Trying to keep updating weekly (or bi-weekly at least.), so here is the newest chapter of 'Fantasy's Call'.
Edit 1: thanks to a reviewer I figured out the name of the iron lattice and added that as well as a few words here and there.
I still don't own CG or any other game/anime/tv show/random childhood event that appears in this Fanfiction.
Chapter III.
"Naga..." the black-clad rogue stated as he peered around the raised portion of the wall.
"That's kinda weird." the elvish archer just across the open space commented, peeking out himself.
"Is there something weird about Naga attacking a town?" the red-headed fighter inquired.
"Cold-blooded fish-men attacking isn't anything new." Lelouch revealed, "Just their method for attacking isn't usual."
Poking her own head out Kallen got to take in the small army forming up outside the city. Quickly picking out the Naga, long serpentine bodies that took the appearance of bulky men half-way up their length, as well as a greater number of humanoids though she couldn't tell if they were human or elvish from the wall.
"Naga are elves who evolved to live in the deep sea, but since they lived down there away from everyone else they've become arrogant. They got tough scales and are pretty freaking strong. Lucky for us I don't see any females, they almost always have some form of nature magic at their beck and call." Rivalz explained.
Looking closer Kallen couldn't see the resemblance between Rivalz and the Naga. Their heads were more square then sharp, with no discernible ears and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Most had a spiny fin that extended from the top of their head down to the end of the tail that sprouted in place of their legs. Shades of blue and purple made up the major color scheme for the fish-men as they slithered around shouting orders swinging their tridents at slaves to slow to move or just out of spite.
"One... two... three players on the far side." Lelouch mumbled before looking at Rivalz, "Been a while since I was on, how is your accuracy at this range?"
"I can definitely drop some sharp pointy things on their heads, but not a specific individual." Rivalz mentioned, drawing a long wooden shaft from a quiver he had pulled from one of his belt pouches as the trio got to the wall.
"Right. I'll paint targets of opportunity for you if they get closer, otherwise feel free to start the party in five minutes. Kallen your with me." instructions given the rogue ghosted away, keeping his body lower then the lip of the wall. Trying to emulate the unofficial leader Kallen followed Lelouch as he moved from NPC to NPC, offering short words of encouragement and ensuring they had an adequate store of ammunition.
The fighting had stalled right as Kallen and her student council members had arrived. The Naga had fled back out of bow-shot range to reform after being thrown back by Tohdoh's valiant defense. Unfortunately one of the players who had sided with the Naga managed to wound the captain severely, forcing Tohdoh to retreat back to the chapel after the invaders had fallen back. Now Lelouch had somehow convinced Tohdoh's second in command, a guard by the name of Ryoga Senba, to give him command of the remaining forces.
"Bind that arm, I don't want you dying on me." his smooth baritone rumbled lightly as the slender rogue pushed a bandage into a wounded guards hands.
"Ok, we've got twenty-bowmen and Rivalz on this stretch of wall, that should be enough to hold them off or Rivalz will let us know." gliding effortlessly despite his hunched position Lelouch waved for Kallen to join him as he made his way back to the main gate. As they got to the gate Kallen breathed a sigh of relief as she was able to rise back to her full height.
"West wall is as secure as we're going to be able to make it currently, whats the status on our reserves?" Leaning back against the wall Kallen watched the different side of Lelouch that the game had exposed for her.
"We've got another half-score of bowmen waiting to be called up, as well as a handful of swordsmen." Senba stated without looking up from the map unrolled on the small table before him.
"Good. The only way the Naga are getting in is through this gate unless something drastic happens." Lelouch commented, joining Senba hovering over the map. "I'll light green-smoke if their breaking on the west, red if we need the reserves at the main gate. Rivalz should be dropping some rounds on their heads momentarily and we'll move forward from there."
"Will you be fighting from the wall then, sir?" Senba inquired.
"Negative, I'll be joining the 'Hammer' forces along with Miss Stadtfeld." the rogue replied, stretching and turning to descend from the stairs. "Use the violet smoke I gave you if you need me up here."
"Roger that sir! Good hunting." the older man replied, turning to give some last minute instructions of his own to an aide.
Joining the black-clad rogue Kallen ran over his plan quickly in her head. With the walls held by bowmen the Naga and their slaves would be forced to attack the main gate. Since the main gate to Halshore was designed with two sets of doors, one standard heavy wooden double doors, the second a heavy iron portcullis that would halt any forces that managed to break through the main doors, Lelouch had decided to leave both the doors open to further entice the Naga forces to come screaming through the main gate.
Once around half of them were inside however, Lelouch had instructed the guards to drop the portcullis, trapping a manageable sized force of Naga inside the walls. After dropping the gate the group of archers on top the main gate would reveal themselves, firing at point-blank ranges on the remainder to punch through the Naga's thick hides and demoralize them, hopefully enough to retreat for good.
The only thing holding the Naga forces inside back from destroying the town would be the bulk of Halshore's militia and guardsmen, code-named the 'Hammer'. The 'Hammer' would rush forward from their concealed locations the moment the lattice was dropped, catching the now smaller Naga forces between the wall and themselves to keep them from running amok.
Unconventional, reckless, and crazy were all words Kallen had used to describe Lelouch's plan. Why didn't the just use the wall like it was designed for? Shooting down the Naga's forces as they charged over the mostly-empty field towards the wall. Lelouch had laughed and informed her that by the time the city archers could put an arrow through the hide of a Naga they would be half-way up the walls. Grudgingly Kallen had decided to let the more experienced player call the shots, despite her misgivings.
"Your still upset with me?" it wasn't quite a statement, but definitely not a question either. Kallen just snorted in response, glaring a little harder then was probably necessary.
"Trust me. This will work." Lelouch said, smirking over his shoulder at her.
"I'll hold you too that." she finally stated, dragging her sword into her hand as the 'thwip' of Rivalz bow signified the start of their counter-attack.
"I'd never let you down." he retorted smugly before turning to the guardsmen on the wall and shouting, "Raise the gate!"
With a groan the wooden doors opened and Kallen saw peaceful fields and the simple road that lead to the city. For a beautiful moment it looked almost like something from a brochure, then the first blue and purple Naga snaked its way into the picture. Then another, another, and soon enough Kallen couldn't see the picturesque scene behind their coiling, twisting bodies. Howling with bubbly voices the wave of Naga and their slaves poured through the gate, eager to taste the blood of the helpless town.
