you said back there,¡± he said.
¡°What are you on about?¡± she said, her hand resting on the hilt of the wooden club on her belt.
¡°You said we¡¯re teammates,¡± Aiden said, wiggling his eyebrows in what must have been the most annoying way Winterhell had ever seen in her life.
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¡°I can¡¯t do this all day,¡± she whispered under her breath. She then looked at him and answered, ¡°well of course we¡¯re teammates, stupid! I think we make a great team," she huffed, her eyes narrowing as she continued, ¡°even if you can be the single most annoying person in all of Mythendel when you go into full-on ''existential crisis'' mode.¡±
Aiden grinned wider, opening his mouth to say something, but she raised a hand to stop him.
¡°No.¡± she said, her voice carrying that same authoritative tone he was starting to realise she might be saving just for him. ¡°You¡¯re exhausting sometimes, Aiden. I mean it¡ªmentally exhausting. You spin off on these ridiculous, paranoid theories that don¡¯t help anyone, and half the time I want to strangle you with my own bare hands.¡±
¡°That was one time,¡± Aiden said in protest. ¡°Plus we¡¯ve only been in the game for like an hour or so.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not finished,¡± she added, softening just a little, ¡°that overactive brain of yours also happens to notice things plenty of people don¡¯t. Where I¡¯d just see a glowing portal, you see¡ well, whatever you think you saw. A whole conspiracy with interdimensional wars and an epic last stand.¡± She rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her tone.
She continued, ¡°That¡¯s why we work well together. I keep you grounded, and you¡ you keep me from charging in blind and smacking first, asking questions never.¡± She shot him a pointed look. ¡°So, yeah, we¡¯re a team. You bring the wild theories, I bring the common sense, and somehow, it works.¡±
As they walked down the corridor, a comfortable silence fell between them¡ªat least until Aiden, true to form, broke it.
¡°Hang on, you¡¯re the common sense?¡±
She groaned, her hand twitching toward the club as she muttered, ¡°Gods, give me strength.¡±
But beneath the exasperation, she was smiling.
-
The corridor leading back toward the staircase was shrouded in near-total darkness, with only the occasional flicker of lightning from outside casting brief, faint glimpses of their path. The storm had quieted, leaving them without the steady flashes they¡¯d relied on earlier. Now, the ruined villa felt almost claustrophobic, every shadow and corner stretching out in obscurity.
Aiden grumbled under his breath as he stumbled over a splintered chair, barely catching himself before colliding with Winterhell. She tried to shoot him a sharp look, only for it to be lost to the darkness enveloping them both. Against her own instincts, she said nothing, her focus on feeling her way forward, her hands trailing along the cracked wall.
Their progress was painfully slow, and with each careful step, they found themselves tripping over bits of fallen stone, brushing against rough, peeling wallpaper, and stepping on each other¡¯s heels. The once-grand villa had turned into a veritable maze, and without proper light, even the smallest obstacles seemed to conspire to keep them off balance.
As they neared a doorway to the left, Winterhell stopped, her head tilting as she squinted into the darkened room beyond. A soft, warm glow¡ªbarely perceptible against the shadows¡ªcaught her attention from the far side of the room, like the faintest hint of firelight.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she whispered, as she passed through the doorway and into the room.
Aiden followed her, one hand gently holding the hilt of his club. It''s not like he felt that it would be particularly useful, but it was all he had, and something was still better than nothing.
As he crept forward, he found Winterhell crouching over the source of the dimly glowing light.
He held his breath as he saw a familiar-looking fist-sized orb. It was just as sleek and dark as the one he had found earlier by the statue in the plaza. Unlike the previous one, this orb shone with a warm, rich orange light, like embers burning just beneath the surface of polished glass.
¡°It''s beautiful,¡± Winterhell said in a soft hushed voice. ¡°What should I do with it?¡±
¡°Inspect the object properties,¡± Aiden replied, ¡°You don''t want to make a hasty decision you end up regretting,¡± he said, hoping dearly that whatever was in his inventory wasn''t some cursed magical object, dooming him to a slow and painful death.
¡°Should I send you a party invite, so that we can share notifications?¡± Winterhell asked.
¡°That''s actually a really good idea,¡± Aiden said. ¡°We probably should have done that ages ago now that I think of it.¡±
A moment later, he received a system notification.
Player Winterhell has invited you to join their party!
Accept Y/N?
Joining a party enables shared access to loot drops, ability details, system notifications, and quest information.
Aiden accepted the invitation and a tab was added in the top left corner of his vision, listing the name and level of each other player in his party, which currently only consisted of Winterhell''s name and level.
¡°Ready?¡± Winterhell asked, though Aiden had the impression she was speaking more to herself than to him.
He gave her a reassuring smile before replying, ¡°Remember, this might only be a magical bauble without any real function.¡±
He was wrong. Very wrong. So very much and entirely wrong that he''d probably have to be right a whole lot for quite some time in order to make up for it.
As Winterhell inspected the orb, its properties were shared with Aiden.
Item: Genesis Orb
Rank: Legendary
Effect: Choose one: Unlock one new racial ability, level up one existing racial ability or generate a new race with one racial ability. (Uses remaining 1/1)
*Warning! Generating a new race will overwrite your current race and all current racial abilities. This action cannot be undone and can only be taken once.*
¡°In the beginning, there was potential. With this Orb, you hold the power to reshape your very essence.¡±
¡°This¡..is amazing,¡± came Winterhell''s voice with delight, practically lighting up the entire room with her bright voice.
Aiden who needed a moment longer to process this newly discovered information gave her a grin and said, ¡°Do you realise what this means?¡±
¡°It means,¡± Winterhell replied excitedly, ¡°that I get to become an elf, or a fairy, or a freaking minotaur, all while you have to stay a weird blue alien blob-person!¡± Her voice went up an entire octave with that last statement and she broke out into what she must have thought was dancing, all while holding the orb high above her head with both hands.
¡°Actually,¡± Aiden replied, while opening his inventory and selecting the orb he had previously found. ¡°I found this in the plaza right before the storm erupted.¡±
He presented the orb, emanating with its soft blue light.
¡°Aiden, did you grab the loot and run?¡± Winterhell said accusingly, her tone shifting from excitement to that of deep offence.
Fully aware of the faux-pas that was loot hoarding, Aiden shook his head nervously, ¡°No, of course not,¡± he said. ¡°Well I suppose technically yes, but I think that you will agree that we''ve been more than a little bit distracted by recent events and it totally escaped my mind that it was even there.¡±
He raised the orb so that both he and Winterhell could see it.
¡°See? I haven''t even inspected it''s properties.¡±
To his surprise, Winterhell broke out with laughter, the tension lifting from Aiden''s shoulders.
¡°Do it then,¡± she said, ¡°I wonder if the blue light means that your orb will somehow be different.¡±
¡°Only one way to find out,¡± he replied, allowing his hopes to rise.
Item: Genesis Orb
Rank: Uncommon
Effect: Choose one: Unlock one new racial ability, level up one existing racial ability or generate a new race with one racial ability. (Uses remaining 1/1)
*Warning! Generating a new race will overwrite your current race and all current racial abilities. This action cannot be undone and can only be taken once.*
¡°Well at least things can''t get any worse¡. Or can they?¡±
Aiden read and re-read the not at all reassuring flavour text, comparing it to what Winterhell had received, then sighed. He would have laughed, had the system prompt not felt so serious and irreversible.
¡°Have you ever been threatened by flavour text before?¡± he said while looking up towards Winterhell.
¡°You¡¯re doing that thing again,¡± she said, offering him a wink that made chills run down his spine.
¡°Well hear me out before you get all clubby again,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that we need to at least think about it before making a decision as¡final as this one?¡±
¡°Well if you want to think about it, here¡¯s my take,¡± Winterhell said challengingly. ¡°Based on what little information we have, we know that the rules on Mythendel are completely different than any other realm or event I¡¯ve ever encountered. We can safely assume that based on the fact that the tutorial was deleted so that the High Council can have a laugh, we will likely never have any safe information or data to base our decisions on.¡±
She paused briefly, as if to sort out her thoughts, then continued. ¡°So in my opinion, the only decision you currently have to make is do you want to stay a weird blue alien blob-person, or take an incalculable risk and make the best of whatever situation you end up in? Sure it could backfire, but it could also lead to something really epic.¡±
Aiden could feel Winterhell building up to what she probably perceived as the great finale of her impromptu speech. She was practically bubbling with excitement, and despite his best efforts, it was starting to rub off on him.
¡°As for me,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ve already made my choice, so don¡¯t bother trying to change my mind Aiden.¡±
He was about to open his mouth to interject something smart, or clever, or at the very least in the form of a complete sentence, but his mental faculties failed him.
¡°Here goes nothing,¡± she said, and activated the orb.
Chapter 5: Huzzah Magic Powers
A radiant light burst forth, enveloping Winterhell in waves of golden energy that shimmered and coiled around her like living threads. Aiden stumbled back, shielding his eyes from the blinding glow as Winterhell¡¯s form began to shift, her figure suspended in the air as if weightless. The light pulsed in time to an unheard rhythm, each beat deepening the gold into a shimmering, almost liquid hue that wrapped around her, weaving itself into delicate patterns that danced across her skin.
Gradually, her hair began to lengthen, flowing out in glossy black waves that cascaded down her back, each strand catching and amplifying the light around her as if spun from starlight and shadow.
Her eyes, hidden beneath closed lids, fluttered open to reveal dark pools of night scattered with flecks of silver, like distant stars caught in an endless twilight. Her skin grew luminous, fair as moonlight, and seemed to glow with an inner radiance. As she raised her hands, ribbons of light spiralled from her fingertips, forming faintly glowing runes that hovered in the air around her like celestial constellations.
Aiden watched, transfixed, as a final burst of energy swirled around her, the air shimmering as her feet softly touched the ground.
When the light faded, Winterhell stood before him, transformed. A trace of wonder softened her gaze as she took in her new form, her dark eyes reflecting the blue light coming from the orb Aiden was holding. She flexed her hands, taking in what just happened, and when she looked back up at Aiden, there was a knowing smile on her lips.
Aiden needed a moment to process the transformed person standing in front of him. Her pale blue skin had been replaced with that of a perfect alabaster and in the darkness of the ruined room they were standing in, it almost appeared to be luminescent. Gone was the disproportionately long neck and the uncomfortably long fingers. Her metallic black hair was now that of a perfect midnight, cascading down her back. Her ears, pointed like those of the ancient elves, added a refined sharpness to her features.
¡°This is the coolest thing that I have ever seen,¡± she said in a whisper, doing her best to keep a dignified expression. ¡°Hold on a second,¡± she continued, as three dots appeared above her head, indicating that she was reading a system message.
Her eyes went wide, as she took in the new information. The dots above her head disappeared, and in a voice filled with excited disbelief, she said, ¡°you are not going to believe this.¡±
As she spoke, Aiden received a system prompt, informing him that a party member was sharing information with him. He opened the message with a thought, to find out what it was she wanted him to see so badly.
Your race has been lost. All racial abilities have been lost.
New Race obtained!
Race: Celestial
Description: Celestials are beings of radiant heritage, believed to be the ancestors of the Elves. Marked by fair skin and dark eyes, they embody both wisdom and otherworldly power, wielding light and elemental magic with divine grace.
"From the heavens, they descended¡ªguardians of balance, wielders of starfire."
New Racial Ability obtained!
Ability: Celestial Ember
- Spell (cantrip, elemental)
- Effect: Conjure an ember of celestial energy dealing a small amount of fire damage, inflicting the burning condition for a short period of time.
- Effect (Optional): By increasing the base cost to low mana, the spell deals moderate fire damage to a single target and a small amount of fire damage to all nearby targets within a small area, inflicting the burning condition on each affected target for a short duration.
"It¡¯s just a little ember¡ until it decides to spread its fiery wings."
¡°Talk about winning the lottery,¡± Aiden said, taking it all in. ¡°Plus Celestials have an affinity for spellcasting. It looks like congratulations are in order,¡± he said with a bright smile.
On that note, Winterhell couldn''t contain her excitement any longer and gave out a long delighted squeal.
¡°Aiden, she said, her voice alive with excitement, ¡°it¡¯s your turn now. Use that blue orb you found.
Aiden glanced down at the glowing orb in his hand, its light a cool, almost hesitant blue in contrast to the rich gold that had enveloped Winterhell. He swallowed, his fingers drumming on the orb¡¯s surface.¡±Let''s not be hasty now,¡± he said nervously. ¡°While your decision was pretty impulsive, the fact that the orb you found was legendary made it a fairly safe bet for you to get something great.¡± He held up his orb, ¡°this one, is only uncommon. Plus I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been threatened by flavour text before.¡±
¡°You¡¯re being paranoid,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°Plus, I don¡¯t think that anybody in the history of the world has ever been threatened by flavour text before.¡±
¡°Well at least things can''t get any worse¡. Or can they?¡± Aiden murmured, his voice low and foreboding.
¡°Alright, I understand why you might feel slightly threatened,¡± Winterhell replied, ¡°but I really don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re being so hesitant.¡±
¡°I just don¡¯t want to end up with a really weird race that I don¡¯t know what to do with,¡± he said.
¡°Aiden, you already have a really weird race,¡± Winterhell said with a sigh. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the alternative? Waiting for another high rarity orb that may or may not come around? We don¡¯t even know anything about drop rates for these things. What if we only find common ones? What if you never find anything else at all? What if your guess that his event runs with a permanent death rule turns out to be right, and you kick the bucket because you waited too long to make a decision, and you end up having to confront whatever will come for the portal, out of the portal, or both and aren¡¯t prepared to deal with it?¡±
Aiden let Winterhell¡¯s words sink in for a couple of moments before making up his mind.
¡°If this goes south, it¡¯s all your fault,¡± he finally said.
¡°Oh relax,¡± she quipped, ¡°you¡¯ll thank me later. Now stop stalling, and get on with it.¡±
After a couple of deep breaths, his face took on a determined expression. He held up the orb high above his head with both hands.¡°Huzzah magic powers!¡± he finally shouted and activated the orb.
Blue light enveloped him, filling the room with an ethereal glow. He felt a warmth radiate through his body, weaving magic into his very bones. His skin took on a warm, earthy tone with a faint shimmer, and his hair darkened to a deep brown with mossy undertones, wild waves framing his face.
His ears lengthened to graceful points,and to his shock and surprise, a tingling above his temples signalled the emergence of spiralled horns.
Winterhell¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched. ¡°You¡¯re definitely not an alien-blob person anymore, that¡¯s for sure.¡± She chuckled, tilting her head to take in his appearance. ¡°You look¡ well, you look like something out of a fairy tale.¡±
Your race has been lost. All racial abilities have been lost.
New Race obtained!
Race: Feykin
Description: With partial Fey ancestry, Feykin inherit a blend of human and fey traits, marked by physical features that reveal their mystical heritage. Naturally attuned to wild magic, they are known for their mischievous curiosity, blending mortal pragmatism with Fey whimsy.
"Part Fey, part mortal, all trouble. Approach with caution¡ªor a good sense of humour."
New Racial Ability obtained!
Ability: Sonic Blink
- Spell (cantrip, dimensional)
- Effect: Harness the power of sound to instantaneously teleport a small distance in any direction, creating a brief rift in space.
"For when running away would take too long¡ and look far less cool."
Aiden took his time to carefully read his new race and ability.
¡°This is actually not bad,¡± he finally said. ¡°A movement ability, that''s super useful.¡±
¡°That''s your first thought?¡± Winterhell exclaimed.
¡°Well yeah, there are a couple of key abilities every character needs in order to be well rounded and not die due to a lack of flexibility,¡± Aiden said matter-of-factly. ¡°Some key abilities many rookie players forget about are movement abilities and auras because they¡¡±
¡°You''ve just been turned into an adorable half-human, half-fairy person by using a magical orb in an ancient ruined city and your first thought, your first thought is that your ability is relevant in a competitive meta?¡± Winterhell practically shouted, interrupting Aiden who gave her an affronted look.
¡°You don''t get to tell me what to do and how to do it,¡± he said with a surprisingly firm tone. ¡°Just one minute ago, you were upset that I wasn''t as excited about rolling the dice with our fates as you were. Now that I am excited, you''re upset because I''m not excited in the right way.¡±
¡°Aiden I''m sorry¡¡± Winterhell said, her cheeks blushing.
¡°Look,¡± said Aiden with a deep breath, his shoulders slaking as he released some of the inner tension that had built up during his monologue, ¡°We''re allowed to get excited about different things. Your race is fantastic and I can''t wait to find out what class you end up with. I''m also super curious what sort of class and levelling system the High Council has come up with for this event.¡±
¡°Exploring the ruins, discovering magic, accepting quests that will likely get us killed, you can sign me up for it all,¡± he continued, ¡°but there are real opportunities for mid-rankers like me in these sorts of events. To compete with top-tier gamers in ways that are otherwise very rare. We don¡¯t even know what sort of prizes we can hope for for doing well, but I¡¯m not going to apologise for getting excited over getting an ability that just might be one of the tools I need to succeed. ROTA events can truly be spectacular at times, and I¡¯m thrilled to be a part of it all, but I¡¯m not here just for fun.¡±
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Winterhell¡¯s face fell as Aiden finished talking, her smile wavering. She blinked, and he noticed the brightness in her eyes shift, her gaze growing distant.
¡°Aiden¡¡± she began softly, her voice barely above a whisper, ¡°do you think I¡¯m just¡ here to have fun?¡±
Aiden frowned, caught off guard. ¡°Well¡ uhm. Isn¡¯t that what you said? You wanted to be a part of the excitement and all that.¡±
She hesitated, glancing down. ¡°That¡¯s¡ well I suppose that''s only half true. You wouldn¡¯t tell by looking at me, but I¡¯ve been trying to get into the professional ROTA scene for some time now, and this event seemed like the perfect opportunity for it. I¡¯ve been told that there are only two real ways to make it there: either you¡¯re insanely good or¡ you¡¯re entertaining enough for people to care about you even if you¡¯re not the best.¡±
Aiden¡¯s confusion softened, and he looked at her more closely, realising how hard she¡¯d been trying to keep up with him from the very beginning. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡¡±
She cut him off, her voice tightening. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡ maybe I¡¯m not as good as I would like to be, okay? I mean, you seem like the sort of person who''s got everything sorted out¡and I¡¯m just¡ª¡±
Her voice broke, and she turned away, a tear slipping down her cheek.
¡°Winterhell, listen,¡± he said, his tone gentler now. ¡°First off, whoever gave you that advice, ignore them and don¡¯t pay any attention to what they say, because at best, that was a gross oversimplification of a very complicated topic. Believe me, ROTA, and life for that matter isn¡¯t strictly black and white.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Winterhell said, wiping a tear off her cheek.
¡°Well, it¡¯s not like all of humanity has been sorted into two camps, those who know what they want to do, have all the right opportunities, plans, funding and connections to get it done, and then on the other side those who have none of those things and have to deal with being miserable from dusk ¡®till dawn. It¡¯s really more a broad spectrum of various shades of grey with all sorts of people with their own backgrounds, ambitions, hopes and dreams.¡±
He was trying his best to sound reassuring, but based on Winterhell¡¯s facial expression, he wasn¡¯t sure if he was making things better or worse.
¡°What I said about this event being a great opportunity doesn¡¯t only apply for me and other competitive gamers,¡± he continued, hoping he¡¯d find his way to a point that would help remedy this situation. ¡°I¡¯m sure that there will be loads of chances for you and others to make a name for yourselves, one way or another.¡±
She swallowed, blinking back the tears. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s true for you. Sometimes. I just feel like I¡¯m just another face in the crowd struggling to fit in. And I¡¯m tired of these doubts in the dark corners of my mind pushing me down¡ like I don¡¯t measure up.¡±
He opened his mouth to respond, reaching out a hand, but before he could say anything, a bone-chilling cold swept through the room, silencing them both. Aiden froze, the hair on his arms standing on end as a strange quiet settled over the ruined villa. He glanced around, his eyes narrowing, each dark corner and every shadow looming and pressing in around him, thick with a malevolent intent. The air grew dense, Aiden had the sudden impression that they were no longer alone, like unseen eyes were peering at him from the darkness, waiting.
¡°Can you feel that?¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Winterhell¡¯s gaze shifted around them, her face tense and alert. ¡°Yeah¡ and I don¡¯t like it. I think¡ I think we may have been louder than we should have been.¡±
A faint rustle reached his ears, and Aiden¡¯s hand instinctively tightened on his club, wishing he had something more impactful, or at least useful. From the shadows, Aiden thought he could see vague, distorted shapes emerging out of thin air, blending seamlessly with the darkness before moving forward in slow, unsettling movements.
¡°We need to get out of here,¡± he murmured, his eyes fixed on the shifting shadows. ¡°Now.¡±
Winterhell nodded, her hand gripping Aiden¡¯s arm as they slowly backed toward the doorway. The air grew thick with a sour, metallic scent that stung the back of his throat, and a faint, shuffling sound echoed from somewhere deeper within the villa¡ªa dragging noise that seemed to come from all directions at once, though they couldn¡¯t see anything in the darkness.
They turned, moving as quickly and quietly as possible toward the stairway. Every step echoed ominously, their own footfalls sounding too loud, too obvious. Somewhere behind them, the shuffling grew louder, followed by a low, whispering hiss.
Winterhell let out a small gasp, glancing over her shoulder even as she stumbled forward. In a voice filled with terror she spoke, ¡°It¡¯s¡ it¡¯s like it¡¯s coming from right behind us.¡±
A soft, scratching sound scraped against the wall beside them, then vanished as they hurried past. ¡°Aiden¡ I can feel something breathing. It¡¯s like¡ like something''s right there, but¡ª¡±
Before she could finish, an unexpected crash echoed from the darkness behind them, like something heavy and jagged slamming against the walls. Winterhell let out a piercing shriek, stumbling as they reached the top of the main stairs that lead down into the grand entrance hall. The sound of her voice was met by a chorus of hisses that filled the air, a cacophony of rasping breaths and chittering sounds, as if the shadows themselves had come alive.
¡°Run!¡± Aiden shouted, gripping her clammy and shaking hand as they dashed down the stairs, their footfalls echoing wildly against the cold stone.
As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Aiden spoke out, ¡°Winterhell, your spell! Now would be a great time to try it out!¡± his voice, tight with barely controlled fear.
Winterhell¡¯s voice shook as she forced out the words, her breath coming in ragged gasps. ¡°By¡ by the light of creation, let fire be born!¡± She raised a trembling hand, her fingers blazing as she conjured a flickering ember that went hurling into the darkness. A brief flare of light illuminated the space, revealing dark twisted forms hunched in the shadows, slinking back just beyond reach.
The sight sent a jolt of fear through her, and she cast again, her voice louder, frantic. ¡°By the light of creation, let fire be born!¡± Another burst of flame tore through the dark, throwing dancing shadows along the walls, illuminating brief, distorted glimpses of limbs that stretched and bent at unnatural angles, hollow faces that seemed to leer and twist before vanishing again into the gloom.
¡°Keep going!¡± Aiden yelled, pulling her forward as they raced through the entrance hall, the hisses and scraping sounds growing louder, closer, from every side.
¡°By the light of creation, let fire be born!¡± she cried, casting her spell again and again, each burst of light momentarily pushing back the encroaching darkness.
They reached the heavy main doors, throwing all their weight against them, forcing them open, and burst out into the courtyard.
They staggered a few steps forward, panting, before turning back to the villa. Winterhell took a shaky breath, her hand still glowing faintly from the spell, her eyes wide with lingering terror.
¡°Did¡ did you see those¡those things?¡± she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.
Aiden nodded, his jaw tight. He gripped his wooden club, keeping his gaze fixed on the front doors. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that those¡things stay inside¡¡°
Just as he spoke, multiple dark shapes burst out from inside the villa, the double doors shattering into splinters as the creatures lunged forward into landing with underworldly grace in the courtyard before them.
Three of them stood there, twisted and hideous. Each creature had a spider-like lower body with eight long, spindly legs that bent at unnatural angles, moving with an eerie, skittering grace. Rising from this grotesque base was a tall, humanoid upper body with limbs stretched far too long, bending at impossible angles. Their faces were skeletal and hollow, devoid of mouths, and their eyes were nothing but deep, dark sockets. Their skin was slick and shadowed. To Winterhell, they looked like nightmares made flesh.
¡°You just had to open your big mouth didn¡¯t you,¡± she said drily, catching Aiden off guard with her dark humour. ¡°What¡ what do we do now?¡±
¡°Let them come,¡± Aiden said, mirroring Winterhells grim tone. ¡°We fight,¡± he said, taking in the sight that presented itself before him.
He looked at the hideous monsters he and Winterhell were currently facing, he couldn''t see the monsters¡¯ names, descriptions or levels anywhere. There was no telling just how much stronger those things were.
As if the creatures had a sense for the dramatic, they stood there menacingly, stones cracking under the weight of their serrated legs, as they shifted their weight back and forth.
Aiden''s thoughts raced, as he considered their current options. To his disappointment, the list was very short.
¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Winterhell asked nervously, ¡°it would make me feel a lot better, if you had a plan. Ideally one that''s not terrible.¡±
¡°Plan might not be the right word,¡± Aiden said hesitantly, but there''s only really one logical option.¡±
¡°Yeah? Would you care to enlighten me?¡±
¡°Stand our ground and fight,¡± Aiden said. ¡°It''s the only option where we have any chance at all to walk away from this fight alive.¡±
¡°You''re right,¡± Winterhell said. ¡°Plan really isn''t the right word. What do you need me to do?¡±
¡°I''ll try to get their attention, while you light them up. Try to focus all your spells on one target until we drop it.¡±
¡°If we survive this, we need to find someone who''s not awful at making plans,¡± Winterhell said, only to see that Aiden wasn''t listening.
He was staring at the creatures, his heart pounding, barely containing the horror he felt just being near those miscreants.
Aiden took a step forward, gripping his wooden club,as he eyed the creatures. With a smirk, he turned back to face Winterhell and said, ¡°Give ''em Hell.¡±
He then faced the three manifestations of all that in unholy and let out a scream that reverberated through the courtyard, a raw, defiant cry that broke through his fear. His voice echoed against the broken stone walls, carrying a challenge that left no room for retreat.
The creatures tensed, their hollow eyes locking onto him, spindly legs shifting as they prepared to strike, answering his scream with an unnatural, bone-chilling hiss that seemed to vibrate through the very air around them.
As the monstrosities skittered forward, Aiden tightened his grip, his knuckles white around the handle of his club. He stood his ground, defiance blazing in his eyes.
¡°Let¡¯s make it hurt,¡± he muttered, just as the creatures lunged.
And then, the fight began.
Chapter 6: TPK Territory
Aiden burst forward in a daring rush towards the three horrific monstrosities in the courtyard in front of the ruined villa. It took all the strength he had to defy his own sense of self-preservation, which was shouting at him to put as much distance between those things and himself as possible.
The creatures were charging towards him, their serrated, spider-like legs scraping across the ground, tossing up loose stones and dust behind them.
As both sides met, Aiden gritted his teeth, gripping his crude wooden club tighter. He lunged toward the lead creature, swinging at an exposed joint of one of its spindly legs. The impact landed with a dull thunk, but the creature didn¡¯t so much as flinch. Its leg and entire lower half appeared to be a reinforced exoskeleton, and was as hard as iron.
¡°Of course,¡± Aiden muttered, preparing himself to dodge more incoming attacks, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they be armoured?¡±
In response, Aiden was greeted by an attack from the same creature. He dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding the strike. Its blade-like appendage carved a deep gouge in the stone where he¡¯d been standing, the force of the impact rattling through the courtyard.
He looked up at the looming creatures and, now that he was standing right next to them, realised they towered nearly two metres in height.
To make matters worse, text now appeared above the head of each creature.
Nyxborn Lurker - Level 4
Just as the monstrosities poised themselves to retaliate against Aiden, a burst of flame erupted, striking the central creature head-on. The fire spread across its jagged exoskeleton, illuminating the courtyard in flickering light. It staggered, its hollow, echoing hisses reverberating through the air.
