[ZERO SPACE]
“PIERCING SHOT!”
Shae’s purple bullet soared towards Master Valdi’s head.
“STORM SHIELD!!”
Syadd’s flail ended the bullet’s journey prematurely.
“Aim for Shae!” shouted Syadd. “Aim for Shae!”
Shae assaulted Master Valdi with a spinning kick.
Master Valdi caught his leg, sliding a dagger through Shae’s side.
“Shae’s dead!” shouted Master Valdi. “Kill their healers!”
Bowman rolled by Master Valdi, notching an arrow.
“HOMING SHOT!”
His arrow sought Bander’s head.
“GRAVITY DOME!”
Umi caught the arrow in his warhammer’s orbit.
“SCYTHE WARP!”
Janzo yanked his scythe through Umi’s head.
“SUBTLE SLASH!”
Lanzer slid past Janzo - Janzo’s head slid off.
“SHADOW STAB!”
Parper plunged his dagger through Lanzer’s spine.
“FURY STRIKES!”
Dane plunged his fists through Parper’s entire body.
“Chitter chitter…”
Kezzle’s move had no name, but it had a sound - the sound of Dane’s ribs exploding as she meteored through.
“FACE KICK!”
That was the best Bez had, and it went as well as expected. His toes crumbled upon Kezzle’s tiny beetle body.
Bez howled in pain.
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“BIG EXPLOSION!”
Wagger’s TNT disintegrated both Bez and Kezzle.
“Wagger,” said Tambien, tipping his knightly visor. “Friendly fire is dishonorable!”
“Good!” Wagger said.
“SHADOW STAB!”
Thirty of Dalli’s spears shredded Wagger’s body.
Master Valdi darted by, ripping his dagger through Dalli’s throat.
“LIGHT RAY!!”
Asira’s swords blinded Master Valdi, then Chief’s spear blindsided him.
Auron’s lollipop spun.
“RAVE REVIVE!!”
In an instant, all Deadly Skulls revived.
Bander’s staff raised.
“SELFLESS SAVIOR!!”
In another instant, the Feather Birds revived.
“Kill him!” shouted Chief. “Their healer, I mean!”
“Kill the healers!” shouted Master Valdi. “Kill the healers!”
ARENA CHANGE: MOUNTAIN
BOOM
A smooth blue mountain erupted from the arena’s center. Both guilds slid across its surface like a playground slide, rolling and tumbling in eighteen different directions.
Garola cartwheeled to the mountain’s peak.
“This is our first arena change!” said Garola. “Stay on your toes. Arena changes can happen any time!”
Shae rolled and tumbled down the mountain, collecting bruises with every part of his body. For some reason, Shae’s side of the mountain seemed steeper than the rest of it. Garola grinned, seemingly aware of that reason.
“Here’s one more thing for you folks at home,” said Garola. “This will help all you fine dragonoids and non-dragonoids keep track of who’s left!”
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
9
9
Shae face-planted at the blue mountain’s base; the arena had zero-give. Bloody mucus rolled down his chin as he glanced up at the mountain - it was too high to see past and too smooth to safely climb. Hopefully that wouldn’t delay things much; this battle had to wrap up quickly for his sake. And for Anton’s sake.
“Shae…” muttered a voice up ahead.
A hulking silhouette shambled through fluttering dust –
Syadd emerged, armor chains rattling, heavy flail dragging behind her four brutoid hands.
“Blast it,” said Syadd. “Figures I’d run into you first.”
Shae’s pistols raised.
“Wait!” yelled Syadd. “Shae, let me apologize.”
Shae stalled, fingers on his triggers.
“For what?” asked Shae.
“For everything,” said Syadd. “For treating your guild like shit. For ordering the Deadly Skulls to hunt you for sport. And for spreading rumors about you online.”
“I didn’t know about that last one,” said Shae.
Syadd bowed down; this was starting to weird Shae out.
“I need something from you,” said Syadd. “A big favor.”
“The answer’s probably no,” said Shae.
