Guinevere panted as she stood on the edge of the wooden ramparts of their camp. They had made only one other attack against the fortress for the past few days. Every other day they had been besieged by beasts and monsters from the forest that threw themselves at them with abandon and no thought of self-preservation. She was tired and a bit angry.
“Are you all right, my lady?” Kira asked.
Guinevere turned to her party’s healer and nodded. “I’m fine Kira; how are the others?”
“Tired we’ve been babysitting these mortals for two weeks now,” Kira sighed. “We should return to Camelot and let the Champions deal with this.”
“The Champions are the problem,” Guinevere snapped. “There are too many of them in one spot; the system keeps spamming new spawns and sending them to test us.”
“We could be here several more weeks at this rate, my lady,” Kira said. “The King will want you back in Camelot.”
“I have permission from my father to be here,” Guinevere said. “Besides, leaving would require taking our guard with us and would leave the champions and the soldiers of Lunara vulnerable.”
“We could leave just as our party,” Kira suggested. “We’re veteran rank, and away from the champions, there is little in this forest that would threaten us.”
“You’re ok with just the five of us going through the forest?” Guinevere asked.
“If it means getting home sooner,” Kira said.
Guinevere shook her head. “No. I gave Helen my word I’d help her fight the Chaos spawn. Also, our party is the only thing keeping this camp from being overrun. Us leaving would still put a massive strain on the army.”
“Do you not want to marry Arthur?” Kira asked.
“What?” Guinevere asked, startled by the question. “Of course I do.”
“You don’t sound very certain, my lady,” Kira said.
“That’s enough of that,” Guinevere said, her voice becoming firm. “I will do my duty to my father and kingdom to secure peace and ensure a stable succession. Do not question my resolve again.”
“I apologize, my lady,” Kira said, bowing, turning to go and look for others to tend to.
---
Korsis fell, the blade slicing through his neck, and I watched as his head tumbled to the ground, the chaos of battle all around me.
The sounds of screams and war horns jolted me from my vision. That wasn’t my usual wake-up call, so I jumped out of bed, my telekinesis wrapping me in my few pieces of armor and buckling the straps in under a minute. I stepped out of my hut as a man covered in scales was about to stab a man pinned on the ground with his spear. I grabbed the man with telekinesis and crushed his ribs as I moved toward the loudest sounds of battle.
24 rank points gained.
My Might ticked up with the man’s death as Black Rage activated my body, covered in dark smoky miasma obscuring my body in black shadows, and my veins lit up with red inner fire. A man covered in dark-green scales lunged at me. I ducked under his two swords, my Heightened Speed letting me spin under his blades, the claws of my left club ramming into his stomach, the weight of my club, its hardness and my strength breaking through the scales covering him, and I ripped up spilling his guts across the ground. He wasn’t dead yet as he pulled his guts back inside him, curling in on his wound. I raised my club to finish him off, but I was forced to dodge to the side as my foresight told me of the two spears coming at my torso.
My arrival to the battle and my successful attacks hadn’t gone unnoticed; three Dragon Clan warriors rushed me; a gout of fire spewed from one’s mouth while another sprouted wings from his back and beat them, speeding through the air so fast he was before me in an instant his sword lunging forward to skewered me. I slipped to the side, his sword skidding off my pauldrons, and I cut at him in a retaliatory strike with a sweep of my club. I moved forward as my third attacker dropped down from the sky behind me, his spear plunging into the earth where I had been standing.
Stone spearheads struck down at the man I had eviscerated, finishing him on the ground.
18 rank points gained.
I ducked under a strike aimed toward my neck, my Foresight warning me of the danger. I spun under the next attack sweeping out my attacker’s legs; I stomped down on him as I lunged forwards over his body as his companions tried to help him. I heard ribs breaking, and the claws of my right club managed to cut along the spearman’s torso ripping off scales as it tried to rip out his guts.
The man on the ground rolled a knife in hand, going for my thigh; I brought up my leg, and the dagger slid off my dragon-hide boots. Then I stomped down a crack sounding out as I broke his wrist, the dagger falling from his fingers. The winged swordsman said something and then whirled in a tornado of scales and blades, razor-sharp bands of wind slicing at me as he used some ability.
I winced as they cut along my skin, able to bypass the hardness of my skin. They didn’t cut deep, but I knew from my work that it was dangerous to get air inside your bloodstream; if a bubble got in your blood, it would travel to your heart and kill you. I wasn’t sure if that still applied to me with my supernatural biology and toughness, and two hearts, but I didn’t want to find out.