Aiden risked a quick glance at the health bars hovering just below the creatures¡¯ names and levels. The bar of the burning creature had shifted, and a small amount was missing, proving that the fire had been at least partially effective.
As the burning condition inflicted by Winterhell''s celestial ember ended, the Lurker shook off the flames, its armoured body slightly burnt in places. After it recovered, its movements resumed, deliberate and menacing, as it led a charge towards Winterhell.
Aiden activated his Sonic Blink, the air around him distorting in a brief ripple of sound and light. His body blurred for the shortest of moments, and with a sudden burst, he appeared next to Winterhell, the space he left behind shimmering faintly before settling into stillness.
She startled slightly at his sudden arrival, her focus breaking for a fraction of a second. ¡°I hope you¡¯re here with a better plan this time!¡± she said, firing another two celestial ember spells toward the advancing creatures in quick succession. The bolt struck the nearest Lurker square in the chest, momentarily staggering it as it was set ablaze yet again.
¡°Focus your spells on their upper bodies,¡± Aiden said quickly, his breathing heavy. ¡°I¡¯ll try to keep them bunched together. If you can use your mana intensive version to hit more than one at a time, maybe¡just maybe we''ll manage to make it out alive.¡±
Winterhell nodded, her expression grim but determined. ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t get yourself killed out there.¡±
Aiden managed a wry smile, already preparing to Blink back into the fray. ¡°No promises.¡±
He looked at the oncoming monsters, and could see that the main creature had around 80% of its starting health left, as indicated by the percentile being visible within each individual health bar.
The air where he had been standing crackled faintly, the ripple of energy fading as he reappeared mid-air, right next to the lead lurker, just high enough in order to be able to strike the creature¡¯s head. With a wild swing, he struck. The effect would have been more impactful had his feet been firmly planted on the ground, but since the goal was to gain the lurkers¡¯ full attention, he deemed it a success.
He didn''t have time to congratulate himself for his efforts, as a fury of attacks came at him the moment he landed on his feet, and he found himself surrounded by the nightmarish lurkers.
Aiden ducked under the first strike, the jagged limb slicing just above his head. Another lashed out from his side, but Aiden managed to raise his club in time to deflect the blow, the force of it rattling his arms. The third attack however came faster than he was able to respond. A serrated leg slammed into his chest with brutal precision, sending him sprawling backward. Pain exploded through him as the jagged edge tore right through his linen shirt, leaving a savage cut that burned with each ragged breath.
He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from his lungs. For a moment, his vision blurred, and all he could hear was the echoing hisses of the Lurkers closing in, their legs clicking ominously against the stone.
Nyxborn Lurker has afflicted you with Ebonshade Venom.
Ebonshade Venom has taken effect.
Aiden blinked out of harm¡¯s way just as another explosion announced Winterhell hurling another celestial ember into the middle of the Lurkers. He reappeared next to her and discovered the small icon of a sickly-green skull on a black background at the bottom left corner of his field of vision, just above his health bar. A countdown timer starting at 5 seconds above the icon indicated the duration of the effect.
While the attack had already dealt more damage than Aiden was wanting to take from a single blow this early into the fight, it was the poisoned condition caused by the venom that was gradually draining even more of his remaining health that made him worry. By the time the venom would wear off, he guessed that he would only have 76% of his total health remaining.
In the brief moment during which Aiden considered his current situation, he could see the Lurkers charging not towards him, but towards Winterhell. At that moment, he was struck with an idea.
¡°What if the creatures weren¡¯t targeting Winterhell?¡± he thought to himself. ¡° What if they were reacting to her last attack?¡±
His mind raced back to the moments before: each time He or Winterhell had landed an attack or a spell, the Lurkers had faltered and changed whom they were targeting.
¡°They only retaliate against whoever hit them last,¡± Aiden whispered to himself.
Then without losing any more time, he blinked to intercept the Lurkers from reaching Winterhell. He didn¡¯t have to deal a lot of damage. All he had to do was connect one hit against each of the monsters and blink as far away as possible without it being considered a disengagement. Then he''d have to wait for Winterhell to hit them with her spells, and then repeat the process until they all died.
For the first time during this fight, Aiden was excited. He felt like he''d cracked the code. With this strategy, they had a realistic chance to cut their way through these horrible creatures and then make their way back towards the Evergreen Glade.
Unfortunately, the only part of the plan he managed to convey verbally to Winterhell were the words, ¡°not intelligent! The scrubbers only react to being aggroed!¡± while jumping up and down to gain her attention.
Then as quickly as he was able to, he took a swing at each of the Lurkers, hitting one in the arm, one by the leg and the last in the stomach. Aiden had guessed correctly that they would need a brief moment to change their target before attacking, so he took a look around his surroundings and blinked to the opposite side of the courtyard, away from Winterhell, giving her as much time as possible to launch more spells towards the Nyxborn Lurkers.
Luckily for Aiden, Winterhell had caught on to his meaning and waited for the Lurkers to almost be on him before she unleashed another barrage of spells.
While onlookers would have immediately been able to tell that Aiden''s plan had been entirely improvised, and that Aiden and Winterhell were both new to using their abilities as well as to working with each other, it was clear that the plan was working.
The execution of Aiden''s plan was crude and lacked the coordinated finesse that came as a result of hundreds of hours of team training sessions and strategizing. Winterhell had cast her spells late on two separate occasions, causing Aiden to get struck by the Lurkers two additional times, bringing his total health dangerously low. Aiden on the other hand had failed to blink to intercept the Lurkers by teleporting to a wrong location, almost causing Winterhell to be surrounded and trapped by the hideous monsters.
***
At the end of the battle, they were standing side by side, gazing at the smoking remains of the Nyxborn Lurkers. Winterhell¡¯s fair skin was pale and clammy, her hair dishevelled and clinging to her damp forehead. She was bent forward, her hands on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath.
Aiden wasn¡¯t in much better shape. His chest rose and fell heavily, each breath sharp and uneven. Blood trickled from cuts on his arms and chest, staining the remains of his torn linen shirt. He wiped his face with a trembling hand, smearing a mixture of sweat and soot across his cheek.
¡°Well,¡± Winterhell finally said, her voice hoarse but laced with her usual sarcasm, ¡°that sucked.¡±
Aiden let out a strained laugh, leaning against the broken remains of the courtyard wall for support. ¡°I¡¯d like to find a silver lining,¡± he muttered, wincing as the movement pulled at the gash in his side, ¡°but yeah, it really sucked.¡±
He risked a glance at his health bar. The faint sliver of red was barely reassuring, while his stamina and mana bars were equally depleted.
¡°How¡¯s your mana?¡± he asked Winterhell between heavy breaths. While she hadn¡¯t taken any damage from the Nyxborne Lurkers, he guessed that her stamina and mana were equally depleted as his.
¡°I¡¯m all tapped out,¡± she said while wiping a strand of hair from her face.
¡°That¡¯s just how close we were to losing that fight,¡± Aiden said. ¡°Once casters, especially healers, are out of mana, that¡¯s how you quickly enter TPK territory.¡±
¡°A total party kill¡.¡± Winterhell whispered, her voice laced with fear as she realised just how much of a close call the fight really had been.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, their gazes lingering on the blackened stone and smouldering ash that marked the site of their desperate struggle. Their silence was interrupted by a number of system notifications.
You have defeated Nyxborn Lurker!
You have defeated Nyxborn Lurker!
You have defeated Nyxborn Lurker!
Loot has been automatically distributed to all party members.
Loot acquired!
You have received:
All looted items have been added to your inventory.
Without hesitating, Aiden opened his inventory and retrieved the newly acquired recovery potion. A small circular vial appeared in his hands. Its colour was that of a deep violet with tiny amber flecks that swirled lazily with each gentle shift.
Aiden popped the cork with practised ease and poured its content into his mouth. The taste hit him like a slap. It was sharp and metallic, with a strange revivifying heat that burned its way down his throat. For a moment, he felt as though he¡¯d licked a live battery, his tongue tingling with a numbing, electric buzz. Beneath that was an earthy, rancid undertone, like wet moss mixed with something faintly sulfuric. He gagged, his face twisting into a grimace, but forced himself to swallow, the potion¡¯s unpleasant aftertaste clinging to the back of his throat like bitter resin.
He glanced over to Winterhell. While her face was less pale and more lively than it had been moments ago, her expression was that of deep regret and deeper concentration as to not be sick where she stood.
He glanced at his health, mana and stamina bars told him that each had slightly recovered to around 35%. While it wasn''t a miraculous full recovery, it did change his current situation from everything around him definitely being able to kill him, to that of most things only probably being able to kill him, which in his mind, was an improvement.
With a mental prompt he selected one of the dead Nyxborn Lurkers which was followed by a system prompt.
Nyxborn Lurker - Level 4 (deceased)
You are able to inspect Nyxborn Lurker.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Inspect Y/N?
He gave his mental consent and a window appeared in his field of vision.
Creature: Nyxborn Lurker
Level: 4
Abilities:
*Warning! You do not meet the needed requirements to obtain detailed information.*
¡°Huh,¡± Aiden wondered to himself. ¡°I wonder if it''s a level gap issue, or an ability that I''m still missing.¡±
He looked over to Winterhell and saw that she''d just equipped a pair of black leather bracers, which he assumed was her share from the loot distribution.
With a thought he opened his inventory and inspected his newly gained boots.
Item: Worn leather boots
Rank: Common
Effect: None
¡°I once complained about not having any shoes, then I saw a man wearing these¡.¡±
With a thought he equipped the boots and they vanished from his storage and appeared on his feet. They weren''t particularly fashionable and had seen heavy use, but Aiden knew better than to expect anything special after their first random low-level encounter.
¡°Aiden, look!¡± came Winterhell''s voice, catching his attention.
He turned his head towards her and saw that she was pointing towards the remains of the Nyxborn Lurkers. As he followed her gesturing, he saw black smoke rising from their lifeless remains, curling and twisting into the air. There was an immediate and overwhelming stench. An acrid mix of burning sulphur and decayed flesh that crawled into the back of Aiden''s throat. The smoke lingered briefly, clinging to the space before dispersing and leaving nothing but the sound of Winterhell''s retching while Aiden did his best not to follow her lead.
While Winterhell was recovering, they were both greeted by another system prompt.
Secret quest discovered!
New quest available - Guildhall guardian
You have attracted the attention of a guildhall guardian by killing some of its minions.
Objective: Defeat the guardian
Duration: One hour
Reward: Guildhall raid key
¡°Queue the boss music!¡±
Just then, fast-paced metal started to play, coming from nowhere and everywhere. The deep drums and heavily distorted guitars were backed by a full symphonic orchestra and a choir chanting rhythmically in a high pitched staccato.
¡°Oh this is bad,¡± Aiden said, his voice tinged with sudden panic. ¡°We need to come up with something quick, or else we''re completely buggered.¡±
A dark portal appeared in the middle of the courtyard. It looked more like a circular hole in the universe than a gateway to or from anywhere.
Aiden and Winterhell felt a strong and sudden wind picking up. They could see dust and small pieces of debris being pulled towards, or rather sucked into the portal.
The wind intensified, howling as it whipped through the courtyard. Aiden shielded his face with one arm, squinting against the sudden torrent of debris. Winterhell¡¯s hair whipped wildly around her, her eyes fixed on the dark portal as it grew larger, its edges rippling like the surface of disturbed water.
From deep within the void came an ominous rumble, low and guttural, vibrating through the very ground beneath them. Then, with a sound like tearing fabric, something emerged.
At first, it was difficult to make out, a shifting mass of shadow and violet light that seemed to defy definition. But as it stepped fully into the courtyard, its form solidified, revealing a menacing figure that would haunt their nightmares.
Before them stood a figure very much like the Nyxborn Lurkers, it had the same spidery legs with a grotesque upper body rising out of it. There were however a few notable differences. It had violet cracks running along its dark exoskeleton, and instead of a face, there was an endless void, not unlike the portal it had just stepped through. Its form was asymmetrical, with one arm ending in a massive, serrated claw and the other in a long, bladed whip-like appendage.
¡°Maybe we can try the same tactic against this thing?¡± Winterhell said, her voice trembling. ¡°You keep it busy while I cast my spells?¡±
Aiden who felt an ice cold shiver going down his spine tried to give her a confident nod. Just then, the menacing figure gave a terrible guttural howl that caused Aiden and Winterhell to freeze where they stood.
Umbral Sentinel has afflicted you with Nightmare Howl.
Nightmare Howl has taken effect.
An icon appeared above Aiden''s health bar. It was that of an eye its pupils fully dilated on a red background. The icon represented the fear debuff, causing any action against the manifested creature to cost more mana and more stamina in addition to slowing down one''s movement and reaction speed.
A large health bar appeared above its head, followed by its name and level.
Umbral Sentinel - Level 6
The Umbral Sentinel wasted no time. After the howl faded, it dashed forward in a blur of dark energy, closing the distance between itself and Aiden in a heartbeat. Aiden tried to raise his club, but the Sentinel¡¯s serrated claw struck first, sending him sprawling backward. His health bar, already uncomfortably low, dipped further into the red.
The Sentinel lunged forward in an attempt to follow up with another attack, but Aiden used his Sonic Blink and moved out of harm¡¯s way. He reappeared on the Sentinel¡¯s exposed right side, and swung his club with as much force as he could muster.
Before Aiden was able to blink to safety for Winterhell to start her fiery barrage, the Sentinel turned towards him and swung with its bladed whip, aiming for his chest. Aiden raising his club to block the attack was more a matter of luck than skill, and his club burst into tiny splinters on impact.
A heartbeat later, Winterhell unleashed her arsenal towards the Umbral Sentinel, chanting the incantation as quickly as she possibly could, while remaining comprehensible. Aiden appeared next to her as her second spell struck home.
¡°I need to borrow your club,¡± he said, while dropping the remains of his ruined club, which only consisted of the handle.
¡°Am I going to get it back?¡± she said in between casting more spells.
¡°Probably not?¡± Aiden answered, ¡°but you might live to complain about me owing you a new one.¡±
Without losing much time, she withdrew her own wooden club from her inventory and tossed it over to Aiden.
Aiden caught it and blinked back towards the Umbral Sentinel, which was rushing towards Winterhell. Aiden glanced at his mana and stamina bars and saw that he had precious few blinks left before he would run out of both. He practically threw himself in the way of the onrushing monster, and with a wildly uncontrolled swing, he struck the Sentinel in the stomach.
The monstrosity came to a halt and after taking a moment to target Aiden, it swung at him with its serrated claw. Aiden brought his borrowed club to intercept the attack, which just like his own, was shattered with a single blow.
Aiden had precious few options and none of them included going hand to hand against the Umbral Sentinel, so he did what he thought was a really good idea.
He ran away.
He didn¡¯t blink to safety, or anything sensible of that sort. He turned his back to the Sentinel and burst into a dead sprint, in the attempt to put as much distance between the creature and himself.
For a brief moment, both the creature and Winterhell were caught off guard by Aiden¡¯s unexpected actions. It was the Sentinel that recovered first and it dashed towards him, its serrated claw ready to strike.
¡°Aiden watch out!¡± Winterhell shouted at her companion who seemed to have temporarily lost his mind.
Aiden glanced over his shoulder and saw the Umbral Sentinel charging towards him. He didn¡¯t have much time, and probably only one shot at testing out his theory.
¡°Fast thing in¡.¡± he said, as he jumped off the ground with as much strength as he could gather, and then blinked away just in time for the Sentinel¡¯s attack to miss him.
Aiden appeared high above the ground facing downwards, his momentum having been carried with him as he blinked upwards. He instantly started to fall towards the ground, gathering more and more speed.
Winterhell stared upwards, trying to make sense of what he was doing.
Just before hitting the ground, Aiden blinked again, reappearing right next to the Umbral Sentinel. He appeared, practically shooting into existence with speed that reminded him of his original descent onto Mythendel. Then right before hitting the Umbral Sentinel, he threw his horned head back and prepared to strike.
The air was filled with the sound of a sickening crunch followed by a thump and a loud and audible moan coming from the ground.
The Umbral Sentinel stood in the middle of the courtyard, stunned, confused, and frankly feeling slightly offended by what had just happened. It had a number of large cracks on the side of its head, its neck was bent at an angle from which it would likely never recover again.
Aiden was laying on the ground at least a dozen meters away from where he had struck the Sentinel. Moaning painfully as he rubbed his forehead with both hands.
¡°Fast thing in¡¡± he said, taking a deep breath, then continued, ¡°fast thing out.¡±
He looked up at the victim of his aerial assault, and saw that its health had fallen down to 42%. He then looked at his own, and saw that his health bar was flashing angrily at him, indicating that he was below the 10% mark. He tried to get back to his feet but failed. He looked up, only to discover that the Umbral Sentinel was walking towards him, its head still tilted at a sickly angle, making its sight all the worse.
¡°Aiden get out of there!¡± came Winterhell¡¯s voice, breaking the silence. ¡°By the light of creation, let fire be born!¡± she shouted, and fire erupted all around the unsettling figure steadily approaching towards her friend.
She fired at it one more time.
For some reason, it stopped reacting towards being hit.
¡°Why is it not coming for me?¡± she muttered to herself, her voice filled with angry panic. ¡°Come at me you coward!!¡± she screamed, but nothing happened.
She fired at it two more times.
Three more times.
And then, she fell to her knees, her arms trembling. She had nothing left. No mana, no weapons, no abilities that could save Aiden. As the monster approached her comrade, with slow deliberate steps, Winterhell realized just how much Aiden had shielded her during not only one but two fights, taking hit after hit, while she¡¯d remained unscathed.
She could have run away. She knew it. She probably would have gotten away had she tried to, but instead, she charged towards the Umbral Sentinel, tears building up in her eyes, wondering what she¡¯d done to deserve such loyalty. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t make it in time, but it didn¡¯t matter.
The Sentinel didn¡¯t even turn to acknowledge her. It had reached Aiden and was now poised to strike. Taking its time, enjoying the moment of the kill, its prey too weak to resist, too tired to fight.
Winterhell heard herself screaming, ¡°FOR DEATH AND GLORY!¡± Then after a deep sob she continued as loudly as she could, hoping against hope to gain the Sentinel¡¯s attention, ¡°AND FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!¡±
A deep, resonant voice filled the air, louder than thunder yet carrying an undeniable strength. ¡°I AM HONOUR!¡± it roared, shaking the very stones of the courtyard. A blinding beam of radiant light descended from the sky, engulfing the loathsome Umbral Sentinel and freezing it just moments before it struck,
Chapter 7: Ascension
A blinding flash of radiant light exploded outward upon impact, engulfing the Umbral Sentinel in searing energy. The force of the strike seemed to ripple through the ground, sending shockwaves, leaving faint golden streaks etched into the earth.
As the brilliance dimmed, the Sentinel¡¯s twisted form was revealed, its dark exoskeleton marred by patches of blinding light, each glowing with an intense, scorching heat. The creature let out a guttural howl, a mix of agony and unhinged fury, as its spider-like legs writhed violently, struggling to bear the weight of its pain.
Aiden who had managed to get onto his feet looked at the monster¡¯s health bar and saw that Winterhell¡¯s fiery assault and the strange radiant light had dropped its health down to less than 10%. Behind the stunned Sentinel he could see that Winterhell had stopped running, her eyes fixed on where the monster had been struck by the radiant light, tears still running down her cheek.
Out of all the possible scenarios running though Aiden¡¯s mind at the moment, what he saw next was not one of them.
He saw a tall broad-shouldered figure walking past Winterhell, towards where he and the stunned Sentinel were standing. White fur glowed faintly in the lingering light, its texture like freshly fallen snow, and a thick, majestic mane framed the figure¡¯s leonine face. Golden eyes burned with unwavering resolve, and in one clawed hand, it held an impressive broad-bladed sword, its edge shimmering faintly as if imbued with the same energy that had struck the Sentinel. A long cloak, the color of deep crimson, billowed gently behind him, as though moved by an unseen wind.
Aiden¡¯s breath caught in his throat as the figure stopped a few paces away from the Sentinel. It raised the glimmering blade towards the badly injured monsters that gave its terrible guttural howl in defiance towards the newcomer.
Umbral Sentinel has afflicted you with Nightmare Howl.
Nightmare Howl has taken effect.
A familiar sense of dread wrapped around Aiden like icy chains. His limbs felt heavy, his breaths shallow, as the fear debuff slowed his every move. Even standing seemed a monumental task.
The Sentinel, still reeling from its injuries, writhed as though emboldened by its howl. It raised its serrated claw high, its void-like face locking onto the newcomer.
But the stranger didn¡¯t flinch.
Instead, he planted his feet, gripping his broad-bladed sword with both clawed hands, his golden eyes burning brighter, like twin suns piercing through the oppressive darkness. Then, with a force that seemed to shake the very fabric of the air, the stranger let out a thunderous roar.
What came wasn¡¯t just a sound. It was a command. More than a bold act of defiance, it was imbued with radiant power. The roar rippled outward in a golden wave, crashing into the Sentinel like a wall of light. The creature screeched, its spindly legs clawing at the ground as if to hold its footing, but the roar only seemed to intensify, pressing against it with relentless force.
For Aiden, the effect was immediate. The suffocating grip of fear loosened, and the icy weight constricting his body vanished as a new notification appeared in his field of vision:
Player (Unknown) has affected you with Valor¡¯s Call.
Valor¡¯s Call has taken effect.
All debuffs have been removed.
Two small icons replaced the one representing the poisoned condition. One was a red cross on a white background, the other was a silver chalice on a golden background. These represented the healing over time and stamina recovery over time effects respectively.
He gasped, taking his first full breath in what felt like ages and even found himself standing straighter, his strength returning. For the first time since the fight began, the oppressive presence of the Sentinel didn¡¯t feel so insurmountable.
The Umbral Sentinel, however, seemed to feed on the roar differently. Its howls turned into a wild, rage-filled cacophony as it thrashed in place, the glowing cracks along its body burning brighter. The roar had not cowed it. It had pushed it to the brink of madness, amplifying its fury.
The stranger pointed his blade towards the livid monstrosity with one extended arm, his eyes focused on the Sentinel as it writhed in its rage, steam rising from its glowing wounds.
Then¡. The stranger spoke. His words, slow and deliberate.
¡°Come and get me, you filth.¡±
The Umbral Sentinel darted at him in a reckless and furious charge, its spidery legs scrapping on the stones of the courtyard, tossing up dust and debris. It dashed towards the stranger, closing the remaining distance in a heartbeat and lunged forward, its serrated claw ready to strike.
The stranger parried the Sentinel¡¯s attack with his long radiating blade that sang with a bright ring as it struck the serrated claw. The creature continued its assault, but each attack was dodged or parried, deepening its fury, causing each swing to be more violent, less precise, and to Aiden who still could barely believe what was happening, they seemed almost desperate.
The newcomer dodged the Sentinel¡¯s last attack, and moved away from the now seemingly exhausted creature. He raised his sword pointing towards the sky and shouted, ¡°By light¡¯s decree, darkness shall fall!¡±
He pointed his sword at the creature, and another blinding flash of radiant light exploded outward upon impact, engulfing the Umbral Sentinel. It ended with a final pitiful howl, before being reduced to a pile of ash and bones.
Then, there was silence.
***
Quest complete!
You have completed the quest: Guildhall guardian!
Reward: Guildhall Raid key
You have defeated Umbral Sentinel
Loot has been automatically distributed to all party members.
Loot acquired!
You have received:
All looted items have been added to your inventory.
Aiden ignored the system prompts filling his field of vision, dismissing them with a thought. He took a few slow and careful steps towards the source of his salvation, then after two failed attempts to find the right words, he spoke.
¡°Gavril?¡± Aiden said, his voice a blend of awe and relief.
The Leonin turned his head towards Aiden and said, ¡°what''s a Gavril?¡±
Aiden blinked at the newcomer, then stammered a reply ¡°huh? What''s a¡.? No, it''s who''s Gavril. Gavril''s a name and I just thought¡¡± He paused, still needing to process what just happened.
¡°Well it''s not a very good name. I''m Skal, your friendly neighbourhood paladin, sandwich enthusiast and saviour of scrubs,¡± the lion man said with a small bow and a large toothy grin, his name and level appearing above his head.
Skal - Level 3
Aiden, who was still processing everything that had happened within the last couple of minutes, opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, failing to find the right thing to say. Finally, after what he felt was an uncomfortable silence, he said, ¡°I have so many questions¡.. I don¡¯t even know where to¡¡±
¡°How about you just start with your name? That¡¯s what a normal person would do,¡± Skal interrupted him with a wink.
¡°Aiden!¡± came a shout, not from Aiden, but coming from behind Skal.
Winterhell was running toward him, her feet skidding on the stone as she stopped just short of colliding with him. Her eyes were still glistening with tears, her cheeks streaked with soot and emotion.
¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± she demanded, her voice cracking somewhere between anger and relief, completely ignoring Skal. ¡°You¡ you could¡¯ve died! That stupid headbutt! You¡ you complete buffoon!¡±
Aiden blinked, momentarily stunned. ¡°Uh, nice to see you too?¡±
Winterhell let out a half-laugh, half-sob and suddenly threw her arms around him. Aiden stiffened, not sure what to do with his hands, but before he could decide, she pulled back, her face a mix of frustration and concern.
¡°You¡¯re impossible,¡± she muttered, wiping at her eyes. ¡°You scared me half to death, you know that?¡±
¡°Yeah, well,¡± Aiden said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, ¡°to be fair, I kind of scared me too.¡±
She punched him hard on the shoulder, her lip quivering. ¡°You don¡¯t get to make jokes right now Aiden.¡± After composing herself, she continued, her mischievous grin returning, ¡°Also, that makes it three times by the way.¡±
¡°Begging your pardon?¡± Aiden said, doing his best to avoid Winterhells gaze, his ears turning bright red.
¡°Three times you pancaked the ground today,¡± she said matter-of-factly, ¡°it¡¯s kind of his thing you know,¡± she continued, addressing Skal.
¡°It¡¯s not my thing,¡± Aiden said in mock-outrage, "it''s merely a¡series of unfortunate events all pointing towards something that may appear to be true, but that most definitely is not.¡±
¡°That¡¯s very cute and all,¡± Skal¡¯s deep voice interrupted, breaking the moment. ¡°But if you¡¯re done with the reunion, we¡¯ve got bigger things to worry about.¡± He turned towards Winterhell ¡°You¡¯re welcome, by the way,¡± he added with a toothy grin.
Winterhell gave Skal a sincere bow followed by her signature bright smile.
¡°Thank you so much for coming to our aid. I''m Winterhell,¡± she said. ¡°And that one¡¯s Aiden;¡± she continued pointing casually at Aiden.
¡°I¡¯m feeling the love here,¡± Aiden said with mock offence. ¡°Not this here is Aiden, or this is Aiden or the dashingly handsome Feykin you see here is Aiden.¡±
¡°Oh hush you,¡± Winterhell said, then while giving Skal an assessing glance, she continued, ¡°Skal,¡± she said, her voice wavering slightly as she pointed toward the ashes of the Sentinel, ¡°you didn¡¯t just stumble onto this fight, did you?¡±
Skal shrugged, a casual motion that felt oddly out of place given his imposing frame. ¡°Stumble? Well, no¡.and yes¡± His golden eyes flicked between them. ¡°I just happened to be passing by when you two clowns started fighting the three spider-nightmare things.¡±
¡°Nyxborn Lurkers,¡± Aiden budging in.
¡°Right,¡± Skal said, then continued, ¡°Honestly, considering that you were outnumbered, ill-equipped and probably underleveled,¡±
¡°Oh we were,¡± Aiden said, interrupting again.
¡°Is he always like this?¡± Skal asked Winterhell, nodding towards Aiden.
¡°He is,¡± she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something you¡¯ll ever get used to, but he¡¯s alright otherwise.¡±
¡°He¡¯s standing right here you know,¡± Aiden said with an undignified expression on his face.