"DROP THE GATE!" Lelouch bellowed, his voice breaking through and over the shrieks of the charging horde. With a creaking moan the massive iron lattice crashed to the ground, shattering a few of their foes underneath it's bulk. The horde paused for a moment, confused and distracted.
"Let the Hammer FALL!" his voice rang out again, and Kallen felt her legs move almost on their own accord, demanding that she join the fearless rogue as he sprinted for the milling mass of blue snake-men.
As she moved to cover Lelouch's flank Kallen heard one last cry fall from his lips, quieter then the last and almost subconsciously he uttered, "For the Black Knights." before his slender blade darted forward to create a bloody-smile under the chin of the first Naga.
Ignoring the question that burned at her lips Kallen instead brought her sword down with as much force as her avatar could create, smashing five feet of steel into the shoulder of a blue-skinned Naga. Bluish-black blood fountained from the wound as she dragged it from the wreckage of the Naga's right side, staining her hair and armor like ink.
"For Halshore!" smiling as she knocked a trident away Kallen felt the Hammer hit the soft rock that was the Naga forces. Slamming the physically stronger Naga back with nothing but sheer will and sharp blades the Halshore militia had joined the fight in full.
Focusing on her opponent, while still trying to stay near Lelouch, Kallen batted aside another thrust from her opponents trident before stepping in and slugging the Naga across the jaw, wincing slightly at the granite-like texture of the monsters scales. However her strength would not be denied and the beast rocked wildly as the force of her punch destroyed it's balance, Kallen's sword coming down on it's head ended the Naga's futile efforts to regain it's posture.
Glancing over Kallen felt a flash of respect as she saw Lelouch dance around a six-and-a-half foot Naga, his once-gleaming sword now covered to the hilt in blue-black gore and the beast sporting a multitude of deep and painful cuts. Catching her eyes with his own Lelouch suddenly gave a full smile, not the smirk Kallen had already begun to associate with him, and proceeded to slam his dagger into the monsters armpit. Crying weakly the fatally wounded Naga slumped to the ground as Lelouch flipped his dagger into the air, dipped a hand into one of his pouches, and proceeded to throw a handful of orbs that Kallen recognized easily.
The explosion from the grenades ripped a fresh hole in the line the Naga were attempting to form, and into the sudden breach Lelouch danced, Kallen smashing her way past another Naga to join him in the rapidly closing circle of monsters.
"Don't you feel more alive like this?" he asked her, weaving through a trio of razor-sharp tridents and lashing out with his sword in retaliation, the wicked edge freeing a few fingers from one of the Naga's hands.
Grunting Kallen slammed her sword down onto the reeling Naga, driving it onto it's face despite the beasts attempt to block her swing. Whipping the sword back Kallen deflected another trident that threatened to spear Lelouch as he dragged his dagger over the downed Naga's throat, freeing a flood of blood that soaked into the thirsty ground. Of course Lelouch was right, with her arms trembling from adrenaline and scores of blood-thirsty eyes glaring at her Kallen wasn't afraid, she was more excited then ever.
Throwing herself completely into the fight Kallen grabbed a the next trident just behind it's forks, yanking the wielder forward as she rammed her own weapon into its chest. Leaning back to avoid yet another swipe from the mass of foes around her Kallen kicked the dead Naga off her sword and rose back up, the deceased's trident still in her left hand. A brief ringing of metal on metal beside her marking Lelouch's location as he protected her back.
Lashing out with the haft of her left-handed weapon Kallen felt a pleasing vibration run up its length where it cracked another of her opponents heads. Shifting her grip on the trident Kallen flexed and threw it like a spear to blast one of the few slaves that had managed to sneak in off their feet with three points buried in their belly.
Glancing around Kallen swore when she realized she was about to be cut off completely from the militia. Lelouch wasn't in sight, though a suspicious cloud of white smoke was fading from where she last recalled him being, two fresh Naga corpses still spraying black-blue blood were the only indication the rogue had even been there. Blocking a few more swipes and stabs directed at her Kallen tried to feel how the greater struggle was going. The militia had lost a lot of their momentum, and the Naga were starting to reorganize their force into a line yet again.
"Lelouch!" Kallen shouted, gasping as one of the tridents managed to score a long line across her thigh. "Where the hell are you!" the rogues grenades would be able to blast the Naga back into disarray, something the militia would need to hold the upper hand against the stronger monsters.
But no arrogant voice came to taunt her, no reassuring explosions that would let Kallen know the battle was still going according to plan, and the cold eyes of her opponents were starting to wear on her. Retreating slightly Kallen managed to join back up with the militia, her new armor weathering a few blows but keeping its integrity. Surrounded by allies she took a moment to catch her breath and eye the Naga's formation.
Two rows had been formed and with their longer weapons the Naga were establishing a foothold that the militia couldn't approach without being run through. Though their numbers were diminished and most of the slaves were dead or bleeding out there were still plenty of the snake-men left.
{Lelouch?} she asked, remembering that they were still partied.
{What's wrong Kallen?} Rivalz replied
{The Naga are back in formation, I need Lelouch to blast them back apart or they might get past us here at the gate.} she explained quickly, carefully watching the Naga.
{Rivalz, I've got three VIP's marked and waiting for you.} Kallen felt a flash of relief as Lelouch's voice returned. {Kallen, I'll be back in two minutes, don't let things get out of hand over there.}
{Where the hell did you go?} starting forward Kallen asked while sizing up the formation to try and find a weakness to exploit.
{Remember I mentioned some players on the invading side? Well they're now painted, literally, for Rivalz to take out from the wall. I just gotta get back over it myself now, without getting shot by our own guys, so if you could not shout anymore that would be very helpful.} his voice was slightly stressed. Shaking her head Kallen finally picked her target, spreading her stance she quickly ran through the steps she would take before throwing herself forward.
