Cave Troll

Level: 19

HP: 450/450

Stamina: 410/410

MP: 90/90

Status:

Strength: 34

Dexterity: 14

Endurance: 22

Intelligence: 3

Willpower: 12

Personality: 4

Jake ducked back behind the rocky outcrop. Heavy armor, higher level, and lots of HP. Killing it wouldn’t be easy, and with 34 Strength, that club would hit hard.

Low Personality and only moderate Willpower—Mental Resistance, that was where to hit it. Jake held up the Telepathy/Hold wand and gestured toward the troll.

Gramok nodded. He pointed to himself, held up four fingers, and punched in the air. The four flanking creatures were his.

Savage Orc

Level: 10

HP: 320/320

Stamina: 280/280

MP: 170/170

Status:

Four level 10 orcs, all by himself? Jake held up four fingers and raised an eyebrow.

A shrug. Gramok pointed to Jake, then to himself, then wiggled his fingers down across his face and chest. An Armor spell?

Jake nodded. A silent prebuff would work. Cara?

Cara pointed to herself, then to a small rock cluster nearby. Cover.

A few muscles unclenched and Jake nodded. With her Punctured Lung, she was vulnerable. They had this. No need to put her at greater risk.

Trolls were vulnerable to fire, weren’t they? Jake pointed to himself, fluttered his fingers in a fire motion, and then outlined a large creature. Firebolt would make quick work of it, then he could help Gramok finish the rest.

Gramok repeated the fire motion, then dragged his finger across his neck.

Message understood. Fire would slaughter the troll. Jake held up three fingers and looked between them. Both nodded. On three, then.

Buff first. Three. Two. One. Jake touched Gramok, and a teal Armor effect shimmered over the orc’s shining plate.

Gramok charged forward, shield at the ready, greatsword above his head. They wouldn’t know what hit them.

Jake stepped out, aimed the wand, and pulled on his mana. Fire magic swirled in his free hand. That troll was going down.

The savage orcs roared and surged forward. Gramok’s problem.

Wand first. The purple cloud flowed into the troll. It stopped and swayed from side to side, its mouth hanging open.

“Enkir!” The firebolt struck its chest.

Critical hit! 78 fire damage dealt (78 resisted)! Mild Burns injury inflicted!

Jake blinked. Fire resistance? The troll straightened up and roared. The world shook, and it lumbered forward.

Shit.

Metal clashed against metal. Gramok, four on one, scarcely fair.

Blastbolt. That club was bigger than Gramok. “Ronka!”

The white bolt smashed against the troll’s chest.

80 force damage dealt!

Force magic skill increased 1 → 2!

Nowhere near enough. The savage orcs backed away. The troll swung its enormous club.

A metallic crash echoed. Gramok flew backward and smashed against a wall. The three remaining savage orcs charged.

HP: 86/295

Muscles tightened up and Jake clenched his jaw. Lifebolt.

Gramok staggered to his feet and lifted his sword. “That all you’ve got?”

The three orcs descended upon him in a flurry of clashing weapons, too many to block them all.

“Lunaeka!” Jake’s green bolt hit Gramok, but the heal was over 10 seconds. An eternity in a fight.

Gramok wouldn’t survive another hit like that, and the troll was closing in.

New plan. Mind Over Body. Energy tingled through his body and he sped behind the troll. His heart raced, and he bellowed, “Fight me!”

The troll turned and raised its club.

Jake dove forward and rolled between its feet, narrowly avoiding the crash behind him.

He rose, spun, and leaped onto the troll’s gnarly back, bounding up the rocks jutting out its back. It roared and flailed helplessly with arms that couldn’t reach him.

Falchion out. Time to finish this.

The troll jerked back and forth. Jake tumbled. His hand shot out, and only just finding purchase.

He pulled himself up and stabbed at the beast’s neck. Might as well have stabbed a cliff.

Glancing blow! 5 piercing damage dealt!

He dodged another grasping hand. An orc screamed. What might work? Ice. Water. Telepathic blast. Everything he didn’t have. Calm Creature?

A stone grip grabbed his arm. He tugged free just before it crushed his limb.