¡°And he¡¯ll be fine,¡± Winterhell said with a grin. ¡°Anyway, Skal, you were saying?¡±
¡°Right, well considering that by all accounts you probably should have lost the first fight, but somehow managed to pull a win, I wasn¡¯t liking your odds when that portal opened and the Umbral Sentinel came out of it. Lucky for you, I¡¯m a sucker for saving people from their own bad decisions.¡±
¡°Bad decisions?¡± Aiden shot back, his tone sharper than intended. ¡°We didn¡¯t exactly have a choice. There¡¯s no way we both could have gotten away from that thing.¡±
Skal smirked, baring just enough teeth to make Aiden question his own tone. ¡°Fair enough. But you were outmatched from the start. Charging in half-dead? Brave, sure. Stupid, definitely.¡±
Winterhell folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. ¡°And what would you have us do? Try to get away only to get runned down by that thing?¡± she said pointing towards the remains of the Umbral Sentinel.
Skal raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hey I¡¯m not judging¡. much. But I get it. Heroes don¡¯t run, do they?¡± He dismissed his glowing sword that faded into golden dust. ¡°Pretty cool huh?¡± he said proudly, ¡°It¡¯s one of my class abilities,¡± he added. ¡°So, tell me. What are a couple of low-level scrubs doing poking their noses in a place like this?¡±
¡°Well,¡± Winterhell started, ¡°all we really wanted to do was to find shelter from the storm. We just happened to be by the plaza next to the villa when the downpour first started. That tower looked like an ideal place for a proper view of what was going on.¡±
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.Skal gave Winterhell and Aiden a skeptical look, ¡°you both went inside there, for safety?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Aiden said.
¡°That building right there,¡± Skal said pointing at the ruined front doors of the villa.
¡°The very same,¡± Aiden continued, who started to feel embarrassed.
¡°The totally ruined villa that was definitely put there by the High Council as a death trap for the lost and naive?¡±
¡°Will you let it go already?¡± Aiden said, his face taking on a shade of dark pink. ¡°Mistakes have been made ok? Plust it wasn¡¯t all bad, Winterhell found a Genesis Orb in there that granted her the Celestial race. So if anything, it was a trial for the strong to prove themselves, not a trap.¡±
¡°Aiden,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t really matter how you put it. Trap or trial, we didn¡¯t exactly do all that great.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll admit, that things didn¡¯t entirely go according to plan. And yes, we did need some help once things started to fall apart, but we did get the loot at the end of it all. Plus we found a new friend, so I don¡¯t know what to tell you, but I¡¯m calling it a win.¡±
¡°Speaking of loot,¡± Skal said, ¡°what did you get for defeating the Umbral Sentinel? I only got a recovery potion.¡±
¡°I got a potion as well,¡± Aiden said, ¡°and a Shard of Ascension, whatever that is.¡±
¡°Same here,¡± Winterhell added.
Skal¡¯s eyes went wide upon hearing what Aiden and Winterhell had looted from their fight against the Umbral Sentinel. ¡°You¡¯re going to want to use those as quickly as possible,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s how you¡¯ll unlock your class and class abilities.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Aiden said, opening his inventory and selecting the Shard in order to inspect it. The shard fit snugly in the palm of Aiden¡¯s hand, its jagged edges rough and uneven, as though it had been broken free from a much larger stone. Its surface shimmered with a mesmerizing, shifting hue, with dozens of colors swirling and blending like liquid light trapped beneath the surface. As Aiden turned it slightly, the colors rippled and shifted, revealing new patterns with each movement, some subtle and soft, others vibrant and dazzling.
Despite its fractured appearance, the shard felt oddly warm to the touch, as if it pulsed with a quiet, inner energy. Fine cracks webbed across its surface, catching the light in a way that gave the impression of faintly glowing veins. It was as though the shard was alive, humming faintly with a power that seemed just out of reach, both beautiful and unsettling in its allure.
Item: Shard of Ascension
Rank: Rare
Effect: Choose one:
- Unlock one new class and class ability (you can only choose this if you don¡¯t already have a class),
- unlock one new class ability or
- level up one existing class ability.
(Uses remaining 1/1)
*Warning! Unlocking a new class will permanently bind you to the unlocked class. This action cannot be undone and can only be taken once.*
¡°The gods will dictate your fate, unless you forge your own destiny.¡±
Aiden read the item description two more times, carefully making sure he didn¡¯t miss anything.
¡°I suppose it makes sense for our class to be generated at random,¡± Aiden said.
¡°Oh I don¡¯t know if I would jump to that conclusion,¡± Skal said. ¡°We really don¡¯t have enough information to draw any at all. There may be factors in play that we are currently simply unaware of. What rank are the shards that you each got? The one that I used to gain the Paladin class was uncommon.¡±
¡°Mine¡¯s rare,¡± Aiden said, daring to feel hopeful, even a little bit optimistic about his current odds.
¡°Same here,¡± Winterhell said. ¡°What do you say Aiden? Should we go ahead and use them?¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Aiden replied with an energetic burst. ¡°If Skal got the Paladin class, which is objectively one of the most popular and powerful ones in all of ROTA from an uncommon shard, who knows what we¡¯ll get from rare ones.¡±
¡°What happened to the brooding skeptic who was too afraid to use his Genesis Orb in the villa?¡± Winterhell said teasingly.
¡°He just had multiple near death experiences, and doesn¡¯t fancy being woefully unprepared for the next one.¡± Aiden said, a grin on his face.
¡°Before you jump ahead and use the shards, would you mind adding me to the party? I¡¯d love to see what you end up with.¡±
Aiden gave Winterhell a questioning look, who nodded brightly in return. He selected Skal and gave the mental prompt to send him a party invitation, and a moment later, he received a system notification.
Player Skal - Level 3 has joined your party.
¡°So, who¡¯s going first?¡± Skal said with excitement.
¡°Just try and stop me,¡± Winterhell said, taking a step forward, gripping her Shard of Ascension firmly with both hands.
For a brief moment, the cracks in the shard shined with a bright rainbow light, forming a swirling, prismatic aura around her. The air hummed with a melodic otherworldly chorus, as lights danced around her body.
Then, in a climactic burst, the prismatic aura collapsed inward, sinking into Winterhell''s form. Her eyes glowed momentarily with an intense, iridescent light. Around her, the aura shifted, the rainbow colors fading and coalescing into distinct streams of elemental energy, crimson flames and icy blues, each encircling her in turn.
The energy began to flow into her hands, her chest, and her eyes, as small embers and frost particles swirled around her fingertips.
As the energy settled, a final wave of multicolored light erupted from her, sweeping through the courtyard and leaving behind a faint shimmer in the air. Winterhell¡¯s form was radiating with an almost imperceptible heat, her breath visible in the sudden chill around her. Her eyes sparkled with an ethereal light as two new notifications appeared before her.
New Class obtained!
Class: Sorceress
Subclass: Elemental Adept
Description: As heirs of primal forces of magic, Elemental Adepts form deep bonds with the elements, forging a symbiotic relationship with fire, water, earth, and air. While we may never truly know the origin of their gifts, it is undeniable that they hold more raw potential in their hands than all other schools of magic.
"Don¡¯t fear the elements. Fear me."
New Class Ability obtained!
Ability: Avatar of Duality
- Passive Ability (elemental)
- Effect: Channel the primal forces of fire and ice, transforming all your spells and abilities, giving each Dual Modes. In this state, each spell can be cast as either Fire Mode or Ice Mode, gaining unique elemental effects.
"When fire and ice entwine, the world bows to their harmony and fury."
Aiden watched as the shimmering light surrounding Winterhell slowly faded, the air around her shifting between icy chills and waves of heat. He tilted his head, a smirk gradually growing wider and wider.
¡°What is it?¡± Winterhell said, her tone filled with accusation and suspicion.
¡°Oh forget about it, it¡¯s not important,¡± Aiden said, his eyes sparkling with unspoken mischief.
¡°Aiden,¡± Winterhell siad, ponting a threatening finger at him, ¡°if you somehow find a way to ruin my amazing new class and epic ability, then the gods above won¡¯t be able to find a hole deep enough to hide you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably best to let him get whatever it is he¡¯s holding back out of his system,¡± Skal said as Aiden¡¯s face grew wider and wider.
Winterhell sighed deeply and after accepting her fate she nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then¡¡± she said.
¡°It¡¯s really nothing,¡± Aiden said, practically shaking with excitement.
¡°Aiden! You overglorified goat-person! You better spill it or so help me I¡¯ll¡¡± Winterhell started, only to be interrupted by Aiden who raised his hands in surrender.
¡°Fine, fine,¡± he said. ¡°All I wanted to point out is that I hope that Winterhell never has to cook for us at any point during this journey¡ quest¡. thing.¡±
¡°Oh? And why is that?¡± Skal asked, his tone filled with the sort of patience kept for those who¡¯ve taken one or two too many blows to the head.
Aiden cleared his throat and gave a brief pause for what he thought was dramatic effect. ¡°Because Winterhell might force us to eat something both frozen and burnt.¡±
Winterhell gave a painful grown, burying her face in her hands, while Skal just looked at the two of them in utter confusion.
Winterhell let out a muffled groan from behind her hands. ¡°I knew it. I just knew you were going to find a way to bring that up. I regretted that half-baked metaphor the moment I said it.¡±
Skal¡¯s ears twitched as his shoulders sagged, and for a brief moment, he thought that now would be a great time to simply turn around and walk away. Aiden burst into wild fits of laughter, followed by Winterhell giggling from behind her hands still concealing her face.
Skal chuckled, clapping his clawed hands together with a resonating thud. ¡°Alright, comedians, let¡¯s keep the show rolling. Winterhell¡¯s got her fancy new class¡ªfire and ice and all that jazz. Now,¡± he turned to Aiden with a wide grin, ¡°the question is: what¡¯s your shard going to do?¡±
Aiden¡¯s smirk faltered slightly, his expression shifting to something between anticipation and apprehension. ¡°Right¡ my turn.¡±
Winterhell dropped her hands and looked at him, her mischievous grin replaced by genuine encouragement. ¡°Hey, no pressure. Whatever you get, it¡¯ll be amazing. Just¡ try not to headbutt anyone this time.¡±
He reached into his inventory and retrieved the Shard of Ascension, its jagged edges glinting faintly with swirling hues of light. He stared at it for a moment, turning it over in his hands as if trying to unlock its secrets through sheer willpower.
¡°You¡¯re not going to figure it out just by looking at it,¡± Skal said, his voice laced with amusement. ¡°Time to find out what destiny has in store, for you goat-boy.¡±
Aiden rolled his eyes but couldn¡¯t stop a small grin from forming. ¡°Alright then. Here goes nothing.¡± Taking a deep breath, he gripped the shard tightly in both hands. The moment he did, the swirling lights within the shard flared to life, and a soft hum filled the air. It was soft at first, but steadily building in intensity, as though the shard itself were coming alive.
The hum transformed into a series of bright tones, resonating in perfect harmony with each other. The sounds swirled around Aiden, forming a melody that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once. It was a hauntingly beautiful sight. There was song drifting through the courtyard like a breeze, wrapping around him in waves of sparkling energy. Each tone carried a different emotion: joy, sorrow, triumph, and something unnameable yet profound.
As the melody swelled, faint golden threads of light began to ripple outward from the shard, dancing in the air like trails of starlight. They wove themselves around Aiden, creating a luminous cocoon of shifting patterns that pulsed in rhythm with the music. The hum grew louder, layered with faint whispers of words in an unknown language.
Then, with a final crescendo, the light exploded outward in a radiant burst, and the sound reached a pitch so pure and resonant that it seemed to vibrate through the very fabric of the world. Aiden felt the shard¡¯s energy flow into him, filling him with a warmth that wasn¡¯t physical, but rather a deep, stirring power that settled in his chest, like a song waiting to be sung.
When the light faded and the music quieted, Aiden lowered the now dull shard and found himself standing a little straighter, his mind buzzing with newfound clarity, as the faintest shimmer lingered in the air around him.
A notification appeared in his vision.
Aiden stared at it, blinking a few times to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. He tilted his head, his brow furrowing as he reread the words.
Then, with an exasperated laugh, he threw his hands in the air and shouted, ¡°You have got to be kidding me!¡±
Chapter 8: Not Now, Not Ever
Aiden was pacing back and forth in front of Winterhell, and their newly found companion, Skal. He was so overwhelmed by his sudden rush of emotions, that he found himself unable to find any words to express his current discontent.
New Class obtained!
Class: Bard
Subclass: Battle Bard
Description: Battle Bards combine the artistry of music with the ferocity of combat, transforming the battlefield into their stage. Armed with rhythm and resonance, they channel powerful melodies into devastating attacks and tactical maneuvers. Their songs bolster allies, weaken enemies, and amplify their own strikes, creating a dynamic blend of offense and support.
"Victory is a symphony, and I play the final note!"
New Class Ability obtained!
Ability: Summon Instrument
- Effect: Summon a trusty magical lute to use as a spellcasting focus for your spells and abilities. While the lute is active, your spells and abilities have a slightly reduced mana cost. Upon summoning the lute, you gain a brief Mana Recovery Over Time effect.
"Never leave home without a lute¡ or a backup lute¡ or magical lute summoning powers."
Level Up! You have reached Level 2!
He threw his hands up, his voice rising. ¡°A Bard?! Are you kidding me? A Bard! What am I supposed to do now? Cheer you on from the sidelines while you do all the fighting? Maybe write a motivational speech mid-battle? ¡®Good job, guys, keep up the great work!¡¯¡±
Skal¡¯s ears twitched, and he tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. ¡°You know, I think your class sounds great and really useful. Not the motivational speech bit though.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t ask to be useful!¡± Aiden interrupted, spinning toward him. ¡°I asked to not have to fear dying horribly in every single fight. But no, apparently I¡¯m supposed to sing my way to victory.¡±
Winterhell, seated on a crumbled stone block, arched an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at her lips. ¡°Oh, come on, Aiden. It¡¯s not that bad. Bards are super cool! You get to¡ uh¡ do stuff?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the problem!¡± Aiden exclaimed, turning his frustration toward her now. ¡°I don¡¯t get to do anything. Have you seen my abilities? Look at this.¡±
Aiden concentrated for a moment, then stretched out his right hand. A soft hum filled the air, resonating faintly as a shimmer of light gathered before him. The glow coalesced into a solid form, the light fading to reveal a lute in his hands. It was simple yet undeniably beautiful, its polished wood gleaming with a warm amber hue.
Holding the summoned lute by the string bridge with one hand, Aiden pointed the instrument like a sword towards Skal. ¡°Look,¡± he said, ¡°Winterhell is with all likelihood going to end up with an arsenal of world-ending spells, one more amazing than the other. I¡¯m not even entirely sure what all your abilities do, but you have a roar that can cleanse debuffs, and a smite for crying out loud!¡±
¡°Well technically it¡¯s called Punishing Light and it works quite differently from a classic smite,¡± Skal started to explain, but froze when he saw Aiden¡¯s death glare.
¡°And then to add insult to injury,¡± Aiden continued, the lute shaking in his hands, ¡°while you get an amazing broadsword that you can summon at any moment, all I get is this¡¡± he started to wave the instrument wildly in front of Skal and Winterhell for them to see, ¡°this lute¡±. Then with a flick of his wrist and a thought, the lute vanished in a puff of shimmering smoke, leaving behind a sharp twang that echoed briefly in the air, as though the strings themselves had bid them farewell.
There was a long moment during which Aiden stared at Skal and Winterhell breathing heavily, his cheeks flushed a deep red.
Skal took a couple of steps closer to Aiden, then with steel in his voice he said, ¡°Are you about done talking out of your backside?¡±
Aiden blinked at him, taken aback by the way Skal was practically confronting him.
Skal¡¯s golden eyes bore into Aiden¡¯s, his broad shoulders squared and his tone low but firm. ¡°You think this is about flashy spells and fancy weapons? You think your worth is measured in explosions and brute force?¡±
Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but Skal cut him off, raising a clawed hand for silence.
¡°Based on the way you held your ground against those lurker things and the Umbral Sentinel, I would have thought that you¡¯re an experienced enough player to know better, but I guess I¡¯m going to have to spell it out for you.¡±
He took a deep breath and spoke, not allowing himself to lose eye contact with Aiden. ¡°You can¡¯t jump to drastic conclusions when you have little to no information about what your class actually does. Yes, it would appear that both I and Winterhell received some great combat abilities very early in the game. It¡¯s true that simple offensive abilities are incredibly important, especially when your character is still at a low level, and where monsters rarely pose complicated threats and just need to be smashed or blown to tiny bits.¡±
Aiden tried to interject, but Skal continued, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean that any of us here currently have a well balanced set of abilities and spells. Sure I have a fancy sword, and I call forth my righteous judgement upon my enemies, but do you have any idea what I¡¯d give for a movement ability, when all that stands between me and my own downfall is my precariously fragile stamina bar? On top of it, my amazing broadsword as you call it has a small but at our current level very taxing ongoing mana cost, which means that once my mana runs out, all I¡¯m left with, is that ruddy wooden club we all started out with.¡±
Winterhell put her hand on Skal¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I think that¡¯s enough,¡± she said, you¡¯ve made your point.
He turned to face her, then said, ¡°No, he needs to hear this,¡± fixing his gaze back on Aiden.
¡°Listen,¡± he continued, his voice sharp, but not unkind, ¡°you yourself know just how quickly a fight ends once spellcasters run out of juice. You were just there, moments ago, and now that you¡¯re the only person in the party to have a recovery ability, you somehow still find the nerve to complain about it. You can bet that there are already a fair amount of players who didn¡¯t have anybody come to their aid in their hour of need, and for them, this whole thing is already over.¡±
Aiden couldn¡¯t hold the Leonid¡¯s gaze, and instead stared down at his feet. Upon being confronted with what Skal was saying, he felt like an entitled child. His heart started to beat faster, and his hands felt clammy as he tried to swallow down his pride.
Aiden tried to find something clever to say that would help him save face, but nothing came. After a couple of uncomfortable heartbeats, he managed to open his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± was all he heard himself say.
Skal nodded, his expression softening slightly, though his golden eyes remained steady. ¡°Damn right I¡¯m right. Look, this isn¡¯t about you being perfect or strong right out of the gate. It¡¯s about figuring out how to make what you¡¯ve got work. You don¡¯t need to be a fireball-throwing mage or a holy crusader. You need to be the best version of yourself. And once you find your own rhythm, and round out your set of abilities a little bit more, you will see things come together.¡±
Winterhell stepped closer, her tone gentler than Skal¡¯s but equally firm. ¡°Skal¡¯s right. Don¡¯t think for a second, that I didn¡¯t realize that you could have left me to fend for myself back there. Instead of running for the hills, you came up with a plan, a ridiculous one, that almost did more harm than good, but you put yourself between your party and the big bad evil nightmare-thing. That act alone already makes you braver than half the players out there.¡±
She gave him a genuine bright smile, ¡°We¡¯ll work together and get more Shards of Ascension for each of us, and do whatever it is we can to get you a balanced set of cool abilities¡.¡±
¡°And whenever you get lost in your own melodrama, we¡¯ll find a large stone and hit you in the head with it,¡± Skal said with his signature toothy grin.
Aiden took a deep breath, finally feeling a sense of resolve settle over him. He might not fully understand his new class or abilities yet, but one thing was clear, he wasn¡¯t about to let his party, his new friends down. Not now. Not ever.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°So what happens next?¡±
There was a pause so long it had time to invite its friends, who then threw a party for a long-lost relative: an even longer pause.
***
The three of them stood there in silence, the faint sound of the wind and distant birds filling the void. Aiden shifted awkwardly, glancing between Skal and Winterhell.
Finally, Skal cleared his throat. ¡°So... do we just stand here until another monster tries to kill us, or is someone going to come up with an actual plan?¡±
Winterhell sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. ¡°I thought paladins were the ones with all the wisdom.¡±
Skal shrugged. ¡°My wisdom usually comes with food breaks.¡±
Aiden groaned, opening his inventory to retrieve the apple that had been there since the beginning of the event. After it appeared in his hand out of thin air, he tossed it over to the big man. Skal caught it with a smile and took a large bite, taking away more than half of it.
While Skal was busy chewing, Aiden who had kept his inventory window open looked at the last remaining item stashed in his storage. The Guildhall Raid Key. With a thought, he inspected its properties.
Item: Guildhall Raid Key
Rank: Epic
Effect: Use the Guildhall Raid Key to summon a portal leading to the Guildhall Lair, a boss-level raid instance. Defeat the lair¡¯s Guardian to earn otherwise inaccessible rewards, including a Guild Coin, essential for unlocking the hidden potential of the ruined mansion at 177A Bleeker Street.
Restrictions:
- Requires a minimum of five party members to activate the portal.
- Each key can only be used once and is consumed upon activation.
¡°Now is not the time for politics. Stab the monster, not your friends.¡±
Aiden¡¯s eyes went wide as he looked at the item description.
¡°You¡¯re going to want to see this,¡± he said, his voice filled with excitement and alarm as he shared the item description with Skal and Winterhell.
¡°That¡¯s a strange name,¡± Skal said after he finished swallowing the last remains of the apple, while staring at the mansion''s address.
¡°Not you too,¡± Winterhell said, as Aiden gave Skal a bright smile. ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by clowns and jokers,¡± she continued with a deep sigh.
¡°What do you think the Guild Coin does?¡± Aiden asked, changing the topic.
¡°I really wouldn¡¯t know where to start guessing,¡± Skal said, ¡°but I do like the idea of unlocking hidden potential. That gives me the sort of vibes where we don¡¯t die and everything suddenly becomes fantastic.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t die is rule number one,¡± Aiden agreed while rubbing his chin thoughtfully, ¡°but we¡¯ll need at least two more party members before we can even consider trying.¡±
¡°And how exactly are we supposed to find good party members? You know, ones with abilities that aren¡¯t terrible?¡± Winterhell asked.
¡°Well how did you find this guy?¡± Skal said, pointing at Aiden.
¡°Oh you know, I found him lying in a crater of his own making, his face buried in the dirt,¡± she said.
¡°So to find competent party members, we should try doing the exact opposite of that,¡± Skal said with what he thought was a cheeky grin.
Aiden hesitated, glancing at the shimmering Guildhall Raid Key still displayed in his inventory window. In a desperate hope to move on to a different topic he said, ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± his tone betraying some uncertainty.
Winterhell gave him a look that screamed disbelief. ¡°You don¡¯t even have the slightest beginnings of a plan, do you?¡±
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°Well no, I obviously don¡¯t,¡± Aiden said.
Winterhell raised a hand and was about to open her mouth to speak, when Aiden interrupted her, ¡°don''t even think about suggesting recruiting players by using the world chat.¡±
¡°What''s wrong with the world chat?¡± Skal asked, ¡°I agree that it''s not always entirely reliable, but it''s not that bad.¡±
Aiden was about to respond that the world chat was filled with nothing but trolls and mouth-breathers, when he had a sudden realisation. He looked at Skal. ¡°Earlier, didn¡¯t you say that we had more important things to worry about?¡± he asked.
Skal paused, thinking for a moment, then slapped his forehead with the force that could have knocked Aiden out cold. ¡°Right, I did say that didn¡¯t I?¡± he exclaimed.
¡°Yes, yes you did,¡± Aiden said, ¡°would you care to let us know why you said that?¡±
¡°Well it¡¯s just this thing that I noticed that seemed odd and suspicious to me,¡± Skal said. ¡°How long do we have for the big Defend the Portal quest?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t it say we had 12 hours?¡± Winterhell answered her voice filled with uncertainty, ¡°but what does that have to do with anything?¡±
¡°It did,¡± Skal said, ¡°why don¡¯t you see how long we have left.¡±
Aiden opened his quest log to review the quest details as Skal had suggested.
Quest - Defend the Portal
A mystical portal has appeared in the Evergreen Glade and forces are gathering to destroy it.
Objective: Defend the portal
Duration: 12 Hours - Time remaining: 02 Hours 46 Minutes 01 Seconds
Reward: Individual rewards will vary based on personal performance
Aiden stared at the quest log, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait... what?"
¡°What is it?¡± Winterhell asked, leaning closer, trying to look at Aiden¡¯s quest log that was invisible to her.
Aiden turned to them, his voice tinged with confusion and alarm. ¡°The quest timer. It says we have two hours and forty-six minutes left.¡±
Winterhell blinked, then frowned. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t make sense. It was at twelve hours earlier. We haven¡¯t even been here that long.¡±
Skal crossed his arms, his tail flicking thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s been dropping faster than normal.¡±
¡°Dropping faster?¡± Aiden repeated, his brow furrowed. ¡°But how? I thought these quest timers were fixed.¡±
¡°Also, don¡¯t you think that this is something you should have mentioned earlier? As in much earlier?¡± Winterhell added.
Skal put his hands up defensively, ¡°Hey don¡¯t blame me, I was rather distracted saving your skin. And then I had to sort out goat-man¡¯s tantrum.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not loving the nickname,¡± Aiden said¡.
¡°Now is not the time to complain goat-man,¡± Skal said, his tone growing more serious. ¡°But you¡¯re right about the quest timers normally being fixed. There must be... something else is affecting it, like, I don¡¯t know, the High Council having a laugh?¡±
¡°But that¡¯s not fair,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°we never would have drifted so far from the Evergreen Glade had we known that¡.¡±
Skal interrupted with a sharp gesture, his expression grim. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time trying to make sense of it. You read the warning at the start of the event. This isn¡¯t supposed to be fair.¡±
Winterhell pressed her lips into a tight line, clearly frustrated. ¡°It¡¯s not just unfair. It¡¯s... wrong. How are we supposed to plan anything when the rules keep changing?¡±
¡°Simple,¡± Skal said, ¡°we stop worrying about what¡¯s fair. The clock¡¯s ticking, so we focus on what we can control. We¡¯ve got a portal to defend, and we¡¯re not going to achieve anything by standing around here.¡±
Aiden hesitated, glancing at the shimmering Guildhall Raid Key still in his inventory. ¡°But what about¡¡±
¡°Forget the key for now,¡± Skal cut in. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with it later. Right now, we move. Or do you want to stand here until that timer hits zero?¡±
Winterhell let out a sharp exhale, brushing a strand of hair from her face. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go. But if this whole thing ends up being one giant waste of time because of whatever nonsense our High Council overlords are pulling...¡±
Aiden gave her a faint smile, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll have to worry about wasting time. The stakes seem a bit too high for that, so we better get moving¡.quickly.¡±
Without another word, the three of them set off, the weight of the dwindling timer pressing heavily on their minds.
***
They left the ruined villa and its courtyard in Bleeker Street behind, running past the Plaza and its statues, backtracking their way towards 2nd Street, hoping to avoid any unpleasant surprises on their way back towards the Evergreen Glade.
The crumbling streets of Lockhaven echoed with the sound of hurried footsteps. Aiden, Skal, and Winterhell moved at a brisk pace, dodging debris along Bleeker Street with a purpose. The city had lost some of its initial eeriness, as there were now a fair number of players to be seen moving about on Bleeker Street and many of its smaller alleys branching off from either side. Many of the numerous players looked more relaxed than Aiden thought they had any right to be.
He glanced to his right, where a small group of players was inspecting the remnants of an ancient statue depicting a one-armed barbarian. The figure held a savage-looking blade, resting it lazily on his shoulder. Waving wildly, he called out, ¡°Hey! Pick up the pace! The quest timer¡¯s all buggered!¡±
One of the players, a tall Elf with glowing daggers at her hips, raised an eyebrow. ¡°What are you talking about? It said twelve hours earlier. We¡¯ve got plenty of time.¡±
¡°About that,¡± Aiden said, not slowing down to address the Elf. ¡°It¡¯s down to less than two and a half hours.¡±
The Elf and her companions exchanged skeptical glances. ¡°Not my problem. If it¡¯s dropping, it¡¯s dropping for everyone. We¡¯ll catch up when we¡¯re ready.¡± She turned back to her group, resuming their leisurely exploration.