“I need you to lose to me,” said Syadd.
“Hell no,” said Shae.
“You don’t know what’s at stake,” said Syadd. “If we fail, Master Valdi will kill us. In real life.”
“That’s your problem,” said Shae.
“Blast it Shae, nothing will happen if you lose!” said Syadd. “You’ll just join us. I’ll make you my second in command.”
“Hell no,” said Shae. “I’m not working for your shitty guild. And I’m sure as hell not working for you.”
“This isn’t a game,” said Syadd. “This is life or death. You need sixteen people for the tower. You can’t enter if we’re all dead. Think about it.”
Shae thought about it.
“No,” said Shae.
Syadd smashed the ground with her flail.
“You stubborn nitwit,” shouted Syadd. “Tell me why!”
“Because I said so,” said Shae.
“Narcissistic twit!” shouted Syadd. “I’m going to murder your whole fucking guild. And then, I’ll have you taking orders from Wagger!”
Shae aimed his pistols.
Syadd gestured him forward.
“Go ahead and try it,” said Syadd. “Waste a Level Three on me! How much does that cost you anyway?”
The answer was 5 SP - nearly a quarter of Shae’s total. But Syadd didn’t need to know that.
Syadd’s flail whirled like a plane propeller.
“A level three’s your only option,” said Syadd. “My Storm Shield will cancel your Level Two’s –”
“PAUSE SHOT!!”
Syadd’s mouth froze shut, along with the rest of the world.
Shae strutted forward, twirling his pistols.
“For real, I don’t even know why I have other abilities,” said Shae. “This one’s OP.”
Syadd gaped in wide-eyed horror.
“I could take out your whole guild with this,” said Shae. “Even your stupid leader.”
Shae shoved a pistol against Syadd’s head.
“I don’t trust you,” said Shae. “And I don’t trust you leading my team. If your stupid master doesn’t kill you, I’ll have you taking orders from Bez –”
ARENA CHANGE: MOUNTAIN SURROUNDED BY A RIVER
The ground dropped out from below Shae, plunging him into an ice cold stream. A ruthless current took hold, careening Shae like a torpedo through a neon sea of stars.
Garola knelt by the river’s edge, grinning down at Shae with shiny dragonoid teeth.
“Whoops!” said Garola. “Arena changes can happen at any time!”
“You!” shouted Shae, between mouthfuls of water. “You’re that stupid dragonoid host from the battle royale!”
“All dragonoids are wonderful,” said Garola. “And I’m glad you remember me! I remember you too, premium. I remember how you cheated!”
Shae wrestled with the river, but the river pinned him down.
“Pause Shot doesn’t work on meta game elements,” said Garola. “And guess what? I’m a meta-game element! Same with arena changes. Too bad this river appeared after your Pause Shot went off. I guess that means it’s unaffected. What an unfortunate series of events!”
Syadd’s petrified figure grew distant.
“Bye Shae!” said Garola with a wave. “Have a nice ride!”
Shae thrashed in the water, crashing against river walls like a plastic toy in a garbage disposal. Erratic currents spun him into a nauseating barrel roll. Vomit fled from his gut, only to be pushed back down by invasive water.
Zero Space suffocation would take three minutes.
Three minutes of torturous existence.
A slender figure walked by the shore, peering down at Shae with dim demonoid eyes.
“Dane!” screamed Shae. “Help!”
Dane blinked, then reached into the water to snag Shae’s wrist. He planted his heels in the ground, struggling to maintain his balance.
“Wait,” said Dane. “Do you have my weapon?”
“Your real-life weapon?” asked Shae, water slapping him in the face.
Dane nodded.
“Uh, yeah, it’s fine,” said Shae. “Everything’s fine. I’ll give it back. Just get me the hell out of here!”
Dane tensed up - something sharp prodded his back.
“Unhand him at once, you demonic curr!” a voice said.
Dane glanced back at Tambien, tentacle arms pressing a lance to his spine. Tambien’s shining knight armor glistened in the blue light, two unrelenting eyes glaring within his visor.