Breathing deep she 'Charged' blasting in under the Naga formation's tridents before they could counter-attack. Grabbing the hilt of her sword with both hands Kallen took Tohdoh's words to heart, and started swinging with all her impressive might, 'Cleaving' through the line of monsters before her with no regard for her health or safety. Formation shattering under the barrage of Kallen's devastatingly reckless attacks the Naga suddenly found themselves cornered and harried as the militia managed to get back into a range their swords could find flesh.
A Naga spear ended Kallen's rampage, splitting through the scale-mail over her right shoulder and forcing the girl to drop her sword from numbed fingers. Roaring in equal parts pain and fury Kallen slammed her hand into her attackers face, knocking the Naga completely off it's tail while ignoring the tearing pain and sound of ripping flesh as the spear twisted inside her arm.
Fixing a hand over the smooth wooden handle Kallen snapped it off a few inches from her skin and felt the pain lessen as the majority of the weapon stopped dragging on the head. Holding the remaining portion of the buried spear Kallen felt her avatar's legs give out, slumping her into a kneeling position as the muted throbbing of her wound stole her characters vitality. She could see the monster struggle back to its 'feet' but couldn't find the strength to rise to meet it a second time.
"Ssstupid sssoft-sskinss." it muttered thickly through a bleeding nose and mouth, approaching Kallen almost lazily. "But maybe I will keep you. A sslave for the gladiator pitsss."
Kallen felt a small flash of fear when the brute grinned and produced a black-iron collar. The metal creaking as it opened and Kallen's momentary fear turned into sickened fascination as the collar descended towards her. Was this even allowed? Could an NPC really capture her and force her to fight in the gladiator pits it mentioned? Where was the line drawn in this reality?
Her fears were blown away as the collar dropped to the dirt in front of her, the severed blue claws still holding it. Lifting her eyes Kallen saw a look of pure terror on the Naga's face for a moment, before it burst into flames.
"She's mine." a silky voice purred from behind her. "My Q-1."
The clash of metal and cries of pain and death faded out as Kallen turned to look at him. Hooded cloak still in place, but where there had once been darkness there now gleamed a pinkish orb, a red bird in flight etched into it.
"You should be more careful. I don't want to lose you, yet." he purred again, slender fingers brushing Kallen's chin.
"Zero." She felt her head whip around, the shear coldness in Lelouch's tone startling Kallen.
"Lelouch. I never thought I'd see you again." Zero replied. "When did you come back?"
"Doesn't matter. Leave. Now." Zero threw back his head and laughed as the taller boy stalked forward, bristling.
"Why? This is wonderful, your back, and I've found a perfect Q-1. Now all the pieces are here Lelouch, we can succeed this time!" his voice was happy, like a kitten with a ball of catnip and Kallen could see Zero's hands start to twitch.
"NO! Damn you and your quest, I won't be part of that madness again, and after what you did joining forces isn't an option." where Zero was excited Lelouch was frigid and unyielding as he placed himself between the hooded boy and Kallen.
"Kallen, drink a potion." his tone lost some of its bite, but Lelouch never broke eye contact with Zero.
"Isn't an option? Don't be foolish, it's the ONLY option!" Zero suddenly roared, grabbing Lelouch's shirt and dragging him down almost into the shadow of the hood. Lelouch's icy glare never relented, but Zero finally let go of him and stepped back.
"I see. You're not ready. I'll be there when you finally remember, when you can't stand pretending you don't still burn with hatred, our hatred. Till then, keep an eye on our Q-1 for me. You've always been good at that, right Lelouch?" chuckling Zero turned, cape fluttering, and stepped up into the saddle of the hell-horse that Kallen hadn't even noticed.
"By the way, Q-1, your coming along perfectly." as the glowing eye fixed hers Kallen felt a momentary chill.
"GO! Or so help me..." Lelouch shouted, hands diving into pouches and coming out filled with grenades, a sudden flicker of fire starting over his right index finger.
"Or so help you what?" Zero sneered, riding forward slightly and knocking Lelouch onto his back with a booted foot. "You can't threaten me, regardless of who came first I'll always be the master now. Though your former contractor does send her regards. In breaking the contract you made the 'code' mine Lelouch, and I intend to keep it with or without your approval." shaking his head Zero paused for a moment in consideration.
"I'll leave you to play alone a while longer, because we both know you'll come to me eventually. Perhaps a foe trying to reclaim your lost contract, though I suspect otherwise." finally Zero turned his horse and galloped up the stairs leading to the wall. His horses hooves leaving molten patches of fire up onto the wall where Zero finally leaped off and disappeared from sight.
"Lelouch?" Kallen mumbled, her hands seeming stiff and wooden as she patted his shoulder.
Looking closer Kallen would have jumped back if she had been capable of it. Lelouch's violet eyes were molten with rage, the power of it almost a physical force. But when he noticed her own blue eyes fearfully watching the fire disappeared, hidden away before she could even breath.
"Drink this." rising from his back Lelouch put a small vial in her hands. "If you don't you'll probably die."
"Thank you." she mumbled weakly, draining the vial and feeling her vitality returning.
"Don't thank me yet." grimacing Lelouch grabbed hold of the end of the spear that still stuck from her shoulder. "Dumbred-headsayswhat?"
"Wh-" she started to ask, only to dissolve into a scream as Lelouch ripped the spear head from her shoulder while she was distracted.
"Now drink this." another vial found it's way under her teary gaze and Kallen glared at the boy before draining it as well, almost immediately her shoulder began to close and the marginal pain dissipated.
"Now you can thank me." snatching her sword Kallen started swearing as the boy lightly skipped out of range, devilish smirk firmly in place.
"You did good, Kallen. Honestly far better then I anticipated." he casually stated, waving around the battlefield. Taking a moment away from trying to kill Lelouch, Kallen saw that the last of the Naga were in the process of being dismembered, there weren't any clamoring at the gate anymore either.
"What just happened? You know Zero, like GM Zero?" putting aside her injured pride Kallen looked at the boy in concern.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Zero and I... use to be friends, but some things happened. Don't let it bother you because it's better left alone." Lelouch started to walk away, dismissing the subject with finality. Despite his words Kallen found herself unable to forget the sight of his violet eyes, unadulterated rage filling them to the brim.
Before she found the words to try and broach the subject again they both turned to see a small elven boy come running up the road yelling "NAGA!"
