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  “He’s already a new NPC by that point,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a problem, but I have no way of knowing. Sorry.”

  “Let’s get going,” I said. “Load Boki’s body on the platform. Derringer, you’re driving.”

  I stepped aboard our transport along with the others. The dark knight lifted it into the air before moving it forward, heading toward Westwood. Everyone stared straight ahead as we flew through Westwood on the magic dwarven platform. I thought about the mess with all the undead and how it was keeping us from looking for Sarah.

  Was the Tower of Gates working against us?

  “This is the street, isn’t it?” Derringer asked. “Or is it the next one?”

  “It’s over there,” I said, pointing to where we’d talked with Gloria and Jack.

  A gnome guard posted at their wrought iron gate glared at us as we glided up.

  “Can I help you?” he asked.

  “We’re here to see Gloria and Jack,” I said. “We need their help.”

  “Do they know you’re coming?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “No, but they’ll be fine with seeing us. Tell them we’re here.”

  He narrowed his eyes but turned and walked toward the house. We stood outside the gate, waiting for him to return.

  “Gnomes drive me nuts,” Josh said. “Almost more than dwarves.”

  “We’ll be out of here soon,” I said.

  The gnome guard returned and opened the gate.

  “My apologies,” he said. “I wasn’t aware you’re the ones who freed High Keep.”

  “We didn’t do it alone, but thanks.” I turned to Josh. “Can you land this thing? We can walk up.”

  “Sure,” he said, tapping his foot.

  The platform shot up into the air five feet before stopping abruptly. Boki moaned. I nearly fell off the side.

  “Watch what you’re doing,” I said.

  He laughed then tapped his foot again. We lowered gently to the ground inside the gate. The front door of the house opened. Gloria walked out, a hand in the air.

  “Everything okay?” she asked as she walked up.

  “Not really,” I said. “We found a crypt infested with mummies under Fort Sumter.”

  “Oh, dear,” she said, putting her hand over her mouth. “Where’s your other friend?”

  I frowned.

  “Bernard died saving the rest of us,” I said. “We’re all inflicted with mummy rot, and we need help. Do you know of any healers?”

  The gnome guard stepped forward.

  “Out of here with that undead sickness,” he said, drawing his sword.

  “Calm down, Teddy,” Gloria said.

  Jack appeared in the doorway of the house then walked outside.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “They’re inflicted with mummy rot, and they need a healer,” Gloria said.

  Jack stopped next to his wife and put his arm around her waist.

  “Is that so?” he asked, thoughtfully nodding his head.

  “Can you help us?” I looked over at Boki. “He’s hurt the worst.”

  “Of course,” Jack said. “Come inside. We’ll send for help.”

  “We can pay for it,” I said, not mentioning the gold underneath Fort Sumter.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Jack said. “After the sacrifices to help us regain High Keep and battle the undead around here, I’m more than happy to pay. Come inside.”

  “Josh, bring Boki inside, would you?” I asked.

  The barbarian grumbled but picked up the dwarf from the platform.

  “Your items will be fine out here,” Gloria said. “Have you eaten?”

  “Not anything good,” Josh said.

  “I’ll have breakfast prepared,” she said then went back inside the house.

  The rest of us followed her with Josh carrying Boki in his arms. I once again marveled at their wealth and how much the two gnomes were helping us.

  “Do you guys need help fixing up Fort Sumter?” Jack asked.

  I took a deep breath.

  “To be honest, we’re leaving to find our friend. The fort will probably be overrun with undead as soon as we’re gone.”

  “I could send some of my men to guard it in your absence,” Jack said then smiled.

  “That would be helpful,” I said, still unsure of whether to tell him about the gold. “Tell you what. If we don’t come back this way to claim the fort within a year, it’s yours for all the help.”

  “Fair enough,” Jack said. “That include the treasure in the crypt below ground?”

  I tilted my head to the left while staring into his eyes. How did he know?

  “You know about the treasure?” I asked.

  He laughed.

  “No self-respecting mummy would hole up in a crypt without a sizable horde of gold and gems,” he said then waved his hand. “I’ve got no interest in it. Gloria and I have more than enough to survive.”

  “You’re the best,” I said, hoping I sounded sincere.

  “There’s probably too much loot for you to haul around on your adventures,” Jack said. “Where are you going next?”

  “We’re heading to Harrisburg then east to Shockly Forest,” I said.

  “North around the mountains, huh?” He stroked his chin and nodded his head. “That’s smart. You shouldn’t have too many problems.”

  “Can I set this heavy dwarf down somewhere?” Josh asked.

  I chuckled along with Derringer and Jack.

  Gloria had already left the room, hopefully to prepare us food. We retired to the dining room and sat talking until the healers arrived. They cured our mummy rot and even healed our wounds.

  Our gnome friends asked us to spend the night after dinner, but I insisted on leaving. I wanted to get a few miles under our belt before darkness arrived. The others in our dwindling group agreed. Jack and Gloria waved as we floated away.

  * * *

  Later that evening, as we headed to Harrisburg, I thought about Bernard. The fact we’d lost him hit me in a bad way. Would he ever find us again, or would he be lost like Sarah? The good news was our gnome friends guarding Fort Sumter.