“Sneak attacks are dishonorable,” said Tambien. “But so is fighting two on one. Release Shae at once, or I’ll slay you like swine!”
Water smothered Shae’s objections.
Dane evaluated the situation - that lance would slide through him before he could counter attack. And Dane didn’t know how to swim either; swimming wasn’t part of enforcer training. The Haven had a distinct lack of pools.
“Final warning!” demanded Tambien. “Fight me one on one, or there will be no fight at all!”
Dane shrugged at Shae.
“Sorry Shae,” said Dane. “We’ll talk later.”
“Dane, no,” said Shae.
Dane released Shae’s hand, surrendering him to the water’s embrace.
The lance tip indented Dane’s spine. Tambien’s tentacloid lips smacked beneath his visor, deliberating his next course of action.
Dane glanced back at him.
“Are you going to backstab me?” asked Dane. “Some honorable knight.”
Tambien growled, withdrawing with a grunt of indignation. His metal tentacle arms bent inwards, issuing a challenge.
“Draw your weapon, demonic naive!” said Tambien.
Dane raised his fists.
“This is my weapon,” said Dane.
Tambien’s lance lowered.
“Alas, I cannot duel an unarmed opponent,” said Tambien. “That’s against the knight’s code –”
Dane rushed in.
“FURY STRIKES!!” Dane yelled.
“FURY STRIKES!!” Tambien yelled back.
Both combatants unleashed a lightning-fast barrage of blows, impossible for human eyes, or even demonoid eyes to follow. A hundred hits passed in a heartbeat, each blow canceling out the other. Bouquets of red sparks bloomed like roses in a time-lapse.
And then the abilities waned, leaving both combatants weary and winded.
“Alas, we share the same ability,” said Tambien. “How absurd! You must also walk the path of Triya.”
“No idea,” said Dane. “I walk my own path.”
“I’ve heard of duplicate abilities before,” said Tambien. “But I’ve yet to see –”
Dane rushed in for round two –
– But then paused. Sharp pain surged through Dane’s knuckles, each finger bent at a different angle. What remained of his fists dribbled down his arms, streaks of black demonoid blood staining his plain white tee.
Tambien crossed his metal tentacles.
“It appears you’re at a disadvantage, demonoid,” said Tambien.
Tambien flicked black blood from his lance.
“Our level two’s may be similar,” said Tambien. “But mine prevails! Steel will always succeed where flesh fails.”
Dane’s bleeding stumps hurt far worse than his demonoid face could express.
“Ditch your weapon,” said Dane. “This is supposed to be an honorable fight. Fight me hand to hand.”
“Hand to hand?” asked Tambien. “You have no hands left!”
“I still have arms,” said Dane.
Tambien shrugged, tucking his lance away.
“It matters not,” said Tambien. “Have at you, filthy demonoid –”
Dane hooked his elbow across Tambien’s visor. A follow-up stomp caught Tambien’s knee. Then two forearms twirled into Tambien’s face.
Strange - Tambien’s armor was actually denting. Maybe Dane didn’t know his own strength? Either way, Tambien was a huge and dangerous opponent. As long as Dane outpaced him, he could –
Tambien snatched up Dane with a lightning-fast grab, tackling him to the ground.
“Your blows are strong,” said Tambien. “And my armor is weaker than it appears. It’s primarily aesthetic.”
Tambien grappled Dane down, mounting his ribs.
“My armor’s true purpose is to disguise my speed,” said Tambien. “How do you suppose I snuck up on you?”
Dane gagged as metal tentacles constricted his throat. Black demonoid eyes bulged from his sockets, lips swelling up like juicy blue earthworms. If only Dane hadn’t used his level two - his level one would be recharged by now!
“You fought valiantly, demonoid,” said Tambien. “Rest assured, there is glory in honorable defeat.”
CRACK
Tambien turned Dane’s head all the way around.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
8
9
Further downstream, Shae finally snagged the river’s edge, draining water one dry heave at a time. He crawled onto the shore, aching eyes settling on a blurred figure in front of him. The figure was tiny. Like, magicoid tiny.