"God damn it!" Lelouch snarled, the mask over his residual anger slipping for a moment. "I knew Naga attacking by land was strange. They did a god damn two-pronged attack." whipping around Lelouch started shouting orders.
{Rivalz get down here. They attacked the town from the water as well.} Kallen sent out, hoping to keep Rivalz from feeling backlash from Lelouch's bad mood.
{On my way, I'll get some of the guards as well.} he replied after swearing colorfully for a moment.
"Get a priest up here, I want as many men as possible back on their feet. I want everyone but two-score archers to hold the walls formed up yesterday. And someone get me a god damn map!" deciding to focus on the task at hand instead of chasing after answers Lelouch was obviously reluctant to talk about Kallen fell in behind him as the boy stalked the recent battleground snarling and snapping.
"Kallen, take the rest of the 'Hammer' and see if you can hold the Naga back till I can get everyone else down there. Rivalz you go with her." Lelouch ordered, nodding to the blue-haired elf as he landed beside them after jumping off the wall. "I'll leave in ten minutes regardless of how many men I manage to scrape together. Make sure you both stay alive till then."
"You got it Lelouch." Rivalz chirped before taking off down the road towards the town.
"Lelouch..." unsure of how to bring up Lelouch's history without feeling some of the fire herself Kallen chewed her lip till Lelouch noticed her still standing beside him.
"It's nothing. The people in this town need us Kallen. Go on, you always wanted to be a hero right?" using her own words against her brought a small frown over Kallen's features but Lelouch was already turning around to shout more instructions.
Sighing Kallen shouldered her sword and called for the rest of the Hammer to meet up with her. Grimly noting that a good score and a half had perished or been rendered incapable of fighting, leaving her surrounded by only twenty militia-men. Luckily they seemed to be more then ready to throw themselves back into the fight.
"Lets go." she stated, turning and racing after Rivalz into the city, smoke rising from the docks already.
Pull.
Breath.
Release.
Kill.
With deadly accuracy the freed arrow buried itself to the feathers in the eye of a Naga looter. Dragging a second shaft from the quiver dangling at his leg Rivalz re-knocked his long-bow and started prowling for another target. As an Archer his strength's were stealth, his elvish speed, and range, sneaking into position and then downing his foes with well-placed shots before they could retaliate. In the chaos that the Naga attack originating from the piers had created Rivalz found he had many opportunities to do just that. His high-quality long-bow had much more penetrating power then the short-bows the majority of the guards used and he had selected a heavier, narrow-headed arrow to further increase his chances of punching through the Naga's thick scales.
Spotting another Naga running down a human shopkeeper the elf raised his bow and repeated his mantra. Pull. Breath. Release. Kill. The arrow flying true yet again and pinning the Naga to the wall of a building by it's outstretched arms while the shopkeeper scrambled to safety. A second shot through the head silenced the beasts cries. Checking behind him Rivalz smiled as he saw the new girl come charging down the road, with a whole lot of back-up.
"Looks like they haven't made it to the main living area yet, their getting distracted by the shops and items lying around." he mentioned, striding over to join the incoming troops.
"Ok, lets go get em boys." Kallen yelled, raising the monster sword she swung around like a toothpick.
"For Halshore!" the militia replied, stretching out their legs further and breaking into smaller groups to sweep the streets.
"Watch my back?" she asked, glancing quickly at Rivalz.
"It's not as nice as Milly's..." he replied, cheeky smile over his face. It quickly faded when he had to dive out of the way from the sword that threatened to send him to an early grave and ended up going head-first into a collapsed stand.
"Jesus! Be careful with that thing." rubbing the top of his head Rivalz picked himself up and tried to catch up with the girl as she stormed away.
"Did you know Lelouch knows Zero?" she asked after a few minutes of crawling through the burning market district and not discovering anymore combatants.
"Really? I suppose that would be possible, Lelouch was one of the first players, maybe even a beta tester." he mentioned, still scanning for targets. "Honestly I've only been playing for around six months. Lelouch quit about a month after I started for some reason he won't talk about. What he did before that is mostly in the dark. I knew he was a genius at making money, was never seen outside the city, loved explaining things and helping out new players with gold or items, and would disappear from time to time. What he did during those times is a complete mystery. Why?"
"He... Lelouch, seems to hate Zero." she muttered, poking through an abandoned stall before steering them back towards the docks.
"Well then Zero must have done something pretty serious to Lelouch." Rivalz whistled. "He doesn't hate many people. Sure he doesn't get close to a lot of people, but definitely doesn't just hate them."
"What are the 'Black Knights'?" she asked a few moments later.
"Only the second-biggest guild in the game! Well... they were." the blue-haired boy exclaimed. "They got into a guild war with 'The Holy Brittanian Empire' or 'Brittania' for short and got totally destroyed."
"Wait... the guilds went to war? Why?" she pressed.
"Not many people outside 'Brittania' or 'The Black Knights' seem to know, though the 'Knights' started the war if I remember right. It was a crazy affair too, cities got leveled, hundreds of players got dropped back to level one and lost all their skills from dying so much, the economy game-wide apparently nose-dived and if 'Brittania' hadn't gotten a lucky punch that destroyed a lot of the 'Knights' production and NPC recruiters they still might have been going at it full steam today." Rivalz explained.
"How would a bunch of players fighting screw up the whole game?" the red-head inquired.
"If you build up enough of a reputation with NPC's and have enough player allies you can start a country." the archer stated, diving head-long into another explanation. "Most of the major guilds own some territory and their players can take on 'noble' titles based on their rank in the guild. Owning territory also gives you access to resources to build new equipment and NPC's that you can recruit as an army to defend your territory or try and claim more land with. Your country also gets to tax all the NPC stores that reside inside it to create money the Guild Leader can use to pay for the army and equipment. The guild war created a lot of problems for shops and stores cause they were a prime target, take out the production facilities and you hurt the other guilds equipment and the amount of money they can make, also the shopkeepers and civilians getting killed really hurt moral for the remaining citizens."
After chewing over the information for a while Kallen produced another question, "Is dying really that bad in 'Fantasy's Call'?" Checking an alleyway Rivalz ran through his mantra and dispatched a human looter before responding.
