Firewood was precious in the desert, but the blackened ruins of Vurkhan offered plenty of charred timbers to hurl onto bonfires. The once glorious capital city of the human empire that was known as the invincible fortress of humanity now crumbled into ash and remnants of glory.
The scent of charred remains lingering in the air even though it was supposedly destroyed many years in the past. At least that is how it was told Marik thought to himself while preparing defensive spells and arranging the units in the tabs that were gleaming on the side of his sight, although they were large they were transparent unless he specifically was focusing on them allowing him to see them better.
The once lively streets now turned to ruin. The deep and inhumane roars echoing through the streets as well as the marching of soldiers as they were watching their incoming enemy slowly descending towards them. The grand roaring echoing through causing even the most fearless warriors to quiver. However, the treasures that once filled each glorious estate now completely empty, piled into the grand palace and created a nest for the Chimera. Offering plentiful reward for those willing to present a challenge.
That was indeed the case for Marik, the majestic tower shields’ luster in his hand only slightly less awe inspiring than that of the golden armor that protected his body, rather than a knight he looked more akin to a golden human tank. The prize tempted even him, the leader of a second level guild with many top-ranked players, although Warlord had only been out for a meager few months he had already claimed a spot in the top 10 player rankings by himself. He had carved a place out from the large companies. Marik used his own abilities and now he would use this quest as a steppingstone to create the first legend of Warlord.
Pointing a short-sword forward and commanding a unit of soldiers to charge into the fray of battle ahead, hundreds of winged beasts diving down to protect the heart of the city, preventing the soldiers advance even at the cost of their own lives.
The soldiers are but NPC hired mercenaries that he didn’t particularly care about, their effectiveness on the battlefield was obviously outshined his own faction completely. He knew that would be the case, he was able to see their stats and equipment beforehand which was indeed the reason he had taken out such an absorbent sum in preparation for this battle.
However just as he and his men were beginning to claim momentum the already harsh winds quickly began to stir, claiming many of the beasts as it pulled them into a sweeping tornado easily cutting through many of his soldiers ranks as well, devastating their moral.
“Marik! We didn’t prepare for this level of onslaught!” A caster in bright blue robes shouting out, making a strange motion with his hand, a common motion people used to open their inventory.
You think I don’t recognize that? Marik sighing inwardly, watching the bars on his right slowly depleting, each one showing the health of a single unit of 15 soldiers. At a certain point it would very obviously be better to cut his losses and give up on the quest.
His heart ached at the thought of giving up the reward, one that could easily send his guild far past the current first ranked one. But clearly this quest was not meant to be completed, at least not yet. Complications swelling in his heart before looking back at the caster.
Jumping forwards himself and using his body to block the incoming waves, slamming into the ground in front of his own unit and pressing the attack, his health dropping rapidly, the healer of the group quickly topping him back up.
With Marik at the front, momentum being reclaimed as he pushed forward with his and another few groups creating a spearhead through the army of beasts. The change in direction of push catching the soldiers off guard. As veteran soldiers they only took a moment before regathering themselves and following him in pursuit.
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The never-ending waves of beasts didn’t seem like much of a problem with him leading at the helm. The mage in blue following closely by, launching spells easily cleaving massive areas, creating more space for their guild. Eventually reaching the halfway point of the raid, signified by a notification prompting all of them to prepare for a large invasion.
“Brace yourselves!” Marik, holding his shield and shouting out, doubting himself on the inside. A large invasion? Larger than what we’re already dealing with?
A large hand of a beast more resembling that of a tiger swiping through from the defending side, crushing hundreds of his soldiers instantly causing their health pools to bottom out as they faded into particles causing Marik to curse inwardly.
Eventually his large frame began to waver as he cut through the beasts as they continued diving towards him, their razor sharp talons chipping away at his health little by little, the numbers above his head racking up and causing his health to fall much faster than the healer could keep up.
“Perhaps… I was wrong.” Marik said in admittance, feeling a bit of pressure off of his shoulders as the words came out of his mouth. The mage looking at him seriously before nodded.
“You do know what that means for the company don’t you?” The mage said while making another gesture and turning off his broadcast, sending a message to everyone in the guild to do the same.
Much to the disappointment of many of their viewers, including a retail worker during his break, fumbling to try to refresh the page while cursing the quality of connection.
“What’s up?” Barron questioning his coworker while sitting down in the breakroom, having just finished his shift, taking off his work vest and watching his coworkers’ frustrations in amusement.
“Ah-? Oh, hey Barron.” His coworker nodding at his sudden appearance. “You tried Warlord yet?” Looking at him excitedly, setting his phone to the side.
“I got the VR helmet set up, but I haven’t had time yet, although I will make sure to check it out later.” Barron said, recalling his experience at the store purchasing the equipment.
Shooting up trying to find the forum website on his phone to show Barron. “Look at this look, look!” His coworker said while trying to find the page before ultimately giving up at the buffering page. “Actually, I’ll just send you a link that’ll be easier. There’s no way you’re gonna be able to navigate that game without the forums, been saving me a lot of time recently.” Nodding, to himself quietly noting how much easier it would have been had it been out when he started at game launch.
“I’ll be sure to check it out Max.” Barron said while laughing. He had already looked into the game a bit and it did make him interested, many people online including videos and journalists have praised the game to the high heavens.
“Have you already decided what class to play? No actually just pick a lancer and I can give you all my old gear!” Max was already thinking about ways to boost Barron to a high level and invite him to his guild.
“Don’t worry about it, I haven’t really decided yet.” Barron had already decided what he wanted but he didn’t want to let Max down right away. “Oh yeah is there any way for me to contact you in game?” Barron suddenly remembered to ask before he stepped out to head home.
“Uhh.. Not really until you get to a major city.” Max now remembering that little detail as well while scratching his head. “I guess I’ll help you a bit further down the line than I thought!” Max said mostly to himself however.
Heading home basically anywhere he was looking there would be a screen or poster promoting the game, although he wasn’t much for gaming in general he was still feeling excitement about the prospect of playing or at least giving the game a try.
Carefully hanging his keys on the rack and setting his shoes in their designated spot he sits at his desk and begins booting it up, figuring that although he hadn’t had too much interest in the forums from Max it wouldn’t hurt too much to begin browsing to get a bit more information.
Settling down on a mega thread titled “New to Warlord? Look no further.” A rather simple name however as a newer player unsure of where to begin he took out a notebook and wrote some things he wanted to familiarize himself with, bookmarking the page, wanting to try out the game before looking more into the forums.
He wrote a few things down in his book before he had circled the most recent question he penned out before he powered up the headset, he let it boot up properly while he set up a nice spot on his bed to lay.
After a soothing Ding sounding out from the helmet and the light on the front went green, according to the manual at least that meant it is ready to be used. Getting right onto bed and putting the helmet on, the scenery around him whirling to life.
In his excitement the usually very fixated Barron had completely forgotten to turn his computer off as well as close his notebook, which happened to have in bold letters circled twice “What’s an Exp?” written at the top of the page.