Was it Bander maybe?
Or Wagger…
The figure flapped its wings.
Kezzle stood before Shae, her little armored body vibrating like a giddy metal pine cone. She stared at him with big buggy eyes, beetle wings chittering with excitement.
“Oh shit,” said Shae.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“Give me a second?” asked Shae. “I just swallowed a ton of water and I’m fucking dizzy.”
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“So what’s your deal anyway?” asked Shae. “You talk?”
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“You fight?’ asked Shae.
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“You’re weird as hell,” said Shae.
Kezzle flapped her wings.
Shae stared at her. Hostile or not, this was a Deadly Skull. And all Deadly Skulls had the same objective: Kill the Feather Birds.
“Don’t take this personally,” said Shae. “You seem chill.”
Kezzle flapped her wings.
“PIERCING SHOT!!”
Kezzle suddenly launched forward like an asteroid breaching the atmosphere, body aglow with a burning orange trail.
SLAM
Shae’s bullet pierced through Kezzle’s armored skull.
Kezzle’s body shattered Shae’s forehead.
Both died instantaneously. Shae fell back into the river, Kezzle sinking in next to him.
Double KO!
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
7
8
Chief and Asira flew high above, chancing upon Shae’s floating corpse.
“No,” said Asira. “Please tell me he’s not dead already.”
Chief chittered with rage.
“We must find him quickly,” said Chief. “Valdi, I mean.”
Asira bit her pteranoid lip.
“When I find V- erm, Valdi,” said Asira. “I’m going to really hurt him –”
“You’ll do no such things” Chief interrupted. “Not alone, I mean. Valdi is not a normal player.”
Chief released a somber cricket-chirp.
“You’ve all grown so much,” said Chief. “But even now, you’re incapable of taking him. In battle, I mean. If I don’t defeat him, I’m afraid no Feather Bird will.”
Asira nodded.
“Split,” said Chief. “Up, I mean!”
The two of them parted ways, high above Bander.
“Asira, Chief!” yelled Bander, waving his arms. “Hey dummies, down here!”
But they were too high to hear him.
“Damn it,” said Bander.
Bander turned his attention to a far less pleasant sight - Shae’s body floating by in the river.
“No, you’ve got to be kidding me,” said Bander. “Already? Idiot!”
Bander raised his staff.
“SELFLESS SAVIOR!”
An angelic light renewed Shae for a second season.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
8
8
Shae woke up in a literal water bed.
“Shae,” yelled Bander. “Grab my staff!”
Shae struggled against the current –
Then Bander came to a terrible realization: Bander was small. Shae was large-ish. And the river current was strong.
Bander’s staff yanked back as Shae swiped at the air.
“Bander!” Shae croaked. “What the shit?”
“Sorry, idiot,” said Bander. “You’re not pulling me in there with you. Try not to die again.”
Shae’s profanity grew faint as the river carried him away. Bander sighed - being alone was better than drowning together.
“Bander?” a voice asked.
Auron stood by the river bank, lollipop dangling from his mouth.
“Auron,” said Bander.
Auron tipped his sailor cap.
“Meh, two healers running into each other,” said Auron. “Not ideal.”
“Nope,” said Bander. “Not ideal.”
They both stared each other down.
Auron’s sucker slid from his lips.
“Eh, what do you say we just pretend we didn’t see each other?” asked Auron. “Go our separate ways? I ain’t much for fighting.”
“Yeah,” said Bander. “That could work.”
Auron nodded, reinserting his sucker.
“Alrighty then,” said Auron. “Catch you later.”
“Yup,” said Bander. “Bye.”
Both turned –
Auron turned back.
“Eh, you know what?” asked Auron. “I really shouldn’t let you go. Syadd would hate that. She hates me enough already.”
Bander’s magicoid teeth bared beneath his cowl.
“You know what Syadd would hate more, idiot?” asked Bander. “Her only healer getting killed for no reason!”
