Raid Slayer 2 Read online

  “No, my HP is full. Don’t worry, I will be fine, just give me a sec.” Zack shook his head, feeling light-headed. Then he lost his balance and staggered sideways.

  Betsy caught him in her arms. “You’re not alright.” She sat him down, the portal swirling several feet from them. “What happened to you? I feel fine, why did the portal make you feel sick?”

  “I feel fine too,” Amy said, as she knelt in front of him.

  “My rhythm keeps to my regular beat.” Missy sat cross-legged next to Amy, studying him, her eyes filled with concern.

  Zack waited until his head had stopped spinning before he took each one of their hands and kissed them. “I’m fine. It must have been… the process of being teleported.” He forced a grin. “Anyway, we’re here now, in Middle Underworld.”

  All three of the women were studying him. None of them were convinced he was fine.

  What could he do? He couldn’t tell them the truth, as it would be a severe violation of the TOS.

  Then again, the G Man had said that the Oligarchy needed him alive. If he did break the TOS, what were the ruling elites going to do? Even if he managed to get out of the Underworld, the Oligarchy would rip him out of the game, and once they had what they wanted from him…

  He would no longer be of use.

  What would they do if they ever found out the G Man had spoken to him? Did the devs know the resistance was inside their game?

  Should he still be trying to get out of the Underworld at all? Maybe it would be better to stay down here.

  Zack closed his eyes and took a few breaths to calm his mind. If only he had another player around to talk to, someone he could trust. He trusted the women, of course, but they were of Aralia Online, not the real world. Plus… They didn’t know the truth.

  It didn’t feel like the right time to tell the women the truth, either. Not yet.

  How does one go about telling someone else that their entire existence isn’t what they thought it was? That they weren’t real people, but constructs made to satisfy the desires of a playerbase who came to their game world to escape the horror of reality?

  They’d likely feel a bit like he did now, knowing that his mother had lied to him all these years.

  He hated keeping secrets from his harem. It felt wrong. Lovers were open and honest with one another.

  One day, he would have to man up and tell them the truth.

  With the women’s help, he got to his feet. Missy, Amy and Betsy might be constructs, but here in the Underworld, they were as real as he was. They held onto him until they were sure he was steady on his feet. “You see, I’m fine.” Zack took a few steps forward, feeling his normal self again. Phew. The aftereffects of his visitation by the G Man had passed.

  “I’m going to stick close to you, just in case.” Amy pressed up against him, a giant grin on her face. “Can’t have you falling down and beating up that pretty face of yours.”

  Chuckling, Zack scanned the area. They were in a large torchlit chamber with stalactites hanging down from the roof. A large metal sign rose from the floor. Inscribed on it were the words, ‘Welcome to Middle Underworld’.

  Beyond the welcome sign, ten exits led from the chamber, none with any indication on where they went.

  Zack checked his disease timer.

  144 Hours until death!

  Time was ticking. “Before we do anything else, we must go to the Bottomless Well to see the Black Witch Malghana.” Zack turned to Missy. “But we will need to be careful of Sulfurion’s cult. The dragon ordered her soldiers to conquer everything east of Malghana.”

  Missy plucked her guitar. “First, I think we should head to the Drunken Fop Tavern.”

  Zack raised his eyebrows. “A tavern?”

  “I’m up for a drink.” Amy nudged Betsy. “I bet I can drink you under the table.”

  “I have played my music there on several occasions.” Missy pointed at one of the tunnels leading from the chamber. “We should go that way, as it will take us to the tavern. When we get there, you will need to speak to the barkeeper and find out how much of Middle Underworld Sulfurion’s Cult have managed to conquer.” She gave them a grave look. “If they find us, they will enslave Zack and drag us off to silence our feminine music forever.”

  “We still have that disguise.” Zack removed the item from his inventory that would trigger the change of armor.

  Missy shook her head. “They know us now, and will want revenge. Sulfurion would have given her minions a detailed description of each one of us.”