"It's can be pretty crippling. If you don't die in a 'safe' zone, like a pvp arena or city NPC's and players will be able to loot your body, meaning all the items and weapons you worked your ass off for will probably be gone. To come back to life you need to run from a spirit 'Alter' usually a church or magically intense area, back to where you died as a ghost. You move a little faster then normal, but not as fast as if you were mounted." taking a breath Rivalz continued with a grimace, "The worst part is you lose twenty-five to fifty percent of you current xp, as well as one to three of your abilities chosen at random."
"Wow... that's..."
"Brutal. I know, but the designers wanted people to really fear dying just like they would in the real world." Rivalz interrupted her. "The good news is all the items, xp, and skills can be re-acquired. It just takes time and effort. That in mind I think I hear a skirmish across this street." pointing down an alley Rivalz let Kallen hurriedly lead the way towards the clash of metal on metal. Breaching the end of the alley Rivalz spotted a small group of three guards trying to hold of twice their number in Naga.
Kallen immediately 'Charged' into the pack, blasting one of the Naga into the dirt with a fist to the back of it's skull before turning her wrath on the next one in line. Clucking his tongue at her hot-headedness Rivalz drew a bead on one of the Naga that was about to finish off a struggling guardsmen.
"Break shields and pierce armor." he chanted quietly, the phrase activating 'Shatter shot'. Releasing the imbued arrow Rivalz smirked as it blasted completely through his target from shoulder to shoulder, the instant corpse dropping like a marionette.
Quickly drawing again Rivalz deflected one of the Naga's attempts to stab Kallen in the back while she split his companion in half. A second arrow punching through the scales that covered the beasts arm and a third slipping under a rib to puncture a lung, leaving the Naga to drown in its own blood as Rivalz shifted aim again.
Knocking a pair of arrows Rivalz carefully aimed for an extra breath before letting the twin shafts bury themselves into the shoulders of a Naga that broke free from the melee to take out the pesky archer. Chanting again Rivalz drew his bow to it's full length before releasing a 'Shatter shot' directly into the beasts mouth, blasting a gaping hole out the back of its head before the arrow pierced into the hand of a second Naga. Screaming the monster dropped it's raised trident right before Kallen's sword bisected it. Leaving the last, still stunned Naga to the mercy of the trio of guardsmen Kallen and Rivalz marched on towards the docks.
{How's the situation in town?} Lelouch's voice whispered to the pair as they reached the last line of buildings hiding the docks from sight.
{Could be worse, most of the Naga seem to be busy pillaging instead of hunting for kills or slaves.} Rivalz replied back.
{Looks like we did get the main force at the gate then. I'm on my way into town right now with about five and twenty mixed bowmen and militia. We'll push straight to the docks then sweep back into town to catch the stragglers, try and see what the docks look like.} the rouge instructed them.
{Roger, should have visual in a couple seconds.}
"Lets take a peek then shall we." Rivalz grinned at Kallen, covering his head as she raised a fist. "At the docks! At the docks, crazy." snorting Kallen proceeded around the corner of the last warehouse. Rivalz followed on her heels and ran right into her as Kallen froze before exiting their cover.
{Lelouch...} she started.
{Status?} he replied tensely.
{There's a really big one with a shield and sword crawling around the docks, he's got six or seven males and two females with him.} Kallen stated, somewhat worried.
Where the male Naga were brutal, hulking and snake-like the females were slender and far more human looking. Though the thick tail that formed from their hips down, the extra sets of arms along their sides, and the ornate fins that swept back from the top of their heads along their backs detracted from the beauty of the once elven species.
{Roger, do not engage. We'll link up before tackling that pack.} the strategist stated.
Peeking his head out around Kallen's shoulder Rivalz immediately grabbed her and retreated behind the warehouse, ignoring her questions.
{Lelouch... it's Warlord Crast.} he stated after making sure they had the building between themselves and the warlord.
{Never gets any easier does it.} the rogue moaned in return.
"You recognize him?" Kallen asked.
"Yup, crazy bastard has been raiding coasts around here for about a month, since no-ones been able to kill him so far it's safe to assume Crast is probably a dungeon boss or the equivalent of one." the archer explained, dragging out a fresh quiver of heavy arrows from his pouch and strapping it beside his half-empty one.
"Shouldn't he be in his dungeon then?" the girl asked nervously.
"He should be... but that doesn't mean he can't come out and play." checking his bowstring Rivalz swore softly. "If we don't put him down he'll probably just move on to another town or outpost. Our best chance is right now since he doesn't have the sub-bosses around to help him or weaken us before we get to him."
"Get ready for one hell of a fight Kallen." he warned after finishing his status checks.
{I'll be there in two minutes to formulate a plan. Don't let him leave.} Lelouch's voice rang out.
{No promises, there are way to many Naga out there for Kallen and I to take on, even without Crast. I'd hurry.} a gurgling laugh behind them drew both players attention.
Rearing seven-and-a-half feet tall, his scales a glorious orange, and carrying what would have been a hand-and-a-half sword for most men in one claw and an oval shield taller then Rivalz in the other Warlord Cast sneered down at them.
"Ssso are you the oness who disssrupted my planss? I'll be sssure to keep you alive for a very long time for this attrocccity." the snake-like tones forced a shiver down Rivalz spine as he shoved Kallen back.
"Go get Lelouch. I'll try and hold him." Rivalz ordered, fear gripping his heart as the warlord licked his blade.
"But wouldn't you have a better chance-" she started
"NOW Kallen!" he shouted, leaping back as the Warlords blade split the earth he had been standing over a second ago. "He's got a whole mess of back-up and Lelouch will need more then NPC's to take Crast down."
Smiling as Kallen raced off grumbling Rivalz squared his shoulders. That had been pretty cool, now if only Milly would start playing 'Fantasy's Call' as well. Then maybe he could show his crush the best side of himself.
Starting his chant Rivalz raced into an alley, springing with elven agility between the walls to the roof where he immediately loosed the 'Shatter Shot' towards Crast as he rounded the corner. Frowning as the Warlord's shield deflected the imbued arrow Rivalz snapped a pair of shots towards the Naga's chest and head, hoping only one would be intercepted. Slipping under the shots Crast slammed his sword into the side of the building, the wall splitting under the impact and Rivalz found himself flailing in the air as the roof came down.
