The Composer
Back at Harmony Apartments, the remnants of our ambush still linger, this time curdled and rotting. The husks have dissolved to white and green clumpy foam. It smells like spoiled milk and shit all mixed together in a wonderful soft-serve swirl.
“Holy shit! What the fuck is that?!” Rocky says, waving his hand in front of his face.
“I think you got it in one.”Carter says grimacing.
It’s the last of the trackers we fought a few days ago.” I say, pinching my nose. “I’m gonna send this video to Firewall when I get the chance. She’s gonna want to see this. Too bad I can’t make her suffer, too.”
Kohl with his head buried in his paws, eyes watering.
Margarita holds a handful of coffee beans to her nose and her speech is muffled by it. “I vote with the cat,” Kohl answers with a glare.
Not a cat-
“C’mon, I want to shoot something.” Azra says, fingers flexing over her holsters. She’s not actually touching them. There’s no way someone with her profession would have an itchy trigger finger.
“Soldiers,” Carl shouts, “Smarten up! If you aren’t ready for this, you can go home. Don’t forget for whatever powers you may have now you are still soldiers! Do you understand me?!”
Both Rocky and Azra salute the Lieutenant and hold it. It’s a few moments before they’re given the at ease. They’re instantly more alert and serious as they make their way into the lobby. Heads on a swivel and taking flowing from one position to the next. And all of us civilians follow behind, all of us looking at each other. This might be more than they signed up for in more ways than one.
On the first floor, I make eye contact with everyone. “We’re gonna do this as best we can in waves. If you get overwhelmed, Lukaelin or I will step in. If you get hurt, take the health potions brewed for us by Margarita. Most of you have been in combat before. I want to see what you can do. That goes for spells, techniques, or abilities. I don’t know enough about combat-” Sess snorts. It stops me mid-speech. I falter. A second and then I rethink the whole thing. “No, you’re right, Lieutenant. I don’t have years of training doing this. And that’s why Lukaelin will be the one helping me.”
The way Carl’s eyes lock on the Warchilde, giving him a measuring look. Lukaelin looks at him back full in the eye. Maybe thinking about ways to take him out. Without our previous demonstration, he’d probably be just as dismissive of Cuz. Lukaelin, however, just nods and has kind of forgotten about Carl, while Carl can’t keep his eyes off of Lukaelin. Makes me wonder if he wants a child soldier or just an army of demons.
“So, Mix, is that what we call you out here?” Rocky says, “What are we trying to do here exactly? Us attacking one at a time to me doesn’t sound like it’s very effective.”
“You can call me, Mix or Composer, out here. And it’s not about being effective exactly. We’re trying to set you up with builds that will carry you for a while and let you survive. That and maybe come up with interesting ways to refine what you to do into something effective on the battlefield. This is about training. If we get in over our heads, we’ll turn back. This is about leveling.”
“Oh, we’re grinding?” Azra says. “That’s cool. Y’know, I was a ranked DPS on Sovereign.”
“Wait, you played Sovereign?” I ask excitedly.
Sovereign was the biggest MMO going on the psynet. It was a pre-industrial age fantasy world. Borrowing from Native Americas, Middle Eastern, and African architecture and lore, it was a breath of fresh air for most people tired of a same Middle Ages locale. The fact people could play at the speed of thought meant you get your dailies done on your commute. Being able to cram so much game time into a handful of minutes makes it a favorite of parents everywhere.
“Sure did. I was in the reserves, so it wasn’t away a lot. But when I was home, I’d crack that new expansion and I’d play until my fingers and butt were numb.”
“That was me and Mix, early game,” Carter says with a warm smile. “We didn’t get very far. I had to go away to college and…”
“And, Doc?”
“And we kind of had a falling out.” I finish. “Maybe when we’ve got a better grip on… things,” I wave a hand encompassing the world and just about everything. “we can all play together. Get a server online.”
“Sounds great! I’ll show you my Black Powder Mage!” she said.
The black powder mage was a magic gunner using muskets. They had to reload their magic bullets, but they could end up getting critical hits on it, which wasn’t as likely with most of the AOE spells from the other magic classes. It was a pretty badass class. The only problem is for most people it took too much skill or aim bots to make it top-tier. The high skill ceiling made it too much for me and who’s gonna use bots in a game for fun?
