In front of the young girl summoner was a small spirit wolf and in front of the other was a small spirit croc. I recognized the summons right away. They were two out of the three default choices for a summoner’s first bound spirit. They didn’t look too strong though. They were low level versions of those summons.

  The spirit wolf growled at the incoming enemies. The spirit croc snapped its jaws. They leapt into battle with the fallen soldiers. The creatures from the Bottom World made quick work of them. They threw out their dark obsidian claws and spears and stabbed the spirit creatures to death.

  “Oh no,” yelled Chip.

  “We’re almost there,” I said, tugging on Gryph’s feathers.

  The fallen threw out attacks on the weak summoners. One threw out a lightning cage attack but one of the fallen swiped in the air at the right time and cancelled the move. Nullified their defense.

  “Help!” they screamed.

  One of the fallen jumped and grabbed the young girl summoner. A swirl of energy dragged out of the girl. The creature was initiating a soul suck.

  Gryph landed and unleashed whirlwind, swiping in a circle and knocking the four fallen back. The soul suck was cancelled by Gryph’s landing.

  “Take this you meanies!” said Chip, floating over to the fallen and knocking them further back with spirit blast.

  I jumped off Gryph. “Circle around and attack them from behind. I’ll defend us here.”

  Gryph nodded its head and leapt in the air and spun around getting ready to dive in and attack them from behind. An aerial backstab.

  I waved my arms and flicked my fingers, creating a defensive wall of flames. I stretched out both arms and kept my hands wide and triggered air blast next. The blast of wind fed the wall of flames, shooting forth towards the fallen like the deadly flame throwing breath of a dragon.

  The fallen stumbled as their bodies caught on fire. Their skin charred. They kept moving forward nevertheless.

  “You two flame dodge with me,” I commanded.

  Their eyes blinked and they hesitated but then they caught on to my plan. I initiated flame dodge, and slid back through the sand leaving a trail of flames. The two summoners followed suit and the mindless fallen charged at us through the flames.

  “Earthquake,” I yelled next.

  The three of us utilized earthquake and the sandy ground shook and hardened. It rippled and it cracked. The fallen stumbled and limped towards us. A new crippled debuff flickered beneath their status bars, ticking away at their HP.

  Their eyes bulged and they toppled over as Gryph smashed into them. They disintegrated in defeat.

  +175 EXP!

  +190 EXP!

  +230 EXP!

  +175 EXP!

  “Awesome leadership Clay,” said Chip, spinning around us. “But next time can you give me a super cool job too?”

  I grinned. “You gotcha.”

  The two summoners I rescued looked at me in shock.

  “Thank you,” they both said, bowing their heads. “Let us help you with the others. We had already accepted our loss in the race. We were only still competing to save face for our families and those who nominated us to partake.”

  The three of us rescued the remaining summoners still in need of help. When we finished, I looked back to the summit passage. Harold, the little fox man, was still fighting his fallen opponents.

  “Go, Clay” they said. “You’ll get there faster than us and if anyone deserve to finish this race and enter the next round, it’s you.”

  I hopped back on Gryph and with Chip floating at our side we raced back to the cliff passage. Gryph quick attacked the fallen and made fast work of them, saving Harold.

  “Thanks, Clay,” said Harold. “But I’m a doppelganger helping out.”

  The little fox poofed into a cloud of smoke.

  Oh no. If this was a doppelganger, that meant?

  I flew to the summit and saw it for myself.

  Deirdra and Ashren were now joined by Raylene and Harold. They had won the qualifying round.

  I had lost.

  20

  Lost.

  I’d lost the qualifying round. I was eliminated. Done. Finished. Over. All we’d work towards, travelling here, training, gathering materials, it was all going to be for naught. I stood on the desert passage leading up to the summit. The four official winners stood in the glowing purple victory circle triumphantly. The airship with the noble observers swerved in the sky above, followed closely behind by the floating judges podium.

  The airy commentator orb floated alongside my shoulder. It yammered away.

  “That’s it folks. The race is over. The qualifying match has decided who has indeed qualified and who—hasn’t made the cut. Wow. I still can’t get over the final bit of this race. Clay Hopewell was the last to start the race, the first to get to the summit, and then in a turn of events, left the victory circle before the race had concluded. What happened? Was it the—”

  Chip tapped at the floating orb. He floated beneath it and looked up at it with curiosity.

  “It floats like me and talks like me, but yet—what is it, Clay?”

  “It’s annoying is what it is,” I grumbled.

  A huge shuffle of feet echoed behind me. It was the group of weaker summoners I’d saved. They were yelling, “Boo,” “Re-do,” “Interference,” and all sorts of similar calls.

  The commentator orb picked up on the anger: “And here it comes the annual chanting for a redo. Can these losers not even accept defeat with honor?”

  I really wanted to attack the stupid commentator orb. It was really pissing me off. I conjured a ball of molten flames in my hands and whipped it at the floating orb. The fireball smashed into the commentating device. It didn’t explode in a burst of flames, as I’d been expecting though. Nope, instead the device dematerialized and the flame passed through it and puttered out in the sand.

  “Hey! I have a similar move,” said Chip.