No better ideas. Calm creature it was.

Another orc cry cut short. The resounding chinks of steel against steel ended.

No time to worry. “Wonarka!” He pushed the purple energy into the troll’s head.

Telepathy magic skill increased 1 → 2!

It stopped flailing, stopped shuddering and bucking. Its shoulder slumped, and it groaned. Had it worked?

For now. Jake clambered down and deactivated Mind Over Body.

“Plan?” Gramok asked. His armor was battered, blood covered his nose, but he was alive.

MP: 50/300

Jake breathed deeply. “Not fighting this thing, that’s for sure. Let’s go.”

They were alive. That counted for a lot. The dwarves could handle this one. He beckoned Cara, and she started walking. Jake’s heart squeezed tight. Could she make it with her injury?

Come on, Cara!

The beast roared and slammed its club into the ground.

Jake gulped. “Run!”

Cara sped up. Her face clenched, even just walking fast. She’d never make it.

How to stop it? A cave-in? Too dangerous, it’d bury them all. Kill it?

HP: 437/450

It turned on Cara and advanced, rapidly building speed.

He bit his lip. Regeneration. Wearing it down wasn’t an option. Cara couldn’t run. His mana was almost out. Distraction, then. “Go, I’ll lead it away.”

“Jake—” Her face scrunched up. She nodded and moved a little faster. “Go.”

He ran past her. His muscles burned, but he kept going. “Fight me!”

The troll turned on him and charged.

He shuddered to a halt, pulled on his mana, and cast Teleport (Short).

The troll swung its club.

“Raka-fa!”

Jake’s stomach jerked. The world shifted. He drew his sword, stabbed at the troll behind him, and broke into a sprint.

He glanced back. The troll had turned. It was still following him, charging toward him.

The ground shook. The footfalls grew louder.

How long could he keep this up for? He couldn’t safely cast and keep running. Stopping was suicide.

Options? Limited. Stop, die. Fight, die. Teleport, get stuck in the same situation with a little less mana or die trying. Might as well take the bastard down at the same time.

Energy, Touch, Lightning. Loose ends? Yup. Feedback loops? Dozens. Unstable connections? All of them.

The pounding closed in behind him. Closer. Closer.

He called on his mana and poured all of it into the spell.

Energy swirled and sparked in the air, crackling as it grew exponentially.

He stopped, turned, and let go of the spell.

***

“My, my, my, death by mana vortex. A deliberate one, no less. Such a hurry to see me—I feel so appreciated!”

Jake blinked. Salty air whipped across his face. Waves crashed against the ship below. The plank beneath him wobbled, nearly forcing him overboard.

Death stood at the other end of the plank with a gold-trimmed tricorn, navy blue officer’s dress, and a host of redcoats behind him. “I realized while you’ve been gone that I’ve been doing this all wrong. You’re not a warrior, power won’t tempt you. No, you’re a coward.”

Fire burned in Jake’s chest. Hadn’t he proven himself enough? “I’m not a coward.”

“No? Then what do you fight for?”

“I’m going home.”

“See?” Death held up his hands. “The boy wants to run away home.”

The crowd of redcoats brayed and laughed.

Jake stepped forward. His hand went for his sword, but it wasn’t there. “This isn’t my fight!”

“You’re right,” Death said, looking away and sighing. “You’re right. It’s not your responsibility. She’s not your responsibility.”

Pain stabbed at Jake’s chest. “Who?”

“Oh, come now, Jake, I don’t need to be a god to see that one.”

Jake pulled at his bottom lip. “Saving the world saves her. That’s how I get to go home.”

A sneer spread across Death’s face. “Do you know what broke him in the end?”

Fingernails bit into Jake’s palms. “What do you want, Death?”

The bastard chuckled. “He fought it too. Oh, yes, he did, but in the end, it got him.” Death paused and wetted his lips. “Fear, Jake.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“And you shouldn’t be! I’m on your side, Jake. I’m here to help.”

Jake scoffed. Some help.

“Fear of being powerless. That’s what had him begging me to take it all away.”

“I’m not him.”

