Chapter 13

“Are we really sure this is the best idea?” I asked for probably the twelfth time in the last minute. Serk said nothing merely rolling his eyes at me. “Fine,” I said with a sigh, “whenever you are ready.” Serk nodded and pulled off the heavy beam before opening the large door, hiding himself completely behind it. The room was dark and quiet, I gulped and sent light into the room as I had before. Within seconds the various dead bodies strewn across the floor began to move and groan. Their emaciated faces locked on me as they stood. Slowly they began to shamble towards me, their movements slow and jerky at first but getting surer with each step. My insides screamed at me to run away from these terrible things, and I wanted to do nothing else, but I fought down that instinct and waited till the first of the undead was within about 15 feet of me. I used Analysis on the one closest to me.

Shambling Corpse

Race: Human (undead)

Level 3

Skills: Untrained combat, Undead resilience.

Experience: 65

Then I did what any sane man would do when facing down a horde of corpses shambling towards you with hate in their eyes, I ran away, 30 undead corpses groaned and howled giving chase. I glanced back over my shoulder and realized with a start that one of them was moving much faster than I had thought it could move. I put on some more speed tearing around the corner and darting down the long hallway full of doors. The door at the end of the hall was wide open and I could already hear the cultists loud chanting echoing down the adjacent hall. I glanced back one last time seeing the undead now several feet behind me.

I really hoped this worked, just before reaching the door to the adjacent hallway I dove left through an open door to the side. I quickly slammed the door shut and pressed myself against it. I heard the soft slap of feet on stone as they continued to approach. I heard them moan and wail, but they seemed to be passing me by, the sound of the cultists was drawing them in. I grinned and listened intently as the dead moved past me without so much as giving me a second thought. After a few seconds the sound of their movements had faded, and I risked opening the door a crack. Sure, enough they had passed on by and I just caught the last of them turning the corner towards the large chamber.

The cultists were about to have a very bad time. Zavra opened the door on the other side of the hallway, she and the others quickly scanned the hallway to make sure they were safe. We stepped out and slowly crept down the hall towards the large chamber. I heard someone scream and the chanting faltered, shouts rang out as the cultists realized they were under attack. I crept forward keeping as low as possible to not be seen by the figures below. I looked through the balcony railing seeing the room for the first time.

It reminded me of an old temple with vaulted ceilings, the stairs to my left and right led down about 20 or so feet to the floor below. Tall columns stood in orderly rows to the sides of the room, once they may have looked elegant but were now cracked and worn. At the far end of the room was a raised platform on top of it was a dark altar with four people chained to it. My heart sank as I noted each of them slumped over and covered in fresh wet blood. We were too late to save them. A human man in flowing robes stood just behind the altar a bloody dagger in one hand. Perched on his shoulder was a red scaled Dragonling, not too different from Shadowfire. Behind him was an ovoid like rock that stood about 10 feet tall, I wasn’t sure where it had come from. Unlike the rest of the temple the rock was onyx black with veins of deep green.

Scanning over the cultists they weren’t fairing to well against the undead. They had been taken completely by surprise and the undead had killed five of them already and injured a few more. The tide was turning however as the cultists rallied. If we were going to strike it was now or never.

I motioned to Serk, and he whispered something to Zavra. She crept forward on her hands and knees taking a spot next to me. “I guess this is it,” she said giving me a nervous smile before pulling out two pieces of parchment emblazoned with runes. She took a deep breath and stood launching one of the parchments into the air followed a second later by the second. Both burned away leaving tiny marble sized balls of fire which quickly shot away. Both impacted with a thunderous explosion which shook the entire chamber. Dust and small debris fell from the ceiling and one of the columns cracked. As the smoke cleared nearly 10 of the cultists were either dead or horribly burned. Most of the undead hadn’t survived, their dried bodies burning away like tissue paper.

In mere moments we had taken out nearly half the cultists. Every one of them looked up to see Zavra and I crouched on the balcony. “Kill the interlopers,” a commanding voice shouted. Serk, Alvor, and Stephan charged onto the balcony as the remaining cultists began to rush the stairs. I cast a quick glance over the balcony at the man standing by the altar and used Analysis on him.

High Priest Kraven

Race: Human

Class: Dark Priest

Level 12

Skills: Spell Casting, Evocation Magic, Dark Magic, Summoning Magic, Leadership, Dagger fighting.