  I doubted we would return to Westwood on level one-three, but in the Tower of Gates, you never knew what direction you would end up going. We might end up stuck on the level for a while if we didn’t find Sarah soon. And that terrified me.

  Boki, Derringer, and Josh all sat on the edge of the platform with their feet dangling off the edge as we floated ten-feet above the ground, heading north. Losing Sarah had been bad, but with Bernard gone too, I found myself surrounded by virtual strangers. We needed more party members to survive.

  “Anyone else tired of being stuck in this game?” Josh asked out of nowhere.

  “Yeah,” I said, nodding.

  “I’m having fun,” Boki said. “Real life sucked for me.”

  “Were you a prisoner too?” I asked. “You never said.”

  “No, I didn’t.” Boki looked over and smiled. “I was, though. What about you?”

  “He doesn’t know, does he?” Josh asked.

  I sighed, wishing he’d keep his mouth shut.

  “Know what?” Boki asked.

  Derringer sat back and looked in my direction.

  “My father helped design the Tower of Gates,” I said. “Before you get mad, I’m sure he didn’t know about people being trapped in here.”

  Boki laughed then asked, “Are you sure about that?”

  I nodded then looked back out at the landscape passing by.

  “The game’s cool and all, but I’d like a way out,” Derringer said. “Not that I blame you or your father, Eric. Something else is going on.”

  “I wonder if Magi Inyontoo is behind it all,” I said. “He has a lot of power in the game.”

  “We’ll find out when we take him out,” Josh said. “I’ve been wanting to kill that guy for a while now. He killed me before I found you guys on the first level, and he
’s going to pay. I wish I could remember more of what happened.”

  “Me too,” I said.

  Boki stood and pointed in the direction we were flying.

  “There’s something up ahead,” he said.

  I looked and saw a battle taking place in a field.

  Here we go again. I drew both weapons.

  Chapter 8

  Stranger Seeks Group

  Eric

  “Take us down,” I said, surveying the scene.

  Josh stood then stopped the floating platform from moving forward. It glided to the ground a few hundred yards away from the raging battle.

  I took a step forward. A woman in white robes with dark-blue trim stood in middle of the road. Further down, I saw a vampire hungrily chewing on the neck of a unicorn.

  What madness have we stumbled on now?

  “Maybe we should go around,” Boki said. “Axelrod’s not here yet.”

  “No, we need to help,” I said. “Derringer, how many holy water bombs do you have left?

  “Three,” he said. “Not nearly enough, but I ran out of liquid. And explosives.”

  “Okay,” I said. “We’re healed up enough to take out a vampire.”

  “And the necromancer?” Derringer asked, pointing his finger toward the battle.

  “You think that’s a necro?” I asked.

  A man in black hooded robes waved his hands at the pile of unicorn corpses. Three of them raised from the dead and got to their feet.

  “Good call, Derringer,” I said. “We’ve got this. I’ll sneak around. You guys go in and backup that female spellcaster. Maybe she’ll join our party if we save her.”

  “Slashing time!” Josh screamed then ran forward with his sword held over his head.

  I snuck into the trees next to the path. As I ran around, trying to make my way carefully in the dark, I wondered if the spellcaster might be Sarah.

  Did we finally find her?

  Through the foliage, I saw the unicorns gallop toward the woman in white and blue. Boki, Derringer, and Josh had reached her, forming a line.

  Just a little further, I thought, swords at the ready. As I got closer, a figure popped up out of nowhere. I saw blood coming from its mouth.

  “Not so fast,” the vampire said. “You’re going to be a tasty treat.”

  He ran forward, directly toward me. I held my ground, waiting to attack. When he reached striking distance, I lashed out with both weapons before he could hit me.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 10 damage.

  Your slash MISSES the vampire.

  Your pierce MISSES the vampire.

  The vampire is unconcerned.

  He’s fast, I thought, wondering again if I should break into the Everlast potions. With three left, I had more than enough.

  The vampire slammed its body into mine, biting at my neck.

  The vampire bite HITS you for 9 damage.

  You lose 1,000 xp.

  You have 100,733 xp

  You have [119/128] health remaining.

  Not this again. I wasted no time striking with both weapons.

  Your slash INJURES the vampire for 14 damage.

  Your slash WOUNDS the vampire for 17 damage.

  Your pierce GRAZES the vampire for 6 damage.

  The vampire has noticed you.

  The vampire MISSES you.

  Your slash GRAZES the vampire for 5 damage.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 10 damage.

  Your pierce MISSES the vampire.

  The vampire is feeling better.

  Regeneration? Did we bite off more than we can chew?

  The vampire hissed again then transformed into a gaseous cloud and floated away.

  Coward, I thought as I continued forward with weapons raised.

  At the edge of the trees, I saw the battle wasn’t going well. In addition to the zombie unicorns, the necromancer had summoned two hill giant skeletons. They were doing damage.

  He needed to be taken out, and I was the only one who could do it. I crept forward silently, hoping the vampire didn’t appear in front of me. The necromancer had to die.

