More Than A Game (Epic LitRPG adventure)

Chapter 6: Gringvort part 3

"No problem," said Oygolinn. "Let's vote. Who's for Last Strike?"

Only one person beside Ronin raised their hand, an archer named Kerv.

"Who wants Who Needs What?" Everyone else raised their hand.

"Done. And just so you know, that was the last bit of democracy we'll have in the group. I'm the leader, and I make decisions. If I need your opinion, I'll ask for it. If you don't listen, I'll kick you out of the group."

I happened to see Eilinn glance quickly at Sergeant. Interesting.

"Don't kick anyone out," said Eilinn. "This trip is organized by the Thunderbirds, and you're all volunteers. You don't get to kick people out of the group, though you are responsible for commanding it. You can also demand that they listen to your instructions in battle, and you decide how to distribute loot."

"Exactly!" Ronin was at it again.

"Is everything clear?" asked Sergeant. "Eilinn, open the portal."

"Eilinn barked out some kind of spell, waved his staff, and a portal opened. It looked exactly as I expected it to—a big blue circle with shimmering edges, rolling around and all of that...

"What are we waiting for?" Sergeant yelled. "Get in there! It'll collapse soon, and you'll miss your chance!"

We didn't need a second invitation, as everyone crowded in its direction.

Gringvort

A place where warriors from the great but long-forgotten kingdom of Ringholl gathered for hunts and buhurts. After the second Skeleton War, it fell under a curse laid on it by a powerful necromancer.

The undead now populate it and...

I skipped the rest of the interesting, if very long and untimely story, about Fayroll's attractions. If I'd been alone, I would have read it. In my case, however, I doubted the Sergeant would let me, and I didn't want to miss anything important.

We were standing on a small hill. In front of us, was a modest plain littered with picturesque ruins that looked as if they once could have been small outposts built for something big—to protect the remnants of Darkness, for example, as they slunk away from the west or the machinations of the enemy. A little forest began about a kilometer and a half away from us. In short, it was an idyllic spot.

"Well, there's your field of battle. As soon as you walk down to the bottom of the hill, skeletons will start coming up out of the ground. The zombies start a bit later, closer to the forest. The bosses almost always come alone. One of them, the lich, comes out of those wrecks." Eilinn's finger pointed toward a group of ruins to the left of the hill. "And the zombie king usually comes out of the woods. We'll keep an eye out, so just focus on fighting. Any questions?"

"Yes, I have one." I raised my hand. "What happens if we die? I mean, who knows what will happen. Everything here is pretty strong, and if they catch me once, that'll be it. Where's the respawn point?"

"Good question," Eilinn said, looking at me. "The respawn is here, right behind us."

He waved a finger behind him at (How did I miss it?) a stone covered in runes that had a slight glow.

"You should all link to it. Otherwise, you'll respawn back at the fortress if you die. And no one's going back for you!" Sergeant shouted in his normal tone of voice.

"Just remember to relink when we get back to the fortress," said Krolina, "or you'll find yourself back here, and it's a long way to the fortress or Aegan."