Aiden clenched his fists as they rounded the corner onto 2nd Street. ¡°Why aren¡¯t more people running towards the Glade? Don¡¯t they get it?¡±
¡°They will,¡± Winterhell said grimly. ¡°When it¡¯s too late.¡±
¡°Not our problem,¡± Skal said curtly, his sharp gaze scanning the shadows of the ruins as they jogged past. ¡°If they want to ignore the obvious, let them. We¡¯ve got bigger issues.¡±
Aiden followed Skal¡¯s gaze to the shadowed alleyways flanking 2nd Street. A faint shimmer of something all too familiar caught his eye. Nyxborn Lurkers¡ in the dozens. Their nightmarish forms blending with the gloom, lingered in the edges of the ruins. Their hollow faces betraying their predatory intent, fixed squarely on the trio.
¡°Lurkers,¡± Aiden whispered, hoping that they weren¡¯t about to be runned down. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse, being attacked by them, or them just standing there.¡±
¡°Definitely being attacked,¡± Skal said, not missing a beat.
¡°They really don¡¯t seem to be after us, for now at least,¡± Winterhell said, her tone hushed but firm. ¡°The quest said dark forces are gathering to destroy the portal. I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re the dark forces in question. And if that¡¯s true, they¡¯re probably heading for the portal too.¡±.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s comforting,¡± Aiden said, his sarcasm barely masking his unease. ¡°So we¡¯re racing a pack of nightmare spiders to the same destination. Great.¡±
¡°Keep moving,¡± Skal said, his voice clipped. ¡°Engaging them now would be a waste of time and resources. We need to focus on the portal.¡±
After pushing their stamina bars as far as they could, the group slowed to a halt in a wide intersection near the end of 2nd Street, their breath coming in labored gasps. Aiden leaned heavily against a crumbled pillar, his stamina bar flashing angrily in his field of vision. Skal crouched nearby, his broad shoulders heaving as he wiped sweat from his brow, while Winterhell sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed as she tried to calmly catch her breath again.
While the trio was recovering, they could see more of the unsettling Lurkers. They had continued their unnerving march towards the Evergreen Glade, while being joined by more of their kin who were emerging from within ruined buildings and from alleyways. The growing sound of their sharp legs scraping against the cobblestone street sent shivers down Aiden¡¯s spine.
He opened his quest log again, the ominous countdown glaring at him: 31 Minutes, 09 Seconds. Too fast. Way too fast.
¡°Think we¡¯ve bought ourselves enough of a breather?¡± Skal asked, breaking the silence. His golden eyes scanned the road ahead.
Aiden shook his head. ¡°Not yet. Stamina¡¯s too low. If we don¡¯t recover, we¡¯ll be crawling into the Glade.¡±
Winterhell sighed, pulling her knees to her chest. ¡°We¡¯re not the only ones moving.¡± She nodded toward the far end of the street.
A ragtag group of players appeared from a narrow side-street. Some walked with purpose, while others limped. One of them, a dwarven player clad in mismatched armor, clutched his side as another player, a broad chested Half-Orc, supported him. Behind them, more players trickled into view, their faces set with grim determination.
¡°They¡¯re heading for the Glade,¡± Winterhell said softly, her expression a mixture of hope and exhaustion. ¡°Guess we¡¯re not the only ones paying attention to the timer.¡±
Aiden felt a flicker of something he hadn¡¯t dared let himself feel since they had left the ruined villa: optimism. ¡°At least some of them get it,¡± he muttered, watching as the group passed without a word, their focus entirely on the road ahead.
Skal straightened, brushing off his cloak. ¡°See? Not everyone¡¯s a lost cause. People pull through when it matters.¡± He flashed a toothy grin at Aiden, who managed a small smile in return.
The group stood and began moving again as their stamina bars crept back into the green. As they reached the final stretch of 2nd Street, and the grand stone archway leading to the Evergreen Glade came into view, the trio came to an abrupt stop. Beneath its shadowed expanse loomed five creatures.
At first glance, they resembled the Nyxborn Lurkers they had fought earlier. Jagged, spider-like limbs, hollow void-like faces, and dark chitinous exoskeletons. But these creatures had an unnerving addition: long, multi-jointed tail-like appendages, each lined with jagged blades that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
Winterhell shivered, taking an instinctive step back. ¡°Those things... they¡¯re worse. A lot worse.¡±
Aiden¡¯s mouth went dry as he watched the creatures. They stood motionless, their tail-blades swaying gently in the breeze, the faint sound of metal scraping against stone sending chills down his spine.
¡°Are they... guarding the archway?¡± Skal asked.
¡°They don¡¯t seem to be moving,¡± Winterhell said, her voice low and cautious. ¡°Maybe... maybe they¡¯re like the Lurkers we saw earlier. They¡¯re not after us, not yet, anyway.¡±
Winterhell stepped forward and turned to look at her companions, her expression tense but resolute. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to waste. If they¡¯re tied to the quest timer, they won¡¯t attack unless provoked, or until the timer hits zero, or something¡. I don¡¯t know. We could move around them.¡±
Skal¡¯s golden eyes narrowed, studying the creatures. ¡°And if you¡¯re wrong?¡±
¡°Then we¡¯re probably dead,¡± Winterhell replied, her voice shaking slightly. ¡°But we¡¯ll be dead if we fight them now anyway. Plus where did the players who were ahead of us go? I don¡¯t see any signs of battle, or fallen bodies for that matter. Unless you want to climb those walls, or hope to find a spot that isn¡¯t guarded, I don¡¯t know what other options we have.¡±
Aiden exhaled, nodding. ¡°Fair point. Let¡¯s move carefully.¡±
The trio edged along the side of the road, keeping as much distance as possible between themselves and the nightmarish guardians. Every step felt agonizingly slow, their gazes fixed on the creatures, waiting for the slightest sign of aggression.
The guardians remained still, their hollow faces turned toward the portal as if focused on something unseen. But their presence alone was enough to make Aiden¡¯s skin crawl, a primal sense of dread gnawing at the edges of his mind.
As they passed through the archway and into the Evergreen Glade, Aiden felt the tension in his chest ease, if only slightly. The open expanse of the Glade stretched before them, bathed in the eerie glow of the portal at its center. The timer in his field of vision read: 11 Minutes, 38 Seconds.
¡°We made it,¡± Winterhell said, her voice barely above a whisper.
¡°For now,¡± Skal added, his tone grim. ¡°But I¡¯ve got a feeling that things are just getting started.¡±
Chapter 9: Stupidity With Better Branding
As Aiden, Winterhell, and Skal passed through the archway, leaving the unnerving, looming guardians behind, they were met with the breathtaking sight of a sprawling sea of players, stretching far across the vast open field that was the Evergreen Glade.
¡°That''s a lot of gamers,¡± Winterhell said.
¡°That¡¯s a lot of competition,¡± Skal added, awestruck as his gaze swept over the crowd.
Aiden squinted, trying to take it all in. The sheer scale was overwhelming, a living, shifting mass of players moving like waves over the field. He let out a slow whistle while letting his hand comb through his dark brown hair. ¡°How many do you think there are?¡± he asked. ¡°They must be in the tens of thousands at least, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen gamer masses in the tens of thousands before,¡± Skal said, his golden eyes scanning the expanse.. ¡°Like during the annual reenactment of the Battle of Agincourt on one of the historical LARP realms,¡± he continued, ¡°and this is more¡ much much more. I¡¯d wager that the real number is somewhere in the hundreds of thousands.¡±
¡°Hundreds of thousands,¡± Aiden repeated in a hushed voice. ¡°They weren¡¯t kidding about this being the greatest gaming experience of all times. Whatever the record for the largest event used to be, I¡¯m pretty sure this just blew it out of the water.¡±
The sheer mass of players in the Evergreen Glade was staggering. As the trio attempted to make their way toward the portal at its center, they soon found themselves at the edge of an enormous crowd, all gathered around the towering structure.
The only thing more impressive than the sheer size of the crowd of players was the deafening noise it generated. As far as Aiden could see, there were groups, both large and small, scattered across the expanse, their voices buzzing with excitement. The air was thick with nervous anticipation, an almost palpable energy coursing through the Glade as everyone waited for what was to come.
The trio stood on the edge of the sea of players, their eyes darting across the incredible variety of people that surrounded them. There was no rhyme or reason to the mix; players of all kinds were interspersed, the vibrant and the mundane standing shoulder to shoulder. Many still bore the plain, grayish skin and faintly glowing eyes of the Spawn race they had all started with.
The overall equipment was sparse, tattered cloaks, rusted swords, and dented shields. A dwarf with an ancient-looking helm strolled past a lizard-like Drakkin, whose only piece of gear was a jagged spear strapped to her back. Nearby, a towering Trollkin in mismatched boots adjusted the single shoulder guard he seemed to have scrounged from somewhere.
Aiden, who felt utterly ill-equipped, nudged Skal and asked, ¡°Any chance I could borrow your wooden club?¡±
¡°What are the odds of me getting it back?¡± Skal said, ¡°you seem to have a particular set of skills when it comes down to destroying what little gear you have.¡±
¡°Come on Skal,¡± Aiden said pleadingly, ¡°don¡¯t ask questions you don¡¯t want the answer to.¡± He tried his best to give Skal a look of pleading innocence, which only yielded mixed success.
¡°Look at it this way,¡± Winterhell intervened, ¡°if you give Aiden your club, he¡¯ll be a nice squishy shield that stands between us and the bad stuff that¡¯s about to come out of Lockhaven.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Skal said his voice filled with delight, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you were volunteering to tank for the party.¡± He withdrew the club from his storage and tossed it over to Aiden with a bright smile.
¡°Wait, what?¡± Aiden said, ¡°that¡¯s not at all what I was doing. If anything you should be our frontliner with your fancy sword and uhh¡. righteous fury?¡±
Aiden¡¯s attention was abruptly pulled towards a small figure waddling out of the main crowd, and coming to a halt right next to where they stood. It was of the most unlikely race, one that Aiden had never even heard of before. A humanoid with bright white feathers covering her body, an orange bill protruding from her face, and webbed feet slapping softly against the grass. She wore a patched leather vest and carried a short sword that had glowing purple runes carved into its blade at her waist.
Aiden gestured towards the figure as he whispered to Skal and Winterhell, ¡°Uh, is that a duck person?¡±
Winterhell¡¯s eyes went wide ¡°That¡¯s adorable! I mean, look at her! A Quackborn? No that''s not right... A Duckari? No, that''s worse somehow. I''m not entirely sure what race that is, but it''s absolutely amazing!¡±
Aiden hesitated, furrowing his brow. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Doesn¡¯t it seem... I mean... compared to some of the other races walking about here, like Centaurs, Beastkin or Dark-Elves¡ she¡¯s just a duck."
As if sensing his hesitation, the ¡®duck¡¯ player turned, her bright, curious eyes locking onto the pair. She quacked, actually quacked, before striding confidently toward them. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, her voice carrying a chipper tone, ¡°did I just hear someone say that I¡¯m just a duck?¡±
Aiden¡¯s face flushed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡.uh, I was just saying¡.¡±
Winterhell cut in, her tone bright and welcoming. ¡°No, he¡¯s being ridiculous. You look incredible. If you don''t mind me asking, what¡¯s your class? A fighter? Maybe a rogue? That sword there looks fantastic! I¡¯m Winterhell by the way, and this here is Aiden and that¡¯s Skal.¡±
¡°It¡¯s Billfolk,¡± she said, puffing out her chest, her feathers ruffling slightly in what Aiden could only assume was pride. ¡°My name is Kaelwyn, and I¡¯m a Billfolk Shadowblade, actually. And before you say anything, I¡¯m absolutely thrilled.¡±
As she spoke, her name and level appeared above her head.
Kaelwyn - Level 5
Aiden blinked, surprised. ¡°Really? I mean, I figured something like a uh¡ Billfolk was it? Might sound a little¡underwhelming?¡±
¡°Underwhelming?¡± she echoed, cocking her head. ¡°Have you ever played as a Billfolk? Well to be fair, I¡¯ve never heard of them either until I used the Genesis Orb that I found in the ruins over there, but the idea of cutting through water faster than anything else in the game sounds like a unique trait to help me make my mark. I have this really cool racial ability, called: Slipstream Ambush, and it¡well I guess you¡¯ll just have to wait and see it for yourself.¡±
As Kaelwyn spoke, her energy was infectious. Aiden found himself smiling despite his earlier doubts. She wasn¡¯t just proud of her race and class combination, she was excited about the possibilities it brought, far more excited than he¡¯d initially been about becoming a Bard.
¡°Guess it¡¯s all about perspective, huh?¡± Aiden muttered, almost to himself.
Kaelwyn cocked her head again, her bright eyes twinkling. ¡°Perspective? Nah. It¡¯s all about style. And I¡¯ve got plenty to go around. Also nobody is ever going to recover emotionally from losing to, how did you put it? A duck!¡± She gave a wink, and a small bow before turning back towards the portal, her webbed feet slapping cheerfully against the grass as she walked away.
¡°That kind of optimism might just be her strongest weapon,¡± Skal mused, his gaze lingering on Kaelwyn¡¯s retreating form. ¡°More useful than that sword, and that''s saying something.¡±
¡°I think I just got schooled by a duck,¡± Aiden said, staring at Kaelwyn as she blended into the crowd.
Winterhell nudged him playfully. ¡°Billfolk. And yeah, you totally did.¡±
***
Aiden and his companions had just finished recovering from their near-duck experience, when the deafening, deep bellow of a horn echoed through the Evergreen Glade, its mournful sound cutting through the air like a blade. The ground beneath Aiden¡¯s feet trembled, the reverberations rattling his bones. The excited chatter of the crowd instantly ceased, and was replaced by an eerie, suffocating silence.
Aiden''s heart leapt into his throat as a system prompt appeared in his field of vision:
Quest updated - Defend the Portal
A mystical portal has appeared in the Evergreen Glade and forces have gathered and are coming to destroy it.
Objective: Defend the portal
Duration: 12 Hours - Time remaining 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds
Reward: Individual rewards will vary based on personal performance
The portal pulsed, an ominous crimson light spilling out and painting the Glade in hues of flickering blood-red shadows.The horn blasted again, deeper and more resonant, as though the world itself were groaning under its weight.
And then they came.
At first, there were only sounds. An eerie cacophony like a million knives scraping against distant cobblestones.
Then, from every direction, like a tide of nightmares, the Nyxborn Lurkers surged out of the city and into the Glade. They poured from the archways, slithered through gaps in the walls that surrounded the Evergreen Glade, and leapt down from the crumbled heights. Their jagged, spider-like limbs tossed up clumps of grassy dirt, as they began to cross the field separating them from the mass of players. Hollow faces glowed faintly with an otherworldly energy, their twisted forms writhing with malicious intent.
The menacing blade-tailed guardians followed in lockstep. They moved with terrifying precision, their multi-jointed tails slicing through the air with a sharp, metallic whistle. The mere sight of them was enough to send waves of panic rippling through the mass of players.
The nervous excitement that had filled the Glade moments ago shattered. Chaos erupted as players scattered like leaves in a storm.
Some standing closest to the oncoming mass of Lurkers tried to push their way past other players in a frantic attempt to escape what they felt was their approaching doom, while others froze, their weapons clutched tightly but unmoving in fear. There were cries of alarm and confusion mixed with desperate commands as more organized groups tried to rally, forming shaky battle lines. Among the chaos, a few brave, or reckless, players charged headlong towards the swarm, screaming challenges and hurling insults at the advancing enemy. Their voices, bold and defiant, were quickly swallowed by the monstrous roar of the Nyxborn horde.
¡°They¡¯re flooding in!¡± Winterhell shouted, her voice cutting through the rising panic. She gripped Aiden¡¯s arm, her usual playful tone replaced with urgency. ¡°We need a plan! Now!¡±
¡°What are you looking at me for?¡± Aiden answered, ¡°I obviously don¡¯t have an answer to that,¡± he said, pointing a shaking hand towards the oncoming horde.
Aiden¡¯s thoughts raced as he scanned the chaos. His gaze darted from side to side. Amidst the chaos, he saw the faces of players who hadn¡¯t fled to the back ranks. Their expressions were grim but determined, holding what little weapons they had at the ready, standing their ground against the encroaching nightmare. Despite the palpable fear in the air, there was courage here too, a stubborn refusal to go down without a fight.
From somewhere along the line of players, a voice cut through the chaos, sharp and defiant: ¡°Give them nothing, but take from them, everything!¡±
The cry rippled outward, catching like fire. Others took up the shout, voices raised in raw defiance. The words echoed through the Glade, mingling with the clatter of advancing enemies and the panicked murmurs of those retreating. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to kindle a spark of hope, or at least fury, in the hearts of the players who remained.
¡°I guess this is where we fight. It¡¯s not a great plan¡ it¡¯s barely a plan at all, but probably better than whatever Aiden was going to suggest,¡± Skal said, nudging Aiden with a grin.
¡°One of these days Skal,¡± Aiden started, but broke off mid-sentence, his gaze fixed towards the archway they had used to enter the Glade. ¡°Look!¡± he shouted, gesturing to his companions to see.
The elf player they had encountered earlier, the one who had dismissed their warning about the countdown, was running toward the mass of players at full speed. Her glowing daggers were clutched tightly in her hands, but her confident composure was gone, replaced by sheer terror. Behind her, her companions, what was left of them, were being torn apart by the relentless Nyxborn Lurkers.
¡°She¡¯s done for,¡± Skal said grimly, his tone cold.
¡°I don¡¯t think she can make it,¡± Winterhell added, her tone a mix of pity and frustration. ¡°If only she¡¯d listened to us earlier.¡±
Aiden¡¯s gaze was fixed on the elf, her desperate eyes darting between the Lurkers on her heels and the safety of the players ahead. The screams of her companions echoed in his ears, a chilling reminder of how close they all were to the same fate.
Aiden was about to speak when he was interrupted by a system notification that appeared in his field of vision.
Bonus Quest available - Save the Elf
You have spotted a fellow player in need. While others stand idly by, you must choose whether to act or to leave them to their presumably well-deserved fate.
Objective: Safe the Elf
Duration: Probably only moments, I¡¯d hurry if I were you
Reward: ???
¡°Guys,¡± Aiden started, ¡°you¡¯re not going to like this, and I don¡¯t have time to explain myself.¡±
¡°Aiden don¡¯t do it,¡± Skal said, his voice filled with warning. ¡°You can¡¯t save her and you know it.¡±
Aiden¡¯s face was determined as he turned to Skal and Winterhell. ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± he said, his voice steady. Just as his friends¡¯ faces relaxed with relief, a defiant grin appeared on his face,and he added, ¡°the thing is, it''s very likely that I''m going to die trying, so you¡¯d better come and save me.¡±
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Before they could stop him, Aiden dashed forward, his borrowed wooden club clutched tightly in his hand. Winterhell¡¯s shout of protest was lost in the cacophony of the soon to be battlefield as he charged headlong toward the advancing Lurkers. The glow of their hollow faces grew brighter as they closed in on the fleeing Elf, their jagged limbs slicing through the air.
Aiden¡¯s mind raced as he activated his Sonic Blink, the world around him blurring for a split second before snapping into focus again. He reappeared between the Elf and the nearest Lurker. Without hesitation, he swung the wooden club with all his might, striking the creature squarely in its grotesque head. The impact sent a shower of splinters flying, but the force staggered the Lurker, its limbs flailing as it stumbled to the side.
With a pleasant surprise, Aiden saw the creature¡¯s name and level appear above its head.
Nyxborn Lurker - Level 2
The fact that its level was significantly lower than that of the ones he''d faced in Bleeker Street gave him a sliver of hope that he just might make it out of this mess alive.
¡°Keep running!¡± Aiden shouted, his voice strained as he swung the splintered remains of the wooden club at the nearest Lurker. The jagged limb of another creature lashed toward him, and he barely managed to duck, stumbling backward. His heart thundered in his chest as he activated Sonic Blink, reappearing just far enough away to avoid being impaled by another razor-sharp appendage. ¡°I¡¯ll cover you,¡± he added, hoping that his efforts would be enough to save her.
The Elf was still running, but her steps faltered, her eyes wide with terror. Aiden didn¡¯t have time to congratulate himself on another fantastically stupid plan, every action was driven by instinct, and the need to survive to buy her enough time to reach the safety of the other players. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a bladed tail that sliced through the air with a shrill whistle. Another Blink carried him further back, but the swarm pressed closer with every passing second.
He darted through the chaos, his heart pounding like a war drum. He ducked under a serrated limb, then twisted on his heel to dodge another¡¯s bladed tail, its metallic whistle slicing through the air just inches from his head. Activating his Blink, he disappeared in a flash and reappeared several feet away, landing a solid blow to a Lurker¡¯s stomach with what remained of his club. The one he had just struck was also at level 2, letting Aiden assume that the same would be true for most of them.
For a moment, he felt almost confident, his movements were quick, precise, and his early strikes landed true. But then he saw the vast tide of Lurkers converging on his position, their jagged limbs clicking and scraping like a symphony of knives. He had to keep blinking away from the Lurkers in fear of being entirely overrun. For every one he dodged, two more closed in, faster than he could escape. There were simply so many of them, that their lower level compared to the ones he''d fought previously simply didn''t matter.
The air seemed to grow heavier as the swarm pressed closer causing his half-baked tactical retreat to quickly fall apart. He knew that at this rate, it would only be a matter of time before he ran out of mana rendering him unable to blink to safety. Then the cold realization gripped him, that his bold heroic action may have been a mistake.
Just then he heard a roar split the air as Skal charged toward the fray, his summoned sword blazing with righteous fury. ¡°You bone-headed suicidal goat!¡± he bellowed. ¡°If you die out here, I¡¯m telling everyone, and I mean everyone, that you were hit by a cart filled with cabbages that fell from the sky!¡±
Winterhell was right behind him, her spells crackling with elemental energy as she flung bolts of fire and ice into the advancing swarm. ¡°What part of ¡®don¡¯t do it¡¯ sounded optional to you, Aiden?¡± she shouted, her tone exasperated yet fierce.
Their reckless charge ignited something in the nearby players. A ripple of movement surged through the crowd as others took up arms and joined in the reckless charge towards the oncoming Lurkers. Shouts of determination and defiance rose above the noise as spells, and arrows started to fly toward the oncoming horde.
Aiden gritted his teeth, feeling encouraged in the knowledge that help was on its way, as another Lurker lunged at him. He barely managed to duck beneath its serrated limb, swinging his club upward to deflect its second strike that shattered upon the impact. He was buying time, every precious second feeling like an eternity as he maneuvered to shield the retreating Elf.
¡°Don''t stop! We''re almost there!¡± he barked, his voice hoarse from the effort.
The Elf stumbled but kept going, her figure disappearing into the charging mass of players. Relief flooded through Aiden, but it was short-lived as another wave of Lurkers surged toward him. His legs felt like lead, his stamina draining fast, but he forced himself to stand his ground.
Before he was able to blink to safety, he was attacked by yet another Lurker. Aiden swung what little remained of the wooden club, the splintered end barely grazing the nightmare spider as its jagged limbs scraped against his arm, drawing blood. He stumbled back, the world spinning, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Nyxborn Lurker has afflicted you with Ebonshade Venom.
Ebonshade Venom has taken effect.
Aiden saw the now all-to familiar sickly green icon appear in the bottom left corner of his field of vision. His mana bar blinked in warning, dangerously low, and his movements slowed as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. He didn''t have enough mana to get to safety, and he had to think of something quickly.
He tossed the remains of the ruined club towards the Lurkers, then stretched out his right hand. A soft hum filled the air, resonating faintly as a shimmer of light gathered before him. The glow coalesced into a solid form, the light fading to reveal his summoned lute in his hand. A small icon depicting a blue book on a white background appeared next to the sickly green skull, indicating that his mana bar would slowly but gradually recover.
He didn¡¯t have time to formulate a plan to get himself out of his current mess, as the relentless Lurkers were upon him again. One lashed out, its blade-like appendage aiming for his side. Without thought, he parried the blow with his lute, that against his own expectations withstood the attack. Another strike came before he could react that grazed his shoulder, sending him to his knees.
Nyxborn Lurker has afflicted you with Ebonshade Venom.
Ebonshade Venom has taken effect.
He tried to blink, but he couldn¡¯t focus his mind, his body feeling heavier than stone. The swarm pressed closer, their hollow faces glowing with cruel intent. For a moment, time seemed to slow. Aiden¡¯s vision blurred, and he felt the crushing weight of inevitability settle over him, as his health bar started to flash angrily at him.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the advancing Lurkers shimmered. A shallow pool of water rippled into existence, spreading under their legs, summoned by an unseen force. Before Aiden could comprehend what was happening, a figure emerged from the water with the grace of a dancer and the fury of a tempest.
It was Kaelwyn.
The Billfolk erupted from the pool, her glowing sword cutting through the air in precise, fluid strikes. ¡°Slipstream Ambush!¡± she declared, her voice filled with determined cheer. Her blade sliced through the nearest Lurker, sending it collapsing onto the shallow surface of the shimmering water.
¡°Really?¡± Aiden gasped, his voice cracking between pain and disbelief.
Kaelwyn didn¡¯t miss a beat, her movements a blur as she struck another Lurker, forcing it back. ¡°What can I say? The duck has come to the rescue!¡± she quipped, casting a quick glance back at him. ¡°Now get moving! Here comes the cavalry,¡± he said nodding towards the charging players.
Aiden, who didn¡¯t need to be told twice, summoned every ounce of focus he had left, and activated his Sonic Blink, disappearing just as there was a violent, ground-shaking crash, announcing that both sides had met for mortal kombat.
Aiden blinked into existence behind the main line of players who had rushed into battle. He stumbled, his legs nearly giving out beneath him, and caught himself against a jagged rock embedded in the dirt. His breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps. The Elf he had saved was just ahead, bent over with her hands on her knees, catching her own breath.
¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± she said between gasps, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and gratitude. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re stupid, brave, or both.¡±
¡°Bravery is just stupidity with better branding,¡± Aiden replied, flashing her a weak grin. He straightened, wincing as the venom icon pulsed in his vision. ¡°You good? You¡¯re not going to keel over on me, are you?¡±
The Elf shook her head, standing upright. Her gaze flickered to the chaotic battle raging ahead. More players, emboldened by the sight of their companions charging in, were joining the fray. The once-panicked crowd was now a tide of defiance, surging toward the Lurkers. Spells lit the field in flashes of color, and the clash of weapons rang out like a symphony of rebellion.
Just then, Aiden received a system notification, popping into his field of vision:
Bonus Quest complete!
You have completed the Bonus Quest: Save the Elf
Reward: Talisman of Echoes, Recovery Potion (2)
Aiden swiftly withdrew the two potions from his inventory, handing one to the Elf who accepted it with wide eyes.
¡°Where did you get these?¡± she said, her voice shaking as she popped the stopper off the precious vial.
¡°I got a spontaneous bonus quest to save our skin,¡± he answered, as if that explained everything. He then inspected the talisman he just received.
Item: Talisman of Echoes
Rank: Rare
Effect: Dimensional Echo
Whenever you activate a dimensional spell or ability, the Talisman of Echoes gains one charge. You may then remove all charges stored in the Talisman of Echoes to deal a small amount of resonating damage to all nearby enemies for each charge removed this way.
"Every step between worlds whispers back to its source, and those whispers can become a storm."
His eyes went wide with excitement as read the item description. Considering his current lack of offensive capabilities, this was a welcomed boon, making his reckless efforts to save the Elf more than worth it.
¡°A what?¡± she asked, bewildered, interrupting his thoughts.
¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter,¡± Aiden said, then raised his vial, he hesitated for the briefest of moments before tipping it back.
The liquid hit his tongue with an icy shock, almost painfully cold, and carried a bitter, medicinal tang that seeped into every corner of his mouth. As he swallowed, the cold gave way to an intense, fiery warmth that surged through his body. It burned, not painfully, but uncomfortably, as though his insides were being forcibly reset. The aftertaste was something indescribably acrid, a blend of scorched herbs and stale ozone. His body jolted as energy flooded through him, muscles tingling with a strange, jittery vitality that felt just on the edge of control. For a moment, he wondered if recovery was just a fancy word for temporary electrocution.