  I reached the edge of the trees on the side of the road and waited a few seconds. When the necromancer turned the other direction, I ran forward with weapons out. Before I made it, the vampire swooped down and bit my neck.

  The vampire bite HITS you for 10 damage.

  You lose 1,000 xp.

  You have 99,733 xp

  You have [109/128] health remaining.

  I stopped in my tracks, stunned and upset at losing the experience so close to leveling.

  “Die!” I screamed as I attacked, slashing and piercing like a wild man.

  Your slash INJURES the vampire for 13 damage.

  Your pierce HITS the vampire for 8 damage.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 9 damage.

  The vampire is not concerned.

  He must’ve healed up. Can I take him on my own?

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the necromancer turn toward me. He had the symbol of Magictology - two crows and moon - on his black robes. After waving his arms through the air and muttering something, a wall of flames appeared.

  With him blocked off, I focused on the vampire.

  Feel my blades, foul blood-sucking beast!

  Your slash GRAZES the vampire for 7 damage.

  Your pierce SCRATCHES the vampire for 2 damage.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 8 damage.

  The vampire is not concerned.

  The vampire bite INJURES you for 12 damage.

  You lose 1,000 xp.

  You have 98,733 xp.

  You have [97/128] health remaining.

  With the damage adding up and experience points draining faster than my bladder after too much elven wine, I thought once again about the Everlast potion in my pouch.

  Should I drink it and deal with the supposed consequences later?

  Unsure and not wanting to lose an attack by grabbing the potion, I swung both swords again, concentrating on hitting the beast’s heart.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 9 damage.

  Your pierce INJURES the vampire for 12 damage.

  Your slash GRAZES the vampire for 6 damage.

  The vampire has noticed you.

  Did I need a wooden stake to kill him?

  He bent to his knees then shot up into the air.

  I glanced up, wondering when I’d get a ring of flying. Or levitation. Something to help me.

  “Keep at him!” Derringer yelled on the other side of the wall of flames. “I’m out of holy water, but the tide is turning. We’ve got this!”

  After the vampire flew out of sight, I ran the length of the fire, heading toward Derringer’s voice. As I reached the end and came around, I saw the others around the necromancer. The dark spellcaster fought them back with multiple spells. A single hill giant skeleton remained, also protecting him. That left the vampire.

  “Over here, tasty goblin-man,” a voice said behind me. “I love your blood.”

  I whirled around, ready to pounce into action, but I saw nothing.

  The vampire grabbed me from behind and bit me on the neck.

  The vampire bite INJURES you for 15 damage.

  You lose 1,000 xp.

  You lose 5 constitution points.

  Your constitution is now 65.

  You have 97,733 xp.

  You have [82/128] health remaining.

  Come on! I dropped to a knee and flipped the vampire over my head.

  He landed on the ground then rolled and scrambled to his feet. “Your blood is tasty, goblin man. I want more.” He grinned as rivers of blood ran down his chin.

  I felt lightheaded and woozy, but I couldn’t stop.

  Your slash INJURES the vampire for 13 damage.

  Your pierce INJURES the vampire for 12 damage.

  Your slash HITS the vampire for 9 damage.

  The vampire is not feeling well.

  After my attack, the v
ampire changed into gaseous form and flew away again.

  “You need a wooden stake!” Derringer yelled. “Here.”

  I turned as he threw a wooden stick at me. As he went back to attacking the necromancer, the impromptu stake landed on the ground next to me. I sheathed a sword then bent to pick up the vampire killer as the necromancer cast another spell.

  Not seeing the vampire anywhere, I put the stake into my belt and pulled my second sword again. Both weapons ready, I ran at the necromancer from behind.

  He didn’t see me coming.

  Your slash WOUNDS the necromancer for 18 damage.

  Your pierce INJURES the necromancer for 14 damage.

  Your slash HITS the necromancer for 10 damage.

  The necromancer is dead!

  As the robed body fell to the ground, the others who had been fighting him all looked at me, mouths hanging open in surprise. I smiled.

  The hill giant skeleton swung his gigantic club.

  “Watch out,” Derringer said, but it was too late.

  The massive tree-trunk sized club hit me with full force.

  The hill giant skeleton MAULS you for 25 damage.

  You have [57/128] health remaining.

  I flew back several feet then hit the ground, rolling to prevent even more damage.

  At least I didn’t lose more experience points, I thought as I got to my feet.

  The hill giant skeleton turned its attention to the rest of the party.

  Derringer, Josh, and the spellcaster woman fled, but Boki remained frozen.

  “Not on my watch,” I muttered then ran forward to get its attention before it sent the dwarf sailing like a croquet ball. “Die, skellie!”

  Your slash WOUNDS the hill giant skeleton for 18 damage.

  Your pierce INJURES the hill giant skeleton for 14 damage.

  Your slash HITS the hill giant skeleton for 10 damage.

  The hill giant skeleton is coming apart.

  Pieces of his thigh bone had broken off, littering the ground around him.

  The mysterious mage lifted her arms and screamed a spell. Green flames shot from the palms of her hands, hitting the hill giant skeleton.