“I’m not the best, but I love my Eclipse Evoker.” I gush about the class that could flow from assassin to mage, building up charges for either way to play.
We talked about the dynamic tactics of the shift mechanic as we walked from one side of the building to the other. I didn’t realize how weird it was when I was first here that we had to move from one set of emergency exits to the other on the opposite side. Concrete walls that match the area around so completely down to the cracks and water stains.
On the second floor, text fades into vision on my HUD.
Harmony Waters Dungeon
-1 XP for repeat clear
Not nearly as much XP is gonna suck, but at least I’m getting something before the boss. Part of me wonders if it will be level 4 again. If that happens, we might have to send everyone back home before we get there. Worst case Lu, Kohl and I will take on the Leviathan King by ourselves.
The second floor looks much the same as it did when we were here first. The broken doors sit even more ominously, like gaping maws in the dark. We’re obviously a thousand times more prepared than we were last time. I can see the mag lights of The Resistance bobbing as we walk. Hearing the clinking of the bandoliers of glass vials from Margarita’s health potions. Gun oil fills my nostrils. I felt the sturdy clothing they and now I wear and how it protects from ripping and tearing.
“What-What is this?” Rocky stares dumbfounded at the display of Dream crystals. The tiny ones shine in a pale reflection of their much larger plethren. They glitter in the dark.
Dream Crystals, Kohl interjects. He’s been quiet so far, well, quieter than normal. I need to get time to talk to him one on one. I’ve been running so much I haven’t had the time to check on my people.
“What are those?” Carl says, peering down at the nest of crystals.
Kohl briefly explains the crystals and how they work. Carl moves closer to the crystal and I catch Kohl’s eyes and we both watch without comment as he touches it. In the next moment, the sound of clinking crab legs begin in the dark. Guilt crosses Carl’s face.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
“Why did you let me do that?”
“No worries, Lieutenant.” I say. “The fun has arrived! Now who’s up first?!” I rub my hands together like an overeager gym teacher, with all the malice implied.
Rocky with a look of unease. Winds the straps of boxer tape around his hand. He winds his arms in a clockwise direction. Planting his feet in a fighting stance, he readies himself.
“Y’all mind if I take this one?” His voice doesn’t waver.
Three crabs approach, snapping claws, while Rocky’s hands remain steady. Blue energy coats his fist as he leaps into the air. Seeing someone else use Neon’s Kinetic Fighting and it looks completely different and even the energy coming off of him using the technique feels different. Rocky moves like thunder, his first hit smashes down. Its legs wobble, trying to keep it up, but ultimately it fails. Collapsing down with the follow through. Crab shell cracks open and viscera flies everywhere. The Stunned condition flashes over its head.
“That was great! Now take out the other ones!” Lukaelin cheers him on.
“Rocky is a golden gloves champion and The World Military Boxing Championship winner.” Azra says. “Seeing him box again is outstanding. He moves like a bullet. Strength and power all in one. And those arms!”
Those arms indeed. Moving in like a piston, strikes the one on the right. Just a jab; it barely did any damage. Tiny cracks sprout from the initial impact. The third crab gets a hold of his right leg and immediately regrets it. Rocky cries out as a chunk of his health goes missing. He doesn’t let it drop his focus, though. I hear an intake of breath, but that’s all as I’ve instructed everyone not to interfere. This time, he powers up his fist with a new power I haven’t seen before.
Pummel
Ability Type: Kinetic/ Fighting Style
Dream Cost: 3
Level 1: Pummel and target at close range. Has a 50 percent chance to add another attack. Damage 1-4.
Requirement: Unarmed attack
Rocky lays into Crab #3. Attacks flying off as he hammers one fist into the other. Jab, jab, and a left cross. His fist is through the top of crab and into the wet bits. The claw lets go of his leg as Crab #3 dies. The only acknowledgment of the kill is a slight relaxation of his shoulders, as he walks forward again steadily as if the rest’s deaths are inevitable.
“That was really well done.” I say, passing him a canteen.
The look of relief on his face is comforting as he limps back to us. The rest of the crabs and shells cracked open. He took out three enemies at a higher level than him. It was a wonderful achievement and I’m sure he got an XP bonus.
“Thanks Mix! I felt so powerful. There’s nothing like this feeling.” He actually looks pretty jazzed. “I feel like I could punch a hole in a mountain!” He does a few jabs and the accompanying footwork and he yelps. “My god, they don’t pull their punches at all. If I didn’t put any points in Durability, it probably would have snapped straight through my shin. Those things are dangerous!”
