Orc 25
0/60 HP
Lambda yanked the scythe out of the orc to let him fall.
“That’s probably the lowest numbered orc I’ve seen so far,” Gungnir commented. She and a player in mechanised armour were crouched behind boxes, firing at orcs who were advancing on them. Lambda and a Monk were covering the rear, punching and stabbing any enemy that noticed them.
They were pinned down in a small alleyway, trying to hide from the prowling behemoths with axes, the hail of crossbow bolts and the rain of flaming rocks. Bodies littered the streets, of orcs, guards and civilians. The lights that lit up the dark streets were becoming collateral damage, making the city’s ground level a lot darker. While they were closing in on the teleporter, it was slow progress, and the closer they got the more the enemy waves intensified.
Lambda
Corpse Disposal
----
Lambda’s Abyssal Summon 3
30/30 HP
The skeleton rushed out into the street, immediately starting a battle with another orc, and getting an axe through their ribs, their bones flying apart like a marrow pinata.
Lambda’s Abyssal Summon 3
0/30 HP
“What the hell is the point of this class if I can’t use my ability for more than three seconds?!” Lambda shouted, exasperated.
Gungnir looked up to see an open window not that far up the building. “We should try climbing up there, we might be able to get around that way.” She glanced at Lambda, who sighed.
Lambda
Call Forth
----
Lambda’s Abyssal Summon 4
30/30 HP
“I guess my power is useful for stepladders,” he growled. He and the Monk climbed over the skeleton and into the building as the other two provided covering fire. The room was a mess of fallen furniture and books, the constant shocks from the falling rocks shaking the building even if its floatstone structure prevented it from collapsing. The only true damage was the dust floating in the air, which the players had to push to one side to see properly. They quickly advanced, with Gungnir and the Armournaut player climbing in soon after, sticking to the walls to see out and take potshots at anything that might fly at them. It felt like they found a little safe haven out of the chaos that was going on on the streets below them. Lambda walked to the far wall and looked out of the window, looking out over a square with a fountain that was no longer running. He saw a bright blue light down a street to the left that a large portion of orcs were clustered around.
“We’ve just got a street to go yet it seems so far,” Lambda lamented.
“Can we get around them?” Gungnir asked. “I don’t think even a tank could survive more than a second in there.”
“Can you snipe the teleporter from here?” The Armournaut asked.
“I don’t have a sniper. None of my guns are that accurate.”
“He’s not wrong, though,” Lambda commented. “Is there anything we could lob over there?”
A flaming rock flew out of the blue light and slammed down into the fountain, crushing the fountain easily. Steam and smog covered the square, obscuring the scuffle below.
Gungnir pointed out of the window. “That.”
“How do we throw it?” The Armournaut asked.
“Wait, we’re entertaining this idea?” Lambda asked.
“You have a better one?” Gungnir replied.
“I have a skill that launches a jet of wind.” The Monk suggested. “It might be able to launch it. I don't know how far, though.”
“We’ve got a pretty good strength stat between the four of us,” Amelia pointed out. “We could lift it to give...” Gungnir looked at the Monk’s name. “PrayingMantis some extra height and launch it straight back.”
“Ok, great,” Lambda said. “What happens if it doesn’t hit?”
“Find another rock.” Gungnir pointed her guns out of the window. “I’ll provide cover fire. Move out!”
“Don’t shoot us,” Lambda growled.
Gungnir smirked. “No promises.”
Lambda jumped out the window, slamming his scythe into the wall to slide down the wall. He landed in the square, followed by the Armournaut breaking their fall with jet boosters and the Monk just running down the wall. The square was in chaos, with royal knights and orcs fighting it out. A group of Orcs rushed at the players, but were set on fire when an incendiary grenade hit them.
Gungnir
Napalm Bomb
----
Orc 58-62
30/60 HP
Burnt
----
Gungnir
Napalm Bombs
1/2
The Armournaut then shoulder-barged the group, propelled by rockets.
Armournaut Skill
Jet Charge
Use your rockets to hurl yourself at the enemy.
