A/N: A boss based on a chess game would really be neat. That actually happened in World of Warcraft. If you ask me, I think it's stupid that Medivh cheats. Guess somebody's just plain afraid of losing. But we're not playing World of Warcraft. We're playing Warlords Wrath Online.
MAY 17th, 2023. FLOOR 17, TELAAR.
Floor 17 is a nature-filled land. Nice to see one of the Inflamed Legion floors has nature in the world. Lately, it's been nothing but dread and destruction.
This floor has a locked Elite Dungeon. When I try to open it, I get a window that says:
'You must complete the quest 'Justice for all' in order to proceed further into the dungeon'
'Justice for all'. I wonder what that could mean. No matter. I'm mostly confused by what the Last Guardian told us. That we should bring together the Draenei, the Coldwolves, and the Arakkoa. The Arakkoa, I know they'll work with us so easily. But how are we gonna convince the Draenei and the Coldwolves to put aside their differences?
This is going to be very difficult.
Ever since we found out about that Elite Dungeon lockout a few days ago, the Assault Team are blowing it up on doing quests on this floor. Both the field and the dungeons.
I just move at my own pace. But what surprises me is that no one has found the quest yet. I'm starting to wonder if the quest is somewhere on the lower floors. But that can't be the case. I completed each quest I encounter in this world. I never encountered one called 'Justice for All.'
Right now I have dinner at a restaurant in Telaar with Kirito. We are NOT on a date! I have no interest in someone who is seven years younger than me. I was just having dinner alone when he showed up and sit at the same table as I was.
"Any luck finding that quest?" Kirito asks me.
"No, not really. I'm down to the last quest chain on this floor. Hopefully, that'll lead me to Justice for All." I say. "What about you?"
"I haven't been questing much lately. But I have hit dead ends in three chain quests." Kirito says. "By the way, how's that Gunblade coming?"
I feel relieved hearing that. "Finally got my skill up to 350. It was such a pain." It really is. When my skill gets close to a 100 to the max, the chances of gaining a skill point become less likely.
Took me two days to get to a scale level for the 17th floor.
"I bet it is. Which is why I stick to what I'm good at." Kirito says.
"Well, I'll be doing the same since I'm now a Solo Player," I say.
"It's usually the golden rule, Lightning," Kirito says.
After I had my meal, I go for a little walk. It's dusk, so I decide to wait until nightfall before I finish my one group of quests, where there will be fewer players to be swarming around. Especially the Assault Team. All I have to do is kill some Elekk's, Wolves, and Eagles.
Well, at least I went from Orc and Demon Slayer to Beast Hunter.
How long have I been trapped in this game? Six months? I just hope Serah is doing okay. Living six months without her older sister and guardian. I would give anything just to talk to her again. But my only chances of that is to beat this game and survive until this world ends.
I don't know how long that will take, but as far as we have gotten in six months, it's going to be a long while.
FLOOR 17, NORTHWEST FIELD.
Once it's dark out, I begin doing my quests. I'm not alone on these fields, but it's not as crowded as it would be in the day. I'm now going against a group of Wolves and an Eagle. They are hardly any match for me now that I have raised my Gunblade skill.
The one wolf leaps towards me. I jump out of the way then slash it with my weapon. I bring the wolf's HP down to 45%. The Eagle charges towards me. I see it coming but didn't dodge it in time. Now all three of them are coming at me. I draw my sword, charging up Pulse Shot skill. I unleash several slashes, causing each of the creatures to stagger. Then I leap back, shifting my weapon into a gun then shoot dozens of bullets at them, starting at the Eagle since it'll most likely fly away.
By the time the skill ends, the creatures are dead, and I finally complete my quest.
I take the moment to rest before I return to town. It'll be a while before more enemies respawn so this is a safe spot. Unless Laughing Coffin or some other murder guild make an ambush on me.
I turn the quest to the NPC, who is just some hunter living on a hut at the edge of the field. Turning it in has made me level 95. I'm getting close to level 100, which I believe is the max amount for the 20 floors limit. Just like the first 10 was up to level 50.
However, as soon as I turn in the quests, I received an update on my quest log. This is certainly a surprise.
I open my log, and the quest is 'A Peace Treaty'. I'm supposed to meet Vashra in Shadows of Anzu on the 14th floor. I have no idea what this is about, I have a bad feeling about this. But I have no other leads. This might take me to the one quest we need to unlock the Elite Dungeon.
FLOOR 14, SHADOWS OF ANZU.
I arrive at the village. Vashra awaits me at the entrance. I have to speak to him in order to start the quest. He asks if I'm ready for the event. Question is, what's going on?
I tell him I'm ready.
"I hope you're ready, Outsider. Knowing your friends, it might get ugly." Vashra starts walking into the village and I follow him. "You may have heard, but the young Crusader and the wise Avatar are planning to bring their people together. But I have seen the Draenei and the Orcs in battle. I know how bad this will end. Here we are."