You said it, Mix. Too bad he’s not with us.
I don’t know if you need to dip into anything else.
The silent conversation between the two of us happened in seconds and I just focus back in on what’s going around us. Rocky is on the floor of the hallway, away from the crystals. Likely because they wouldn’t be fun to sit on rather than the fact that disturbing them would bring about crabapocalypse. Like sitting on a bed of those Danish building blocks that awakens a hoard of mad pinching toddlers.
“Yes now, let me look at it.” Carter came over from where he was previously examining the bodies of the crabs.
“Doc, it’s okay. I still got my potions. You don’t have to fret.”
“It’s not fretting when I do it. It’s professionalism.” Carter snaps. Even though he says it harshly, that’s just him joking around. He’s always been a good straight man when he wants to be.
“Haven’t you heard? He’s a heavyweight championship fretter. He’s world class.” Azra laughs.
“No, no, Carter’s not that bad…” Margarita says. The twitch in the corner of her lips tell a different story than her words.
“Oh, not you too,” Carter groans.
“I got a paper cut last week, and he waited two whole seconds before he cleaned and wrapped the wound.” She delivers the punchline.
Everyone doubles over laughing. I think we all needed it. To blow off a bit of steam and honestly, getting to poke fun back at my brother is so good it feels like the old days.
Mix, Kohl spoke up. I know I’ve already told you to watch Carl, but the way he’s looking at Rocky now, he’s hungry for this kind of power. He won’t stop until he has it. Kohl had to. I know it’s the wrong time, but we have to be vigilant.
While we gave Rocky a moment to catch his breath and Lukaelin gave the boxer a few tips on how they could improve when fighting against multiple foes. He didn’t have any specific tips to give him on boxing itself, probably because that’s not a fighting technique on Wrath.
Kohl and I quickly explained how we moved through the dungeon last time and how they react when the crystals are disturbed. Carl was perturbed that we never told him what was going on with it. Kohl told him we were just about to do it ourselves and so him getting ahead of us wasn’t really too big of a problem.
As I slide one of the Dream crystals into my personal space and it triggers the next group of crabs to come running.
“Carter, are you-” I ask.
“Nope, it’s all me now.” Bhati interrupts. She walks forward, drawing both her pistols. “You’re about to see the first ever Black Powder Mage in the flesh!” She spins them both in each of her hands. As they rotate. The ends of the barrels start reddening like coals from a brasier. She stops them just as the first crab comes from the darkness.
The loud crack of the guns makes me flinch as red-hot bullets fly into the first. It reminds me of Harriet’s power when she was fighting Gracus. The moment the rounds hit, the crab bursts into flames. This makes the Crab #1 move even faster toward her. The ability is called Elemental Ammunition. She fires again, and the crab stops moving.
She then lifts the fire from the first crab, using her guns like wands, directing the flames from the first corpse. Mimicking, firing like she did with her weapons, the flames caught the next two crabs in the pack. She finishes the rest with one more elemental round and more than a handful or normal shots.
Elemental Control (Fire)
Ability Type: Elemental/ Mancer
Dream Cost: 0
Level 1: Control flames around you within 20ft.
Requirement: None
Elemental Ammunition (Fire)
Ability Type: Elemental/ Buff/ Energy/ Mancer
Dream Cost: 3
Level 1: Coat your next three shots in the burning flames inside you. This ability has the chance to light a unit on fire with a hit.
Requirement: Elemental Control (Fire)
If Rocky’s showing was impressive, Azra’s was noteworthy. She absolutely destroyed them. She didn’t get hit, and she didn’t even have to move. Whatever kind of stat breakdown they had allowed them to never miss and hit every weak point, if not an elemental one. Fire was actually weak against water. Kohl had let everyone know that if it was If I had been that good in my first fight, I think we all would have been in a much better place. Both privates had real world battle experiences really showed how much better suited to this they were in this fight at outset.
“Is it beginning to make sense now, Composer?” Carl mocks. “We can do this better than you.”
“Carl, you’re right, they’re good. They’ll need to be better than good to beat this dungeon.” The look he gives me is just so smug. “You haven’t seen the boss. And when you piss yourself. I want an apology.”