  “So, what do we do if they block access to the Bottomless Well?” Betsy asked.

  “There are other ways to reach Malghana, but they are not ones known to me,” Missy replied. “Again, the barkeeper will be able to tell us more.” She bit her lip. “There are many dangerous places here in Middle Underworld. It will be far more difficult for us to travel around. Some of the areas here… change. Constantly.”

  “Change?” Amy sounded puzzled.

  “One can travel through an area and come back a few hours later, and everything is different.” Missy struggled for words. “It’s like, the caves themselves are alive and playing tricks on you.”

  Zack frowned as he thought that over. Could she be talking about random generation? There were a few dungeons out there in greater Aralia that were randomly generated for each player group that entered them. They were only seasonal side content that was part of the Darkmoon Fair that came around once a year. Being random gen, they were often generic, which is why all the other dungeons were handcrafted.

  “I think we head straight for Malghana.” Amy drew her wand and made pew pew sounds, pretending she was blasting enemies. “And if any cultist get in our way, we slaughter them all with ice and steel.”

  Betsy rolled her eyes. “You have the highest Intellect among us and that’s the best plan you can come up with?”

  Amy lowered her wand. “Going in all wands blazing is the smart thing to do. And the funnest!”

  “You just helped us kill a big, fat demon. Is your bloodlust ever satisfied?”

  “That demon was boooooring.” Amy put her wand away. “I hope the next boss we fight is twice as big, three times more powerful and dies with a satisfying explosion of blood, guts and a long, drawn out wail of anguish.”

  Missy played a loud tune on her guitar. “I had enough trouble keeping you all alive during that fight. My guitar strings almost failed me. I hope we never encounter anything as strong as the Guardian ever again.”

  Zack cleared his throat to get their attention. As the three women looked to him to make the final decision on what they should do, he said, “We will go to this Drunken Fop Tavern and find out what’s up, then we can decide what way to head to Malghana.”

  Amy let out an over dramatic sigh. “I miss killing stuff already.” She brightened. “Are their courtesans at this tavern? Maybe Zack and I can hire some and have some fun!”

  “We don’t have time for that.” Zack chuckled. “I have a deadly disease, remember?”

  “Excuses, excuses.” She waved him away. “You have plenty of time left.”

  “Even still, I won’t feel better until it’s gone.”

  Before they moved out, Zack glanced over the new abilities they had gotten from reaching level 12.

  His ability was:

  Devastate: AOE attack. Reduces the defenses of up to four enemy targets, increasing all types of damage inflicted on them by party members by 5%.

  Lasts 30 seconds. 1 minute cooldown.

  Betsy gave him a small smile as he read hers out.

  Frenzy: All abilities consume half their ordinary Stamina cost. Reduces damage taken by 50%.

  Lasts 40 seconds. 20 minute cooldown.

  “Mine better be good.” Amy was bouncing up and down with excitement (literally, she nearly hit her head on a stalactite!).

  Summon Frost Wyrm: Summons a small Frost Wyrm that attacks enemies with Frostbolts. Damage based on the summoning Mage’s.
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  Lasts 5 minutes. 10 minute cooldown.

  “Satisfied?” Betsy poked her tongue out at Amy.

  “Depends.” Amy summoned the wyrm and a small, two-foot long mini blue dragon flew out of nowhere to hover above her shoulder. “Cute.” She reached up and patted it. The wyrm hissed through its teeth, and tried to bite her hand off. She pulled her hand away and frowned. “Ungrateful lizard. How dare you!”

  The wyrm’s eyes scanned the chamber, watching for enemies, ignoring its master. Amy dismissed the creature and it instantly disappeared. “I won’t try patting him again. He better be good at killing, or he can stay unsummoned.”

  Missy waited patiently to hear of her new ability.

  Hymn of Survival: Instantly restores a party member to 50% health, saving them from certain death. Can only be used on companions below 10% health.

  Cooldown 20 minutes.

  She played a merry tune on her guitar, seductively swaying her hips. “I like it.”