Experience: 489

Yikes, that guy was serious business. We still had to deal with his cult friends, but I seriously doubted he wouldn’t interfere while he killed his men. I turned back to the charging cultists; a small grin split my lips as I noted a few of them in a nice little line. I immediately cast Fire Beam, sending a concentrated beam of flame tearing through 4 of them. The one in front screamed in pain and stumbled back slamming into the man behind him. Both began tumbling down the stairs taking others with them. I now only had three daily spells left, I would have to be careful with them. I sent a pair of ice bolts into two of the cultists freezing one’s foot to the stairs the other staggered slightly from the hit but didn’t stop. Alvor launched arrows into the cultist frozen to the stairs. He slumped over in death and fell down the stairs knocking over a man behind him and sending him back down the stairs.

An explosion engulfed me in white hot pain as nearly 50 points of my health burned away. I dropped to my knees in pain as the balcony at my feet shuddered. A quick glance told me everyone, including a couple of cultists, around me had been caught in the blast. I glanced over the balcony to see the cult leader laughing maniacally, though I couldn’t hear him through the ringing in my ears. He must have cast a fireball at us, as much as I loved that spell, I didn’t like being on the receiving end. I staggered back to my feet just barely managing to block a sword swing from a man in black robes. I flicked his sword away and plunged my sword into his chest. He howled in pain and staggered back ripping my sword free. I pressed the advantage and lashed out with my sword cutting deeply into his chest. He wavered uncertainly for a moment as his health drained away before collapsing. As I took a deep breath someone barreled into me, and I felt pain as their dagger dug deep into my side. I launched an ice bolt at their face, and they staggered slightly. I felt my back hit the balcony railing as the man swung his dagger at me, I twisted, and the dagger struck the railing, I slapped it out of his hand with my sword and struck him in the face with my free hand. He staggered slightly and I grabbed him and twisted sending him soring over the railing of the balcony. He screamed as he fell, hitting the ground with a meaty thump. His health bar drained away as blood pooled around his head.

I dodged as another body went sailing over the railing, thrown by Serk. Alvor had put away his bow drawing a pair of short swords. He was facing off against a pair of cultists but holding his own. Zavra was lashing out with her staff and sending bolts of fire into anyone who got too close. Stephan was just beyond the doorway casting healing spells on Serk and Zavra. I looked around and froze when I saw a familiar man approaching me. He was missing his left hand, the one I had cut off, and glaring at me with hate filled eyes.

He raised the stump of his left hand, which was now covered by an intricate metallic tube that ended in three long claws. “I am going to carve you to pieces boy!” he snarled at me. I leveled my sword at him taking a deep breath. He lashed out with his clawed left hand while bringing his right hand towards my gut. I danced out of the way of both strikes and cast Illusionary Blade. He swung again and I barely dodged his claw. I swung my sword at his shoulder, he tried to block what he thought was a swing for his hip and cursed in pain as my sword cut deep into his arm. I aimed my blade for his throat and thrust, he tried to parry a sword aimed at his chest, barely managing to catch my blade and save his life. He grabbed at the small cut I managed to make on his neck and snarled.

“I see you got some new tricks,” he snarled, “you aint the only one.” He pointed his left arm at me, and two small arms, like that of a tiny crossbow, sprang out. I stared in confusion for a moment until he fired a tiny dart at my face. I barely managed to dodge it, the dart tearing open my cheek. Pain flared from where he had cut me and a debuff warning appeared.

You have been poisoned! 9 mana drained per second for the next 30 seconds.

“Crap!” I shouted, that poison would drain away my entire mana bar in less than 30 seconds. I had an antidote potion but as I tried to reach for it, he swung his dagger for my throat. I dodged out of the way and blocked his next attack with his clawed arm. I swung my sword for his left shoulder, using my last illusionary blade attack before it went on cooldown. He thought my blade was coming for his side and tried to block it. Once again, my blade bit deep into his shoulder and he howled in pain. I lashed out driving him back towards the railing. He leapt onto the railing and was about to spring off, but I launched an Ice Bolt into his crotch, and he doubled over in pain. I swung my sword at his leg nearly severing it. He staggered losing his balance and fell screaming from the railing. I glanced over seeing a pool of blood under his mangled body.

