Clash of Reality part 3

            Torchlight flickered off of the green stone wall of the ancient catacombs.  The sound of battle echoed through the otherwise empty tunnels. Green flames exploded against a warriors golden shield. Upon impact with the shield the fire burst and split off, causing a splash effect. Ayla the Warrior jumped backward with her shield raised as she tried to avoid the scattering flames.

            A group of adventurers including Soul Shadow and Ayla were fighting the Ancient undead wizard known as the Lich. The Lich’s bone jaw rattled against its skull as The Lich moved around the room. The Lich could float and his movements were strange and unpredictable.

            Ayla charged in with her short sword and struck the Lich, then immediately had to block any incoming attacks with her shield. Green flames exploded against Ayla’s shield causing her to stumble backward. Every time the Lich threw his green fire the flames would explode on impact and send smaller flames in every direction. Even though they were in a stone room the green fire stayed burning for a few seconds before dying out. This meant that even if a single flame attack was dodged or blocked the heroes would still have to watch their step for any remaining fire still burning. The longer the battle dragged on the more dangerous the room became.

            Since Ayla was focused on fighting the ancient, powerful, undead wizard in front of her, Soul helped by watching her back. He used his ice sword to extinguish any flames around Ayla so she didn’t have to take her eyes off of the Lich. Whenever the area was clear of flames Soul would help attack. His speed was as amazing as ever and often was able to strike the Lich with his swords before the Lich even realized he was being attacked. Soul couldn’t stay in one spot and attack though because the Lich was even more dangerous up close.

            Red flames sizzled and burned the Lich ever time Soul attacked with his sword of Ember. The Lich swiped his skeleton hand at Soul ever time Soul got close. The Hands of the Lich glowed in a dark purple energy and every swipe of his hands left an energy trail similar to Soul’s swords.

            The rest of the group was helping too. As Ayla blocked the Lich and tried to keep him distracted other players would attack when they were able. There were five members all together. Ayla, Soul, Orx a fighter with a two handed axe, Simon an archer who specialized in using a magical gun instead of a bow and Fina the only spellcaster in the group. 

            Simon fired an freezing round at the Lich. The Lich was hit but didn’t seem to notice. Usually this would freeze the unit solid, instead it only slowed the Lich down. Fina was a charging a spell in the back of the room. When it was ready she let out a barrage of lighting bolts that struck the Lich in rapid succession. The Lich was jolted and stopped fighting for a second also bits of the Lich’s cloak ripped and had burns on it from the lighting. Ayla, Soul and Orx charged in when they saw an opening. Orx jumped in the air and slashed his battle-axe down on the Lich, the impact of the strike caused the ground to shake. Soul moved in and slashed with all of his strength. Soul unleashed a flurry of freezing and burning strikes. Ayla finished the attack with a precision strike into the Lich’s chest.

            The Lich took massive damage in the brief one second opening where he couldn’t move. This wasn’t enough to stop him though and he reached out his long arm and grabbed Orx with his large skeleton hand. The Lich lifted Orx into the air with ease. The other party members gasped and began attacking with everything they had. Orx screamed and the Lich began to laugh. A haunting laugh echoed through the stone halls. Dark energy swirled around Orx as the Lich was draining away his health. Soul jumped and tried to slash the Lich’s arm to free Orx but the Lich’s second arm came up and swatted Soul. Dark energy engulfed the hero as he flew across the room. Soul hit the wall with a sickening thud and crumpled to the ground. Ayla couldn’t stand it she charged with her shield and using all of her strength slammed into the Lich with her shield. The Lich, who was still floating, was knocked off balance and was sent into the wall on the other side of the room. The Lich dropped Orx and then hit the wall. Bones broke free and fell off of the Lich.

Fina repeated caste her healing spells on Soul and then Orx. Soul was able to stand but was weakened. Dark energy still clung to him and sapped his strength. Fina began charging a large spell. Soul and Ayla nodded to eachother and charge the Lich. Simon began firing every kind of special bullet he had. Explosive, fire, ice, acid and frag ammo were all fired as quickly as he could reload. The Lich was standing and no longer floating. His hands began to glow even brighter as he charged up a spell. Soul ran at the Lich head on. The Lich caste his spell and threw a giant green fireball at Soul. Soul threw his swords and jumped into the air at the last minute. The fireball barely missed Soul and it continued to fly forward, now at Ayla. Soul’s swords flew straight and both hit the Lich in the chest.

The green fireball was about to hit Ayla but Fina cast a reflective spell on Ayla’s shield. The Green fireball stuck Ayla’s shield and Ayla pushed back against it with all of her might. The Green fire was not blocked but reflected and sent back at the Lich.

The Lich was being shot with all sorts of elemental ammo and had two of the games most powerful swords sticking out of his chest. He was too weak to float or teleport and his own giant fireball was headed right at him. The green fire struck the Lich and he let out an unholy scream as he was burned to dust.

The battle was over and the fight was won. The heroes sighed with relief. They had beaten the legendary Lich. There were no words that could express how happy they were with their victory.

Orx: GG guys. GG.

Soul:…You just had to ruin it. yeah, good game to you  too Orx.

            Ayla laughed and Soul smiled. The rest of the party signed off and their characters were sent out of the dungeon. “So I think the hero of the day deserves a kiss, don’t you?” Said Ayla with a sly smile. “Y-yeah that would be great!” Soul said. “I was talking about me!” Ayla said and then started to laugh.

Soul: So Sarah…

Ayla: Ayla is fine.

Soul: I know we talked about meeting. Things have been going so well so I figured I could take a bus to your town.

Ayla: Wow, that would be great! This is kind of sudden. Did you just decide on this?

Soul: No, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Besides then I could give the hero of the day a kiss…

 

            Weeks passed from that day. The day Jacob and Sarah beat the Ancient Lich. It was a great accomplishment for them and meant even more because they did it together as team.

            In the small town of Lindberry at the local bus station a pale twenty two year old girl with red hair waits for the bus. She wore jeans and a t-shirt with a warrior crest on it from the game she plays. She was also wearing a red cloak made of thin material. It seemed a little out of place but She wore it with pride. The bus pulled up to the station and passengers all file out of the bus. The passengers all looked travel weary. They lug their bags and backpacks, each person matches up with someone waiting for their arrival. The redheaded girl looked around but didn’t see anyone for her. She watched happy reunions and smiles as strangers left the station.

            Then she saw him. The boy she was waiting for, Jacob. Jacob was twenty three, average looking with brown hair, jeans and a black t-shirt. He dragged a green suitcase behind him. He looked at the ground as he made his way past all of the strangers. Then he saw her, Sarah. She was more beautiful than in her pictures and she even found a red cloak that looked like the cloak from the game. His heart raced as he walked toward her. They were both smiling like idiots as they drew closer. Jacob went to call her name, “Sarah!” He thinks, but stops and instead says “Ayla!”

            Sarah’s smile widened even more, despite being almost physically impossible. She grabbed his arm and looked up at him “Soul, you made it” She said so only he could hear her. Jacob leaned down and kissed her. “My hero” Said Jacob.