  With all that out of the way, Zack pointed forward. “Let’s find this tavern.”

  “And get drunk,” Amy added.

  Chapter Three

  LOL Faceroll

  They had only traveled for a few minutes when they heard feet racing toward them from a side tunnel. Zack had his sword out in an instant, then moved to protect the women.

  Betsy stood just to his right, torch in one hand, weapon in the other. Amy was to his left, an eager grin on her face as she pointed her wand toward the passage. Missy buffed them with Song of Fury.

  Racing out of the darkness came small green-skinned humanoids. “Goblins,” Missy and Zack said at the same time.

  Zack charged forward, unleashing Commanding Taunt. All eight goblins shrieked their battlecries as they gleefully raced at him, their crude clubs and hammers ready to pummel him to red mush. Keeping his shield up, Zack flew right into them, slashing with Criss Cross, then Devastate, shredding their crappy leather armor and spilling their green blood. Nice.

  Amy had her Frost Wyrm out, and the angry little fella was blasting the enemy with his cute mini Frostbolts. Betsy popped her new Frenzy ability, then Blade Fury, following up with Blade Storm.

  Holy shit. She tore the goblins apart.

  Companion inflicted 398 group damage

  Within seconds, four of the enemy were dead, all felled by Betsy.

  4x Lesser Goblins have died

  +400xp

  Amy blasted the rest with her frost spells, while they pummeled Zack’s shield and armor with their makeshift weapons.

  The enemy did little damage to him, so he didn’t bother using any defensive abilities. Zack backed off on attacking, and simply let the enemies attack him while he watched his harem women go nuts. Missy danced around as she healed them, kicking her feet, spinning around like a ballerina. Even she was having fun.

  After the hard fight with the Guardian, Zack reckoned it felt good to kick back and be smacked around by trash mobs.

  Then he got his game face on. Out of the tunnel where the goblins had burst from, came another, this one ten feet tall and carrying a huge two handed tree-trunk of a club over its head.

  “Look out,” Zack cried, as the massive goblin raced at Betsy. He used Rapid Advance, knocking the remaining lesser goblins aside. Racing up to the giant, he used Shield Slam, than Shield Block as it swung its huge weapon at him.

  The club struck his shield with a great thud, knocking the wind out of him.

  -135hp

  Damn, this thing hit like a tank. If it hit him anywhere but on his shield, he was in for a world of hurt.

  The beast went to strike a second time, but Zack dodged to the side, and the club smashed into the ground, sending a tremor through the rock. He drove his sword into its bloated sweaty gut hanging down from under its leather armor. It roared, then tried to backhand him. Zack ducked under the swing and brought up his sword a second time, piercing deep into the greater goblin’s flesh.

  Inflicted 147 damage

  Something struck him a blow from behind. Zack gritted his teeth and leapt sideways, shield up. One of the lesser goblins was still alive. The women and the Frost Wyrm had turned their attention to the giant, and forgotten about its smaller brothers.

  With a quick Demon Strike, Zack ended the lesser goblin’s pitiful existence.

  Then the giant was on him, shouldering into his shield, and sending him flying back hard against the side of the chamber.

  -148hp

  Now, this is more like it!

  Grinning, Zack used Shield of Stone, then took several huge downward thrusts on his shield, his defensive ability reducing the damage to a laughable degree. “Is that all you got?” He spat into the goblin’s face. “Come at me, bro.”

  “Rhaa.” It roared, enraged by his taunt and the women attacking it from behind. “I crush you to goo.”

  It lifted its mace high overhead, ready to splatter Zack into a puddle of blood and guts. Zack took advantage of the situation, and sliced across the goblin’s belly, tearing open its flesh, and spilling its purple-pink guts.

  The goblin’s lower jaw dropped open as it peered down at itself. “No fair.” It fell to its knees, still staring down. “They look funny.”