In the center of the village, I see Yrel and Slave. "Lightning! Thank the light are you here."
"Our people are coming, and we need some help if we're gonna bring them together to stand against the Inflamed Legion," Slave says.
I get what they mean, but this is hopeless. "Here they come."
I turn only to see it's the Draenei forces who are approaching. "You've sent us a message, Yrel? What is the problem?"
"Orcish Scum! They have captured Yrel!" Maraid says.
The Draenei take out their weapons, preparing for battle. Slave and Yrel become nervous about it. Just their luck, the Orc Clan make an appearance, and they are not happy about it either. "Draenei traitors! Cut their heads right off! For the glory of our ancestors!" Duraton shouts out.
The Orcs take out their weapons. "No! Everyone wait! We have not come here to fight." Yrel says.
They didn't listen, and they charge in and attack. I also want in on the action, but I'm friendly with both factions and can't do anything about it. The battle goes on for a while. The whole time, Yrel and Slave pleads for them to stop. Now, this is getting old and Vashra agrees with me.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Vashra unleashes powerful shadow magic. The whole field turns shadow mist purple, and everyone freezes in place. "This is sacred ground. There will be no violence here, Kawh! Any means of battle proceeds further in our village and I will banish you all to the Shadow Realms. And just to make sure you all follow..." Vashra snaps its talons. All the weapons, lexicons, and totems vanish and the Shadow Freeze vanishes.
"Our weapons...They're gone." Maraid says.
The Avatars try casting magic, but nothing happens. "Ugh! We've been silenced! Our magic's not working." Draka says.
Duraton grumbles as he gazes at the Draenei, even Maraid gives him a mean glare. "Fine! We will surrender...for now." Maraid says.
"And we will stand down as well," Duraton says.
Everyone else also relaxes, standing straight. They have disengaged from combat. "Good. Now, let's get this meeting started."
The tension between the orcs and the Draenei is uneasy. Throughout the meeting, most of them are just exchanging looks, constantly rolling eyes side to each other and giving each other death glares. I feel like I'm reliving the Guardian Corps and the PSICOM peace treaty all over again.
"As you both have already known, we all have a common enemy: The Inflamed Legion," Slave says.
"But the Inflamed Legion is the whole reason our world is dying. Even at the end of the world, we turn our weapons against each other. We use to be comrades and friends once, did we not?" Yrel asks.
"We were until the Orcs attacked us!" Maraid says, directly at the Coldwolf Clan.
"You Draenei scum betrayed us when we needed you most!" Duraton bites back.
A large argument goes on until Vashra calls out. "Quiet! All of you!" The shouting slowly dies down, until silence returns. "Please. Continue, young ones."
"Thank you, Vashra," Yrel says. "We turned against each other all because of the Inflamed Legion. Maraid. The reason the Orcs who attacked us was because they became corrupted by the Demonic Blood. Don't you see, it was the Battlesong Clan, the ones who drank the blood, who attacked us. The Coldwolf Clan had nothing to do with it."
Now Slave speaks his part. "Father and chieftain. The reason the Draenei attacked us was because the Battlesong attacked them when they were corrupted. They think we were part of the treachery."
"Well, this is turning out well," I say to myself.
Duraton and Maraid look at each other. Can't tell if it's apologetic or hostile. "So...you Coldwolves had nothing to do with the betrayal?" Maraid says.
"Of course not. We are honorable people. We were even disgraced when we heard what the Battlesong have done." Duraton says. "We even came to you in seeking for aid to stop them. but then you attacked us."
"You see? Now you all know the truth. The enemy here is not each other, but the Inflamed Legion and those who work with them." Vashra says. "Now. Let's get down to business: We have recently learned that the Inflamed Legion is beginning to summon the Doombringer."
Everyone gasps horrified. I don't cause I doubt this really has any effect on me unless of course it drops my HP to zero. "The Doombringer? I have heard of it from the legends...but never knew it was true." Yrel says.
"If they summon the Doombringer, there is nothing we can do to stop the Inflamed Legion. It will mean the end of the world." Slave says.
"Indeed my green-skinned friend. Kawh!" Vashra says. "Both of you must cast aside your differences and stop the Doombringer from being summoned before it's too late."
FLOOR 11, THRONE OF THE DOUBLE-CROSSER
The 'Peace Treaty' quest became completed after that little event. Didn't really enjoy the rest of the meeting. I'd rather not talk about it but I can honestly say that the Orcs and the Draenei have trust issues with each other. Can't believe them, but still.
I'm now on the next quest: 'Teamwork' We must go to the Throne of the Double-Crosser and stop the summoning ritual the Inflamed Legion are having. During this assault, the Draenei and the Orcs are going to have to work together to do it. This outta be fun to watch.