Auron tugged at his hairline where his ponytail used to be.
“Meh, taking out a Feather Bird healer is a pretty good reason,” said Auron.
Bander twirled his staff.
“Let’s see you try then, dummy,” said Bander.
Auron raised his fists.
“Eh, whatever,” said Auron. “But just letting you know, I really don’t want to do this. I feel really bad about beating up a magicoid.”
“You’re about to feel a lot worse, moron!” shouted Bander.
Bander swung his staff –
Auron caught it with one arm, kicking the staff from Bander’s hand. His foot swung back across Bander’s snout.
Bander fell, nose bleeding, teeth rattling. His magicoid ears bent backwards.
“What the hell?” asked Bander. “I thought you couldn’t fight, jerk?”
“Meh, I didn’t say that,” said Auron. “I just said I don’t like fighting.”
Auron slugged Bander with his own staff.
“This is Zero Space,” said Auron. “Everyone knows kung fu.”
Bander sunk his teeth into Auron’s leg.
“Agh!” shouted Auron. “You little shit!”
Bander dug in for a second serving, but Auron’s kick quelled his appetite.
“Lousy magicoid teeth,” said Auron. “Eh, I guess magicoids need some sorta melee advantage. Pretty much every other race can dominate ‘em.”
Bander coughed out a mouthful of blood, mostly Auron’s.
“Meh, this sucks for me too, you know,” said Auron. “It’s like stomping on a puppy. I know Zero Space ain’t real, but I really hate this violence shit.”
Auron raised his foot –
Bander peered at him with pitiful magicoid eyes.
“Hey, don’t do that shit to me,” said Auron. “That’s messed up.”
Auron withdrew his sucker, rainbow juices dripping down his hand.
“At least look the other way,” said Auron. “Come on –”
Bander bit hard into Auron’s hand.
“Agh!” said Auron. “Again? You little shit!”
But something other than fingers went missing from Auron’s hand –
His lollipop.
Auron gasped - a small lump crept down Bander’s throat.
“You didn’t,” said Auron.
“I did,” said Bander. “That was awful. You had that in your mouth.”
Auron slid to Bander’s side, prying open his jaws - the lollipop was long gone.
“No,” said Auron. “No, no, no, no no…”
“Good luck healing anybody now, idiot,” said Bander.
Auron shook with rage.
Bander grinned, specks of candy still between his teeth.
“The Feather Birds still have another healer, dummy,” said Bander. “Say hi to Syadd for me!”
Auron crushed Bander’s head with several stomps. He knelt by this corpse, reaching into his –
No -- Auron couldn’t do that. He withdrew, retching.
“You little shit,” said Auron. “I’m not going to dig through your insides.”
Auron broke Bander’s staff over his knee.
“Shit,” said Auron. “Shit, shit, shit.”
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
7
8
Shae stopped struggling, letting the river carry him. Would this be his entire battle? He was done caring; he might as well be AFK. Some Raid Captain he was - he couldn’t even beat a river.
A second figure submerged with a muted splash, wrapping an arm around Shae’s side. The water’s surface grew closer and closer, until –
Shae emerged, gasping for air. Lanzer dragged Shae ashore, pushing on his ribs.
“Shae Shae Shae,” said Lanzer. “Are you okay?”
Shae sat up and spat up.
“Yeah, I am now,” said Shae. “Lanzer? How?”
Lanzer flashed Shae a mouthful of fishy fangs.
“I’m a pirahnoid,” said Lanzer. “Swimming is kinda what pirahnoids do.”
Shae wrung his clothes free.
“We gotta find the others,” said Shae. “Let’s group up.”
“Yup yup yup,” said Lanzer. “We’re kinda at a disadvantage. Feather Birds have better teamwork, but I think the Deadly Skulls are better one on one.”
Lanzer gazed into the neon sky.
“I think that dragonoid emcee split us on purpose,” said Lanzer. “It’s kinda like he wants us to lose.”