  I stomped up the hill to the victor’s summit. The other summoners followed behind me, grumbling.

  I received messages in my HUD from my fellow party members.

  Serena: You did the right thing, Clay! If you’re disqualified, then this contest sucks.

  Shade: Mate, I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Well, I would’ve looted all those fallen soldiers AND I’d definitely blackmail all the weaker summoners for my help—but other than that I would’ve done it like you had, the Hero of Land’s Shield.

  Kari: Good work Clay! You did your best!

  Jackson: Well done, Clay. You competed with honor. There’s a victory in losing too.

  The messages from my friends cheered me up. Jackson’s note did make me straighten my shoulders and eye the desert racing ground around me. Someone very powerful was manipulating the events of the tournament, but for what reason?

  But did such questions matter now? I was out of the tournament. We’d have to pack our bags and head back to Land’s Shield. What other reason did we have to stay here? I imagined the forlorn looks on the faces of King Fergus and Theobold. The furtive glances from the citizens of the city I called home. The whispers of how their precious hero had failed. Were they really safe with him? Did he really have the power to protect them? What if he fails again?

  I shook my head. Ugh. Stop thinking like this. I smacked the side of my head.

  “Is everything okay, Clay?” asked Chip, floating around me.

  “It’s fine,” I said. “I’m fine.”

  I can feel your mind, Clay, said Gryph. You don’t sound fine.

  The commentator orb interrupted our thoughts.

  “We’re waiting for the judges to announce the winners. Any moment now. What’s this? We’re getting intel the judges are deliberating on the results. What is there to debate? Isn’t it obvious who the winners are? Oh, here’s another update. The people watching are concerned; the dangerous entities the fallen have left the crowd uneasy. It’s all fine for the contestants to risk their lives, but the onlookers, just looking for a good show? Blood and guts is fun from afar, until it’s you, lying on the pavement in a crimson puddle.”

  I arrived at the top of the summit to the sights of the four victorious summoners. All of their looks—their different forms of pity and smug triumph—made my stomach churn. Raylene shrugged at me with sympathy. Harold held his hands out and said, “Sorry mon ami, but I had to claim victory. My harem dream is impossible without it.”

  Ashren didn’t even look at me. Now that I had lost, my presence wasn’t even worth acknowledging. Worse was Deirdra’s smug smirk.

  “Looks like I didn’t need to knock you out of the victor’s circle,” she said, in her slithery insectoid voice. “You did it all on your own.” She let out an obnoxious and superficial giggle.

  I wanted to attack her. I was so pissed off. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect she was the one behind the conjuring of the fallen. Arethkar had the kind of dark powerful magic capable of doing such a thing. She was the most obvious culprit, but pointing accusatory fingers would only make me look like more of a sore loser.

  “It looks like the judges have come to a decision,” said the commentator orb. “They are reading the results now. Switching transmissions.” The orb made strange static noises and then a new voice emerged from the floating orb. “We are now announcing the winners of the qualifying round of the Solmini Summoner Tournament. In first place, we have Deirdra. In second, Ashren. In third place, Raylene. Fourth place, Harold.”

  There was cheering from the nobles and other observatory airships.

  “Well, it looks like that’s it folks, what will happen in the rest of the tournament we will—agh, what’s this—” The commentator orb transmission swapped voices again. “This is the duke again. We are not finished with announcing our results. Due to unforeseen interference in the race and the fact he would’ve won otherwise, Clay Hopewell will be the fifth member of the tournament’s final trials!”

  My ears perked at the words.

  More cheers echoed around me. The summoners who I’d saved behind me, all clapped my back. They cheered and whooped.

  Deirdra’s smirk had completely disappeared and was replaced with a grimace. Ashren shook his head. Harold offered another shrug. “Don’t get in the way of my Harem dreams!”

  Raylene smirked and offered her hand in congratulations.

  “Looks like you’re still in the running, hot shot.”

  21

  After the big race we all returned to The Encampment. The player citizens of the Desert Faction were rapturous with Raylene’s victory. Bottles of special Solmini champagne were popped and glasses of the blue tinted bubbly drink were distributed amongst everyone in the underground cave system. People were cheering Raylene’s name like she’d won the entire tournament already. Most of the soldiers’ faces were full of joy and glee, but a faint murmur of grumbling bubbled below the celebrations. I was accosted with several “accidental” shoulder bumps and hostile glares from players across the room.

  “Is it just me,” said Shade. “Or are we not entirely welcome?”

  “No, you’re reading the room correctly, Shade,” said Jackson, arms crossed. The brawler was calm, assessing the room barely moving his neck to do so.

  Serena’s fingers twitched at her side. She gave off the air of someone eager to reach up for her sword’s hilt.

  “Let’s make sure if anything happens, we’re not the aggressors,” I said. “We’re still guests here.”

  “Sometimes a pre-emptive strike is what’s necessary to ensure victory,” said Jackson.

  “Agreed,” said Serena.

  “Okay guys,” I said. “Let’s chill.”

  “I’m with Clay on this,” said Kari. “What reason is there to fight?”

  “Of course, the healer would say that,” grumbled Serena.