While seeing his stamina, health and mana bar being fully replenished, he gave a deep sigh of relief, as the battle against the Lurkers raged in the distance.
¡°I¡¯m AeriKnight,¡± the Elf said, her voice carrying a touch of hesitation. ¡°Level 3 Rogue. I¡ I owe you my life, you know.¡±
Aiden shrugged, as her name and level appeared above her head, thinking of how close he¡¯d come to yet another fatal disaster.
¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± he said, his tone casual. ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t. My party will probably never let me hear the end of it.¡±
AeriKnight managed a small laugh, but her expression quickly turned serious. ¡°Look, I¡ really screwed up. My party and I,¡± Her voice faltered for a moment as she glanced toward the battlefield. ¡°We made a bad call. We thought that gathering as much loot would give us an early advantage.¡±
Aiden¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing, letting her continue.
¡°We weren¡¯t ready when those things flooded the ruins,¡± she stammered, guilt weighing heavily on her words. ¡°And because of me, they¡¡± She trailed off, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know it doesn¡¯t change anything, but I am. We¡ I should have listened to your warning.¡±
Aiden sighed, folding his arms across his chest. ¡°You¡¯re right, it doesn¡¯t change anything. Your team¡¯s gone because of a stupid, reckless gamble. And it wasn¡¯t just you. They chose to follow you. But yeah, you¡¯re the one left standing, so the guilt? It really sucks, but that¡¯s on you.¡±
AeriKnight flinched but nodded, meeting his gaze with a mix of shame and determination. ¡°Then let me make it right. Let me join your party.¡±
Aiden raised an eyebrow, his face a mask of incredulity. ¡°Seriously? You think after what just happened, I¡¯d want you watching my back? You made a bad call based on greed, not on the safety of your team. And look where that got them.¡±
Her eyes flashed with defiance. ¡°And you didn¡¯t take a risk? You threw yourself into the middle of that horde just now! How is that any different?¡±
Aiden took a step closer, his voice steady but firm. ¡°The difference, Aeri, is that I wasn¡¯t chasing loot. I wasn¡¯t thinking about myself. I took a risk to save someone, not to get ahead.¡± His expression softened, but his tone didn¡¯t lose its edge. ¡°Look, would have I done it, had it not been for the quest prompting me to do it? I honestly don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t resent you for what you did. I get it, competitive events like this one push you to make decisions like that. But I can¡¯t have someone like you in my party. I need people who¡¯ve got each other¡¯s backs, no matter what. And right now, I¡¯m not sure you¡¯re that type of person.¡±
AeriKnight looked away, her jaw tightening as she absorbed his words. For a moment, the two stood in silence, the distant sounds of battle filling the air between them.
¡°I guess I deserved that,¡± she muttered, her voice low.
Aiden summoned his lute, which appeared in his hand with a shimmer of golden light and glanced toward the battlefield. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to be insensitive. But I¡¯ve got people out there who need me, who are currently fighting against nightmare monster spiders and that¡¯s where I¡¯m going.¡± He turned back to her, his gaze steady. ¡°You can join the fight if you want. Or stay here. It¡¯s up to you. Honestly, I don¡¯t care either way.¡±
Without waiting for her response, Aiden strode toward the battle, his steps unsteady but resolute. As he made his way towards the tide of players he was looking for Skal and Winterhell, hoping that his actions and their charge to help save him hadn¡¯t brought harm to them. AeriKnight stayed where she was, watching him go. Her fingers tightened around her twin daggers, her mind torn between guilt and resolve.
Behind Aiden, the sounds of clashing steel and roaring spells grew louder. He didn¡¯t look back. He didn¡¯t have to. He knew exactly where he belonged, it was by the side of his friends.
This wasn¡¯t about glory or loot. This was about fighting for the people who mattered, who¡¯d charge into chaos for you.
Chapter 10: Aiden Unleashed
Aiden blinked across the battlefield in rapid, disjointed steps, the world around him blurring into streaks of motion and chaos with each jump. As he did, he was greeted by a system notification for each activation of his Sonic Blink:
Talisman of Echoes has gained a charge.
Current Charges: 1
The clang of steel and roar of spells exploded into his ears every time he reappeared, only to be swallowed by silence as he blinked again. The Talisman of Echoes throbbed against his chest, each dimensional step feeding it with energy, its core pulsing brighter and brighter with every charge. Aiden barely noticed the system notifications informing him of charges gradually accumulating on his talisman, his focus locked onto a singular, desperate thought that echoed in his mind with every blink: Where are Skal and Winterhell?
Aiden blinked between clusters of players locked in brutal skirmishes with the Nyxborn Lurkers. Each time he appeared, he stayed just long enough to scan the area before vanishing again.
He reappeared beside a trio of players, swinging axes and swords in wide arcs as they held a defensive line against the nightmare creatures. ¡°Skal? Winterhell?¡± Aiden called out, voice straining over the din.
One of the players, a Beastkin who Aiden had briefly mistaken for his Leonid friend, shook his head without breaking stride. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of them! Either fight or move on!¡±
¡°Working on it,¡± Aiden muttered, blinking away just as a jagged Lurker limb slashed the space he¡¯d occupied a heartbeat before.
He landed amidst another group of players, this time, a Kobold spellcaster tossing lightning bolts under the protection of her team, who were holding off a Lurker twice the size of the other ones. They barely noticed Aiden¡¯s arrival and departure, their focus entirely on the beast.
The talisman pulsed warmly, its glow now a steady, vibrant blue. Aiden glanced at it as he moved. How many charges now? Ten? Twelve? He¡¯d lost count. It didn¡¯t matter. He wasn¡¯t ready to use it yet, and wouldn¡¯t do him any good until he¡¯d found his companions.
The battlefield was chaos incarnate, but as Aiden blinked around, he could not help but notice the ties of the battle shifting in favour of the players. There were more and more makeshift squads forming, spells flying in semi-coordinated volleys, and players were shouting orders that others actually followed. The Lurkers were being pushed back, slowly, but unmistakably.
Aiden felt a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. The players were rallying. We might actually pull this off, he thought.
But hope wasn¡¯t enough. Not yet.
Aiden blinked again, his vision blurring as his mana bar began to dip dangerously low. He dismissed his lute, which vanished in a puff of shimmering smoke, only to instantly summon it again. The small mana recovery icon was a welcome sight as he took a moment to consider his surroundings.
¡°Come on,¡± he muttered, scanning the area frantically. ¡°Where are you guys?¡±
After what he¡¯d told AeriKnight about making bad calls, and there being consequences to one¡¯s actions, he couldn¡¯t handle the thought of something bad happening to his newfound friends. ¡°Friends,¡± he thought to himself, ¡°I actually have friends for once, and I¡¯ll be damned before I let them turn into nightmare-spider food because of my recklessness.¡±
Aiden froze mid-step as a familiar voice rang through the battlefield, clear and sharp above the chaos, interrupting his nervous internal spiraling.
"By the light of creation, let fire be born!"
Winterhell.
Aiden spun toward the sound, blinking without hesitation in the voice¡¯s direction. The moment he reappeared, a brilliant explosion of flame erupted ahead of him, engulfing a group of Lurkers in fire and smoke. Their twisted forms writhed and screeched as her Celestial Ember set them ablaze.
Through the smoke, he spotted her, a silhouette of defiance standing surrounded by a small group of players who were forming a defensive circle around her . Winterhell¡¯s hands sparked with energy as the last wisps of fire trailed from her fingertips. Her glossy black hair was matted with sweat and dirt, but her eyes shone with a fierce determination that sent relief flooding through Aiden.
¡°There you are!¡± he shouted, a grin breaking across his face as he blinked closer to her.
Winterhell turned, her expression shifting from focused intensity to pure exasperation the moment she saw him. ¡°Aiden! You absolute maniac! Where have you been? Skal and I charged into our certain doom only for you to blink away like a total sociopath!¡±
¡°Nice to see you too,¡± Aiden quipped, tipping an imaginary hat. ¡°Where¡¯s Skal?¡± he asked, not seeing him in Winterhell¡¯s defensive line.
Before Winterhell could answer, a booming voice reverberated through the battlefield, cutting through the cacophony of clashing steel and shrieking monsters.
¡°Come at me, villains! You can not escape my justice! Come forward so that I might smite you with my mighty blade!¡±
Aiden and Winterhell exchanged a glance, both recognizing the source of the voice instantly.
¡°That¡¯ll be Skal,¡± Winterhell muttered, rolling her eyes.¡±He¡¯s gone full paladin.¡±
The voice grew louder as Aiden and Winterhell turned towards the front line to see Skal¡¯s figure, standing atop a slain Nyxborn Lurker, his golden mane catching the flickering light of spellfire. His summoned blade, glowing with divine energy, carved arcs of brilliance through the air as he bellowed:
¡°The truth shall descend upon your wickedness like an angel of righteous fury!¡±
With a leap, Skal descended into the fray, landing amidst a cluster of Nyxborn Lurkers. His sword struck one of the nightmarish creatures, unleashing a shockwave of radiant energy that sent the creatures sprawling. His booming voice continued unabated:
¡°You shall die a thousand deaths, shadowspawn! I shall mete out my justice upon your lonesome brow!¡± The struck lurker tried to escape the Leonid, unsuccessfully doing its best to put as much distance between the angry Paladin and itself.
Skal turned towards the line of players that was gradually pushing the horde of Nyxborn Lurkers back towards Lockhaven. His eyes were burning with intensity and what Aiden could only describe as righteous anger. With a flourish, he aimed his glowing blade towards the diminishing horde of lurkers, the grim promise of a swift end extended to each of the monstrosities. After taking a deep breath he shouted out for all around him to hear, his roar, long and loud, a testament to his passion, ¡°Onward!!!¡±
Many nearby players, who had been locked in fierce combat, turned toward Skal, their faces lighting up with vigor. His defiant shout echoed over the battlefield like a warhorn, rallying those around him. Cheers and roars of encouragement erupted from the players as they pushed back against the Lurkers with ferocity, their strikes landing harder, their magic blazing brighter.
The tide of players surged forward, their shouts echoing Skal¡¯s own call, driving the Nyxborn Lurkers back from Skal¡¯s position. What had been a chaotic melee was now an inspired advance, with Skal falling behind the line of advancing players, catching his breath all while dismissing his sword. The battlefield was quickly shifting, and for the first time since the battle had begun, there was an island of relative safety where he stood.
Aiden blinked to a spot closer to Skal, unable to resist a grin. ¡°You know, for a guy who only just became a paladin, you¡¯re really nailing the role-playing. Was that a new ability there?¡±
Skal glanced over his shoulder, his leonine face lighting up with a triumphant grin. ¡°Aiden! You¡¯re alive! And here I thought I¡¯d have to once again rescue you from your own incompetence!¡± Then after looking Aiden up and down, ensuring that he was safe and sound he continued his tone filled with pride, ¡°and no, that was all pure Skal goodness.¡±
¡°Whatever it was, it was remarkable,¡± Aiden said, then, after a failed attempt to mimic Skal¡¯s toothy grin in order to mask his relief at seeing his two friends alive and relatively safe, he continued, ¡±I was just about to drop by to save the day you know,¡±
Winterhell joined them, stepping carefully over the remains of a fallen Lurker, her expression a mix of annoyance and relief. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all together, how about we skip the banter and focus on not dying?¡±
Skal laughed, ¡°Oh, come now, Winterhell. Where¡¯s your sense of adventure? This is a glorious battle!¡±
Winterhell raised an eyebrow, hurling a bolt of ice that briefly froze a Lurker that was trying to break through the front line in place. ¡°My sense of adventure is currently trying to avoid becoming a snack for nightmare spiders. Now, Aiden, what¡¯s your plan?¡±
¡°Why do you keep asking him that,¡± Skal said, ¡°it¡¯s like you want to set him up for failure.¡±
¡°Actually,¡± Aiden interjected, ¡°I do have a plan this time.¡±
Skal and Winterhell looked at each other, a look of surprised bewilderment etched on their faces.
¡°You, have a plan?¡± Skal said.
¡°Yes,¡± Aiden answered.
¡°That thing that involves coming up with good ideas that result in us being ¡®not dead¡¯?¡± Winterhell continued.
¡°Yes,¡± Aiden answered, his ears turning a shade of dark pink. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have a lot of time to explain, but I think this could help turn the tide of this fight.¡±
Winterhell crossed her arms. ¡°Alright, genius, lay it on us.¡±
¡°Skal,¡± Aiden turned to his leonine friend, his voice firm, ¡°remember that roar ability of yours? Not one that got everyone around you all riled up and heroic, but the actual one you used against the Umbral Sentinel?¡±
Skal nodded. ¡°Yes Aiden, I remember my own abilities.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Aiden said, ignoring Skal¡¯s obvious sarcasm. ¡°I need you to use it now. Pull as many of the Nyxborn Lurkers as you can to this spot.¡±
Winterhell¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You want to bait them all here? Are you trying to get us killed?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t used that ability here for a very good and very obvious reason, Aiden,¡± Skal said.
Aiden shook his head, holding up the Talisman of Echoes, which now pulsed with an intense, almost blinding blue light. ¡°I know it sounds risky, but with this, I think I can blow a good portion of them to kingdom come.¡±
Skal¡¯s gaze flickered to the glowing talisman. ¡°What is that? And how is it supposed to help?¡±
¡°It¡¯s my Talisman of Echoes,¡± Aiden said, sharing the item information with his party with a mental command, ¡°and it¡¯s about as charged as it¡¯s going to get. If you can pull enough of them in, I can use its power to hit them all at once. Hard.¡±
Winterhell¡¯s expression softened slightly as understanding dawned. ¡°You¡¯re going to release all the charges in one big blast.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Aiden said, determination hardening his voice. ¡°But I need you to make them come to us. Otherwise, this won¡¯t work.¡±
Skal¡¯s grin returned, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation. ¡°You do realise that your plan is utterly insane right? It¡¯s very important for me, that you understand, that it¡¯s bordering on the edge of absolute madness.¡±
Aiden¡¯s face sank as he took in Skal¡¯s words, ¡°you don¡¯t like the idea?¡± he asked the big man.
¡°Oh I never said that.¡± Skal answered with a chuckle, ¡°It has that blend of bold hero complex and reckless negligence of your own mortality that comes hand in hand with your plans. It has that quality that regardless of the actual outcome could end up making us famous for a variety of reasons.¡±
He paused and gave Aiden a wide toothy grin, ¡°You want a taunt? You¡¯ll get the best taunt this battlefield has ever seen.¡±
¡°Alright, we¡¯re going with the plan of total madness then. What do you need me to do?¡± Winterhell said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°We''re going to need all these players to fall back,¡± Aiden said, gesturing towards the front line. ¡°Otherwise they''ll be overrun and possibly trampled to death once the Lurkers hear the roar.¡±
¡°And how exactly would you expect me to do that?¡± Winterhell said.
¡°So we don''t have all the details figured out,¡± Aiden said with an apologetic smile, his ears turning a darker shade of red.
¡°Well as per usual, we''ve got you covered,¡± Skal interjected, ¡°as luck would have it, there''s a player here who got the Strategist class, and he has an ability that allows him to communicate with any number of allies within a certain area.¡±
¡°Really? Aiden said, ¡°That seems like a really specific class and ability for somebody to have right about now.¡±
¡°And he''s conveniently close by as well,¡± Skal said brightly. ¡°Winterhell, why don''t you go tell Roderick about our plan? Have him and his people join us here urgently.¡±
¡°Roderick?¡± Aiden said, his voice filled with amusement. ¡°From all the names he could have chosen he chose one as ordinary as Roderick?¡±
As Winterhell ran off to convey their plan to Roderick the Strategist, Skal gave Aiden a surprised look. ¡°Yes, everyone needs a name, and Roderick is a perfectly acceptable one for that matter. Also with a mundane name like Aiden, I don''t know if you should be going around casting stones like that.¡±
¡°Yeah I suppose that¡¯s fair,¡± Aiden said with an apologetic grin.
After a brief moment, there was a commotion coming from their left, as Winterhell returned accompanied by a small cluster of players. Walking next to hear, leading the rest of the players, was the tall figure of stone and shadow. His rough-hewn, granite-like skin gave him an imposing presence, with cracks that softly glowed with faint, ember-like light. Jagged wings stretched from his back, framing his broad shoulders. His sharp, angular features and glowing eyes exude a cold, unyielding determination.
¡°That¡¯s a Gargoyle right?¡± Aiden said, his voice filled with surprise.
¡°Yup,¡± Skal replied, ¡°You don¡¯t see many of those outside of Gothic Horror and Grimdark Dystopian Realms.¡±
As the contingent of players arrived to where Aiden and Skal were waiting, Winterhell and the player who presumably was Roderick broke off from the main group to meet them.
¡°Aiden, please meet Roderick,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°He¡¯s one of the main reasons our lines have fended the Lurkers off so successfully.¡±
The Gargoyle stretched out a hand in greeting, which Aiden shook, taken aback by Roderick¡¯s friendly smile, despite his impressive stature.
¡°Greetings Aiden, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I hear you have some sort of big idea to help us win this fight? Your friend here has already let me in on the details, and we¡¯re willing to give it a try.¡±
As he spoke, his name and level became visible above his head for Aiden to see.
Roderick - Level 4
¡°Really?¡± Aiden said, ¡°I was expecting more pushback if I¡¯m completely honest.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Roderick said, ¡°from the looks of it, I¡¯d say that unless something entirely unexpected shows up to take us all by surprise, we¡¯re going to win this fight by no small margin. So if players want to get creative, I¡¯m all for it.¡±
¡°No small margin?¡± Aiden said, his voice filled with surprise, "so this isn¡¯t a desperate struggle for survival?¡±
As he spoke, he noticed that not all players were locked in desperate combat, as he had initially assumed they were. There were in fact many players standing in large groups, a good distance away from the front line. There was a steady stream of players leaving the front line and joining the large groups, and vice versa. While the players joining the front line were doing so energetically, there wasn¡¯t any panicked hast to be seen anywhere.
¡°Those are recovery areas,¡± Winterhell said following Aiden¡¯s gaze. ¡°We¡¯re all still at such a low level, that none of us can fight for a very long time before running out of both mana and stamina.
¡°Huh,¡± Aiden mused, ¡°well I¡¯m glad this is going so well. I would have hated to come in in the nick of time with a desperate plan in a win or lose it all situation, telling my fellow players that they need to trust me, and that it¡¯s the only way.¡±
Roderick gave Aiden a knowing smile, ¡°we all want to be heroes, Aiden, but in a battle like this, no singular action will turn the tides towards victory. While it was definitely messy at first, the levels of the creatures were all surprisingly low. Plus it¡¯s not like all players here are rookies. Based on how I¡¯ve seen many players perform, including your friend Skal over there, I¡¯d say we have a good number of highly skilled players in this part of the battle.¡±
¡°How about we do the post-battle analysis after we¡¯ve won it?¡± Skal added with a toothy grin.
¡°From where I stand, there are still plenty of nightmare spider-demons to slay, so let¡¯s get going. Roderick can you order a full tactical retreat onto our position for all the players in the area?¡±
¡°Yes, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Most players have been responding surprisingly well to my, well orders isn¡¯t quite the right word, so let¡¯s say strategic recommendations?¡±
Before Aiden was able to respond any further, Roderick gave a polite nod. ¡°Best get going then,¡± he said with a polite smile, which looked strange coming from a figure usually found looming menacingly from the top of cathedrals. ¡°You will be receiving the retreat order in a few moments with the rest of the players,¡± he added, rejoining his entourage.
¡°Who are all those players standing around him?¡± Aiden asked curiously.
¡°Oh that¡¯s his advisory staff,¡± Winterhell said casually, as if that explained everything.
¡°Of course it is,¡± Aiden said, then leaving a pause for an actual explanation to follow.
¡°It¡¯s a bunch of players who have some form of the Strategist class with their main characters outside of this event,¡± Skal added. ¡°Many of them come from competitive RTS realms and this battle is a dream come true for them.¡±
Skal turned toward the front line, where players were steadily pushing the Lurkers back. He conjured his radiant blade, raising it high, unleashed a deafening roar. It rippled outward in a golden wave, crashing into the horde of Lurkers like a wall of light. There was an immediate response in the form of furious screeching coming from within the ranks of the Lurkers, as Aiden received a system notification:
Player Skal has affected you with Valor¡¯s Call.
Valor¡¯s Call has taken effect.
All debuffs have been removed.
¡°Come forth, wretched spawns of darkness! Face the light of reckoning and feel justice carve its name upon you!¡± he shouted pointing at the vile creatures with his blade.
The effect was immediate. Every Nyxborn Lurker within sight practically froze mid-attack, their hollow, glowing faces snapping toward Skal. As one, they abandoned their skirmishes and began to converge on him, their jagged limbs slicing through the air as they surged forward.
A moment later, Aiden received another system notification:
Player Roderick has affected you with Field Marshal''s Orders.
Field Marshal¡¯s Orders has taken effect.
Following the notification, Aiden could hear Rodericks voice in his right ear, as if he were wearing headphones.
¡°All players who receive this notification, gather at the designated location without delay! There is an active AoE Taunt effect and the enemy will swarm!¡±
To Aiden¡¯s surprise, the front line pulled back, almost instantly, yielding ground to the Lurkers, as they rushed towards the rallying point designated by Roderick. Above his head, Aiden could see a large golden flag floating in the air above his position, indicating where players were supposed to gather.
¡°That¡¯s so cool,¡± he thought, as he watched more and more Lurkers turning their attention to Skal. His pulse quickened. ¡°It¡¯s working.¡±
Winterhell nodded grimly. ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready, wonder boy.¡±
As the wave of Lurkers closed in, Aiden stepped back, clutching the talisman. He could feel its energy building to a crescendo, the charges thrumming with raw power. His heart raced, but he forced himself to stay focused.
¡°Hold on to your buts,¡± he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. ¡°This is going to get messy.¡±
Winterhell unleashed a series of spells, ice and fire towards the advancing horde. Skal next to Aiden, his blade gleaming brightly, his entire body trembling with righteous anticipation.
The front line, once a roaring tide of defiance and steel, now pulled back like a receding wave. Players quickly yielded ground, their expressions a mix of curious excitement and grim determination. Among them, a towering Trollkin wielded a massive warhammer, his ragged visible in the air as he fell back beside a Beastkin archer and a Kobold spellcaster her hands crackling with residual lightning, while a Drakkin swordswoman, her armor dented and smeared with ichor, tightened her grip on her weapon as she joined the regrouping force.
Behind Aiden, Skal, and Winterhell, these warriors formed a living barrier, their ranks tightened and ready to retaliate if needed. The retreat wasn¡¯t one of fear but of chaotic obedience, their faith placed in whatever plan or strategy they assumed Roderick and his entourage had come up with.
The Nyxborn horde surged forward like a single living entity. Their twisted, chitinous forms writhed and snapped with an eerie, unnatural cadence. Jagged limbs scraped and clicked against the ground, while their hollow, faceless gazes pulsed with a malevolent light. Some larger Blade-Tailed Lurkers led the charge, their metallic appendages whistling through the air as they slashed the earth in anticipation of carnage. Behind them, smaller Lurkers skittered and leaped, their movements erratic and frenzied, as though the promise of fresh prey drove them into a bloodthirsty frenzy.
The ground itself seemed to shudder beneath the weight of their advance, a storm of claws, shrieks, and shadow converging on Aiden and his friends with unstoppable force.
The ¡°Now, Aiden!¡± Winterhell shouted, her voice cutting through the din.
Aiden stepped forward, the horde now practically upon them, gripping the talisman tightly. He could feel its energy resonating with him, responding to his intent. He took a deep breath and shouted, ¡°Unleash!¡±
A pulse of blinding light erupted from the talisman, spreading outward in a shockwave. The battlefield fell silent for a fraction of a second before an ear splitting boom tore through the air. The Lurkers,closest to the blast, many of which were already displaying numerous wounds and injuries received from other players, were obliterated instantly, their twisted forms disintegrating into ash. Those further out were thrown back, their limbs flailing as they were struck by the resonating force.
When the light faded, the battlefield was eerily still. The few remaining Lurkers staggered, their once-coordinated assault now shattered. There were gasps coming from the ranks of the players standing behind the trio. They all knew that something impressive was going to happen, but even this display had surpassed their expectations.
Skal turned to Aiden, his grin as wide as ever. ¡°Holy crap Aiden!¡±
Before Aiden could say anything in response, he received another system notification:
Player Roderick has affected you with Field Marshal''s Orders.
Field Marshal¡¯s Orders has taken effect.
Following the notification, Rodericks¡¯s voice followed again:
¡°All players! Full and final assault now!¡±
As Roderick¡¯s voice rang out, it carried an undeniable authority that seemed to ignite the battlefield. Players surged forward as one, their collective roar shaking the air. The players moved with unified ferocity, what had begun as a desperate struggle to not die had been transformed into a single, relentless assault. Spells and arrows filled the air, finding targets still limping from Aiden¡¯s talisman. The few surviving Lurkers hesitated, their twisted limbs faltering under the weight of the onslaught. This was no longer a desperate defense, it was a final, victorious push to reclaim the battlefield.
Aiden swayed slightly, still taking in what had just happened. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his voice faint but triumphant. ¡°I am pretty awesome.¡±
Winterhell smirked, helping steady him. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, bard. This fight isn¡¯t over yet.¡±
Aiden nodded, summoning his trusty lute, joining his friends in their advance towards the remains of their enemy. With a bright smile, he gave Skal and Winterhell a bright smile, then before charging he simply spoke: ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡±
Chapter 11: No Rulebook For Greatness
The battlefield roared with the chaotic symphonies of steel clashing, spells exploding, and the guttural shrieks of the dying Nyxborn Lurkers. Aiden fought alongside Skal and Winterhell, their small party part of the tide of players driving the remnants of the horde back toward Lockhaven.
¡°Keep pressing onward!¡± Skal shouted, his blade carving through Lurker with a radiant strike.
Winterhell, who was standing safely behind Skal and Aiden hurled bolts of fire and ice into the fray, strategically freezing Lurkers where they stood, or setting them ablaze, creating openings for her companions.
Aiden, who had run out of friends willing to lend him wooden clubs, wielded his summoned lute, swinging it like a warhammer. While it wasn¡¯t the most ideal close-combat weapon he could have imagined, it was surprisingly sturdy and proved to be reliable enough in a pinch. Whenever it inevitably broke from beings used to block the serrated limbs of a Lurker, he simply resummoned it with a flick of his hand. The mana recovery provided by summoning it, meant that as long as he could manage to keep his lute intact for long enough to see his mana replenish, he¡¯d always have some sort of weapon at hand, however improvised.
¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, that that¡¯s what the devs had in mind when they designed your summoned instrument ability,¡± Winterhell said, her voice a mix of amusement and concentrated strain.
¡°Well, as soon as I get an ability that lets me use it as intended, I¡¯ll be happy to change my ways,¡± Aiden replied with a grunt, swinging the lute in a two-handed arc that struck a Lurker square in the stomach.
He blinked, dodging retaliatory blows from the Lurkers, and after reappearing behind one of them, he struck it in the back of its head, causing it to topple over in a lifeless heap. He gave Winterhell a grin, ¡°and since I can''t burn my enemies to a crisp, I need to get creative in order to hit the right notes.¡±
¡°That was horrible,¡± Winterhell shouted with delight, ¡°properly and shamefully horrible!¡±
¡°Can you two please, for the love of all that is good in this world, let the banter go and focus on the fight at hand?¡± came the voice of Pyrlig, a Level 3 Dwarf with a long, majestic golden-brown beard, the Sentinel class, and who was yet to accustom himself to Aiden and Winterhell''s particular sense of humour. ¡°If you two would spend half as much time fighting than you do bantering, we¡¯d probably be done with this battle by now!¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid we''re facing a bit of a package deal situation here, Master Dwarf. Banter is a non-negotiable part of both Aiden and Winterhell,¡± Skal said with a grin. He swung his radiant sword wide, forcing half a dozen Lurkers to recoil, giving the Leonid and the Dwarf, who were standing side by side, some much-needed breathing room.