I quickly drank an antidote potion, which was bitter and gross, followed by a health and mana potion. My health shot back up to just under 3/4 and my mana filled to about half. I looked around seeing all but a couple of the other cultists dead or dying. I could see notifications flashing in the corner of my vision, since it seemed I had a moment I quickly opened them.

You have gained 365 XP from defeating multiple cultists and shambling corpses. 1,825 Experience divided equally among 5 party members.

Your skills have improved, Spell Casting level 6, Evocation Magic Level 6, Illusion Magic level 6, Analysis Level 4.

Congratulations you have reached Basic Rank in Spell Casting, Evocation Magic, and Illusion Magic. You have gained 150 Experience and been awarded 3 additional Daily Spells.

You have reached Spell Casting level 6 and can now cast third level spells. Third level spells are more powerful and require more mana and power to cast. Casting a third level spell requires three daily spells.

Total Daily Spells 6 of 10.

Level up!

You have reached character level 6 you have one stat point to distribute.

I grinned like a mad man placing my new point into Endurance raising my health another 10 points. I wanted to pull up my new spells but resisted the urge. There was still one battle left to fight.

I turned and looked over the balcony the cult leader and five others were standing at the altar there faces grim. The leader looked up at us and snarled showing jagged pointed teeth. I turned away from him and watched Serk take down the last of the cultists. We stood drinking down potions and preparing for the coming fight. After a moment of pause we all looked at each other and as one turned to face the boss below.

“Fools,” shouted Kraven, “the ritual was near completion when you interrupted it was enough, our Master’s child will be reborn, and this world will be hers!” He pointed at the “rock” behind him which moved in a very unrocklike fashion. Being a city kid, I had never seen an egg hatch, but I had to imagine it looked something like that. The entire “rock” was quivering, and the side was starting to bulge. I shuddered at the thought of what could possibly be inside that egg, it was easily twice my height. I had to imagine whatever was inside was just as big.

Serk charged down the stairs, the others following close behind. I followed a second later and we reached the ground floor. Several cultist bodies and charred remains of undead littered the cracked tile floor. I gingerly stepped over the bodies and cast a quick analysis at the five people standing next to Kraven on the platform.

Jeffrey,

Race: Human

Class: Assassin

Level 4

Skills: Assassinate, Stealth, Poisoner, Dagger fighting

Experience 85

Garret,

Race: Half-elf

Class: Assassin

Level 4

Skills: Assassinate, Stealth, Poisoner, Dagger fighting

Experience 85

Fiona,

Race: Elf

Class: Dark Wizard

Level 6

Skills: Spell Casting, Dark Magic, Evocation Magic.

Experience: 120

Nadia,

Race: Half-Orc

Class: Berserker

Level 6

Skills: Two-handed Weapon fighting, Martial Adept, Blood Rage

Experience: 120

Andor,

Race: Half-elf

Class: Ranger

Level 5

Skills: Long-range combat, Stealth, Multi-shot

Experience: 105

I winced, this was certainly not going to be an easy fight. I lashed out at the first cultist who approached me, one of the assassins, with an Ice Bolt. He nimbly dodged it throwing a dagger towards my face. I blocked the dagger with a quick Protect spell and it clattered to the ground. I fired off a couple more Ice Bolts hitting him in the side with one. I deflected his dagger swing with my blade easily parring it and lashing out with two quick strikes. He grunted as both slashes hit his arms opening shallow cuts. He slashed at me with his dagger, but his reach was as long as mine. As I swung my sword again, I cast Ignite Blade. Flames roared up the edge of my blade and he took a couple steps back in surprise. I pressed the advantage lashing out at his wrist. He let out a yelp of pain as my blade slapped his wrist burning part of his shirt. He flailed his arm for a moment to put out the embers, realizing a half second later what he was doing. He reacted to slowly to stop my blade from plunging deep into his chest. He screamed in pain as the burning blade seared away his health.

As he fell, I was already moving onto the next target. Serk was busy taking out the Berserker, while Alvor and the Ranger traded arrow fire. Zavra was fending off the other assassin, and I noticed the wizard preparing to fire some spell at her. I fired off an Ice Bolt, which slammed into the unprepared wizards face. She staggered slightly shaking ice from her face. I closed the distance between us and slashed my still burning sword across her chest. She screamed in pain and staggered back, launching a volley of Arcane Darts at me. I couldn’t dodge them, and they hit me square in the chest and hip shaving off several points of health. I lashed out with my sword again carving into her, my burning blade and quick strikes finished her off in a matter of seconds.