The area is very different from the rest of the floor. Throne of the Double Crosser is full of black dread fields and demon gates. Even the air stenches with sulfur and brimstone.
"Remember: Our main objective is to stop the summoning ritual. No matter who does it or what happens." Yrel says.
"We cannot let the Doombringer come to this world!" Duraton says.
Yrel and Duraton take out their weapons and they all yell fierce. "FOR THE LIGHT! FOR DRAENOR!"
We all charge right in. We have certainly caught the demons with the element of surprise. The Vampire demon named Sekima, who's running the ritual, is not very pleased. "They are here! Stop them, Legion! Do not let them interfere!"
All the Orcs and the Draenei focus on the demon forces, even Duraton, Slave, Yrel, and Maraid. Guess that leaves me to stop the ritual. The Orcs, Draenei, and I throw a couple of hits on the lead demon. It's all immune to our attacks. We can't attack Sekima. I'll have to think of another way.
"The demon! We cannot strike! What is this devil magic!?" The Orc asks.
"Forget the demon! Try taking out the fel crystals!" The Draenei says.
The summoning ritual is surrounded by four fel crystals. If we destroy them, we can stop the ritual.
I get started on attacking the crystals, unleashing powerful original sword skills on them. The crystals are powerful. They're HP's and defense stats are about as high as a level 100. I gotta act fast.
I destroy the first crystal. "Arrogant mortals! You have no idea what you've gotten yourselves into!" Sekima says.
I work my way to the next crystal. From the looks at the ritual, it's almost complete. I have to act fast. "Press on, everyone!" Duraton says.
"You foul demons will not stand a chance against the light!" Maraid says as he slams a Felhound with his mace.
I destroy the next crystal, only as soon as I did, I grow tired. I probably unleashed too much power of my sword skills. "Need more time! He's almost here!" Sekima says.
I take the moment to recover some lost energy. Even in this game, my stamina has limits. I always thought HP would be the only stamina. Once recovered, I focus on destroying the third crystal. The ritual becomes intense. The runes on the ground begin to glow.
"No! The ritual! It's almost complete!" Yrel says.
"Don't give up! We must prevail!" Duraton shouts.
As I attack the third crystal, I'm being attacked by the Gargoyle Demons. How predictable. When the ritual is in danger of failing, they raise the defenses. The Gargoyles manages to hit me several times. After that, I begin dodging and striking it in between dodges.
I kill it by pinning the creature to the ground and jabbing my Gunblade into its throat, then I next destroy the crystal. "The one remaining is still enough to destroy you all!" Sekima says.
That's what he thinks, cause I am going to destroy it.
Before I get the chance, I'm being attacked by a Demon Guard. This one is even tougher than the gargoyle. The ritual is close to being complete. Dark magic raises and takes form into a portal.
"Hurry everyone! We don't have much time!" Yrel says.
"Yes! Yes! I can feel his molten fist! He's closer! So very close!" Sekima says.
My weapon clashes with the Demon Guard's battle-ax. I make a strike, disarming that demon, then giving it my Quintet Needle skill, where I stab the target several times at high-speed. I kill the demon and no time, then use the Heavy Strike skill, Earthcracker, to destroy the last crystal.
"No! NO!" The ritual is interrupted. The portal vanishes and the runes fade. "You insects! What have you done? I shall crush you all where you stand!"
Sekima is now attackable, and he comes right at me. He has two Health Gauges. This is going to be a tough battle for me. Just when I least expect it, Yrel and Slave come to help me battle Sekima.
Yrel holds the demon's aggro while Slave and I attack with all of our might. This one fights as well as Zarokah from the 13th-floor quest. Sekima is almost no challenge with the help of two ally bosses.
Sekima summons two Infernals to battle. "Your resistance is folly! Witness the might of the Inflamed Legion!"
Those infernals are troublesome. My HP went down to 55% when they start attacking me, so I take care of them. The first one went down quickly, the second internal I had to defend myself against it for the first few attacks, then I slash it down.
Once the Infernals are down I continue attacking Sekima and the demon was soon destroyed.
I completed the quest, only before I turn it in, an event happens.
The Orc and Draenei leaders face each other, not in combat but in cold respect. "Well...I can honestly say...it feels like old times fighting together again." Duraton says.
"Indeed...I must apologize for betraying your clan, Duraton." Maraid says.
"And I am sorry the Battlesong Clan assaulted you," Duraton says.
"We all know who the true enemy is: The Inflamed Legion," Yrel says.
"But before we face them, we must help our brothers of the Battlesong Clan," Slave says.
Slave's words have me by surprise. Like I would even help those corrupted monsters. In all honesty, I feel like this game is going south.
The quest becomes clear, and then another window opens. It's for a new quest. To my surprise, it's no ordinary quest.
'Justice for All'