"Ssslippery elf." the Naga chortled as Rivalz rolled on impact with the ground, firing a pair of arrows as he rolled away. The heavy shield blocking both as the Warlord surged forward towards his prey.
Trusting his elvish fleetness Rivalz shot out off the alley and bounded over a stall as he started his next incantation. The massive Naga merely demolishing the stall with one swing before pushing through the wreckage. Only to find himself staring point-blank into then end of Rivalz 'Shatter shot'. Lightning reflexes let the monster avoid a fatal head-injury, but the devilishly accurate arrow still dug a long furrow from his left brow over the top of his head. Unamused and hurt the Warlord caught up to the fleeing irritant and slammed Rivalz into a wall with his shield, a muffled cry of pain breaking from the archer's lips.
"Caught you!" the Naga snickered, using his greater strength to grind the elf into the wall, patiently waiting for the sound of his bones snapping under the unyielding pressure while the boy struggled for a way out.
In the end it was the wall, not Rivalz slender elven frame that gave out first. Freed from his spot between the proverbial rock and hard spot Rivalz staggered to his feet amidst the wreckage of the wall and looked for a way out of the house that wasn't blocked by six-hundred pounds of furious Naga. Finding a window he managed to break through the glass and dive out into the street before Crast finished creating an opening wide enough to allow his massive frame into the house. Glancing up Rivalz cursed his luck, while entirely explainable as he had just been slammed through the wall of a house he had still managed to jump out on the worst window imaginable.
"Ssssuch a pretty boy. Maybe I'll keep you asss a pet." the serpentine female before him teased, her twin snaking up and the remainder of Crast's entourage fanning out to encircle the archer.
"Fuck." was all he said in return. "Why do the bad guys always get back-up first?"
Why.
The question burned in his mind as Zero let his mount race along the road without his guidance. Why wouldn't Lelouch come back? With Lelouch taking the reins again they would both get the revenge their blood demanded and craved, the boys tactical skills were still inspiring and hadn't rusted since he had fled 'Fantasy's Call'. He would see, had to see, that there was only one way to make the emperor kneel. Snarling under his hood Zero booted his steed for more speed, trying to outrun his rage and the persistent questions.
Suddenly the mounts front legs caught on something, catapulting Zero from his saddle to roll along the ground. Managing to come out of the roll on his feet Zero glared about, already beginning his spell.
"I expected you to be taller. But I suppose the second generation is always a disappointment." a smooth voice echoed around the cloaked figure.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" his words twisted under the effect of his power, becoming deeper and more powerful despite his small stature.
"Tell me... boy. What is most important to people?" slowly a tall, orange haired man with abnormally pale skin revealed himself from a dense clump of underbrush. "Is it money? Food? Sex? Power?"
"Luciano!" Zero roared, the spell in his hands spiraling almost out of control.
"But of course. Our great Emperor has heard rumors of a 'new' Zero and sent me to deal with it. Now answer my question so I can cut away that silly cloak and bath in your blood." Luciano replied nonchalantly.
"Soul Fire!" was the response, the black and red ball of despair and death racing towards the relaxed ambusher.
"Seriously?" Luciano stated, easily avoiding the fiery shadow. "Come now 'Zero', surely you can do better then that, I can't enjoy this until you play along."
"I have nothing to say to you, Vampire of Brittania." the cloaked boy shouted.
"Fine." the man sighed, "You know what all humans love most? It is your... life" as he uttered the last words Luciano appeared next to Zero and slammed a hand into the hood, interrupting the spell and sending the boy flying backwards.
Licking the blood off his knuckles Luciano closed his eyes and shivered, "Your life. And now guess what I'll be taking from you this day?" grinning evilly Luciano started forward as Zero rose to his feet, a handful of grenades already soaring towards the vampire.
"You've got the right abilities." the vampire commented, easily stepping around the explosions and subsequent fireball that shot from the smoke. "But your not even close to your predecessor's level of expertise. So instead of trying to hold off the inevitable why don't you just answer my questions?"
"Fuck you" Zero retorted hotly, summoning another swath of fire that he spread before the steadily approaching man.
"Children these days, you don't even know simple things like what should be important." Luciano remarked, stepping through the fire and drawing a hand-full of knives. "Now, why don't you try to protect that which is most important to you?"
Laughing Luciano threw a brace of knives at Zero's chest, the slender youth swaying sharply to avoid them only for a second set to impact along his left leg. As the limb gave out and Zero collapsed another pair of knives imbedded themselves into his hands.
"Opps, I suppose you can't cast spells so easily like that anymore." the man giggled while Zero dragged himself upright and pulled the blades from his hands.
"You will not deny me my revenge! Nothing will stop me." the boy roared, only to dissolve in a fit of coughing as another pair of knives slammed into his chest and Zero was forced to his knees. The laughing vampire stepping forward to reclaim the blades Zero had removed from his hands.
"You value revenge? Why would you ever value something so fickle as revenge." Luciano stated, kicking Zero onto his back. "Life! Life is necessary for revenge, so cry beautifully as I take both life and purpose from you."
"Zero..." like a drop of water in a still pond the boy felt a ripple pass through his body.
"Now let me see what you look like under that hood." pale, sickly fingers lifted the top of the hood away, shock overcoming the vampires features.
"B-but how! You, you've betrayed us-" he started to shout, cut off by a bloody hand ramming itself into his mouth.
"I release the seal. Come forth, White Knight!" drawing a small white orb with his free hand Zero let his blood flow over and absorb into the orb, hairline fractures splitting the previously smooth surface wherever the crimson liquid touched.
"I summon you, SUZAKU!" the orb shattered, razor-sharp shards slicing into Zero's hand and Luciano's face.
"As our contract is written, so shall I serve." a melodious voice stated. Powerful hands throwing the vampire away from Zero and cradling the warlock against a white chest-plate. The demon prince did not loom, if anything he was far more human then any demon had right to be. Sharp-features like that of a hawk, tousled brown-hair that fell just above his eyebrows, and soul-less grey eyes. The barest hints of spiraling horns that could be seen peeking out through his thick locks the only real indication of his origins in the demonic plane. Clad in white mail-and-plate with a long-sword sheathed at his hip and a shield on his back Suzaku gently held his summoner.