“He does,” said Shae. “Dude’s still mad about the Battle Royale. I sort of cheated with Green Juice, but he’s being a real dick about it.”
“Petty petty petty,” said Lanzer. “The Deadly Skulls are already ahead. We’re kinda screwed. Screwed screwed screwed.”
“They’re only ahead by one,” said Shae. “The hell’s your problem? You’re not normally this pessimistic.”
“A lot happened when you were gone, Shae,” said Lanzer. “Things kinda haven’t been the same since –”
“BOOOOOORING!”
A stick of TNT landed between Shae and Lanzer.
“SUBTLE SLASH!!”
Lanzer teleported far away, cradling Shae in his arms. A tremendous explosion rocked the mountain behind them.
Wagger buckled over in a laughing fit.
Lanzer spread his claws.
Shae spun his pistols.
“Hold up,” said Shae. “Did you seriously attack us alone?”
“I’m not alone!” said Wagger.
A massive scythe touched down near Lanzer’s feet.
“SCYTHE SWAP!!”
Janzo appeared in a burst of blue light, ripping the scythe from the ground and all the way through Lanzer’s body.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
6
8
“Hi Shae,” said Janzo.
“Hey Janzo,” said Shae.
Shae booted Janzo away, then flipped backwards, blasting Wagger with both pistols.
Wagger danced and dodged around his projectiles.
“Now who’s all alone?” asked Wagger.
“I’m equal to like, five of you,” said Shae.
“Holy snap!” yelled another voice nearby.
Wagger’s malevolent magicoid eyes ballooned.
“Bez!” Wagger shouted.
Bez eyed Wagger. And then Lanzer –
“CARE STARE!”
Lanzer revived!
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
7
8
“BIG EXPLOSION!”
Lanzer un-revived.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
6
8
There wasn’t enough Lanzer for Bez to restore.
“You used to be one of us, remember?” asked Wagger. “I know how your ability works! You can’t heal what you can’t see.”
Wagger lit a stick of TNT.
“This next one’s for you!”
Bez screamed as Wagger chased him away.
Shae turned back to Janzo, both pistols spinning.
“You know you can’t beat me,” said Shae.
“Uh huh,” said Janzo.
ARENA CHANGE: FLOATING PLATFORMS WITH A HOLE
Shae looked puzzled. A hole? That was oddly specific.
The central mountain depressed like a button. Fissures sprouted from its center, segmenting the arena into a grid of equilateral platforms. Each platform rose into the sky, halting at different elevations. Some drifted to great heights. Others settled far below, hovering above an infinite neon blue void.
Shae and Janzo fought for balance as their floating platform ascended to the arena’s peak.
And then, Shae found the aforementioned hole.
It opened below him, just wide enough for his entire body. Shae slipped through like a coin in a slot, gripping its lip with both hands. His legs dangled below the floating platform like a pair of panicked insect incisors, warding off a bigger insect.
Janzo approached, scythe blade screeching against the ground.
“Yo Janzo, help me up,” said Shae. “This isn’t fair, and you know it.”
“Uh huh,” said Janzo.
Blue sparks spattered from Janzo’s sickle tip.
“We’re roommates,” said Shae. “It will be super awkward if you kill me.”
“Uh huh,” said Janzo.
Janzo halted by Shae’s head.
“Do you really want Master Valdi to win?” asked Shae. “We’re friends, right? Wouldn’t you rather work for the Feather Birds?”
Janzo paused.
“Uh huh,” Janzo said.
Janzo stomped into Shae’s face anyway.
And then suddenly, Shae was falling. Whirling, toppling, and spinning towards the neon-nothing below –
“Got you!”
Shae slammed into Asira’s back. The force nearly took her down. Asira whined, straightening herself out with pteranoid wings.
“I really hate carrying you,” said Asira.
“I hate being carried by you,” said Shae.
“You’re lucky I saw you dangling,” said Asira. “We need to find Master Valdi!”
“You don’t have to call him Master,” said Shae.
“We will if Chief doesn’t reach him first!” said Asira.