Dash forward, dealing STR damage to all enemies in front of you. Increases Heat Gauge by 1.
20 second cooldown
----
Orc 58-62
13/60 HP
Burnt
With the path cleared, the group pushed on through the crowd to the rock.
Lambda
Corpse Disposal
----
Lambda’s Abyssal Summon 5
30/30 HP
“C’mon, we need as many hands as we can get!” He told the skeleton, which quickly followed him. The group surrounded the rock, and everyone other than the monk tried to lift it up to no avail.
“Sorry I’m late!” Gungnir shouted as she ran to join the group, shooting an orc in the head as she did so.
Orc 58
0/60 HP
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----
Gungnir
Pistol Ammo
5/12
“How did you get down?” Lambda asked.
“I used the front door,” she explained “Anyway, heave ho!”
With their combined strength stat, the group managed to lift the rock up. The Monk pulled his fist back, energy enveloping the fist.
“Wait, do we have a good angle?” Lambda asked. “We really should line it up bef-”
Monk Skill
Wind Fist
Strike with the force of a hurricane.
AoE that damages all enemies in front of you for 2*STR damage. Knocks opponents away. Requires 1 Ki Point.
20 second cooldown
The gust of wind catapulted the rock over the hordes, crash landing on top of the blue light. The rock vanished for a second before the light became blinding. A second later, it vanished completely.
Teleporter 1
0/100 HP
----
Teleporters Remaining
3/ 4
The group cheered as the teleporter collapsed, but the battle around them kept raging on regardless.
“Seems like we’ve still got a job to do.” Lambda said “Forward, to the next teleporter!”
>>>
As the battle went on, the skies of Corigrad became choked with soot and smoke. The lights that lined the city streets were beacons through the darkness, if they hadn’t been smashed by catapults positioned a whole country away shooting through the portals into the heart of the city. Cries and shouts of civilians fleeing into safehouses and the remaining knights fighting desperately against the hordes of orcs echoed down the streets, and were quickly becoming the easiest way to find your way through them. The late King’s garden was a sea of flames, the gardeners trying desperately to save what they could, most of them falling to the orcish horde in the process as the city’s defences faltered. Despite the absolute chaos and the necessity of heroes in the moment, despite how realistic and brutal the game could be, the players were still preferring to fight each other.
Warning
PVP is not possible outside of designated areas.
Please move to the nearest Arena or use the Dueling Dust item if you wish to continue.
“Shut up already!” Amelia screamed, as her sword bounced harmlessly off Oblivia again. She’d just been backing off against Amelia’s strikes, walking towards the flaming trees.
“Frankly, I’d normally just leave now,” Oblivia growled, “but I don’t want this fly buzzing in my ear any longer.”
“You’ve gotta have some of that duelling stuff, right? Fight me properly, you coward.”
“Don’t have any, I wouldn’t want you to kill me anyway. Let me show you something called problem solving.”
Oblivia jammed her sword into the bark and swung, the burning splinters crashing into Amelia’s chest and scorching her armour.
GlassAngel
190/200 HP
Burnt
“Oh, screw you,” Amelia responded, barging Oblivia into the tree, sending both of them tumbling into the flames.
KnightOblivia
240/250 HP
Burnt
----
GlassAngel
178/200 HP
Burnt
Oblivia rolled back, vanishing into the fire as Amelia instinctively tried to stab her before realising she couldn’t.
Saber Skill
Night Cut
A lethal slash that lasts but a single second.
Deal 2*STR damage to all enemies in front of you.
10 second cooldown
Amelia heard Oblivia’s sword, and a tree fell out of the flames towards her. She spun her sword around, firing a blast of air that pushed it off course, sending it crashing to the side.
GlassAngel
Whirlwind Cutter
Amelia staggered out of the flames, trying to gain her bearings and coughing from the smoke. While she was disorientated, a heavy branch was smashed into her spine.
GlassAngel
140/200 HP
Burnt
She staggered to her feet, Oblivia striding out of the flames. Amelia raised her sword.