I stabbed down with three dozen stone spearheads into my attackers. Two of them managed to throw up some defensive ability and deflect the spearheads off their scales, but the one on the ground was skewered by eight of spearheads and died almost instantly.
25 rank points added.
I felt my Might rise even higher, and the anger from Black Rage coursed through me like a drug. My kills were activating Blood Frenzy, and everything I saw was a shade of crimson distorting the world into a hellish landscape, and a maddening rage filled me. I dropped my club in my left hand, my telekinesis taking hold of it as I grabbed my wyvern bone spear. I rushed forward, lunging with all my strength; the swordsman tried to block but was shoved back, unprepared for my sudden increase in strength. I carried him to the ground, stabbing down over and over in a mad frenzy, my hand around the end of the spear using it more like a dagger; his blood spurting out with every strike, coating me with his gore.
30 rank points gained.
I tackled the spearman to the ground. He drew a knife, trying to stab me, but I grabbed his wrist and smashed it on the ground over and over until I heard the bones break. I grabbed his knife and stabbed down into the smaller scales of his face smashing as much as piercing his skull. My Might and rage increased. I roared out in triumph and fury; the wolf howls and dragon roars, silenced by the raw bestial rage that empowered my voice.
21 rank points gained.
Warriors of the Wolf Clan backed up from me as the Dragon Clan warriors turned to face me. I don’t know what they saw, but everyone took a step back as I scanned for my next prey. I wasn’t even thinking now, operating on instinct and a raw, primal desire to kill. I swayed to the side as my foresight showed me being impaled by a spear, and it passed by harmlessly. I turned and threw all my spearheads in the direction of my attacker. Like a swarm of hornets, they pierced through the air and foliage, bouncing off shields and hardened scales but driving the raiders back and drawing blood.
The battle resumed with the warriors of the Wolf Clan rejoining the attack grouping up against Dragon Clan raiders. I ran forward and launched myself at a group of four raiders who had killed most of their opponents. I hurled myself into the middle of their group, lashing out with my right club and the dagger I had just killed with.
After a dozen strikes, the dagger shattered but not before scoring lines of blood across their flesh. I slashed forward, my club breaking through the armored scales over his chest with its claws and impaling him. I twisted and ripped out the clawed spikes, a torrent of blood spraying out.
23 rank points gained.
Blood and Souls (Repeatable): Kill 10,240 monsters or humanoids. Current Progress 192 out of 10,240. When you complete this quest, you will gain 2,048 Rank Points, and the next quest will require double the amount to be completed but will award double the rank points.
With every kill, I wanted more; the burning anger in me was like an insatiable animal needing to be fed, and the increase in my Might was like a drug. The Blood Frenzy from my cloak fed into the mix, increasing the damage I dealt but making everything appear red and muddling my thoughts.
I tried to clear my head; there was something that was about to happen. Something I was supposed to remember. I looked about and spotted one of the platforms around the clan archers taking aim and firing from above. Korsis stood on one, a twelve-foot-long spear in his hand; shadows swept over him, and the memory of all my visions came back to me.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
I acted without thinking, teleporting onto the platform and kicking out with all my accumulated Might. Korsis was so surprised he went flying; I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to move him without the sneak attack. The four figures landed around me, and even in my enraged, maddened state, I was able to read the pop-ups from the system.
Lasyris Talonbreaker; Gifted- humanoid/myrmidon, Veteran, Rank: 325
Nasko Deathcaller; Gifted- humanoid/myrmidon, Veteran, Rank: 350
Thaskren Knifewind; Gifted- humanoid/myrmidon, Veteran, Rank: 315
Asmodrin Hellscale; Gifted- humanoid/myrmidon, Hero, Rank: 415
The four gifted looked at me in surprise, then struck forward in a coordinated attack. I raised one leg, the sword passing through as I bent backward, dodging the thrust of a short spear. Stone spearheads buzzed toward me, my three Veteran attackers turning to block the storm of weapons flying at them. Asmodrin didn’t flinch as the spearheads bounced off his scales, and he swung heavy wide bladed swords toward me, his movement faster than I could even track.
I activated Phantom Form, and it barely saved as the sword passed through my body, a burning feeling passing through my spirit. I struck forward, my ethereal weapons piercing through his scales, and the hero staggered back, a look of surprise on his face that my attack actually damaged him.
I spent another thirty-five mana to activate Phantom Form again, as well as sixteenth of my max stamina to use eruption from Magma Heart(s), and lunged forward. His look of surprise turned into a glare; purple flames lit along the edges of his sword. He stabbed forward, our weapons hitting each other simultaneously. I could feel pain flood my spirit as his weapon rammed through my chest. The only reason I wasn’t curled in the fetal position was because of Berserker as purple flames licked across my spirit form.