"Amazing! I knew you valued your life, so now, now I can take it from you! Now I can see the glorious pain and fear, the hopelessness and tears. It's so beautiful!" the vampire cried joyously.
"How shall I serve this day, Zero?" Suzaku inquired as Luciano prepared himself, a hint of mockery in his tone.
"Kill him." the boy replied. "Luciano Bradly is not to live beyond this day."
"As you command I am forced to act." the knight stated, placing Zero gently on the ground and drawing his sword and shield.
"I don't fear any summon of yours, 'Zero', even this relic from the war! Tell me, Suzaku, what do you value most?" Luciano taunted as he flung a handful of knives at the knight.
"I value your life, Luciano Bradley, for it is of value to my master." Suzaku replied quietly, skillfully deflecting the daggers with his shield and lunging forward.
"Such a bore. Your artificial intelligence is lacking a core concept, the concept of life." the vampire retorted, evading the knights attack and stabbing for Suzaku's neck. As Suzaku blocked the stab Luciano leaped backwards and drew a handful of red orbs.
"I'll show you, 'Zero', the correct way to use your demons. Come forth, my sweet Valkyries!" splitting his thumb the vampire let his blood run over the orbs before throwing them into the air. With a splinter four demons fell to the ground before him, all four scantily covered in black leathers, swept back horns and spiked tails proudly displaying the source of their birth. Giggling the succubi drew whips from the air and darted around to circle the white knight where he crouched in a guarded pose.
"Awww, I thought Luciano would at least give us a challenge." one remarked, cracking her whip towards the knight who smoothly evaded.
"Right? He must be getting old." another commented, her own weapon snaking out to be intercepted by the white shield.
"We'll get out more often at least, if he needs us for opponents of this caliber." the third stated, stretching seductively and eying the knight.
"I wanna play with the little one!" the final succubus stated, skipping towards the bleeding Zero.
"I can not allow that." Suzaku stated, blurring over and slamming the fourth succubi away from his summoner.
"Oh! Suzaku doesn't want to share!" the demon squealed, prompting a fresh wave of giggles from her sisters.
"It's a game!" they shouted, all diving for Zero where he stood behind Suzaku's broad back. Only to draw back screeching as the white sword cut and heavy shield smashed their grasping hands.
"I'm gonna touch him first." the boldest succubus stated, throwing her sister at Suzaku and trying to slip around him while he batted the demon missile away.
"Like I'd let you." Zero sneered, blasting the laughing temptress away with a large ball of flaming shadows. The succubi's giggles soon turned to shrieks as the flames continued to burn, her flesh sloughing away before she collapsed in a smoldering pile.
"Looks like you still have some bite." another commented, cracking her whip against her leg.
"Isn't that sexy?" slinking up to her sister the speaker ran a tongue down the growing welt along her thigh.
"I like it when they bite." Suzaku slammed his shield forward yet again to force the last chatting vixen back as she slunk towards Zero.
"Rain of fire"
Like a downpour of life-giving water a crimson sheet of dancing fire fell in a wave in front of Suzaku as Zero managed to complete another spell despite his mangled hands. The succubi, finding nowhere to run, shrieked as they burned. Luciano managed to step back out of range of the maelstrom of fire that consumed his summons and let out a whistle.
"I guess you do deserve a little credit, it's not every day you meet a warlock powerful enough to summon that kind of storm." smirking his hands dove back into his pockets and produced another set of red orbs. "But I always come prepared."
"That won't save you." Zero stated, lobbing a pair of grenades at the vampire as Suzaku darted in and swung at his hand.
Intercepting the grenades with the summoning orbs Luciano felt a sharp tingle along his arm as Suzaku's blade tore through his sleeve. Snarling the Vampire drew a pair of knives to deflect the knight's sword while his summons exploded from the smoke of the grenades towards Zero. Easily blasting the weak summons away with twin bolts of shadowy death Zero started chanting for a more powerful spell, leaving Suzaku to keep Luciano from bringing forth anymore summons.
"This isn't right." Luciano commented after several of his attacks and attempts to summon were stalled by the white knight. "You shouldn't have any summons of this caliber. Suzaku was only a fledgling demon, albeit a powerful one." stepping out to avoid Suzaku's slash the vampire paused for a moment to hold his chin in thought.
"You have her! That's how you forced his evolution!" he finally shouted, ducking under another wicked swing from the white knight. "My what luck. I admit I was skeptical about finding Zero's 'code' with the obvious fake, but I suppose you actually do deserve the title 'Zero' after all. Though I'll be glad to take it from you here shortly, think of the audacity, one of his Highness' knights of the round table gaining the title 'Zero'."
"You'll have to pry her from my cold, dead fingers." Zero shouted as he finished his spell, his demonic eye brightening. "Suzaku!"
"Yes, master." breaking off the knight immediately returned to Zero's side.
"Cataclysm." Luciano's eyebrows rose for a moment, before his whole face took on a look of awe as Zero summoned a ten-foot wide orb of molten shadow-fire.
"Impressive..." he managed to mutter as the orb ruptured, its contents racing forward in the blink of an eye to eradicate everything before their summoner. The fires, refusing to be sated by the trees and underbrush, blazed hot enough to crack and blacken the earth in a wide swath that stretched for almost a hundred yards.
Stalking through the still smoldering remains Zero halted when he reached the seared body of Luciano. The vampire was barely breathing, and the flames continued to devour the remains of his flesh as Zero peered down at him.
"My... life? Your taking... my life?" he whispered through cratered lips and around a seared tongue, eyes barely alive.
"Like I'd want that worthless thing." the hooded figure replied, his glowing eye flickering. "Zero commands you, forget my face."
"Why? Why would you..." with one last heroic effort Luciano shifted one burned arm and lightly slid Zero's hood back, gazing at the face underneath, trying to fight the command. "Yes, my lord." he croaked, finally succumbing to the insidious fingers of control that wracked his mind.
"I met Zero, and he opened my... Eye." the boy replied as the vampire's pupils were circled by a thin red ring. Lowering his hood while the glowing power in his eye dissipated as he rose to his feet. "Suzaku, finish your instructions."
"Yes, my lord." the knight bowed, then smoothly slid his sword through Luciano's ribs.
