They quickly formed into a deadly mass. According to her HUD, two of the zombies were now approaching her rapidly. Reacting quickly, she hewed them down only a few feet away.
ChestSlash: Easy
Instant Kill
+150 XP
Skill Unlocked: ChestSlash
Delivers an Instant Kill when you slash your sword against an opponent’s chest. Chances of Instant Kill are 60%. Greater chances for Instant Kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 7, Strength > 9, Agility > 4, Stamina > 5, Intelligence > 4, Willpower > 4
ChestSlash: Easy
Instant Kill
+150 XP
“They’re here…” Brittany was about to tell them of her unique predicament when Brad cut her off.
“You heard her! Fire!”
She was unable to speak over the deafening cacophony of the bullets.
She saw another marker moving toward her, and she swung wildly in the darkness. Her blade connected, severing her opponent’s arm. She heard the vile creature’s shrieks over the booms of the various artillery. The shriek cut off when she separated the creature’s head from its body.
Decapitate: Easy
Instant Kill
+150 XP
The marker of another zombie hovered just outside her reach, taunting her. She swung her sword into the darkness, but there was nothing. Meanwhile, several more markers were honing in on the group from other angles where firepower was lacking. One of them was almost on top of Brad.
She made a calculated decision, then turned her back on the zombie just outside her reach and pushed through to the other side of the huddle. She hewed down the threat, barely able to make out Brad’s voice over the noise.
“Thanks!” he bellowed. “I didn’t see that one!”
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
ChestSlash: Easy
Instant Kill
+150 XP
LEVEL UP!
+1 Intelligence
Yes! Level 13!
Seeing her earlier threat now closing in, she whipped back around and slaughtered her opponent with a stab through its chest, and she twisted the hilt on the way back out.
StabTwist: Medium
Instant Kill
+190 XP
Skill Unlocked: StabTwist
Delivers an Instant Kill when you stab your sword into an opponent’s chest, and twist the hilt while withdrawing. Chances of Instant Kill are 90%. Greater chances for Instant Kill increase with higher levels. Requirements: Level > 7, Strength > 9, Agility > 4, Stamina > 5, Intelligence > 4, Willpower > 4
The momentum from the kill sent her staggering forward. Before she could regain her balance, the unthinkable happened. Brittany exhaled a raspy breath as the stray bullet ripped through her chest.
WARNING!
CRITICAL HIT
-1,000 HP
Lifebar: <16%>
Thick darkness engulfed her as she fell to the damp floor of the crypt. The pain was excruciating and unbearable. Clearly the pain simulators of the game had been elevated too high. She tried to cry out, but couldn’t. One of her lungs had collapsed, of that she was sure. She was only a few feet away from her guild mates, but the darkness was so thick she might as well have been miles away.
“Fall back!” Brad’s voice echoed.
Wait! Don’t leave me!
Brittany lay there in the darkness, gasping for air and unable to move. Moments ago she was elated that she had just ascended to Level 13, but now she regretted her premature celebration. She was now very far from Level 14 where she could restore her health stats with another Level Up. The timing of this mishap was terrible.
After an extended period of time, the gunshots died down. She heard Brad’s voice calling out her name, but she couldn’t raise her voice above the level of a whisper.
A few minutes later Jessie yelled, “Hey guys! I found it!”
Congratulations!
Your guild member @MageBorne just completed your guild’s Ancient Artifacts Quest. Claim your reward:
+500 XP
+1 Stamina
+1 Intelligence
Even with the bonus XP from the completed quest, she was still shy by nearly 300 XP before she could attain Level 14.
“What are these things?” Blondie said, some distance away.
“Three glowing stones, it seems.” Jessie announced.
Quest Update!
Take the stones to the obelisks surrounding the land, and you will receive an upgraded Class.
Brad joined them. “Hey, has anyone seen Brittany?”
“She probably got scared and ran away.” Blondie quipped.
“Seriously.” Brad’s faraway voice was laced with anxiety. “I’m really worried about her.”
Brittany tried again and again to scream out, to no avail. She felt her consciousness fading. The thick darkness was no help.
Have I already blacked out?
Then came another voice. This one was also familiar, only more controlled. “Join me, Brittany.”
The darkness around her swirled, revealing a lone figure hovering in the air above her. “Yield your soul to the Leviathan, and you will be healed!”
Brittany locked eyes with the familiar face. Only a single whispered word escaped her lips.
“Sam?”
----------------------------------------
© Copyright 2022 R.M. Mulder. All rights reserved.