Activating Wrathful Meditation, I shut down all incoming sensory information except for visuals. I teleported behind Deathcaller and rammed my clubs down his spine, the spirit damage making him freeze up with a silent scream trying to break out. I teleported again behind Talonbreaker, attacking again. I had to activate Phantom Form again to avoid a blast of purple flames as Asmodrin opened his mouth and released a breath attack. I couldn’t even tell how much damage I had taken, but I barely had any mana left, even with Magma hearts restoring it with each hit I had made.
I became physical again, and I didn’t have the mana to activate Phantom Form, but I wouldn’t back down. I wasn’t in a good spot right now, but the damage I had inflicted was notable. Both Deathcaller and Talonbreaker twitched erratically, the Soul damage I had inflicted messing with them on some internal level. Asmodrin breathed heavily, one hand on his chest as he breathed in and out. Despite this, I was outnumbered and out-leveled. I barely turned to the side as Knifewind appeared behind me with some sort of teleportation effect of his own. I swung my clubs at him, but his sword came up in one hand, a long-bladed dagger in the other with a twist of his sword; my clubs were twisted out of my grip and thrown away.
Knifewind stabbed forward. I blocked with my forearm his weapons drawing a thin scratch, but my skin slowed it and kept it from going through bone or muscle. I kicked out, then backfisted him, teleporting away as a spear passed through where I had been. My mana regen was slowly restoring me, but not enough to spam my abilities as I had at the start of the fight. Deathcaller rushed at me with his two swords, I tried to teleport again, but claws ripped out of the earth, grabbing my boots and pinning me in place.
I twisted my face to see Asmodrin with a spiteful grin on his face, his left hand held in a claw-like position.
“I think that is enough, Warlord,” Asmodrin said. “You put up a good show, but you should always remember your rank and not challenge those above you.”
I tried activating Phantom Form, but the same thing blocking my teleportation prevented me from using Phantom Form. I hurled every weapon I had at Asmodrin, but Talonbreaker stepped next to him, a dome of scales appearing around the two like a dragon’s egg.
“Finish him,” Asmodrin commanded.
Knifewind appeared next to me again, his sword whistling towards my neck.
A spear tip rammed through the back of Knifewind’s neck as Korsis landed back on the platform. He spun, flinging Knifewind’s body off into the air to topple to the ground below.
79 rank points gained split between contributing attackers.
“You disappoint me, Asmodrin,” Korsis said. “Your Clan has dishonored themselves over and over; you are a disgrace to your ancestors and every myrmidon.”
“Enough, Korsis,” Asmodrin spat. “The Dragon is superior to the Wolf; we need not pretend like we are equals.”
“Indeed, we do not,” Korsis agreed.
A howl burst from his throat, and every member of the Wolf Clan within two-hundred feet was surrounded by a wintery aura. Asmodrin snarled and lunged forward, purple flames appearing on his blades again, but Korsis brought up his spear, knocking aside the first sword and the spear breaking through Korsis’ scales before the other Hero could even get within fifteen feet.
Deathcaller and Talonbreaker tried to circle around Korsis, but the talons holding me in place had disappeared, and I was free to act again. I dropped half the items I was suspending with my Telekinesis and grabbed Talonbreaker with it. Talonbreaker strained against the telekinetic bonds as I snatched my wyvern bone spear out of the air stepping forward and ramming it through his chest and spine. Black Rage had increased my strength over the course of the battle as my Might ramped up with each wound I had inflicted, so when I hit, my attack shattered the scales over Talonbreaker’s skin with almost no resistance.
162 rank points gained.
I ducked and blocked Deathcaller’s sword on my pauldron and caught his wrist in my left hand, halting it and then pulling him close to my hand, squeezing his bones cracking. He went with me, lunging forward, his teeth morphing into fangs as he lunged for my throat. I headbutted him, knocking his head pack as I pulled him close, pinning his arm to his chest and pulling him against me. A dozen stone spearheads slammed into his back as I pinned him against me, and Deathcaller slumped in my arms.
175 rank points gained.
I dropped Deathcaller’s body and turned to the fight between Korsis and Asmodrin. Asmodrin was not doing well against the leader of the Wolf Clan. Korsis’ spear spun in his hand blocking one sword to slash or stab between Asmodrin’s guard as the enemy Hero tried to get in close or behind him. Scaled bat wings sprouted from Asmodrin’s back, and he used them to speed to the side as he darted to Korsis’ left, trying to get around him, but he couldn’t escape the long reach of the spear.
