I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow. My alarm went off just as the sound of knocking echoed through my door.
“Ray?” It was Harold’s voice. “MechLord11 is here for your appointment.”
Here? I had expected to meet him at the dungeon entrance, but I supposed it didn’t hurt to have a larger escort when traveling.
“Tell him I’ll be right down,” I called.
“Will do.”
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I tried to wake my brain up. My physical fatigue was only matched by my mental fatigue, and the thought of running a Dungeon for a couple hours with mechanics I didn’t know, and four strangers was near the very bottom of my list of things I wanted to do. But backing out now wasn’t an option - it would tank the entire proposition of Mech leading our Raid.
After a few moments to collect myself, I opened the door to my room and stepped out onto the landing. The bustle and noise of over a dozen people filtered upstairs and I had to shake myself one more time to get my game face on. Below, I saw all of the Angels - assembled to escort me to the Dungeon - and it appeared that Mech had brought his entire cohort of Officers as well. Denise and Ryan were there as well, along with Harold and Jeremy. I had told Kink, T, and Jeremy that there was no reason for them to be here - they couldn’t do much to defend me if shit went sideways anyway. But it seemed that Jeremy hadn’t listened.
As I moved down the stairs, Bart was the first to notice me, a smile spreading across his face. “Welcome to the land of the living!” he shouted, prompting everyone to stop their conversations and zero in on me.
“If it isn’t Sleeping Beauty herself,” Tear called.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said blearily. “It’s tiring work throwing your ass around like a ragdoll.” I smirked as she punched my shoulder.
“I believe the count was 5 wins, 1 loss for us,” Lox added, his eyebrows climbing his forehead.
I shrugged. “6 to 1 odds…I’m no bookie, but seems like I still came out ahead.” I dodged another punch from Tear as chuckles went up around the Guildhall.
“Mr. Davis,” Mech interjected, no mirth in his tone. “We are on a tight schedule. Are you prepared?”
I pursed my lips and nodded. “Yep, good to go. I had intended to meet you there though…”
He shook his head, his eyes examining the floor. “Not necessary. My way is expeditious.”
Squinting my eyes, I looked around, seeing if anyone was tracking his direction. “Oh…?”
“Yes. Let’s head into the courtyard. The portal requires some space.”
Shocked gasps went up among the Angels, and even Harold and Denise shared a surprised look.
“You have a portal spell to The Dandorum Bluffs!?” Bell asked.
Mech nodded, his gaze unfocused, examining his Interface it seemed.
“Bullshit,” Yuri called, looking to his fellow Angels for confirmation. “Everyone knows only the top-tier Guilds have portal access…” He didn’t sound confident though.
Mech ignored him, turning to Harold. “The courtyard?” he asked.
Harold seemed taken aback, then looked to me. I gave a short nod, and Harold started for the back. “This way,” he said.
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The twelve players, three actors, and I all filtered into the back courtyard of the Guildhall. We clumped together by association, the Damsels shoulder-to-shoulder on one side, Mech’s team on the other.
Mech had us clear a space, then began to initiate the portal, but I stopped him. “Um, mind introducing your team to me first?” I asked, eyeing the four Officers.
“They can speak for themselves,” he replied, continuing the ritual.
The four players were a diverse group, different races, heights, and genders. On the far left was a large, male Sand Golem, his body made up of sand-colored rock, nearing seven and a half feet tall. He was a Bulwark specialization, which meant he was the tank. Next to him was a female human avatar. Her class was a Green Thumb, which was the Druid healing specialization. Third was a male Troll with a Berserker specialization. His skin was blue, his tusks sharpened into dangerous-looking points. And lastly, there was male Shadow Cat with the Demonist specialization.
I turned to the four players, nodding in greeting. “Hey there. I’m Ray. Nice to meet you all.”
The Sand Golem spoke first, his voice a deep rumble. “You call me Tank. I Tank.” His words were clipped, his accent vaguely Eastern European. I nodded in reply.
“Name’s DeNiro,” the Demonist said next. He reached out to shake my hand, and I returned the gesture. “I won’t be in on the Dungeon, but you’ll see me in the Raid-”
“If we do the Raid,” the Troll Berserker interrupted.
DeNiro deferred with a nod, stepping back.
I waited for the Troll to introduce himself, but he just stared back, his face impassive. I heard the Angels and Jeremy grumbling behind me, but I didn’t take the bait. Turning to the human Green Thumb, I held out my hand. She reached out to shake. “I’m Felicity-”
“I heard you picked a gimmick build instead of a proper Raiding Path,” the Troll said, interrupting the woman. “Why would you go and do something stupid like that?”
Shouts erupted from behind me from the Angels - though Jeremy was the loudest of them all. But I turned and held out my hand to calm them down. When I turned back to the Troll, I plastered a good-natured smile on my face. I noticed his own smug expression waver, and my suspicion was confirmed. He was trying to get a rise out of me.
“You like this game?” I asked, taking a step forward. He seemed surprised by my change in topic, but didn’t answer. “Cause that’s what it is to you, right? Just a game?” I took another step forward, so that my face was just inches from his razer-sharp tusks. He held my gaze, but I noted the muscles in his face twitch involuntarily. My smile widened. “Well, it’s not a game - not for me.” I drew my glaive, the long bladed-staff appearing inches from his face. He flinched back, then caught himself, his expression darkening. I ignored it, flipping the glaive so the blade touched my cheek. Pressing down, fire flicked across my face as the glaive drew blood. I winced with the pain, holding his gaze the entire time. “For me, this is as real as real gets. Every slash, every punch, every point of damage…it all affects me in a way you’ve probably never experienced.” I spun the glaive with a twirl, then resheathed it, my gaze still never wavering. “So, while my decision may not have been Raid optimal, it was the best decision to ensure my survival. Does that make sense-” I tilted my head. “-What was your name, again?” I asked.
“Pole,” he growled, the anger rising in his tone.
“Does that make sense…Pole?”
Before he could respond, a flash of light appeared in my peripheral vision, and a portal burst into existence. Pole looked like he wanted to make some retort, but Tank put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
“It’s time,” Mech announced, never once looking over at the drama ensuing.
I flashed Pole a smile. “After you.”
He whirled away without a word, his expression icy. Bart appeared at my shoulder, leaning in to whisper. “You sure about this?” he asked.
I nodded without turning. “It’ll be fine. Mech vouches for them. If it comes to it, I can handle Pole. But just in case, will you and the Angels stand guard outside the Dungeon?”
“Already planned on it,” Bart said.
I turned and clapped him on the shoulder. “Appreciate it, Bart.”
He nodded as Mech called to us. “Closes in ten seconds.”
“Better move then,” I replied back.
Mech and his Officers went first. I moved to follow, but Tear stopped me.
“Let me stealth up and check it out first. I’ll send you a signal if it’s good,” she said.
I nodded. “Okay, hurry! Five seconds!”
She rushed through, and only a moment later, sent the all clear. We jumped through the portal after her, that now-familiar icy sensation engulfing me.
When my senses returned, the sound of rushing wind came to me just as the biting cold struck at my exposed skin. That visceral sensation of being at a great height invaded my brain, even before my eyes scanned the area and confirmed as much.
Before me was a vast vista, green plains stretching off into the distance thousands of feet below. Behind me, a series of plateaus rising into the sky, connected by shaky wooden bridges strung together with frayed string.
Pole stood at my shoulder, a grin flashing across his face at my obvious discomfort.
“Welcome to the Dandorum Bluffs.”