"Does it bother you, Suzaku, who I am?" the slender boy asked, staring down at the corpse between them.
"You are Zero." the knight returned with a shrug. "The 'code' proves it."
"I did not ask you to describe my title." Zero stated.
"That is all that matters. No matter who sits on the throne they are all Zero, and Zero I serve no matter what my personal feelings may be." Suzaku declared, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Grunting as he turned away Zero began his ritual, and shortly after mounted his demonic steed.
"My life is yours, Zero." Suzaku stated, before fading away like smoke as a white orb materialized in Zero's hand.
"Sometimes I wonder." Zero mused as his hell-horse resumed his interrupted journey.
Left behind and forgotten the blistered and blackened corpse began to shiver.
Chapter III. End
Whew, so got some more explanations out of the way (I apologize for not mentioning that Zero is shorter then Kallen last chapter, I'll try and get an edit in to fix that.), some more interaction between our characters, and uncovering a little more of the dark past between Lelouch and Zero... all while trying to save a city under siege!
I used the WoW Naga as my base-line so if you want a better image of them just google search "wow" and "Naga".
PVP (Player vs Player) action will be included, but I decided not to really hit on that point yet.
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My dear anonymous reviewer-
Thank you again for continuing to review! I'm also very pleased I met your expectations with the last chapter (hopefully this one as well). As for the ending: I have an ending that could signify the end of this particular story in mind. Though I love to see stories that continue to grow and evolve endlessly as well and will strive to accomplish that feat =).
I'm glad you enjoyed the break-up from the action, though this chapter is a little heavier on the action I will have some chapters where very little actual fighting occurs to balance the ones like this out and keep the action from getting stale. The real world will come calling soon enough (after the defense of Halshore) and we'll switch gears for at least one chapter before diving back into 'Fantasy's Call'. I plan to keep that rhythm (adventure in game, followed by a chapter or two of life in ashford) fairly constant.
The race system is fairly open and based more on DnD then WoW, I'll sit down and come up with a precise list of available player races eventually (for now I'm mostly sticking to elves, humans, and the odd gnome.). I won't reveal Zero's race just yet, but it will come out eventually.
Thank you for the grammar review, I'll do my best to try and catch errors and fix them. I haven't worked with a beta before because of the random times I write, though I'm starting to think it would be a good idea for me to make that extra effort (I want to produce the best work possible, and it's not realistic for me to be able to do that without someone else lending a hand, even just throwing ideas around with people vastly improves my work).
Glad to see your looking forward to more chapters and I'll do my absolute best to continue to deliver! Also, rambling is a good thing in my book, it just makes more things to talk about and consider. So don't ever worry that you're saying too much.
And for Lost Lord (since you won't let me PM you... sadface)-
Very pleased that you think so highly of my work! I hope the little teasers for the relationship between Lelouch and Zero haven't turned you off to the story, but they already have some history that will come out eventually. As I mentioned in this chapter 'Zero' is actually more like a title, how the current Zero got it and who he received it from will hopefully keep you guessing and interested in my work =).
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Some reviewer questions/comments I thought might be good to answer where everyone can see:
The morality system (Fight, Flee, Defect to the horde options): This is a concept that every RPG game worth it's salt these days tries to capture. The idea that the player can pick their own destiny and actions. Since I'm not bound by programing constraints I've been able to expand this concept to its limit and allow the players to live in a world where they can quite literally do whatever they want. However consequences will be just as realistic (Sure you could join the Naga and attack the city... but if word gets out do you think any city nearby would offer its goods and services to you? Maybe a bounty could be placed on your head, leading other players or NPC's to hunt you down for revenge.)
My ability learning system: Most of my readers seem very pleased with it, and that makes me very, very happy! A few things to note- while it's possible to temorarily remove an ability from the game (Killing the teacher of a unique ability) the ability will be learned by another NPC eventually so that one person can't be the only person in the game with access to the ability. However there are a limitless number of techniques so players will often have different abilities, both because they are taught by different teachers, and because they will use abilities that feel right to them (Lelouch could potentially learn 'Cleave', but since he isn't as strong as Kallen he would probably use something else instead, such as wielding two weapons.)
Quick note: NPC's will not re-spawn in a traditional sense. Other NPC's will fill in the holes (like a traveling merchant taking over a dead shop keepers store.) so 'death' is a very real concept to them. If a city gets wiped out it won't spring back to life a few minutes later, it will take time for the surrounding cities to send people to repopulate the area and get the city back on it's feet (if they even decide to do so, otherwise the city might just become a graveyard... maybe even a dungeon eventually). Once again part of my attempt to create a game that feels like a real 'world'.
Thoughts/comments on Lelouch's plan would be very helpful (did it make sense? seem to simple for our resident genius?) I know I revealed the plan before it was executed which is very different from how we usually get to see Lelouch's plans but I think this works just as well to show his brilliance (Setting up several different signals to let the reserves know where to go, ect.). If nobody likes it though I'll switch back to the more 'anime' type where nothing is revealed until Lelouch's plan is already in action. Future wide-scale battles will be longer (this is still the very beginning of the game in a sense.)
New abilities mentioned this chapter:
Cataclysm- The warlock creates an orb of shadowy flames that burn with unusually high intensity. The orbs can range in size, larger orbs being far more difficult and time-consuming to create. Flames are very difficult to douse, burning despite the presence of water (Roughly 2-3x the amount normally required to douse a standard flame of similar size) or lack of oxygen.
Rain of Fire- Based on WoW's spell of the same name, caster creates a wave of fire that drops to the targeted area (Size depends on the casters proficiency and time spent preparing the spell) before erupting and decimating everything caught inside.
Shatter Shot- Archer ability that pierces through armor or shields (Higher quality armor has a greater chance of surviving). Requires a chant to imbue the arrow with the Archers mana.
I apologize for the massive size of my end notes, but at the same time I don't think I'm including anything that isn't helpful in understanding the world of 'Fantasy's Call'. If they are becoming a problem feel free to let me know and I will try and cut back on them a bit (I will not stop adding responses to reviewers that I can't PM. Every reviewer deserves at least a few moments of my attention for taking the time to help improve my work and I will not budge on this stance.)
~SimplyWaters~