  Amy came up behind it and put the tip of her wand against the back of its head. “Hasta la vista, baby.” She blasted its head apart with a Frenzied Ice empowered Frostbolt, sending frozen brain matter and skull in all directions.

  4x Lesser Goblins have died

  +400xp

  Greater Goblin has died

  +2000xp

  Miniature Greater Goblin pet added to Inventory. Enjoy!

  Another pet! Too bad he never cared about in game pets or mounts…

  When they had wiped the blood off their equipment, Amy surveyed the carnage. “That was great. We just popped our Middle Underworld cherry in a most satisfying, blood drenched way.”

  Zack burst out laughing. “The next thing you’ll be telling us is that you want to make love in this mess.”

  “Why, that’s a great idea.” She started to undress as she hurried toward him.

  Betsy covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Even Missy seemed shocked.

  “Wait!” Zack held up his hand. “I was joking.” Damn, she is getting crazier and crazier the further we get into the Underworld.

  Amy looked disappointed. “Don’t kid around with stuff like that.” She kissed him hard on the lips and he could taste goblin blood on them. Then she pulled away and wiped her mouth. “You know I have the hots for you.”

  Missy put a hand on his shoulder. “These goblins, their songs have never been heard in these caves. They live far to the west, near the Endless Abyss.”

  “They never come out this way to raid other races or to trade?” Zack had no idea what was out there in Middle Underworld and knew next to nothing about its factions or politics.

  “No, at least not that I know of. The last time I came here to sing my songs, it was said, the goblins were still mourning for their fallen king, Osmos.”

  “Osmos. I bought that dude’s shield back in Vanamoor.” Zack still had the thing back in storage in Missy’s palace.

  “He was their king for many years. His death has shattered the harmonic chorus of the goblin tribes and they have become divided. Last time I was here, they were at war with one another, but maybe now they have made peace.” Missy licked her lips. “Or, perhaps some of the lesser tribes have been driven from their homes and are scattered throughout Middle Underworld.”

  “Great.” Betsy grimaced at the blood and gore. “From what you have said, this place is dangerous enough without having groups of goblins roaming about.”

  “It is indeed dangerous. Not so much here, but once we are beyond the starter region and out in the wilds…” Missy played a forlorn tune. “Expect the unexpected, and always have your weapons and your music at hand.”

  Chapter Four

  The Drunken Fop

  A cheery, yellow light shone from the windows of the
Drunken Fop Tavern that had been carved from the chamber wall. Zack entered the chamber, hearing voices and music echoing around him. NPCs stood around in groups out the front of the building, speaking amongst themselves, others tended to pigs and chickens in torchlit pens.

  “Are there any vendors here?” Zack asked, as he led the way toward the tavern.

  “The innkeeper sells alcohol, and sometimes there is a traveling merchant who spends time here, but not very often.” Missy put her arm through his. “We go in together, let them know that Queen Missy has brought her consort.”

  Amy chuckled. “Why? Are they less likely to spit in our drink?”

  “Speaking from experience, I’m sure.” Betsy gave Amy a sideways glance.

  Putting her arm around Betsy, Amy said, “You’d be amazed at how many men loved the idea of hot women like us spitting in their drinks.”

  “Yuck.” Betsy covered her mouth as she yawned. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I could do with some sleep. It feels like we have been up for a week.”

  “After we are done here, we will return to the palace to sleep.” Zack reached the door and opened it for Missy. “You first, my lady.”

  She beamed at him as she entered. He followed her in, and slipped his arm through hers again. Dozens of faces turned and watched them as they made their way toward the burly, bearded man at the bar.

  Zack scanned the patrons and was relieved to find they were all NPCs. He had been a little worried Ivan might have been there, as he and Anita were surely out of Lower Underworld by now. The last thing he felt like right then, was another confrontation with that asshole.

  Most of the NPCs were watching Missy. Some were clearly smitten by her, others only curious. They all seemed to know her, some bowing in respect. The only ones not paying attention to Queen Missy were the group of children playing rough and tumble near the fireplace.