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 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.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“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 proper 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 airy 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: ???