I stepped in, teleporting next to Asmodrin and activating Phantom Form. Korsis whirled the flames along his blade, slicing into me. I couldn’t feel the pain and kept attacking. I was low on mana, but I wouldn’t let up and let others fight without me.
I teleported behind him, slicing into his back, then teleported in front of him as he began to whirl around. Korsis took advantage of Asmodrin’s distraction, his spear stabbing into his thigh, a thick coating of ice spreading from the wound.
Asmodrin hissed, dropped his swords, and long curved claws extended from his fingertips. He lashed out at me, the claws piercing through my immaterial chest, but he somehow grabbed hold of me.
“Your story ends here, Warlord,” Asmodrin growled. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”
I stepped into his attack instead of struggling, feeling his claws rake through my spirit. Asmodrin grabbed my right arm with his other hand as I thrust my spear at him. He pulled me close as I had with Deathcaller, the talons filling me with deadly energy that ate away at my spirit. He threw me to the ground, and Phantom Form ended, but I didn’t have the mana to activate it again.
Asmodrin pinned me to the ground and snarled at Korsis. “Step back, or the Warlord dies!”
I lunged forward with the only part of me not pinned. I caught Asmodrin by the throat with my teeth and shook like a dog. I felt his trachea crush between my teeth and flesh and scales rip. The scales bit into the inside of my mouth, drawing blood, but the damage to Asmodrin was way worse. Blood spurted into my mouth and face. Asmodrin let go of me and staggered back, clutching his neck. Korsis stepped forward and rammed his spear through Asmodrin’s chest. The enemy hero fell back and then collapsed.
103 rank points gained, split between surviving contributors of the battle.
Blood and Souls (Repeatable): Kill 10,240 monsters or humanoids. Current Progress 195 out of 10,240. When you complete this quest, you will gain 2,048 Rank Points, and the next quest will require double the amount to be completed but will award double the rank points.
Ability Gained, Hell’s Talons: (Rank 1); As a spoken command, your nails lengthen to 0.5 inches and thicken proportionally for 1 second and deal an additional minor amount of Curse damage.
Cost: 30 stamina each activation.
Upgrade this ability to increase the length and curse damage of your talons. Each upgrade increases your Might Attribute by 1.
My body was ravaged by the Curse damage from Asmodrin, and I collapsed. Even Wrathful Mediation no longer enough to keep me standing. My body shut down, and my vision darkened as my body fought to regenerate and curb the damage.
Warning, you have taken an Extreme amount of Curse damage to your Spirit worsening the existing Soul Damage you have been suffering. Your Soul with be vulnerable to Soul damage and attacks until you repair the damage to your spiritual self.
Everything went black.
---
Arthur rode across the battlefield, Excalibur swinging down left and right as he cleaved through soldiers on the battlefield. An enemy officer ran up on him, throwing a spear too fast to dodge or deflect. It took Arthur’s horse through the neck, and he went flying as it buckled under him. Arthur rolled to his feet, blocking a sword strike coming down on his neck.
“Bypassing Strike!” Arthur shouted, his sword ghosting through the man’s armor and ramming through his heart.
Arthur planted his feet as Kay and Lancelot rode up behind him. A wave of soldiers crashed against him, but his swordplay and abilities knocked the attacks aside and cut down enemy after enemy. A massive man wielding a metal maul charged him, striking the ground. From the impact point, a crack formed in the earth, racing towards Arthur and widening into a chasm.
Arthur raced forward, dancing along the edge of the chasm before leaping into the air.
“Gryphon’s Flight!” he shouted and slid along the air before bringing down Excalibur on the man’s head. “Heroic Blade, Bypassing Strike, Rending Blade!”
Arthur spammed one ability after the other, and his sword came down like a knife through butter, cleaving the seven-foot-tall man in two. When he fell, all the Dracon soldiers turned and fled towards the nearby woods. Arthur had burned through all his mana and stamina, so the let the rest of his knights ride them down.
“Good fight,” Kay said. “I was a bit worried when you got separated from us after that last charge.”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Arthur said, wiping his brow. “There were no serious threats here. It’s just the forces from one of Dracon’s borer Lords.”
“We’ll have this war won in two weeks at this rate,” Lancelot agreed. “I’m in charge of loot distribution, so I’ve got to see to our troops.”
“Have fun with that,” Arthur snorted. “I’m going to dunk myself in the river.”
“Don’t let any naiads catch sight of you,” Kay said with a laugh. “We’d never see you again.”
“I’ll be fine,” Arthur laughed. “I’ll catch you later at the feast tonight.”