Asira stopped short, nearly bucking Shae from her back.
“There he is!” said Asira.
Asira’s orange swords crossed.
“LIGHT RAY!”
A spotlight shined down on a platform below. Master Valdi hissed back at her, shielding his eyes with pitch black hands.
“It’s Valdi!” screamed Asira, her voice echoing across the battlefield. “Chief, I found him! I found him –”
An arrow ruptured Asira’s wing - an impossible shot from an impossible distance.
Bowman perched far below, watching Asira and Shae crash-land on different platforms. He didn’t even react to his incredible aim; he already knew he was damn good. Now everybody watching at home knew it too.
Master Valdi groaned, rubbing his bright red eyes. That wretched pteranoid put the spotlight on him. Hopefully the Deadly Skulls would find him first.
Umi thumped down from a floating platform above.
“Hi Master Valdi” said Umi. “I love getting a chance to kick your ass!”
Dalli sprung up from a platform below.
“Finally!” said Dalli. “I’ll kill you so Chief doesn’t have to!”
Master Valdi smirked, twirling his jagged dagger.
“Two Feather Birds at once,” said Master Valdi. “This should be interesting.”
“GRAVITY DOME!!”
Umi’s warhammer produced an intense gravitational pull, inviting Master Valdi towards its center.
Master Valdi braced himself, studying Umi’s brown dome of rippling energy. This power was an AoE - an Area of Effect ability. That area of effect centered around Umi’s warhammer, sucking everything towards its center.
Umi’s stance gave away his goal - drawing Master Valdi in for a heavy hit. Master Valdi smirked; that was a simple plan, devised by a simple mind. And fortunately, there was a simple counter.
Master Valdi dove into the dome, boosting himself forward with the ability’s momentum. Umi’s six brutoid eyes opened wide - Master Valdi was coming at him too fast.
Umi swung, but a little too late. Master Valdi glided past it like a swooping eagle, plunging his dagger through Umi’s throat.
Umi croaked, toppling off one platform and landing dead on another.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
5
8
“SHADOW STAB!!”
Dalli thrust his spear into the platform. Spears sprouted like weeds, cascading towards Master Valdi like a picket fence in an earthquake.
Master Valdi smirked - now here was an interesting ability! His eyes traced the spears from Dalli to himself. This wasn’t an AoE. No, those spears followed an invisible path, directed by Dalli’s subconscious mind. In seconds, that path would be upon Master Valdi, shredding him into pitch black flakes.
But that path could only move so fast; Master Valdi was quite convinced he moved faster. He tested this hypothesis, running a ring around the platform's perimeter.
Just as predicted! The spears trailed behind, unable to catch up. Master Valdi turned on a dime, leaving those spears in his dust.
Now to deal with Dalli himself! Dalli hadn’t stepped out of position since the ability’s inception; Master Valdi was quite convinced he knew why - Dalli was rooted. This meant Dalli couldn’t move until his ability elapsed.
Rooting was a common ability drawback, even amongst the Deadly Skulls - Syadd’s Storm Shield and Tambien’s Fury Strikes both suffered from it. And judging by the excessive amount of spears emerging, this must be Dalli’s level two, in which case, they would be around longer than a level one. More time for Master Valdi to close in!
Master Valdi smirked at Dalli’s terrified expression. With the right knowledge, any Zero Space ability could be countered, even without using SP.
SLASH
Master Valdi’s blade streaked through Dalli’s throat. Dalli croaked and stumbled backwards, landing dead on a platform across from Umi’s corpse.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
4
9
Bez watched from a platform nearby. He had to do something!
Bez crossed his dragonoid eyes –
“CARE STARE!!”
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
6
8
He did it! Another two Feather Birds saved! Such an incredible healer. His twelve Havencast viewers would be so proud.
THIP
Bez froze, choking on his breath. A sharp tang of pain flowed through his throat, inching up and down his spine. His fingers fondled his neck - there was a dagger in it: Master Valdi’s dagger, thrown from an incredible distance.