“Fight me properly, you coward!” She screamed.
“Who exactly do you think you’re up against?” Oblivia asked. “Do you really think anyone in this world plays fair? You’re just trying to make up for a lack of imagination.”
Amelia stabbed her sword into the ground and tried to pull the block of concrete out, but her blade stuck. Oblivia cocked her head.
“I was wrong. You’re just stupid.”
Amelia heard a loud crash behind them and saw a flaming rock smashing through one of the nearby buildings, flying right at them. The two tried to get away, but Amelia ran past Oblivia and pushed her in the meteor’s way.
KnightOblivia
136/250 HP
Burnt
Amelia looked over her shoulder and smiled, only to see the rock break apart and for shards to fly straight at her.
KnightOblivia
Whirlwind Cutter
----
GlassAngel
74/200 HP
Burnt
Obliva rushed out of the shards, flames trailing behind her, and swung her sword at Amelia, who instinctively parried the blow. She remembered far too late that the sword couldn’t hurt her right now before Oblivia swept her off her feet, grabbing her neck and pinning her to the ground, slamming her foot on her chest and stabbing her sword into Amelia’s to keep it down. Amelia struggled, but Oblivia’s grip felt like iron, no doubt due to her higher strength stat.
“You put up a mildly better fight than I was expecting,” Oblivia growled, “but I guess it was mostly luck.”
It was hard for Amelia to breath, but she managed to get out one word.
“Why?”
“I wanted to teach you a lesson. You’re the most hot headed one, if I humble you the others will go down easy. If you cannot beat me, a single player, you will stand no chance against what comes next. Wherever your friend is will be his grave, literally. You’re never going to see him again.”
Amelia grabbed Oblivia’s arm and tried to pull it off her.
“As long as he trusts us, James is going to come back alive. And you know I’m not going to listen to a damn word you say.”
“You really don’t know when to give up, do you?” Oblivia cocked her head to the side, bemused. “If you want a normal duel, then fine, have it.”
A red dust formed in Oblivia’s hands and she sprinkled it on the ground next to Amelia’s head. She pulled her sword out of the ground and walked away, a red glowing circle appearing on the ground.
KnightOblivia
Duelling Dust
----
PvP area has been created.
Do you accept PvP?
“I accept,” Oblivia said.
Amelia staggered to her feet, dragging her sword on the ground.
“I accept!” Amelia shouted back.
PvP accepted
Involved players:
GlassAngel
KnightOblivia
Duelling Dust will be used up upon one player's defeat or surrender.
Begin combat.
Oblivia lifted her sword onto her back, which was immediately wrapped up by leather bindings that were attached to her armour. She held her hand out to the side as Amelia ran forward, preparing to strike. Suddenly, Oblivia vanished, and Amelia felt herself being cleaved in two.
Saber Ultimate
Single Stroke
Call forth the Blade of Ages, a katana capable of rending space itself in half.
Teleport a short distance and Deal 15*STR damage to a single target.
----
GlassAngel
0/200 HP
Available Respawn Time: 3 minutes
Oblivia reappeared behind Amelia as her two halves collapsed, holding a black katana in one hand and its sheath in the other. The red glow of the Duelling Dust faded away.
“Hard to call it much of a duel,” Oblivia said, looking over Amelia’s body. She sighed. “As much as I hate to admit it…I like you. You’ve got spirit. I think we could have been friends before everything that happened. But we live in a different world now…and that’s not who I am anymore.”
Oblivia walked away, leaving Amelia’s body among the guards who were dying to defend the palace.
Gungnir Stats: Level: 8 VIT: 180/200 STR: 30 DEF: 5 DEX: 25 SPL: 5 INT: 0
Lambda Stats: Level: 8 VIT: 145/150 STR: 15 DEF: 5 DEX: 10 SPL: 25 INT: 0
Amelia Stats: Level: 8 VIT: 0/200 STR: 30 DEF: 15 DEX: 20 SPL: 5 INT: 1
