Avilien: Tutorial islands

Conclusion

Biddy combined with efforts from Milinko and Loopa gave Nate everything they had and succeeded in pushing the psychotic Necromancer back. Already ravaged from Nates explosive entrance into Lunthoria the town had undergone a further change from the gruelling battle. Houses had been toppled to their foundations, the plaza stone floor was now cracked and split in several directions. The clock tower that Milinko was fond of using had been sliced in half to prevent further use of the little perch. A battle that had raged for more than three hours was approaching the climax.

Nate drained of mana, otherwise known in gamers term as being OOM hid behind a pile of crumpled wreckage. As he hid, he tried to regain his stamina. With less than two-hundred health to play with he could no longer summon forth any minions and each time he tried to get close to Biddy or Loopa, they used wide-area attacks and healing to fend him off. If not for Loopa, Nate would have defeated them long ago. It did take him some time to adjust and to figure out what Biddy's abilities were as he chose differently from Eldenwolf.

Bones nestled away in Nates cloak sleeve clung to the necromancer's arm and grew concerned for his master. Nate had done all he could to try and separate the group and to get Loopa on her own, but each plan had failed. They had backed him into a corner and Nate had never had so much fun. To him, challenges were there to be overcome and this was a challenge where he was left with only two cards left to play. If the first card failed then the second would have to suffice.

"Come on out, Nate!" shouted Biddy, his breathing was heavy and his footsteps sluggish. "We have you beat and you have nowhere left to run. Since you deleted the entire island, you have no escape route. Ironic isn't it?" Biddy pushed for a response out of Nate and received nothing but the howling wind against his armour as the answer.

"Master, if we take this fight outside of town then it is likely they will not give chase. If they do they run the risk of being deleted," whispered Bones as he clambered up Nates' arm and slipped himself inside Nate's chest to rest on several ribs.

"Why outside?" questioned Nate as footsteps approached the rubble he hid behind.

"Nighttime in Avilien means Terrors spawn in. Powerful enemies. Around this island, I'd expect undead beasts, Gruntusks, maybe a Limga or a Liga and if we are super unlucky, then we could find a Salatooth. We do not want to find a Salatooth, especially not a Terror version," explained Bones.

"These Terrors sound quite fun and intriguing."

"Players are not supposed to venture out into the wilds of Avilien at night alone. A lesson that these Tutorial Islands will teach. Even with your skill master, our chance of survival in the fields or forests is at best five per cent." Bones gnawed on Nates rib to itch his tooth and in turn tickled Nate.

"Sounds like a solid third card you offered me Bones. First, let me use up my cards and put on a show for these amateurs. I would love to have Biddy in my collection, but I will settle for the other one." Nate licked his lips as if a piping hot meal lay before his eyes.

From a sitting down position Nate pushed off the ground and catapulted himself high into the air. Biddy was on the other side of the rubble as Nate thought. He didn't need Bones to clarify as it would ruin the fun. Across the war-torn plaza was Loopa, ready to heal, and guarding her was Milinko with a single dagger at the ready.

"Bad idea to go in the air necromancer," spoke Biddy as he stretched out his hand towards Nate. "Soul Leash!" he roared as a giant red ghostly hand appeared and shot towards a smirking Nate.

Soul leash was a dark paladin's ability to grab a player and drag them in close. It had a long cooldown period from what Nate had deduced and as the ghostly fingers wrapped around his body, he trembled with excitement. He flew towards Biddy at great speed who waited with sword raised. Loopa off in the distance cast her healing magic on the ground around Biddy in case Nate tried anything devious, but it was that moment Nate was waiting for. As if the stars themselves aligned, Nate broke his spine and twisted his body. He hurled his scythe Brutaliser at a now terrified Loopa.