Pain erupted in my side and nearly half my health drained away. I turned to see the second assassin ripping his dagger from my side with a grin. A second later the debuff notification appeared.

You have been poisoned! 2 poison damage per second for the next 15 seconds. Agility reduced by 20% for the next 15 seconds.

It seemed with my slightly higher endurance the poison wasn’t as effective as the last time one of them had used it. I swung my blade at the assassin, but he dodged back out of the way. He launched a dagger at my throat as I blocked it with my Protect spell, unfortunately just before it struck the dagger split into three and the other two dug deeply into my legs. They disappeared a second later, leaving bleeding wounds. I growled at him and raised my palm launching two Arcane Darts at him, he tried to dodge but the darts followed slamming into his chest. He staggered slightly I fired a second pair of darts and as he tried, unsuccessfully, to dodge them. I quickly chugged a health potion. I only had one health potion left, I would have to be careful. I charged at him recasting Illusionary Blade, I swung my blade and he tried to dodge but my blade struck hard burying itself deep in his chest. His eyes went wide with shock as his health began a mad dash toward 0. I twisted the blade and pulled it free kicking him to the ground.

A sphere of pulsing electricity slammed into me and whole body convulsed in pain.

You have been struck by Dark Lighting Sphere! 10 lighting damage per second for the next 5 seconds, you are stunned for the next 5 seconds.

Agony filled me for several long seconds, I wanted to scream, to curl into a ball, anything but my body refused to move. Kraven leapt down from his platform, “DIdn’t like that one?” He said grinning maliciously. I watched in horror as he drove his dagger into my gut twisting savagely. My health plummeted as he locked eyes on mine seeing the life drain from me. Suddenly he jerked violently as Serk’s axe slammed into his back. He released the dagger, still stuck in my gut, and staggered away from me cursing at Serk. He launched a bolt of black fire that washed over Serk leaving dark veins visible beneath his skin. I could tell Serk was in pain, but he gripped his axe and swung again. Kraven barely managed to dodge back as a pair of arrows caught him in the shoulder and side.

Finally, the pain faded, and I dropped to my knees gasping for breath, my health was down to less than 20% and still dropping. I pulled the dagger from my gut, nearly passing out from the pain, and reached for my last healing potion. Before I could, soft white light covered my body and my health jumped back up to nearly 50%. I sagged feeling the relief of Stephan’s spell wash over me. I looked over at him and gave him a thumbs up, he smiled at me and turned his attention to Kraven. I grabbed my sword and stood, Kraven was desperately dodging Serk’s deadly swings, occasionally firing spells at him. Serk dodged or blocked the spells with his axe. Zavra fired off a spell that caught Kraven off guard and burned a hole through part of his robe. I squared my jaw and charged at Kraven coming in from behind.

As he dodged back, I came in low driving my sword into his back. He howled in pain as I twisted the blade and I grinned slightly, “Didn’t like that one?” I said to him mockingly. He cast a spell and vanished in a puff of mist reappearing on the platform several feet away. As Serk and I moved to follow him, the floor shook violently. Small pieces of debris fell from the ceiling, and I tried to steady myself to keep from falling over. Kraven let loose a manic laugh turning away from us towards the black egg. My eyes went wide as I saw the side of the egg crack apart. Something large, slimy and black was pushing its way free. I took a couple steps back my heart pounding in my throat. Kraven was laughing like a mad man as we all looked on in horror.

I black scaled leg emerged breaking through the egg, a second leg emerged followed by a third and fourth. A thick body followed with a long neck ending in a head crowned by a pair of wicked curved horns, to my horror a second head emerged. A pair of black wings emerged last of all, and the creature slumped to the ground. It slowly lifted itself onto its feet and stretched its long body. It was a thickly built black scaled dragon, but something was off about the creature. Not only did it have two heads, but its arms and legs seemed to have extra joints where there shouldn’t be joints. It had sharp boney spikes sticking out of its shoulder and elbow joints. Its claws were long and wickedly sharp looking. Its two heads each had four eyes which glowed faintly with a sickly green light.