“This is your third time here, Jake. The first was free. The second, you lost your precious Dispel. How many more times will you die in a year? In ten years?”

“I’ll be long gone by then.”

“If you can complete your mission, yes.” Death pulled a pistol from thin air and aimed at Jake.

Jake’s heart leaped into his throat. He swallowed. “You can’t kill me here.”

“Not with a gun,” Death said, “but how will you complete your mission if you’re powerless?”

“Enough talk. What’s the bargain this time?”

Death smiled. “An easy one, this time. After all, I need you at your best to discover what he found. Healing saved that poor orc Gramok. What has your fear ever done for you?”

Ice filled Jake’s chest. Countless others might die without the ability to heal. Cara might die.

“Your ability to cast the Heal effect, or your capacity to feel fear. Your choice.” Death shrugged. “Fear led your father down a very dark path, Jake. I don’t want to see you go the same way.”

“You bastard.”

Another smug smile. “Technically, my parents weren’t married, so I suppose you’re right. Just imagine Cara bleeding out on the floor. Picture those slender fingers reaching up, begging you to heal her…”

Jake’s heart sank. He couldn’t do it.

“Is your fear worth her life? I know you’ll make the right choice.”

***

Gramok’s chest clenched. Maybe bringing her down here had been a bad idea. “You okay?” he asked.

She glared up at him. “What kind of a question is that?” She clenched her side. “I can’t keep this up.”

He pointed to a rocky outcrop. At least it would provide some cover. “Behind there. You should rest.”

Her jaw set. She nodded and hobbled toward it. “We shouldn’t travel too far. He’ll need to find us again.”

“Agreed.” He glanced around. Whatever that blast had been, it was likely to attract attention.

Cara slumped against the rock. “I’m sorry I screwed up our escape.”

“At least we got to escape.” He turned away from her cutting gaze and set down the lantern. “He’ll be back, Cara. We got the XP for the troll as well, didn’t we?”

She scowled. “No thanks to me.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Was it me or Jake who spotted them first? I can’t remember.”

Her fist slammed down on his toe. “You two couldn’t find a bracka in a tree hut.” She picked up a small stone and sent it clattering across the cave floor. “You’d still both be better off without me.”

A chill ran down Gramok’s spine. “I’d be dead and buried by now without you, Cara. Those thugs weren’t messing about.”

She shook her head. “Jake would have helped.”

“Would he? I’m not so sure.”

“He’s a good person. He just… needs a push sometimes. Don’t we all?”

Not everyone. “You don’t.” Karogar hadn’t.

She laughed. “Look where that got us.”

“Saving the world? Someone’s got to do it.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. Her lips pressed together and her gaze dropped to the floor.

“We’re going to do it, you know.”

She snorted. “I’m useless, you won’t go all the way, and Jake kills himself once a week. We’re not cut out the save the world.”

“You’re not useless.” Gramok sighed. Someone had to do it. Karogar would have been first in line. He should have been the one to survive. “How about I come, you stop telling yourself that, and Jake… well, we need to give him an intervention, or something.”

“Really?” Cara squinted up at him. “You’d come to the Divine Empire?”

He nodded. How had he ever said no? What kind of awful, terrible person had he become?

“The kind of person that let their best friend die.”

That voice. Gramok’s heart froze. “Who said that?”

Cara tilted her head. “Who said what?”

A movement in the shadows. A silhouette.

Gramok drew his sword and took a step forward. “I can see you.”

“You always could see me, Gramok.”

An eight-foot-tall figure formed out of the darkness. Bulky, just like an orc.

It couldn’t be.

Cara scrambled to her feet. “What do you see?”

He waved for her to stay back. No one else could die for him. Not like he had.

“Don’t you recognize me, Gramok?” Shadowy wisps rolled off the figure, revealing it, revealing him, piece by piece. “Don’t you recognize your best friend?”

Those wide teeth. His stubby nose. That happy-go-lucky smile.

Gramok gulped and shook his head. “No. You’re dead. You died!”

“Died?” Karogar stepped into the lantern’s light. “You killed me. But you can make it right.”