Skal glanced at Aiden who had just reappeared next to him for a brief moment, putting on a pensive expression, then continued, ¡°They are arbiters of concentrated chaos and nonsense, and if they are left unsupervised, they¡¯ll end up doing something so ridiculous that they¡¯ll end up turning the moon into ashes, dooming us all.¡±
Pyrlig, who was using a battered-looking halberd to keep the Lurkers at a distance gave Skal a sideways glance, ¡°that seems a little bit exaggerated don''t you think? Plus if they''re such a liability, why keep them around? I bet there are all sorts of groups looking for a Paladin to join their ranks.¡±
Skal stared into the distance with a sudden expression of one who''s been entrusted with a heavy burden and spoke with a deep, raspy voice, ¡°It''s my sworn duty to defend the world from their madness. I''m not the Paladin they deserve, but I am the one they need right now. Because I can take it. Because I''m their Paladin.¡±
¡°Careful Skal,¡± said Aiden, his voice sparkling with amusement, ¡°those words might come to bite you in the tail one of these days.¡±
There was a guttural howl, as Pyrlig struck a Lurker down with his halberd, followed by a deep moan coming from the Dwarf, ¡°the Leonid might be the most absurd one of them all,¡± he said under his breath, shaking his head.
***
As they pressed forward, the chaotic din of battle continued to shift in favor of the players, Aiden caught glimpses of other groups all along the front to either side from where he and his companions were positioned, fighting their own skirmishes. The Lurkers, once a seemingly endless wave of relentless monstrosities, were now being systematically pushed back, their numbers thinning with each passing moment.
Spells and arrows soared in semi-coordinated volleys, while melee fighters surged forward with ferocity, driving the Lurkers into disarray. The players¡¯ morale was palpable, their voices rising in bold cries that echoed across the battlefield.
While some parts of the line were still locked in fierce struggles, even the most beleaguered groups were holding their ground, their efforts bolstered by reinforcements and the unmistakable energy of a battle turning in their favor. Every step the Lurkers took back was met with unrelenting pressure, the players seizing every advantage with newfound confidence.
Here and there, Aiden noticed patches of resistance, clusters of players locked in heavier struggles against larger groups of Lurkers. One group was entirely encircled, their line barely holding as they fought back-to-back. But even they were holding their ground, their resolve unbroken as reinforcements moved to assist.
Though the intensity varied from one skirmish to the next, the overall tide was unmistakable. The players were pushing the Lurkers back, their combined efforts driving the creatures toward the crumbling edges of Lockhaven.
As Aiden and Skal were putting down another Lurker in combined effort, a voice shouted towards them from behind their position.
¡°Aiden! Aiden!¡± it called out, trying to rise above the sounds of the battlefield.
Aiden turned to see a nervous looking Kobold with dark red scales standing a couple of meters away. He recognized him as a member of Roderick¡¯s entourage. The Kobold was practically jumping up and down where he stood, waving his arms in an effort to gain Aiden¡¯s attention.
¡°I¡¯m here on behalf of Roderick!¡± he continued, ¡°he would like to know if your talisman is ready to be used again.¡±
¡°Sorry mate,¡± Aiden shouted back, ¡°it¡¯s going to be on cooldown for a while.¡±
Aiden looked at his ability bar at the bottom of his field of vision, which depicted each ability with a small icon. His Sonic Blink and Summoned Instrument were always available, since neither of them had a cooldown period. His talismans¡¯ Dimensional Echo however was greyed out with a small countdown timer indicating that it would be another 49 minutes before he could use it again.
¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± the Kobold answered, ¡°but no worries, prepare for a final push in just a few moments. We¡¯re going to ask all players to unleash all their big splashy abilities in one big push to break the line and claim the field.¡±
Without wasting any time, the Kobold darted in between lines of combatants, presumably to report back to Roderick, or to handle another urgent and important task that would mean that he¡¯d be too busy to help with any actual fighting.
Skal gave Aiden his signature toothy grin, ¡°don¡¯t fret it, I¡¯m sure next time you¡¯ll be able to find a way to contribute to the big finale. Winterhell and I have got your back, we¡¯ll even share our loot with you.¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Aiden laughed, ¡°your Valor¡¯s Call has a cooldown that¡¯s even longer than mine, and Winterhell only has one cantrip with two modes, well for now at least.¡±
Winterhell was about to interject when she was interrupted by a deafening boom that shook the battlefield. A wall of shimmering green fire erupted behind the remaining horde, cutting off their retreat. The flames twisted and writhed unnaturally, their edges sizzling with sickly green smoke.
All players who weren¡¯t in the midst of a fight for their very survival briefly fell silent, their attacks halting as they turned toward the source of the explosion.
Two figures emerged from the toxic-looking blaze, their presence proud and commanding.
The first was a towering Half-Troll, his hulking form draped in patchwork armor. A jagged blade as long as Aiden was tall rested casually on his shoulder. His greenish-gray skin was marked with scars that seemed to glow faintly in the flickering light, and his piercing yellow eyes scanned the battlefield with an amused predatory gleam.
The second figure was a slender, almost ethereal being, their body wreathed in faintly glowing embers. Their ashen gray skin seemed to smolder, and faint trails of smoke drifted upward from their fingertips. Draped in flowing black and red robes that shimmered like molten glass, they moved with a serpentine grace, their eyes glowing a molten gold.
The Half-Troll grinned, his tusks gleaming wickedly as he hefted his massive blade. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a lovely mess?¡± His voice was deep and gravelly, with a tone of mockery.
The other figure chuckled, their voice soft yet carrying an unsettling, otherworldly resonance. ¡°Looks like we arrived just in time to save the day, Pekisee.¡±
The Half-Troll, presumably Pekisee, let out a booming laugh ¡°that¡¯s what we do Hyde. The House of Lords always saves the day.¡±
Before anyone could do or say anything, Hyde raised his hands, and the sickly green fire behind the Lurkers surged forward. The flames swept through the creatures all along the front line where Aiden and his companions had been fighting like a sentient tide, engulfing them in seconds. The horde¡¯s final shrieks were drowned out by the roar of the fire, and when the smoke cleared, nothing remained but a blackened, smoldering battlefield.
The players stood in stunned silence, the oppressive weight of awe and disbelief settling over them.
Then, as if carried by the wind, hushed whispers rippled through the crowd, questions and speculations about the identity of the mysterious newcomers.
Pekisee turned, his grin widening as he spread his massive arms, walking through the sea of fallen Lurkers. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering who we are. We¡¯re your salvation, of course.¡± He jabbed a thumb at his chest. ¡°Name¡¯s Pekisee, leader of the House of Lords guild. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of us. And this here,¡± he gestured to his ethereal companion, who gave a small, mocking bow, ¡°is Hyde, my right-hand man.¡±
Hyde¡¯s golden eyes gleamed with amusement, his voice dripping with condescension. ¡°And you¡¯re welcome, by the way. I¡¯m sure you all did your best, but it seems you needed a little... professional assistance.¡±
The two newcomer¡¯s names and levels appeared above their heads for Aiden to see, and judging by the collective gasps around him, everyone else as well.
Pekisee - Level 16
Hyde - Level 13
The weight of their levels hit like a hammer. Aiden¡¯s heart sank as he glanced at his own level indicator, barely a fraction of theirs.
¡°Sixteen and thirteen?¡± Winterhell murmured echoing what many other players around her were saying, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s insane. How did they...?¡±
Skal growled, as he dismissed his blade. ¡°I can think of a couple of ways for players to gain that many levels in such a short amount of time, and they all paint a nasty picture.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± she said, giving him a surprised look.
¡°Well, we know that we need to consume Genesis Orbs and Shards of Ascension in order to level up, each item consumed giving us one level right?¡± Skal began explaining.
¡°Right,¡± Winterhell confirmed with a nod.
Skal¡¯s face took a sombre expression as he continued his explanation, ¡°so far, we three have relied on finding these items in the ruins, or getting them as quest rewards, but there are other ways that some might consider to be less honorable.¡±
Aiden, who had guessed where Skal was going continued, ¡°the descriptions of the shards and orbs didn¡¯t state that the items were soulbound. This means that in theory, a player with the inclination to do so,should be able to acquire shards and orbs from other players, with or without their consent.¡±
Winterhell gave Aiden and Skall a wide-eyed stare, ¡°you mean they stole them?¡±
¡°That¡¯s one possibility,¡± Skal said, ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain that that¡¯s how Kaelwyn got her levels, unless of course she simply got ridiculously lucky, which I find rather unlikely. Another, even less pleasant option could be looting the items from players, after taking them out.¡±
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¡°By killing other players?¡± Winterhell gasped, ¡°but that¡¯s awful! I can¡¯t imagine who would do that sort of thing!¡± She then looked towards Pekisee and Hyde who were steadily approaching the mass of players, and lowered her voice, ¡°you don¡¯t think they¡ you know?¡±
Aiden shook his head, ¡°nah, I don¡¯t think they¡¯d take out that many players so early on into a contest, until they were certain, that there won¡¯t be any negative consequences.¡± He looked at Winterhell, her face filled with doubts about what Aiden and Skal were saying, ¡°you¡¯re new to the pro-gamer stage, but for those who have been around for a while, all know the House of Lords.¡± He spoke the last words with mock reverence before continuing. ¡°They¡¯re one of the biggest and arguably most successful guilds in all of ROTA, so it¡¯s no surprise at all to see them here. But they¡¯re also known for using their status and fame to gain an advantage whenever they can. If you ask me, they bullied other players into giving them their orbs and shards, making some vague promises of granting them entry into their guild or something like that.¡±
¡°Plus, taking out other players really isn¡¯t as bad as you make it sound Winterhell,¡± Skal added, ¡°this is after all a global competitive event. We still don¡¯t really know the rules or objective of the whole thing, but sometimes, you have competition that needs to be taken out, and if PVP is enabled during the event, then it¡¯s something to lookout for, because it¡¯s going to happen. I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s ideal,¡± Skal said, his tone measured. ¡°But when the stakes are high, you have to expect some players to see others as obstacles, not allies. It¡¯s just the nature of the game.¡±
Before Winterhell was able to respond, her attention was drawn by Pekisee and Hyde, who had by now reached the front row of players, seeming to revel in what remained of the stunned silence.
¡°You all did well to hold the line,¡± Pekisee said, his grin sharp, almost predatory. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll take it from here.¡±
Hyde smirked, his molten gaze settling on where Aiden and his friends were standing. ¡°I hope you enjoyed the taste of victory. It¡¯s a rare thing to savor before the game truly begins¡±
Out of the corner of his field of vision, Aiden saw Roderick and his entourage quickly walking towards Pekisee and Hyde. The Gargoyle¡¯s face was so red with anger, that it looked like his head had been replaced with a beetroot.
Pekisee who saw the group of players marching in his direction briefly looked worried, but after a barely perceivable flicker of purple light around his eyes, his face eased and his shoulders relaxed, his predatory smile widening as he waited for the players to reach him.
¡°Here comes trouble,¡± Aiden said, nodding towards the commotion for Skal and Winterhell to see. ¡°We better get closer in case things go south,¡± he added as he began to shove his way through the ranks of players standing between him and the House of Lords guild leader.
¡°Oh yes, that¡¯s a great idea,¡± Winterhell hissed, ¡°let¡¯s get caught up in the middle of some drama we really should stay out of.¡± Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, but was entirely ignored by Aiden, he continued to press onward.
Winterhell, who was closely followed by Skal, wasn''t ready to give up so easily, ¡°have you ever heard the expression of tossing pebbles at siege tanks before? Because it feels like you haven¡¯t and you really should think about it before you do something I end up regretting.¡±
Aiden dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying that we should get in the middle of things, I just want to get close enough to see what¡¯s happening,¡± he said, not at all putting Winterhell¡¯s mind at ease.
Before she was able to say anything else, Roderick reached Pekisee, who was awaiting him with a dangerous smile and wide outstretched arms.
¡°What in the ruddy nice circles of hell do you call this display,¡± Roderick exploded, taking the Half-Ogre by surprise, who took a small involuntary step backwards.
¡°I do realize that the quest we all received stated that rewards would depend on personal performance and all that, but in what world do you justify swooping in like vultures and stealing hundreds of kills from us all, claiming to save us from a battle that was already won?¡±
A heavy silence hung between them, thick with unease. Roderick¡¯s furious glare, combined with his blatant disregard for the newcomers¡¯ significantly higher levels, pushed the tension to a breaking point. It was like a violin string pulled too taut, trembling on the verge of snapping.
After a long and assessing gaze, Pekisee raised a calming hand towards Roderick. ¡°Now, now,¡± he starts, his voice a perfect blend of calm and soothing, yet holding a dangerous promise of violence. ¡°Let¡¯s not let emotions cloud reason. We¡¯re not here to bicker and argue about who killed who, but to announce our intentions to win this little event by whatever means necessary.¡±
Pekisee¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd, his smile widening, ¡°We haven¡¯t come to sow strife or conflict. Quite the opposite, in fact. We¡¯re here to extend a hand of opportunity to our fellow players.¡±
His voice rose, commanding attention as he addressed the gathered players. ¡°The House of Lords is looking for those who understand that glory comes only through sacrifice. For those who are ready to rise above mediocrity and join us in achieving greatness.¡±
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. ¡°Did you hear that? The House of Lords is recruiting!¡± came the hushed whispers, carrying a mix of curiosity, excitement.
Pekisee continued, not allowing himself to lose his gathered momentum, ¡°The House of Lords has already claimed a Guild Hall that can be found in Caranden Road. All those willing to contribute to our glorious effort, are welcome to find us there. While we cannot promise admission for all, as there are a limited number of slots available during this event, we will be welcoming all those who show their worth into one of our many wings after this event.¡±
¡°So this is how you plan on winning?¡± Roderick said, his tone filled with contempt. "And by sacrifice, I suppose you mean players handing over their hard-won Genesis Orbs and Shards of Ascension? Is that how you¡¯ve already climbed to such lofty heights? Fairness clearly doesn¡¯t factor into your plans.¡±
Pekisee¡¯s grin didn¡¯t waver. He bent closer to Roderick, causing Aiden to have to strain his hearing in order to make out what was being said. ¡°This event isn¡¯t for the faint of heart, little strategist. There¡¯s no rulebook for greatness. There is only power and those too weak to seek it. If anybody promised you fairness, they lied, so I suggest you get used to it.¡±
The Half-Troll stepped away from Roderick and addressed the onlooking players again, ¡°we have already uncovered a number of secrets kept within the city of Lockhaven, and we are sure that there will be many more.¡± His voice grew louder and bolder, losing only a touch of the danger his tone promised, ¡°to the victors alone come the ultimate rewards, so come and claim your place in The House of Lords!¡±
Just then, a series of bright explosions, shockwaves and a localised thunderstorm coming from various remaining front lines lit up the sky. The only players who didn¡¯t seem surprised by the overwhelming display of power were Pekisee and Hyde.
Pekisee and Hyde smiles went even wider as they gazed into the distance, taking in the scenes of destruction raining down upon the Lurkers on the fronts still engaged in combat.
¡°That over there,¡± Hyde said casually, ¡°are our associates, mopping up the rest of the enemy for you all. We must be off, maybe some of you will come up with some propper gratitude.¡±
And with that, they turned away from Roderick and left, not giving him a chance to say anything else.
After a few moments of dead silence, Aiden received a system notification.
Quest complete!
You have completed the quest: Defend the Portal
Reward: Genesis Orb (1), Shard of Ascension (2), Gold (500)
The crowd buzzed with murmurs as players exchanged glances, torn between awe and unease. Roderick¡¯s furious glare followed Pekisee and Hyde as they strode back toward the charred remnants of the battlefield, their imposing figures practically glowing with confidence. Around them, players began checking their system notifications, conversations rising into a chaotic hum.
As Aiden swiped the notification away, his gaze drifted toward the portal they had been defending. The eerie glow surrounding it pulsed even more unnaturally than before, its edges shimmering with a faint golden hue. Skal frowned, his tail flicking behind him as he turned to face the anomaly.
¡°That doesn¡¯t look normal,¡± Winterhell murmured.
¡°It never does,¡± Aiden replied, though his attempt at humor fell flat.
The air around the portal grew heavy, vibrating with an energy that made the hairs on the back of Aiden¡¯s neck stand on end. A low hum echoed across the battlefield, rising into a deafening crescendo.
¡°What in the world¡?¡± Skal muttered.
Without warning, the portal erupted in a cascade of blinding light. Players shielded their eyes as a gust of wind swept through the battlefield, scattering the ashen remains of hundreds of thousands of Lurkers.
When the light dimmed, three figures stood before the portal, their silhouettes sharp against the glowing backdrop. Each exuded an aura of power, their movements deliberate as they stepped forward.
The first to step forward was tall and lithe, his dark armor gleaming like polished obsidian. A slender blade hung at his side, its edge glimmering faintly with ethereal light. His face, pale and angular, was framed by flowing silver hair that shimmered with an almost hypnotic sheen. His piercing crimson eyes gazed into the crowd of players, an expression of slight amusement dancing on his lips.
Behind him came a hulking figure whose massive frame seemed to fill the space around him. Muscles bulged beneath crimson skin, adorned with jagged black tattoos that pulsed faintly with energy. Two curved horns jutted from their forehead, framing a face split by a wicked grin full of sharp teeth. Clad in rugged, battle-scarred armor, he carried an enormous axe, its edge stained dark with ichor.
The last figure slipped out of the portal with an almost ethereal grace. Smaller than the others, she seemed to drift rather than walk, her form shrouded in a shimmering cloak of twilight hues. Her eyes glowed faintly, a mix of violet and silver, and her presence was accompanied by a soft, eerie whisper, like the wind through the trees at dusk. A faint smirk played across their lips as she surveyed the battlefield.
The first figure took a few steps forward, the eyes of each and every player gathered in the Evergreen Glade fixated on him. He opened his mouth and spoke with a voice that carried over the entire battlefield, reaching even the most distant player.
All he said were the words, ¡°Greetings, we have come to accept your surrender.¡±
The battlefield fell into a stunned silence, the weight of his words crushing any murmur or movement. Even the air seemed to hold its breath, waiting for someone, anyone, to respond.
After he spoke, Aiden received a system notification:
New Quest available - Figures from the Portal
Just as you had guessed, the figures stepping out of the portal appear to be much worse and significantly more dangerous than the hordes of Lurkers who tried to destroy the portal. It would appear that you were right, the question is however, what are you going to do about it?
Objective: Do the smart thing¡ or the other thing.
Duration: Variable on whether or not you do the smart thing.
Reward: ???
Chapter 12: I’m not the Villain here, I’m just the Enemy
Aiden, who tended to have strong opinions about pretty much everything happening in his surroundings, found himself unsure on what to think about some of the strange and unusual series of events that had just occurred before him. One thing he was sure about, was that he wasn¡¯t a fan of Pekisee and his House of Lords. Their plan to force other players to voluntarily donate their Shards of Ascension and Genesis Orbs stank to high heaven, but at the same time, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure what there was he could do about it.
Then, there were the three ominous figures that had come out of the portal, who introduced themselves with a less than subtle threat, outright demanding for hundreds of thousands of players to surrender to them on the spot.
And finally there was the strange quest he¡¯d received as a result of the three figures stepping out of the portal. After spending years in ROTA, he was used to getting humorous quests and whimsical flavor text from time to time, but the last two he had received felt like they were particularly odd. However deranged the devs may have been when creating this quest, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like there was something very specific he was supposed to figure out, or do, or not do? He was still working on the finer details.
¡°Do the smart thing¡ or the other thing,¡± he muttered to himself as he tried to use the very limited information at his disposal to come up with an idea or the beginnings of a plan.
The battlefield remained unnervingly still in the wake of the portal¡¯s opening. Aiden could feel the silence pressing against his ears, heavier than the chaos that had come before. Around him, players shifted uneasily, their gazes locked on the three figures who stood motionless, drinking in the attention.
Aiden glanced toward Skal and Winterhell, both standing as still as statues. Winterhell¡¯s usual sarcastic smirk had vanished, replaced with a furrowed brow. Skal¡¯s tail flicked nervously, his claws flexing as though ready to summon his blade at the first sign of danger.
¡°This can¡¯t be good,¡± Aiden muttered under his breath, his words barely audible.
¡°Understatement of the year,¡± Winterhell whispered back. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you were right,¡± she continued.
¡°Pardon?¡± Aiden said, taken by surprise.
¡°Your theory in the villa,¡± Winterhell murmured. ¡°About what would come out of the portal being worse than the stuff trying to destroy it. You were right.¡±
¡°That seems like a dangerous precedent,¡± Skal said, his shoulders and jaw visibly tense. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can afford having that become a habit. It¡¯ll probably go right to his haid.¡±
¡°Well to be fair, he was only right about the one thing. He was still wrong about this event being an evil campaign, the whole last resistance thing and just about everything else as well,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°so I wouldn¡¯t be too worried about it.¡±
¡°You can stop complimenting me any time now,¡± Aiden said, his ears taking on a shade of pink again.
¡°Strategically speaking,¡± Skal rumbled, changing the topic with a low voice, ¡°we already fought against the hordes of nightmare spider things, so this feels like the part where we get to run away.¡±
Before Aiden could respond, the leader of the trio stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
¡°Greetings,¡± he repeated, his tone smooth yet carrying an edge that sent shivers down Aiden¡¯s spine. ¡°Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Ashrend, of the Village of Pain.¡± He gave a theatrical bow and as he did, the entire gathered crowd gasped in disbelief as his name and level appeared above his head.
Ashrend - Level 60
Straightening himself with an air of casual authority, he gestured toward the crimson-skinned colossus at his side. ¡°This,¡± he announced, his tone carrying a subtle edge of pride, ¡°is Havoc.¡± Then, with a sweeping motion toward the third figure cloaked in shimmering twilight hues, he added, ¡°And this... is Nova.¡± After each introduction, the names and levels appeared above their heads:
Havoc - Level 60
Nova - Level 60
The battlefield buzzed with murmurs and gasps as Ashrend, Havoc and Nova¡¯s levels burned bright above their heads like unyielding beacons of superiority. Ashrend let the moment stretch, reveling in the uneasy energy of the crowd before raising a hand for silence. It came quickly, a reluctant obedience that underscored the unspoken truth: no one wanted to experience the stark disparity in power first-hand. Well, almost no one.
¡°Oi! Get stuffed! Who do these guys think they are?¡± one voice shouted in defiance.
¡°We just took on an endless horde of those lurker things! We can take three overblown crapweasels!¡± another one yelled.
Then slowly but gradually more and more voices joined in, making their discontent heard regarding Ashrend and his followers¡¯ outrageous and baseless demand for capitulation.
¡°I don''t know what''s more dangerous, an organised force or an angry mob,¡± Winterhell said, as the noise around them kept growing, as more joined in the shouting and hurling of insults.
¡°Oh definitely the angry mob,¡± Aiden said, ¡°any mob is always as loud as the loudest person in it, as angry as the angriest person, and as stupid as the biggest moron. All it will take for this to escalate to violence is one trigger happy troll to do something drastic and we could all be facing severe consequences.¡±
As he spoke he looked to his left and paled slightly. ¡°No offence,¡± he stammered in apology.
A player who had received the Troll race towered over the trio with an awkward smile. ¡°None taken,¡± she said. ¡°Trolls tend to get a bad rep, but the expression must have started with a grain of truth somewhere. Plus my main character outside of this event is a Halfling, so I''m not particularly invested in standing up against stereotypes against Trolls.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t say, that must be quite a change in perspective at the very least,¡± Winterhell said.
¡°It is,¡± the Troll said. ¡°I do prefer playing as the tiny character that gets overlooked or underestimated and to then come out of nowhere unexpectedly over being a giant walking target. But I''m not upset with this race. My name is Glissinda by the way.¡±
¡°No kidding,¡± Aiden said with a smile. Before he could respond, their conversation was cut short by movement coming from the trio who emerged from the portal.
Ashrend raised his arms again, demanding silence, but his voice went unheard, as it was drowned in the rising tide of angry, defiant players. After a few failed attempts to gain the crowd¡¯s attention, which were answered with jeers from hundreds of angry players, who were quickly forming into a mob, Ashrend gave Havoc a glance who nodded briefly and stomped back into the portal.
Many who thought that he was retreating clapped and cheered, believing that their angry shouts were having a positive effect on their general situation. They were however quickly disappointed as, moments later, Havoc reappeared from the portal, and he wasn''t alone.
Ranks of heavily armored soldiers began emerging from the portal behind him, their movements unnervingly synchronized. The gleaming black of their obsidian armor caught the flickering light of the portal, casting jagged reflections across the battlefield. Their sheer size and the ominous designs of their armor with jagged edges sent a chill rippling through the crowd.
They marched with an unrelenting rhythm, the ground trembling under their heavy boots. Row after row emerged, in an unmistakable display of martial discipline . The soldiers formed a perfect circle around Ashrend, Havoc, and Nova, their shields locking into place with a deafening clang, creating an impenetrable wall of steel between the leaders of the Village of Pain and the players.
The defiant cries from the crowd faltered, replaced by murmurs of uncertainty and fear. Players who had been brimming with anger moments ago instinctively stepped back, their confidence crumbling under the suffocating presence of the advancing army.
¡°A bunch of under-levelled characters thrown into a sudden but predictable battle royale wouldn''t make for a very memorable contest,¡± Winterhell said, her tone flat and void of any humor.
¡°Will you please stop quoting my mistakes back to me?¡± Aiden said. ¡°Plus we still don¡¯t know what or if anything is going to happen here.¡±
¡°I have a great idea,¡± Skal said. ¡°We could make for the hills and live to fight another day.¡±
The circular formation completed, the armored soldiers stood motionless, their presence an unspoken warning. Ashrend stepped forward, his expression calm but his crimson eyes blazing with intensity. He began to speak, his voice cutting through the stunned silence like a knife. ¡°Now do I have your attention?¡± he said, his voice filled with dark promise. ¡°Let me be perfectly clear,¡± he continued, his voice smooth and commanding, carrying effortlessly over the crowd. ¡°We did not come here to slaughter you all. At least, not yet.¡±
A murmur ran through the crowd, players shifting uneasily. Skal¡¯s tail continued twitching nervously, while Winterhell muttered under her breath, ¡°That¡ somehow makes me feel even worse.¡±
Ashrend ignored the whispers, his voice rising as he continued. ¡°We came here to deliver a message. A challenge, if you will. Those ruins before you,¡± he gestured again toward the city, ¡°are filled with secrets, treasures, and opportunities beyond your wildest imaginations. You have six months, six months to claim as much of it as you can. Fortify your defenses. Gather your strength. Prepare for what¡¯s to come.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
¡°Guys,¡± Aiden said, ignoring Ashrend who was clearly enjoying his monologue. ¡°When the battle first started and we all saw AeriKnight running for her life, did you receive a bonus quest to save her from the Lurkers?¡±
¡°You mean the Elf?¡± Winterhell said, ¡°yeah I got a quest as well, but I denied it. I felt like she was getting her just desserts for ignoring our warnings.¡±
Ashrend¡¯s expression darkened, his smirk growing sharper. ¡°Because when your time is up, we, The Village of Pain will descend upon you. We will burn it all to the ground. We will shatter your walls, claim your treasures, and crush your resistance. But until then...¡± He spread his arms wide, his voice laced with mockery. ¡°Consider this a fair warning.¡±
¡°Same here,¡± Skal answered, ¡°though I didn¡¯t accept it because I didn¡¯t think it could be done. Why do you ask?¡±
Aiden¡¯s eyes flicked toward his quest notification, the words do the smart thing¡ or the other thing taunting him. His fingers twitched as he weighed his options.
¡°Because I received another quest, and this one is even more outrageous than the last,¡± he said, sharing the quest information with his friends with a mental command.