Most impossible of all the Dragon was growing, in the few seconds since its birth it had nearly doubled in size now taking up most of the platform. I looked over at Serk who was staring in wide eyed horror at the creature, “Any idea what that thing is?” I asked desperately.

“No idea,” Serk said slowly.

“Behold, the birth of my master's child” Kraven said with a maniacal grin on his face. The dragon lowered one of its heads toward Kraven its mouth opening showing rows of long dagger like teeth. Something green dribbled out of its mouth and began to hiss and smoke as it hit the floor. Kraven took a nervous step backward as locked eyes with the dragon.

“You have down well, little man,” the Dragon said in a low rasping voice, “the empress will be most pleased.”

“Thank you, oh great one,” Kraven said with a bow. The Dragon turned its other head on us and snarled.

“Have you brought me a snack, little man,” The Dragon said its head snaking towards us a predatory gleam in its four eyes. As one we reacted moving away from the Dragon. Zavra unleashed four burning arrows, one of her highest-level spells, against the dragon. The arrows struck hard, but the dragon hardly flinched. Alvor began unleashing arrow after arrow and Stephan summoned a floating radiant sword that lashed out at the Dragon. The arrows merely bounced off the dragons hide but Stephan’s glowing sword bit deep into the dragon’s shoulder and it snarled showing pain for the first time, though its health bar barely dropped. I had 4 spells left for the day, so I gritted my teeth and cast my first third level spell.

Lightning Bolt (Evocation)

Level 3 Spell

Cast time: Instant

Range: 80 Feet

Affect: A blast of lightning shoots forth from your palm striking all targets within an 80-foot line, each target suffers 20-30 lightning damage and has a small chance to be stunned for 2-3 seconds.

Mana surged through me as I channeled the spell, my hand crackled with energy and a blast of lightning shot forth slamming into the dragon. Small sparks of electricity continued to pulse through the dragon’s body for a couple of seconds afterwards, but the dragon hardly seemed fazed. Its body seemed to have stop growing finally but it was now the size of a semi-truck, it roared from both of its heads shaking the entire chamber. Dust and debris rained down on us and I had to dodge a large chunk that nearly crushed me. It lashed out with one of its heads and Serk barely managed to dodge it. The head slammed into one of the columns around the sides of the room. The column shattered raining down thick chunks of stone onto the dragon. It shook of the stone that had landed on its head, though I could see a faint bit of blood from where it had been hurt. It wasn’t much but maybe we could do this. Serk and I locked eyes for a second both seeming to have the same idea at the same time.

I shuddered and dashed towards one of the columns as I shouted, “Over here you overgrown lizard!” One of its heads snaked around to look at me snarling in anger. It lashed out and I jumped away narrowly avoiding its jaws. Its head slammed into the column, once again shattering it. This time larger chunks of the ceiling rained down on its head and it howled in pain. Its health bar was still over ¾, but we had managed to hurt it. The entire chamber shook violently as it roared and thrashed about. It pulled back both heads and unleashed a spray of green acid that scoured the floor melting away chunks of the walls and parts of two of the columns. I barely managed to cast Shield, my last spell of the day, and absorb some of the damage. The acid was far too potent and ate away the shield leaving me heavily acid scared and in quite a lot of pain. My health hovered just under 20%, I could see the others weren't fairing much better. Zavra had managed to get behind a column which blocked most of the damage to herself. Stephan seemed to have cast some sort of shield spell over him and Alvor, but they were still badly burned. Serk seemed to have taken the worst of it and was on his knees bleeding from several terrible acid burns.

The Dragon laughed and took a step towards Serk, as it did part of the floor crumbled beneath it causing the dragon to stagger. Spiderweb cracks quickly spread across the floor and the whole room shook violently. The dragon looked around as parts of the floor began to crumble. It turned away from us and grabbed Kraven by his robes tossing him unceremoniously onto its back. Then with a powerful thrust of its wings it launched into the air. It roared once more and slammed into the ceiling again and again.

As the dragon was trying to escape, I rushed over to help Alvor carry Serk, the floor beneath us was crumbling fast now becoming a deep black pit. We rushed for the stairs, but a final crash heralded the dragon's escape. It tore a massive whole in the ceiling and flew up through it Kraven laughing like a mad man on its back. All around us massive chunks of the ceiling rained down shattering what was left of the floor. Mere feet from the base of the stairs the floor beneath us gave way and we fell down, down, down into darkness.