  “The healer who always has your back,” cried Kari, eyes widened. She wore her feelings on her sleeve and she didn’t want to be dismissed.

  “You’re right Kari, I’m sorry,” said Serena, reaching for her sword. “The chance for pre-emptive strike is over. Look at this.”

  Two tank class players walked towards us, reaching for their sheathed blades at their sides. One’s face seethed with red anger, while another hissed: “You’re our enemy like the rest. You shouldn’t be here.”

  “I believe your leader actually invited us here,” I said.

  “She made a mistake,” said the angry one.

  They pulled out their scabbards and ran to attack us.

  “HALT!”

  A giant gunshot echoed all across the room. The scabbards in the two warriors hands ricocheted out of their grip and stabbed the ceiling.

  The room stilled. Raylene stood above a couch, holding up her rifle.

  “Today is a day of celebration. The Desert Faction is furthering its goals and alongside us, another player has won a spot in the tournament. This is worth celebrating as well. The Chosen are gaining esteem in this world. It won’t be long until we’ll be running it completely. So there is no reason to fight amongst ourselves. It’s exactly what our enemies want. Clay here isn’t our most problematic opponent at this stage. In fact, he’s more of an ally than anything.” Raylene lowered her rifle and picked up her champagne glass resting at her feet and raised it above everyone. “Now everyone, let’s toast to victory!”

  The room cheered and yelled, “victory!” The word echoed through the hallways.

  The celebration died down after a couple of hours. Players fell asleep on the ground in a drunken stupor, others more respectably stumbled back to their dorms and bunk beds.

  I overheard two soldiers speaking, “It’s funny how much this place reminds me of the outside.”

  “You’re right,” said the other player. “It’s like our base.”

  “Excuse me,” I asked. “Are you two able to log-out?”

  “Yes, unfortunately,” said one of them. “We live in an underground bunker in Oklahoma. It was originally a bomb shelter for a nuclear apocalypse; but we mostly used it for tornado season. We were able to get our hands on two TriCorp gaming pods, but we didn’t have the energy power to undergo the cognitive upload; we’re entering the game the way it would’ve been done had it been released normally. Though, who knows if TriCorp ever intended to release it like an ordinary game.”

  “Intense,” I said. “Can you tell me what’s happening on Earth? Have those creatures—” The last image I’d seen of Earth was a TriCorp employee being ripped to shreds by a flesh-eater. I shivered at the thought. “Have those things taken over? Do you know if anyone’s survived?”

  “They’ve pretty much devastated the world we once knew,” said one of the players despondently. “There’s a group of people we’ve been communicating with via radio. There are survivors, but not many. Food supplies are running low. Most food is potentially contaminated with the virus. Everyone is either trying to figure out how to decontaminate the food, cure the virus, or find a means of permanently uploading themselves into A.K.O. Right now, A.K.O. is the safest bet.”

  “Do those creatures show any signs of slowing down?”

  “The opposite. They’re getting more powerful. Some have mutated into greater giant beasts. If you were afraid to go outside before, you don’t want to see it now. If you think the messed up stuff in this game is deranged, you haven’t seen outside. It’s traumatic.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Don’t apologize,” said the player. “It’s not your fault. Anyways, I gotta log-out and make sure the barricades are still working.”

  “Okay, bye then,” I said and then I lifted my hand up to stop them. “Wait. What’s it like—you know—um, to log-out?”

  The players smirked. “It feels like stepping through different dimensions. Seriously, had this game been released before the ZERO virus, it would’ve changed the world all on its own. Anyways, I gotta jet. Talk later.”

  The two players gave the peace sign and faded away until their bodies were no longer present in the room.

  I shook my head, amazed. Even the second time was incredible. The two players had said they were returning to their dire bomb shelter, but seeing two people log-out reminded me of better times, you know, like when I was younger and the world promised more hope. You logged-in and logged-out as you pleased. You played games for fun, not for survival as we did now.

  I left the passage I was in and returned to our guest dormitory. I was expecting the rest of the group to be back, but they weren’t. They must have been off exploring The Encampment or continuing on with their party.

  I lied down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I was exhausted after today’s events. The aches and pains in my muscles and limbs only became apparent upon hitting the mattress.

  I shut my eyes, ready to fall asleep, but it didn’t come so easily. I may have been tired but I also had a lot on my mind. The duke had outlined the next trial, which wouldn’t happen for another week. It was a time-trial dungeon exploration and each contestant was allowed to bring one party member with them to help. I wasn’t sure yet, who to bring, but whoever I chose would have to help me with training and preparation. Every member had an advantage: Serena offered protection, Shade offered speed and stealth, Kari provided healing, and Jackson offered a mix of the three.

  But I had to think beyond the next trial. There would only be an evening break between the next trial and final rounds of the tournament. If I made it through the following round (whoever came in last would be eliminated), I’d have to be ready to fight the other contestants in one-on-one combat the very next day. So I wasn’t just training for the next trial but the whole tournament. Meaning, I had to train with Chip and Gryph as well, plus find another spirit or two to bound to my summoner arsenal. I’d have a better idea of what kind of creature to add if I considered my opponents in the tournament.

 

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