¡°I don¡¯t think we can fight them,¡± Skal said, after reading the quest description. ¡°Not like this. Not now. The quest is even pointing out that there is a smart option, which definitely includes us not rage quitting our lives here.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not helpful,¡± Aiden muttered, his gaze darting between the portal and Ashrend. ¡°There has to be something¡.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Winterhell hissed, cutting him off. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re thinking, just don¡¯t. It¡¯s the wrong thing.¡±
Ashrend continued his speech, his voice carrying over the noise. ¡°Rejoice! You have been chosen to face a challenge unlike any other. A test of your resolve, your creativity, your will to survive. And when we return, we will see who among you has the strength to stand against us.¡±
¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry I rushed into that quest only to disappear on you guys earlier,¡± Aiden said, his heart pounding, his legs shaking, as thoughts started to shoot through his head. ¡°After I ensured that AeriKnight was safe, I immediately came back, looking for you.¡±
¡°We were fine,¡± Winterhell said, ¡°I think we and the other players needed a push anyway. Plus had you checked our party chat, you would have known that we were ok, where we were, and that we were worried about you.¡± She said the last few words with a surprising amount of emotions in her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know what your aversion with chats comes from, but you need to help us look after you once in a while, instead of waiving your hero complex around like a lunatic.¡±
¡°She¡¯s right you know,¡± Skal said, his toothy grin partially returning, though he was clearly still very uncomfortable with not running away, ¡°you¡¯d be surprised at how much more you can accomplish, once you embrace the power of friendship.¡±
Aiden gave his companions a bright and honest smile. ¡°You guys really are more than I deserve, and I mean that in the best and worst possible way.¡±
He summoned his loot, his entire frame practically shaking with nervous energy, his knuckles white as he held his sturdy lute in his hands.
¡°You¡¯re going to do something stupid, aren¡¯t you?¡± Skal muttered.
¡°Of course he is,¡± Winterhell answered, her bright smile returning, ¡°just look at him, he¡¯s practically off to save the world¡ or to destroy it, killing us all.¡±
Before either of his companions could say or do anything else, Aiden activated his Sonic Blink. The portal was too far away for him to close the distance in a single blink, so he darted across the battlefield, appearing and disappearing again as quickly as he was able to. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest that he could hardly hear his own thoughts, and more than once he had to apologize to players for knocking them over because of a poor landing.
The circular ring of armored soldiers and the portal they were defending quickly came closer until in one last flash of shimmering energy, he made one final blink, landing a few feet from Ashrend. Gasps rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to him.
Ashrend raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening into something far more dangerous. ¡°Well, well,¡± he drawled, his crimson gaze locking onto Aiden. ¡°A brave one. Or perhaps one with a deathwish.¡±
Aiden straightened, his fingers tightening around the neck of his lute. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of ultimatums, and tyrants rambling on in an endless and frankly bad evil villain monologue¡± he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him.
Ashrend chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a shiver down Aiden¡¯s spine. Then after glancing him up and down he spoke, ¡°Those are some pretty big words for a humble bard. You do realize who you¡¯re addressing, don¡¯t you?¡±
Before Aiden could respond, Nova stepped forward, her shimmering cloak of twilight hues billowing around her. Now that he was up close to her, he guessed that she was some sort of fae, though he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. Her voice was soft, yet it carried an icy sharpness that demanded attention. ¡°This is Ashrend of The Village of Pain.¡±
¡°Oh yeah?¡± he said, his voice steady. ¡°Well, I¡¯m Aiden¡ of the Fey.¡±
And with a resounding crack, he brought the lute, his stupid, trusty, marvellous lute down squarely on Ashrend¡¯s jaw.
The instrument shattered on impact, sending splinters of wood scattering to the ground. The crowd gasped, their collective disbelief hanging thick in the air. For a moment, everything was still. To Aiden¡¯s shock, a red health bar appeared below Ashrend¡¯s name, indicating that his blow had dealt absolutely no damage to him at all.
Then, Ashrend laughed. A low, menacing chuckle that grew into a full-throated roar. He touched his jaw, flexing it experimentally, before turning his piercing gaze back to Aiden.
¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to remember you, little Bard,¡± he said, his smile wicked. ¡°Aiden of the Fey. This is going to be great fun.¡±
Aiden took a step back, his broken lute still clutched in his trembling hands.The air crackled with tension as Ashrend¡¯s laughter echoed across the battlefield, a haunting promise of what was to come.
Ashrend, who by the looks of it was a Dark Elf, gave Aiden a predatory grin that would forever haunt him in his nightmares before speaking, ¡°well we¡¯ve come to deliver our little message, so we have no further business here. Play your songs for now little Bard, for in six months, our portals will open again, and my legions will come pouring out of them to consume you all.¡±
With that, he gave a nod to Havoc, who was probably a Demon, or perhaps an Oni, who bellowed a loud and sharp order, after which the circular formation promptly marched back into the portal.
After the last of the heavily armored soldiers disappeared into the shining light of the portal, Ashrend gave Aiden one final glance, ¡°remember this, little bard: I¡¯m not the villain here, I¡¯m just the enemy.¡±
And with that, he walked towards the portal and stepped into it, quickly followed by Havoc and Nova. Moments after they had passed through it, the bright lights and energetic humming coming from the portal faded, as it died down, leaving the Evergreen Glade in silence.
The silence lasted about 3 seconds.
There was a thunderous cacophony of noise erupting as many players cheered Aiden¡¯s outrageous actions. Some were transfixed where they stood, taking in what had just happened, while many more headed dispersed in all directions making their way back towards the ruined city of Lockhaven.
Aiden blinked back towards his companions, who were easier to find, since Winterhell was shooting her Celestial Ember into the sky like a flare.
¡°You really did it this time,¡± Winterhell said, crossing her arms as he reappeared next to them. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you just¡ hit him. With a lute.¡±
¡°Honestly, I thought it¡¯d bounce off,¡± Skal added, his grin returning despite the tension. ¡°You¡¯re lucky they didn¡¯t snap you in half.¡±
Aiden let out a shaky laugh, dismissing the shattered remains of his lute. ¡°Well,¡± he said, his voice tinged with a mix of humor and exhaustion, ¡°the quest did say to do the other thing.¡±
Winterhell groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. ¡°And you thought that was the other thing?¡±
With that, they burst into laughter, the tension that had been building up ever since they first set foot into the ruined villa, fought the Lurkers and the Umbral Sentinel in the courtyard, rushed through the city to get back to the portal and facing the ordeal in the Evergreen Glade disappeared as they revelled in the moment of having survived another ridiculous scenario, presumably crafted by the High Council.
After they finished celebrating, Aiden received a system notification:
Quest complete!
You have completed the quest: Figures from the Portal!
Reward: Shard of Ascension
¡°We¡¯ve got six months,¡± Skal said as the group''s laughter wore down. ¡°Let¡¯s make them count.¡±
Winterhell smirked, shaking her head. ¡°Of all the ways to start a war¡¡±
Chapter 13: New Friends and Old Enemies
The Evergreen Glade was in turmoil with players scattering in all directions after the conclusion of the most recent excitement. Many of the less-experienced and more casual players could be heard recounting the tale of an army overcoming waves of shadowborn monsters in an epic and desperate struggle, followed by the sudden and unexpected arrival of an evil tyrant and his henchmen, who demanded the entire gathering of players to kneel before their superior might, to then have their plans of dominion and dark conquest be thwarted by a daring bard who appeared in the nick of time to save the day, only to vanish just as mysteriously as he had arrived.
As the tale¡¯s retellings were taking on increasingly colourful variations, that were all just about as accurate as a drunk centaur trying to shoot an arrow at an apple placed upon the central head of a seven-headed hydra while blindfolded and spinning in circles, there was one person who wasn¡¯t having a great time with any of it, despite being at the centre of it all.
¡°I am Aiden, of the Fey,¡± Winterhell said, in a theatrical voice so deep and dramatic, that she burst out laughing.
¡°You''re never going to let this one go are you?¡± Aiden said with a groan, his voice tinged with regret. ¡°Was it really that bad?¡± He looked at Skal, his eyes pleading for some form of support from the Leonid.
¡°There are worse ways to become famous during a massive event that''s definitely being streamed 24/7 all over the world and translated into just about every spoken language.¡± He paused for a moment, scratching his chin as if deep in thought and then continued, ¡°None come to mind at the moment, so my verdict is that you made a bold choice. Dramatic. Memorable. Also, completely ridiculous.¡±
After a quiet moment, Skal glanced at Aiden and saw honest disappointment painted on his friend¡¯s face. ¡°But hey, you pulled off something that nobody else has the plums to even try doing, and you completed your quest, more or less. So ultimately, it doesn¡¯t matter what other people say or think,¡± he added hastily, trying to contain the damage he and Winterhell were inadvertently causing to Aiden¡¯s morale.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Aiden said, his face lightening up again slightly, ¡°I am pretty great.¡±
¡°There¡¯s just no winning with this guy,¡± Skal capitulated.
¡°I do wonder,¡± Aiden said after a moment of contemplation, ¡°that quest was weird right?¡±
¡°You mean how its objective was vague and its description unconvincing?¡± Winterhell answered. ¡°It barely felt like a real quest at all. It felt like a dare more than anything, if you ask me.¡±
¡°I¡¯d be curious to know, if other players got something similar,¡± Aiden said, ¡°just like how you two also got a quest to save AeriKnight, and I just happened to take action before the others who did get something were able to come up with a plan of their own.¡±
¡°You could be right about that,¡± Skal said, ¡°but that¡¯s highly speculative for now, so best not to waste too much time on it.¡±
As if to interrupt their conversation, Aiden received a system notification.
New Quest available - A Dreaded Return
With a thought Aiden opened the system notification and read the quest description.
New Quest - A Dreaded Return
You have been given time to organise yourselves for the Village of Pain¡¯s return. Use this time to explore and uncover the secrets hidden in the city of Lockhaven, and brace yourselves for a climactic confrontation against a well-prepared opponent.
Objective: Defeat the Village of Pain
Duration: 6 Months
Reward: ???
This quest is not optional and has been automatically accepted.
A few moments later, a small countdown timer appeared in the top left corner of Aiden¡¯s field of vision counting down from 6 months.
¡°Well, that¡¯s subtle,¡± Winterhell said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Nothing screams ¡®impending doom¡¯ like a six-month timer.¡±
¡°It does feel a little¡ unnecessary doesn¡¯t it,¡± Skal agreed.
They stood together for a moment in silence letting the full scope and duration of the event sink in.
Winterhell, who couldn''t bear just standing there with Skal and Aiden saying and doing nothing, was the first to break the silence.
¡°So what do we do now?¡± she asked, looking back and forth between the two.
¡°I don''t know about you guys,¡± Aiden answered, ¡°but I did get a couple of Genesis Orbs and Shards of Ascension and wouldn''t mind finding a quiet place to use them.¡±
¡°Same here,¡± Skal agreed, ¡°I''m sure we could find a place in the ruins, or if we wait here long enough, eventually we''ll be the only ones left in the Glade.¡±
¡°Right, but I mean, what''s our plan, as in big picture stuff?¡± Winterhell said.
¡°Getting new abilities is the plan,¡± Aiden said. ¡°Well it''s our next logical step. After that we should probably go back to Bleeker Street and complete the guild raid. I have a sneaking suspicion that we''ll find a follow-up quest of sorts once we do.¡±
¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± Skal said. ¡°But you''re forgetting that we''re a couple of players short in order to qualify for that raid.¡±
¡°Right¡ that did slip my mind,¡± Aiden said, scratching the back of his head. He paused for a moment and then after collecting his thoughts he continued, ¡°alright, updated plan, gain amazing magical powers, find a handful of daring heroes to join our motley crew, complete the guild raid and then wait for our next objective to reveal itself to us.¡±
Skal and Winterhell exchanged a few sceptical glances, after which they both looked at Aiden.
¡°I really don''t want to say anything,¡± Skal said, ¡°because you look like you put at least some thought into this plan of yours, but¡¡±
He was interrupted by Aiden before he was able to finish, ¡°don''t you dare say it. My plan is great. It gives us some short-term goals while we figure out what our mid-term objectives are going to be.¡±
¡°I hate to admit it, Skal,¡± Winterhell added, ¡°but he might be right. It''s not an amazing plan, but it''s also not terrible.¡±
Aiden beamed triumphantly, after which Winterhell hastily continued before he could say or do anything to make her regret the compliment. ¡°That being said, we really do need to find somebody with the right class or at least a knack for strategizing.¡±
¡°Not to mention we also need at least one player to fill in the tank position,¡± Skal added.
¡°I know, hence the updated plan,¡± Aiden said.
¡°And a brawler who can support Winterhell with DPS,¡± Skal continued, ignoring what Aiden had just said.
¡°Yes, I¡¯m fully aware that our party of three is still in need of some additional players to fill in some of our gaps,¡± Aiden said, his ears turning pink.
¡°Oh and a healer. I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t start with that. That¡¯s arguably the most important slot to fill,¡± Skal said while Winterhell cupped her face with her hands.
Aiden gave the Leonid a flat look. ¡°Anything else?¡± he said, daring the big man to continue.
¡°Well since you¡¯ve brought it up,¡± Skal said, ¡°I could really go for a meatball sandwich right about now.¡±
With a deep sigh and a suppressed grin, Aiden turned back towards the ruins of Lockhaven. ¡°We¡¯d better get moving,¡± he said.
***
After traversing the Evergreen Glade, the trio made their way back towards the grand stone archway they had previously used during their mad rush to get to the portal in time. Their pace was that of a casual stroll, which seemed out of place, since most other players were in a hurry to explore the ruins of Lockhaven as quickly as possible.
¡°Skal, please explain this to me,¡± Aiden said addressing the Paladin, ¡°you said that you received the same quest to save AeriKnight, the Elf, as I did back when the Lurkers first started flooding the Glade.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Skal said, ¡°what of it?¡±
¡°Well, I was just wondering why you didn¡¯t accept the quest to save her. I mean, you saved me and Winterhell during our fight against the Umbral Sentinel, and our odds weren¡¯t exactly great back then either. Even if you did introduce yourself as a savior of scrubs as a joke, I¡¯m pretty sure that at least some of that bravado was genuine.¡±
They left the edge of the Evergreen Glade and walked through the archway. The trio could see significantly more activity in the city than when they had previously walked its streets. Anywhere they looked, there were players on their way to explore collapsed buildings and narrow side alleys in the hopes of making any discovery that would give them an advantage in their preparations for the return of the Village of Pain.
Skal took a couple of moments to think about Aiden¡¯s question, then after making up his mind, he started to speak. ¡°It¡¯s all a matter of perspective and circumstances, Aiden. Unlike you, I''m fully aware of my own mortality and don''t want to tempt lady luck any more than I need to.¡±
Skal gave Aiden another pensive glance before continuing again. ¡°It''s not like I had to rush into an unknown and desperate fight to save you and Winterhell. After all, I did have enough time to watch you two hold your ground well enough before joining the fight. And since I was looking for allies to join anyway, putting on a bit of a show for you guys seemed like the best way to demonstrate what I have to offer in terms of skill and abilities.¡±
¡°That''s a surprisingly pragmatic way of looking at things,¡± Winterhell said as they started to walk down 2nd street, ¡°not that there''s anything wrong with that. I guess that I was so preoccupied with trying to survive back when you came, that I didn''t really consider your motivations.¡±
¡°I''m not saying that I didn''t put my fur on the line to save you,¡± Skal said. ¡°It was a calculated risk that I felt was worth taking, and looking back, I''d probably do it again.¡± His face took a serious expression, his tone flattening slightly as he continued. ¡°The Elf is a different story. While she did rub me the wrong way when we first ran past her and her group, I honestly didn''t waste any time thinking about her after she''d ignored our warnings. When I got the quest, I simply couldn¡¯t think of a course of action during which I could realistically save her while not getting myself killed at the same time.¡±
Before Aiden could respond, a sharp voice interrupted them, coming from behind them, near the archway.
¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the infamous Aiden, of the Fey,¡± the voice drawled.
The trio turned to see a red-skinned Goblin with comically long ears, a wicked smile and small but razor sharp teeth leaning casually against a crumbled column. His simple armor was a patchwork of practical leather, and a pair of sharp, calculating yellow eyes gleamed with playful malice.
The Goblin pushed off the column and started to stroll towards them with confidence. He opened his arms wide as he started to speak, ¡°You¡¯ve certainly upgraded your theatrics since we last crossed paths.¡±
¡°Is this a friend of yours?¡± Winterhell asked as she eyed the approaching Goblin wearily.
¡°Hard to say,¡± Aiden said, ¡°apart from you guys, I don¡¯t really have any.¡±
¡°What? Really?¡± Winterhell said, ¡°that just might be the saddest thing I¡¯ve heard all week.¡±
¡°Do you have any enemies?¡± Skal added, not wanting to linger on a touchy subject.
¡°I do have a couple,¡± Aiden said, which was answered by an immediate moan from Skal.
¡°Because of course you do. Do any of them have the inclination to hold the sort of grudge that would lead them to seek you out after you so foolishly announced yourself in front of every player in the event, in order to exact their vengeance for whatever it was you did to wrong them?¡± the Leonid asked, fearing Aiden¡¯s answer.
¡°That does narrow the list down significantly. In fact it only really leaves one name,¡± Aiden said, as the Goblin came to a halt in front of the trio.
¡°I hate where this is going,¡± Skal said, standing tall, his tail flicking with anticipation, as if preparing to pounce at any moment.
The stranger stood before them, his eyes darting back and forth between Aiden, Skal and Winterhell, as if taking their measure. After a moment, he grinned, pleased with his findings, and placed his hands on his hips.
¡°You wound me, this isn¡¯t the warm welcome I was expecting from my old nemesis,¡± he said, his eyes fixed on Aiden, who in turn stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the Goblin.
Aiden didn¡¯t say anything for a long moment, his eyes meeting the Goblin¡¯s stare, causing the Goblin¡¯s grin to widen further. Winterhell and Skal, who began to feel very uneasy during the entire wordless exchange, we''re unsure about what was going to happen next. A flicker of recognition sparked in Aiden¡¯s eyes causing the Goblin¡¯s grin to grow so wide that all his yellow dagger-like teeth could be seen.
¡°Echo?¡± Aiden said hesitantly, ¡°is that you?¡±
The Goblin gave a mock bow, flourishing an invisible hat. ¡°Indeed, my friend! It is I, Echo, the greatest all-around troublemaker to ever grace the Flemish National Qualifiers.¡±
Aiden groaned. ¡°Troublemaker is right. You¡¯re the only person who ever managed to turn a King of the Hill match into a national incident, forcing the royal family to get involved.¡±
¡°Ah, you remember!¡± Echo said, feigning delight. ¡°I knew you wouldn''t forget about me. Though I must say, your performance back there...¡± He waved a hand vaguely toward the Glade. ¡°Wasn¡¯t your best work. ¡®I am Aiden, of the Fey¡¯? Really?¡±
As he spoke, his name and level became visible for Aiden, Skal and Winterhell to see.
Echo - Level 6
Winterhell stifled a laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know who this guy is, but I like him already.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t encourage him,¡± Aiden said flatly, shooting Echo a withering look.
Skal, still tense, took a step forward and looked at Aiden, his voice with a mix of outrage and disbelief. ¡°You know Echo? As in the Echo who made the global top 500 in 1V1 Arena combat last year? And you just... forgot to mention that?¡±
Aiden, whose face took a slightly embarrassed expression, nodded before speaking, ¡°How was I supposed to bring that up naturally? We used to participate in the same regional and national qualifiers, so our paths would cross regularly. It¡¯s honestly no big deal.¡±
Echo, who was delighted by the name recognition, stood a little taller, beaming with pride. Skal, who didn¡¯t entirely trust the situation they were in, took another step forward, placing himself between Aiden and Echo.
Skal¡¯s broad frame cast a shadow over the much smaller Goblin, who in turn tilted his head up to meet Skal¡¯s fierce gaze. His grin twitched as if he couldn''t quite decide whether to maintain his bravado or take a step back.
With gravel in his voice Skal spoke: ¡°What do you want, Goblin?¡±
Echo¡¯s sharp yellow eyes flicked to Skal, and for the first time, his grin faltered, just slightly. ¡°Relax, big guy. I¡¯m not here to pick a fight¡.yet.¡± His gaze shifted back to Aiden. ¡°I¡¯m here to offer... an opportunity.¡±
¡°Lucky us,¡± Winterhell muttered under her breath.
Aiden frowned, folding his arms as he in turn appraised Echo. ¡°So, let me guess, you¡¯re here looking to tag along and cause trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Echo placed a hand on his chest as if offended. ¡°Tag along? Trouble? Dearest Aiden, it¡¯s like you don¡¯t know me at all.¡± His grin widened mischievously.
Aiden gave him a flat look, ¡°well, why don¡¯t you enlighten me on whatever this ¡®opportunity¡¯ is that you have in store for us.¡±
Echo did his best to broaden his shoulders and widen his stance, which fell completely flat while he was standing close to Skal, raised a knowing finger before speaking. ¡°Well I can¡¯t help but notice that your little party here is incomplete, and my offer is to help fill in the ranks, and perhaps to cause a little trouble.¡±
¡°How is that any different from what I just said?¡± Aiden said, his cheeks turning red.
Skal, who still wasn¡¯t buying the Goblin¡¯s show interrupted the two before they got carried away with what he felt was more hot nonsense he and Winterhell could possibly contain.. ¡°What¡¯s your class?¡± he asked, his tone blunt, ¡°and what makes you think that our party needs any more members?¡±
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The goblin¡¯s grin sharpened. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll find out soon enough. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m very good at what I do. And what I do is....¡±
¡°Not very nice,¡± Aiden finished for him. ¡°Now answer the question.¡±
¡°Alright alright, let¡¯s not get hasty now,¡± he said, and pointed a long crooked finger at Winterhell, ¡°you''re a sorceress. That makes you a nice, soft and squishy spellcaster. My guess is that you can either dish out a massive amount of damage in a very short time, or perhaps your abilities allow you to deal out damage at a moderate and consistent rate. Either way, you¡¯ll always need one of those two to stand between you and the bad thing.¡± The last part he spoke while pointing at Aiden and Skal respectively.
He looked Skal up and down before continuing his assessment. ¡°And you, you¡¯re a paladin. That can put in you a couple of different roles, but I¡¯d be willing to bet that you¡¯re currently neither a proper frontliner nor a real tank, so you¡¯re stuck trying to do both, and since you¡¯re the only real melee combatant in the party that doesn¡¯t currently have a healer, that means that when things start going south, you¡¯re the first to be at risk.
Skal and Winterhell both looked at each other with expressions of disbelief, but before either of them could say anything, Echo continued his monologue.
¡°Now what to say about you Aiden? You¡¯re obviously a bard, but everybody who witnessed you in the Evergreen Glade knows that. How exactly Ashrend found out that you¡¯re a bard, I don¡¯t know, but that¡¯s a different topic.¡± He cleared his throat as if to prepare for a great and dramatic reveal. ¡°Bards are known to have a really diverse portfolio regarding their abilities and archetypes they can fulfill depending on the needs of their party. You however probably haven¡¯t unlocked your core abilities yet and are stuck between being a supporting utility specialist and a lackluster damage dealer, considering how you¡¯ve been using your lute.¡±
Skal¡¯s tail flicked, his ears twitching at the Goblin¡¯s words. ¡°Those are a lot of bold assumptions,¡± he said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t help but notice that you still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±
¡°And you¡¯d be right to notice, because I haven¡¯t told you yet,¡± Echo said with a mischievous grin. ¡°I received the manhunter class,¡± Echo said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s a rogue subclass, and it¡¯s highly specialized. Tracking, laying down traps and preparing ambushes, and of course, neutralizing priority targets. Think of me as the fine scalpel to your big, fuzzy hammer.¡±
¡°I hate to admit it,¡± Skal said, his tail twitching uneasily, ¡°but any sort of rogue at all would be really useful.¡±
Winterhell gave Aiden an encouraging smile, ¡°you¡¯re our party leader Aiden. I don¡¯t really know what to say, but Skal¡¯s right. If what Echo says is true, then we would really benefit from having him join us.¡±
Aiden, who was taken by surprise by Winterhell¡¯s statement of his apparent leadership, was about to open his mouth to speak, but before he could answer, a commotion erupted nearby. Shouts and excited murmurs filled the air, drawing the group¡¯s attention toward a gathering of players near a dilapidated stone building they had previously not paid much attention to. Whatever the building had once been, it was little more than a crumbling ruin.
¡°What¡¯s going on over there?¡± Aiden asked.
¡°Let¡¯s find out,¡± Skal said, already heading toward the crowd.
¡°So, is it safe to assume that you¡¯ve all fallen in love with the idea of me joining, and I¡¯m in?¡± Echo said with a wink.
¡°Shut up, Echo,¡± Aiden muttered while sending him a party invitation, as they approached the crowd. A few moments later, Aiden received a system notification:
Player Echo - Level 6 has joined your party.
He gave the Goblin a sharp look before speaking. ¡°Consider yourself on probation.¡±
To the group¡¯s surprise, there were a dozen players clustered around a shimmering portal that had opened in the middle of the ruined building¡¯s rubble. The portal was circular, its surface rippling like water, and faint glimmers of light danced across its edges.
The portal itself appeared small in comparison to the one they had seen in the Evergreen Glade, being just tall and wide enough for one person to walk through without having to lower their head.
As the group pushed through the cluster of players surrounding the portal, the figure at the center of the commotion came into focus. Standing tall, was a man clad in a suit of armor that looked like a chaotic blend of scavenged scraps and a grandiose, imperial militaristic style. Massive, overbuilt shoulder pauldrons bore jagged edges and crude insignias, while his chest plate was a patchwork of dented metal slabs reinforced with bolts and heavy rivets. What looked like fragments of a ceremonial blade had been repurposed into shin guards, and a crude helmet, resembling a bucket hammered into shape, was adorned with a crest of twisted wire and scrap. Despite the ramshackle appearance, there was an undeniable air of determination about him, amplified by the booming voice that carried over the murmurs of the crowd.
¡°I¡¯m telling you, this is our chance to get a head start!¡± the man declared, gesturing emphatically toward the shimmering portal behind him. ¡°The quest is simple: clear the dungeon, restore this building to its former glory, and claim the spoils. Glory awaits!¡±
Aiden exchanged a skeptical glance with Skal, and muttered, ¡°Looks like he built that armor out of a scrap pile.¡±
¡°That¡¯s pretty rich coming from the guy who''s only armour consists of a pair of worn leather boots,¡± Winterhell said, nudging him gently.
Before Aiden could answer, the armored figure spotted them and immediately waved them over with exaggerated enthusiasm. ¡°You there! Newcomers! You¡¯ve got the look of capable fighters. How about joining me in this noble quest?¡±
The group lead by Aiden stopped short, exchanging another glance. Aiden hesitated before stepping forward, folding his arms. ¡°Who are you, and what exactly are you trying to convince everyone to do?¡±
The man straightened, or tried to, and pounded a fist against his chest plate, which gave a dull clang. ¡°I am Optimus, the iron fist of the Barthos Legion!¡± He paused for effect, though the lack of recognition on anyone¡¯s face seemed to deflate him slightly. ¡°And by iron fist, I mean... aspiring leader. This could be the start of something big. A guild. A legacy. But only if brave souls like yourselves join me in this grand venture!¡± As he spoke, his name and level appeared above his head for Aiden and his companions to see.
Optimus - Level 4
Winterhell raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what exactly is this ¡®grand venture¡¯?¡±
Optimus gestured dramatically at the portal behind him. ¡°This building, or what¡¯s left of it, is tied to a raid quest. Completing it will not only restore the building but reward those who participate with treasure! It¡¯s the perfect opportunity to get stronger while rebuilding Lockhaven.¡±
¡°Why aren¡¯t you in there already?¡± Skal asked, crossing his arms.
Optimus hesitated, his hand scratching the back of his makeshift helmet. ¡°Well, you see, it¡¯s a party quest. Minimum of five players recommended, and I haven¡¯t quite got the numbers for it yet. I may be bold, but I¡¯m not reckless.¡±
¡°Sounds debatable,¡± Winterhell muttered.