Bez’s dragonoid head tilted upwards - Master Valdi stood on a platform above, arm outstretched. Those cold red eyes stared into Bez’s soul, furious and unrelenting.
And then, Bez’s vision grew dark, collapsing in a pool of his own blood.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
5
8
Master Valdi smirked - killing a healer was fine use of his dagger.
“Valdi!” roared a voice above him.
Master Valdi rolled as Chief’s spear crashed down.
“You shouldn’t have called my name,” said Master Valdi. “You could have snuck up on me.”
“I wanted you to see me,” said Chief. “When you die, I mean.”
Chief’s spear swung towards his head. Master Valdi dodged under, and then over as it swiped at his legs.
“It’s gone,” said Chief. “Your weapon, I mean.”
“Very observant of you,” said Master Valdi. “Typical Feather Bird genius.”
Chief’s spear lashed at Master Valdi’s ribs –
Master Valdi spun past it, reaching towards Chief’s throat with a second dagger.
Chief’s spear orbited her body, deflecting it down in a spray of sparks.
“You have a second?” asked Chief. “Dagger, I mean?”
“That’s the advantage of wearing a pitch black suit,” said Master Valdi. “No one knows what you’re hiding.”
Chief swerved as Master Valdi’s dagger swooped past her eyes. Her purple robe settled near the platform’s edge.
“Nice new robe,” said Master Valdi. “Maybe you’re hiding something as well?”
Chief bellowed a mighty warcry, attempting to catch Master Valdi off-guard with a dozen spear thrusts.
Master Valdi parried each incoming blow with a well-placed blade. He blocked above his head. Down by his legs. Behind his back! This was all just a game to Master Valdi, and he didn’t intend to play fair.
“RIBBON RIP!”
A level one ribbon reached out from the ground, gripping Master Valdi’s wrist and yanking him down.
Chief’s spear ascended –
“BLACK WAVE!”
A level one wave crashed into Chief’s back, shoving her past Master Valdi.
Master Valdi attempted to pull his wrist free, but the ribbon held tight.
Dropping the dagger to his other hand, Master Valdi turned, hurling his blade into Chief’s back.
THIP
Chief shrieked in pain.
“That’s the spot, isn’t it?” asked Master Valdi.
Chief croaked, blue beetle blood spreading across her robe.
“I know what your robe is hiding,” said Master Valdi. “That bird monster tore off the exo-skeleton on your back. You have a gaping weak spot there, ripe for a dagger.”
Chief collapsed to her knees, bug eyes bulging.
“You were hit with glitch energy,” said Master Valdi. “Your exo-skeleton isn’t coming back. Consider yourself lucky it didn’t hit anything vital. That would have killed you for real.”
Chief chittered, black blood flowing from her mouth.
“H-How do you know about that?” asked Chief. “The bird monster, I mean? Guild replays can only be accessed by guild members.”
Master Valdi smirked, lowering his face to hers.
“Zero Space is won through hidden information,” said Master Valdi. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”
Master Valdi patted Chief’s cheek.
“Isn’t it a shame?” said Master Valdi. “You’re going to lose, without ever knowing why.”
With one swift kick, Master Valdi crushed Chief’s face.
Chief plummeted from the platform, landing below with a cold dead thump.
Feather Birds
Deadly Skulls
4
8
Shae, Asira, Umi and Dalli froze, each with their own vantage point of Chief’s defeat.
Chief lay shriveled and lifeless in the center of the battlefield, raised up for all to see. Blue rays of neon skylight glossed over her trembling body, flakes of exo-skeleton wisping away in an invisible wind.
Dalli stared down from a platform above.
“Chief!” shouted Dalli. “Noooooo!”
Master Valdi cackled.
“You see that Feather Birds?” yelled Master Valdi. “Your leader is dead!”
Master Valdi’s red eyes shone a devilish beacon across the battlefield.
“We outnumber you two to one,” said Master Valdi. “The end of the Feather Birds is finally at hand!”