¡°Let me get this straight,¡± Aiden said, his tone flat. ¡°You¡¯re standing here in this scrap metal cosplay, trying to convince random strangers to join you in an unknown dungeon?¡±
Optimus puffed out his chest. ¡°It¡¯s not cosplay. I have the Scrapmaster class. It¡¯s an Artificer subclass, and constructing this armour from bits and pieces is one of my class abilities! And yes, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m doing. This is a chance to restore a piece of Lockhaven, an important step in preparing for the Village of Pain¡¯s return. If we succeed, we¡¯ll leave a lasting mark on this city and gain valuable rewards in the process.¡±
¡°What¡¯s stopping all these people from going in with you?¡± Winterhell asked, gesturing at the crowd.
Optimus lowered his voice conspiratorially. ¡°Let¡¯s just say most of them don¡¯t have the guts. They¡¯re waiting to see if someone else goes in first.¡± He turned his gaze back to the trio. ¡°But you¡¡± his eyes went wide with recognition as he took in Aiden standing next to his friends. ¡°You¡¯re him!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°The guy who hit Ashrend in the face with a guitar or something.¡±
Aiden¡¯s ears turn a dark shade of red as excited murmurs came from the gathered players surrounding the small portal.
¡°It¡¯s that Hayden guy!¡± one voice exclaimed.
¡°Shut up fool!¡± another answered, ¡°it¡¯s Aidman of the fairies.¡±
The fact that these players couldn¡¯t see Aiden¡¯s name above his head told him that they must have been standing too far away from the portal for them to hear his bold exclamation. Aiden had guessed that there must have been a range limit to his ¡®introduction¡¯, and he felt relieved that at least not all players knew his name, though he wasn¡¯t sure if players getting his name as wrong as his present company was an improvement or not.
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°It¡¯s Aiden, of the Fey,¡± he muttered under his breath, though it seemed unlikely anyone would hear him over the growing din of speculation.
Winterhell leaned in, trying and failing to stifle a grin. ¡°You¡¯re practically a celebrity now. Maybe you should start handing out autographs.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t encourage them,¡± Aiden hissed. ¡°And you¡¯re the one who keeps mocking my introduction.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± Winterhell replied, her tone far too cheerful. ¡°It¡¯s so... iconic.¡±
Optimus, who had been watching this exchange with wide-eyed curiosity, clapped his hands together suddenly, the sound echoing like a gong. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the hero of the Evergreen Glade: Aiden, the fearless bard who dared to strike Ashrend himself!¡±
¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± Aiden muttered as more heads turned their way.
Skal stepped in, his voice a low growl. ¡°Alright, Optimus, enough theatrics. If you want our help, maybe try a little less fanfare and a little more information about what¡¯s waiting in that portal.¡±
Optimus¡¯s expression turned serious, well, as serious as anyone could look in armor held together by hope and magic, though mostly magic. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said, nodding gravely. ¡°The quest description is pretty vague, so it¡¯s hard to guess what sort of raid to expect. ¡®Clear the dungeon and restore the building to its former glory¡¯, but it¡¯s tied to Lockhaven¡¯s restoration which seems like a pretty big deal to me. This could be a vital step in strengthening the city before the Village of Pain returns.¡±
¡°Let me guess,¡± Winterhell interjected. ¡°You don¡¯t have a clue what''s behind that portal.¡±
¡°Not the slightest idea,¡± Optimus admitted, scratching the back of his helmet again. ¡°But, unless the devs filled the raid with TPK deathtraps, my guess is that we shouldn¡¯t encounter anything a well-balanced party can¡¯t handle.¡±
¡°Speaking of which,¡± Echo chimed in, ¡°our party consists of a Bard, a Sorceress, a Paladin and a dashingly handsome Manhunter. What do you have to add in order to turn us into a well-balanced party as you put it?¡±
Optimus clapped his hands together, the sound echoing like a muted gong thanks to the scrap metal pieces covering him. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d ask! Allow me to introduce the other brave souls who¡¯ve agreed to venture into the unknown with me.¡±
He stepped aside, revealing a woman who had been behind him, hidden by his bulky form. A long, dark cloak swayed slightly as she walked forward, its deep folds concealing much of her figure. Yet, her presence was undeniable, her long, burning red hair shimmered like fire in the sunlight, and her radiant, golden eyes seemed to pierce through any veil of doubt.
¡°This,¡± Optimus announced dramatically, ¡°is Aviria, a Warleader. Half strategist, half fighter, and a complete badass.¡±
Aviria nodded once, her expression calm and focused. ¡°I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves,¡± she said, her voice low but clear, with a hint of authority that made everyone straighten slightly, as her name appeared above her head.
Aviria - Level 5
¡°And now,¡± Optimus continued, gesturing with exaggerated flair toward the second figure standing nearby, ¡°allow me to present DeadPixel!¡±
A bronze-colored figure stepped forward, his movements smooth and deliberate despite his metallic form. His body was an elegant blend of form and function, with stylized edges and curves that made him look like a work of art brought to life. He wore a simple white tunic that contrasted sharply with his bronze skin and held a polished staff etched with glowing symbols.
DeadPixel inclined his head respectfully, his deep voice resonating as he spoke. ¡°Cleric of the Holy Forge.¡±
DeadPixel - Level 4
Winterhell raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you¡¯re our healer, then?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± DeadPixel said, his bronze face unreadable, though his tone held a trace of amusement. ¡°I¡¯m he who decides if you live or die, though I do also heal.¡±
Aiden and Winterhell were taken aback by DeadPixels direct and bold statement and weren¡¯t entirely sure if they should be amused or terrified by what the cleric had just said. Skal on the other hand burst out with laughter stepping forward and clapping DeadPixel on the back which gave a dull metallic thud.
¡°This one has spirit! I like him!¡± He said, his roaring voice filled with delight.
A moment later, Aiden received a system notification.
Player Optimus has invited you to join their party!
Accept Y/N?
Aiden sighed, looking from Winterhell to Skal, then to Echo, who was standing off to the side with a smirk on his face. ¡°Fine,¡± Aiden said, addressing Optimus while accepting the party invitation. ¡°We¡¯ll go in with you, but only because this might actually be important for Lockhaven, and because we need to test out our new addition.¡± He shot a pointed look at Echo.
¡°Excellent,¡± Optimus said with a bright smile, after which Aiden received another notification, indicating that Optimus had shared the quest details with him.
New Quest - Raid for Ricky¡¯s Emporium
You have discovered a Raid Portal. These portals are the key to bring forth the restoration of the ruined city of Lockhaven. Completing this raid will restore Ricky¡¯s Emporium.
Objective: Complete the raid and defeat the portal guardian.
Duration: 1 Hour
Reward: ???
Recommended Raid size: 5 participants with at least 20 total levels.
Echo gave a mock salute. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, fearless leader. I¡¯ll exceed your wildest expectations.¡±
¡°Or get us all killed,¡± Winterhell muttered.
¡°I¡¯m going to choose to be optimistic here,¡± Skal said, countering Winterhell¡¯s grim tone. ¡°It¡¯s either death, or not death.¡±
¡°Does it have to be a binary choice?¡± Echo said nervously.
¡°Yup,¡± Skal said casually, ¡°that¡¯s life¡¯s only true constant, either life keeps going, or it doesn¡¯t.¡±
¡°For a Paladin, you¡¯re really not great at inspiring me,¡± Echo said, which was only met with the sound of skal¡¯s laughter.
With that, the group turned their attention to the portal, its shimmering surface rippling like water under moonlight. Players continued murmuring and pointing as Aiden, Winterhell, Skal, Echo, and their new allies.
¡°Well,¡± Aiden said, his voice steady despite the nervous knot in his stomach. ¡°Let¡¯s make some history.¡±
Winterhell, who didn¡¯t feel quite as optimistic as Skal, gave Aiden a semi-serious glance, ¡°if this goes sideways and we all kick the bucket, I¡¯m holding you personally accountable.¡±
Together, they stepped through the portal. The air shimmered around them, and with a flash of light, the ruins of Lockhaven disappeared behind them.
Chapter 14: Reckless Party Protection Program
Stepping through the portal felt like diving into cold water. Aiden quickly discovered that entering the portal felt nothing like his Sonic Blink. Using his ability felt like snapping forward with one sharp, and precise jump. One moment he was in one place, the next he was in another, with barely a flicker of sensation in between. It was a clean break, like flipping a page in a book.
The portal on the other hand was a different experience entirely. He barely had time to brace himself before the sensation of movement, weightless and disorienting, washed over him. The darkness of the portal churned around him and his companions, warping space like an ink-black tide, before abruptly spitting them out onto solid ground.
Aiden stumbled forward, his worn boots kicking up dust as he caught himself. The others emerged behind him in staggered motions, each reacting differently to the transition. Skal landed with natural ease and grace, Winterhell shook off the momentary dizziness with an annoyed grunt, while Echo simply blinked, looking mildly impressed.
DeadPixel straightened smoothly, his metallic form eerily steady, and Optimus thudded onto the ground with a loud clang, his scrap-metal armor rattling on impact. Aviria adjusted her shimmering cloak, her golden eyes narrowing as she took in their surroundings.
At first glance, they appeared to still be in Lockhaven. Or at least, in what Aiden guessed was a version of it.
The crumbling ruins that were the remains of Ricky¡¯s Emporium had changed drastically. Instead of a pile of collapsed stone and rotting wood, a dilapidated but still-standing building loomed before them. The skeletal remains of walls now had just enough structure to be recognizable, arched windows, soot-stained woodwork, and a sagging balcony clinging to the second floor. The remnants of an old wooden sign, barely legible through the years of grime and decay, dangled above the entrance, the last traces of paint spelling out Ric¡ Em¡ium before it faded entirely.
¡°This looks like it could have been a tavern of sorts,¡± Aiden murmured, stepping forward.
It wasn¡¯t just the sign. There were subtle clues all around them. Rusted lanterns still hung from the beams, their glass shattered but the metal frames intact. A handful of overturned tables, long since weathered into splintered husks, laid in front of the building on the crumbled sidewalk. The doorway, though broken at the hinges, was tall and wide, large enough to accommodate a steady flow of foot traffic of various shapes and sizes, giving the impression of having been designed for a place where people gathered.
Winterhell followed his gaze. ¡°Yeah... I can see it. Not just a random shop, somewhere people met, planned and drank.¡±
¡°It makes sense,¡± DeadPixel added, his voice thoughtful. ¡°Ricky¡¯s Emporium,¡± he said, letting the name sink in. ¡°It¡¯s an unusual name. An emporium, typically, refers to a marketplace or a hub of sorts. This place could have been a trading post, but given the signs... perhaps it was built for adventurers.¡±
¡°That sounds like a lovely theory and all, but where in the nine circles of bureaucracy are we?¡± Skal asked, his nose twitching. His fur bristled slightly, his keen senses picking up on something the others hadn¡¯t noticed yet.
That¡¯s when Aiden saw it.
At the edges of the street, where the buildings should have continued, reality, in the conventional sense that Aiden understood it, ended.
A shimmering bubble enclosed the area they were currently occupying, forming an enormous dome-like barrier that separated them from the rest of this strange and alien alternate version of Lockhaven. Beyond the barrier, the city stretched into infinity, but in broken and fragmented ways. Streets and structures flickered in and out of existence, like half-finished thoughts unraveling in real time. Some buildings repeated themselves, existing in multiple places at once before collapsing into static, only to reassemble elsewhere.
And then there were the holes.
Jagged, irregular gaps lined the edges of the bubble, each looking like areas where the universe simply failed to exist. Aiden¡¯s stomach churned as he stared into one. The sensation felt like staring into a void that wasn''t just empty, it was an endless nothing. And yet, somehow, it contained everything. Like a hole in reality that shouldn¡¯t exist, yet did, and simply by looking at it, his mind rebelled against the impossibility of it all.
Winterhell shuddered beside him. ¡°Aiden... do you see that?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± His voice came out quieter than he intended. ¡°They¡¯re¡.concerning.¡±
Echo let out a low whistle. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not at all ominous and terrifying.¡±
¡°Those¡ holes look like ideal gateways for shapeless horrors trapped within the blind eternities of the multiverse to enter into our reality and to consume us all,¡± DeadPixel said as casually as if interdimensional breaches were as common a nuisance as a leaky faucet, that dripped once every couple of minutes, just long enough to forget about it before dripping again.
Aiden, Winterhell, Skal and Echo stood in shocked and horrified silence at what DeadPixel had just said.
¡°Why would you say something like that?¡± Winterhell exclaimed, while discovering a whole new fear that would likely haunt her for the rest of her life.
¡°Why wouldn''t I say it?¡± DeadPixel responded. ¡°I mean, look at those things and tell me you''re not at least half expecting eldridge monstrosities to emerge from those hole¡rift¡ things.¡±
¡°Well of course we are,¡± Aiden said, ¡°but we''re not going to tempt fate by saying it out loud.¡±
¡°Fate?¡± DeadPixel asked, raising a metallic brow, which made it difficult for Winterhell to not smirk at. ¡°What does fate have to do with any of this?¡±
¡°Because fate can''t wait to kill us all,¡± Skal said. ¡°Tempting fate is basically the same thing as writing a letter to the High Council with all your fears, weaknesses and shortcomings, hoping that they''d just file it away without ever using any of it to design specific quests and encounters that cause your worst nightmares to come to life.¡±
¡°Huh,¡± DeadPixel muttered to himself, ¡°I suppose I never looked at it that way.¡±
Optimus, oblivious to the existential horror unfolding at the edges of their reality and the ongoing crisis Winterhell suddenly found herself in, clapped his hands together. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s get moving. If this place was a tavern, it might have something useful inside. Maybe even a hint about what we need to do.¡±
Aviria was already studying the magical bubble, her sharp eyes scanning its perimeter. ¡°This doesn¡¯t appear to be any sort of illusion that I¡¯m familiar with,¡± she muttered. ¡°We¡¯re somewhere else entirely, maybe even some¡ time else. A fragment of the past, maybe, or a separate plane intersecting with Lockhaven.¡±
Skal exhaled, his ears flicking in agitation. ¡°Whatever it is, I don¡¯t like it.¡±
Aiden turned back toward the dark entrance of Ricky¡¯s Emporium, the rotted wood still standing just enough to cast long, menacing shadows inside.
A breeze rolled through the fractured streets, rattling the remnants of the old tavern sign. It swayed on rusted chains, groaning softly against the wind.
Aiden clenched his fists. This wasn¡¯t part of the plan, he thought as he took in the alien scenery. None of this was part of the plan, or rather things were happening in the wrong order.
He had tried to be methodical. The plan had been supposed to be simple: get new abilities, find the right teammates, and then, and only then tackle quests.It was supposed to be simple. If he had stuck to that, he could have kept control, could have kept everybody safe.
But instead, they had jumped into a dungeon raid on impulse before being fully prepared, and now they were standing in a strange alternate version of Lockhaven that felt like it could, at any moment, break apart at the seams.
Nothing ever went as planned, and he felt that it was all his fault. To make things worse, his friends had followed him willingly into the portal, relying on his leadership to make the right call, to keep them safe. A cold shudder ran down his spine as he thought of AeriKnight and her own poor judgement that had gotten all her party members killed. His stomach twisted as he remembered the panic in her eyes as she had realized, too late, that she had led her group to their deaths. He didn¡¯t want his friends to end up like her ill-fated companions.
Winterhell¡¯s voice cut through the fog of his mind.
¡°What are you overthinking this time, Aiden?¡±
Her tone was light, teasing, but he could hear the undercurrent of concern beneath it. She knew. Maybe not everything, but enough to see that he was spiraling. And she wasn¡¯t about to let him disappear into his own head again.
Also she didn¡¯t have any more clubs she could use to knock his senses back should she need to.
Aiden exhaled sharply. Winterhell was here. Skal was here, even that insufferable Echo was here. They weren¡¯t dead. They believed in him.
He looked at her, reading the easy confidence in her smirk. And he realized something else.
He wasn¡¯t AeriKnight. And this wasn¡¯t her party.
He saw Optimus with a look of dissatisfaction plainly written on his face. Aiden guessed that he was expecting everybody to fall into rank behind his leadership and to charge screaming towards the remains of Ricky¡¯s Emporium. He and Aviria slowly tiptoeing towards the tavern¡¯s entrance, presumably to explore and to salvage anything of value.
His heart pounded, his thoughts racing as he weighed their options.. He looked back towards the portal and saw that it was still open, indicating that should things go poorly, they might be able to exit this strange place and regroup back on the other side.
As much as he hated to admit it, Pekisee was right in saying that this event wasn¡¯t for the faint of heart, and Aiden would be damned before he lost to that sentient dumpster fire. There was only one way he could think of that would result in him and his party making it out of this raid alive, and that was to gain more power, and to gain it now.
Aiden took a deep breath, his mind locking onto a single course of action. He turned to Winterhell, who was still giving him a concerned look.
¡°I appreciate you looking after me Winterhell,¡± he said, his voice a blend of genuine gratitude and firm conviction that surprised even him. ¡°But now is the time for me to look after you. I think we¡¯d be crazy to go any further in our current state, lacking power to properly defend ourselves against whatever this place has in store for us.¡±
Winterhell, who had been half-expecting Aiden¡¯s signature brand of turning goldfish into whales, blinked in surprise. ¡°I feel like you have a point you¡¯re trying to get to,¡± she said, ¡°so why don¡¯t you stop acting all melodramatic and just tell me what it is you have in mind?¡±
¡°It¡¯s going to be something ridiculous,¡± Skal said with a confident smile.
¡°Why would you outright assume that it¡¯s going to be something ridiculous?¡± DeadPixel asked, taken by surprise and feeling slightly worried by the possibility of having made a huge mistake in joining Aiden and his group for what was ultimately a completely unknown raid that could very well spell out the end of his contributions to the event he¡¯d been hoping to do well in.
Skal gave a short chuckle before continuing. ¡°You¡¯re new here, so I¡¯ll let you in on a little something. If Aiden is about to do something without giving much thought, then it¡¯s probably going to be ridiculous with a high chance of getting himself and others killed. But if he does something after thinking about it, then it¡¯s definitely going to be completely ridiculous with a practical guarantee of getting himself and others killed.¡±
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Skal gave DeadPixel a satisfied wide toothy grin, while Winterhell looked at him disapprovingly. After a brief moment of silence, the attention shifted back towards Aiden who was doing his best not to lose the resolve he was building up.
After a brief hesitation and an encouraging nod from Winterhell he finally spoke. ¡°Since our levels are currently so low, I don''t think we should go any further without first taking the time for Skal, Winterhell and myself to each use one Shard of Ascension in order to give us a better chance to get out of this place in one piece.¡±
DeadPixel stared at Aiden while Skal grinned triumphantly.
¡°You want to use power-ups in the middle of a potentially deeply hostile environment?¡± DeadPixel said his voice filled with disbelief.
¡°I told you,¡± Skal said, ¡°he never disappoints.¡±
¡°That sounds highly risky,¡± Echo said, ¡°are you sure you''ve thought this all the way through?¡±
¡°Thought this all the way through?¡± DeadPixel echoed the Goblin, ¡°Aiden have you gone crazy? Do you need me to spell out to you just how bad of an idea that is?¡±
Before he was able to say anything else, Aiden interrupted him, ¡°first off, I went crazy years ago, but that''s besides the point. And secondly, I''m fully aware of the risk of exposing ourselves out in the open like this, only to obtain new abilities.¡±
¡°Only to obtain random abilities from a system none of us fully understand. Abilities that we won''t be able to fully utilise because we wouldn''t have had any time to learn how to use properly,¡± DeadPixel interrupted Aiden, his voice growing louder. ¡°This isn¡¯t a risky plan, it¡¯s downright reckless and puts us all in danger.¡±
Optimus tried to weigh in, but went entirely unheard as Aiden matched DeadPixel¡¯s volume.
¡°You¡¯re right, DeadPixel, this is reckless. So I¡¯m calling this plan the Reckless Party Protection Program because it¡¯s the only way I can think of that will see us through this raid alive and in one piece.¡±
Aiden planted his feet firmly and looked DeadPixel straight in the eye. He knew he needed to push back hard, but he also needed to make sure that his new ally understood where he was coming from. This wasn¡¯t about arrogance or some delusions regarding his own genius. This was about the survival of his friends, and of the entire raiding party.
"You want to talk about risk?¡± Aiden continued. ¡°First off, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re in as much danger as you make it sound. The fact that we¡¯ve not been swarmed yet suggests to me that we need to trigger the enemy mobs to come at us somehow. Maybe by finding a specific item or entering a specific room in the tavern. But here¡¯s a guaranteed risk, if we don¡¯t power up now, we won¡¯t survive this raid. You, Optimus and Aviria would be dragged down by the rest of us. That¡¯s not a question, that¡¯s a fact. Whatever abilities we get, even if they aren¡¯t perfect, they will still be better than what we have right now.¡±
DeadPixel was taken aback by the sudden and surprisingly strong position Aiden was taking, and before he could add anything else, Aiden continued, spiraling into a bold, nerd-rage filled monologue.
"Right now, we''re practically walking into the unknown with nothing but a few tricks and some optimism. Winterhell has one spell. One. Skal is tough, sure, but one frontliner doesn¡¯t make a full party. If something attacks us in force, we¡¯d be done before the fight even starts. I can blink and bash in heads with my lute. For crying out loud, I¡¯m supposed to be a support caster, but I don¡¯t have any support spells."
DeadPixel lifted a finger to speak, but Aiden wasn¡¯t done yet.
¡°I¡¯m fully aware that the abilities we end up with might not be the perfect answer to our current predicament, but it¡¯s not like any of us fully understand the ones we do have anyway, so don¡¯t go around warning about the dangers of claiming new and unknown abilities, since that¡¯s all any of us have been doing so far, and saying anything contrary is simply naive. On top of everything, it¡¯s not like adding new abilities would damage our group synergies, since we don¡¯t even know what each other¡¯s specific abilities do, so adding new ones really won¡¯t make a big difference. Hell, I don¡¯t even know what race you got. Don¡¯t get me wrong, you look super cool, but I haven¡¯t got the slightest idea what you are and if you have any specific affinities.¡±
Aiden paused for a moment, trying to calm himself before getting carried away and saying something he¡¯d regret. After a deep breath, then continued, his voice lowered.
"We could run back through the portal, or it could just be a false exit that kills us all. If I need to choose between potential danger now or certain death later, then believe me, that¡¯s an easy choice to make. Should we have used our shards before stepping through the portal? Well yes, obviously, but here we are. I¡¯m not joking around when I say that I have every intention of getting us all back in one piece.¡±
DeadPixel studied Aiden for a long moment, then, in a quieter tone, said, "You actually believe this will work, don¡¯t you?"
Aiden didn¡¯t hesitate. "Yeah. I do."
DeadPixel stared at Aiden, unmoving. Silence stretched between them, tense and heavy. Then, finally, he exhaled, shaking his head. "You¡¯re insane." He crossed his arms, glancing between Aiden and the others before muttering, "But you¡¯re also probably right."
Aiden felt a wave of relief wash over him, but before he could do or say anything else, Skal let out a deep, booming laugh, clapping him on the shoulder so hard that he nearly knocked him over.
"See, DeadPixel?¡± the lion man said after he recovered enough to speak, ¡°Now you¡¯re getting it! Aiden¡¯s plans always sound insane, because they are." Skal grinned, flashing his fangs.
¡°And here I thought you were working your way towards a compliment,¡± Aiden said, straightening himself again.
¡°I was getting there,¡± Skal said with a wink. ¡°As I was saying, his plans always sound insane, but he hasn¡¯t been wrong yet.¡±
¡°I¡¯d take it if I were you,¡± Winterhell smirked, "that¡¯s the highest praise you¡¯re gonna get from him."
Optimus who looked entirely dissatisfied with the way things were unfolding before him crossed his arms. "This isn¡¯t a personal experiment, Aiden. It¡¯s a raid, and you¡¯re gambling with all of our lives." Optimus exhaled through his nose, his expression dark. "But since you¡¯re so determined, I won¡¯t waste my breath. We¡¯ll take up a defensive formation and hold the area. Make it quick, because the moment something comes for us, I¡¯m calling the shots."
No one responded.
Instead of the argument continuing, there was only silence, and not the charged, dramatic kind. Just the awkward, lingering kind where nobody wanted to acknowledge that someone had just said something and was expecting a reaction that wasn''t coming.
"I¡¯m a Talonite,¡± DeadPixel said, breaking the awkward silence.
That earned him several raised eyebrows.
"A what?" Echo asked.
"Talonite," DeadPixel repeated. "I¡¯ve never played as one before, and I¡¯d never even seen one in the game until I got the race with my genesis orb. Apparently, they¡¯re golem-like beings crafted by the forgotten gods of the forge. Something about being shaped from the bones of fallen worlds and given life through divine fire. Not gonna lie, sounds pretty metal."
Aiden squinted. ¡°Wait, are you saying you¡¯re literally a walking, talking divine weapon?¡±
DeadPixel crossed his arms, considering it. ¡°I guess? More like a living artifact, maybe. I don¡¯t actually know all the lore. I don¡¯t think that Talonites were even a playable race before this event, so maybe I just got super lucky?¡±
Skal grinned. ¡°Either way, that¡¯s a hell of an upgrade from just ¡®mysterious robot guy.¡¯¡±
DeadPixel smirked, his metal face shifting unnaturally in a way that shouldn¡¯t have been possible for steel. ¡°Glad to impress.¡±
Winterhell crossed her arms. "Alright, that¡¯s cool and all, but can we get back to the part where we become slightly less useless?"
Aiden exhaled and nodded. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s get this done.¡±
***
Aiden, Skal, Echo, DeadPixel, Optimus, and Aviria formed a tight defensive perimeter around Winterhell, keeping their focus on the eerie silence around them. Nothing had attacked yet, but that didn¡¯t mean it wouldn¡¯t.
Winterhell let out a slow breath, gripping the Shard of Ascension tightly with both hands. The fractured gem pulsed in her grasp, glowing faintly, as if responding to her touch.
She hesitated for the briefest of moments, and then with a mental prompt, she activated the shard.
A blinding, prismatic light erupted from the shard¡¯s core, its shattered edges releasing a swirl of iridescent energy. The colors danced wildly, forming a shifting aura of rainbow fire around Winterhell.
The air hummed with a haunting, melodic resonance, neither a song nor pure sound, but something caught right in between.
The light wrapped around her body, spiraling outward like a living storm, its hues pulsing through her veins. For an instant, it was chaotic, flames and ice battling in a swirling maelstrom, until suddenly, the aura collapsed inward.
The colors didn¡¯t disappear. They changed.
The rainbow glow faded, splitting into distinct elemental forces, crimson fire licking at her fingertips, and deep azure frost creeping up her arms.
Winterhell shuddered, eyes widening as the energy flowed, not just around her, but inside her. Her breath came out in a misty fog, even as the air around her shimmered with residual heat.
Then, in one final pulse, the magic settled.
A burst of multicolored light rippled outward, like an unseen force. Dust and debris lifted slightly from the ground before slowly drifting back down.
Winterhell stood motionless.
Her hands twitched. Her eyes still glowed, but with something deeper, an intensity that hadn''t been there before.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Aiden swallowed, the air still humming faintly around them. "...Winterhell?"
No response.
She was still staring straight ahead, her gaze locked onto the system notification floating in front of her, reading and re-reading the text, taking in the new information, as if afraid of missing something.
Then, without a word, she gave the mental command to share the ability description with the rest of the party.
DeadPixel, usually composed, actually let out a short, quiet laugh. A dry, disbelieving sound.
Then he shook his head, stepping forward. His metallic form cast deep shadows against the strange and alien landscape as he regarded Winterhell with something dangerously close to approval.
"Alright," he said with a grin, voice edged with something new.
"I take back my skepticism."
A beat of silence.
His golden eyes gleamed.
"I think we¡¯re going to get along just fine."