Ridley found immense satisfaction in crushing the feeble orcs, their endless supply of thick black blood serving as the paint for her exquisite portraits. In that moment, her life felt utterly complete. She stood as the most powerful, most terrifying being on the planet. She used her glove to punch an orc in the teeth, feeling them shatter like glass, before using the bat in her other hand to crack it’s skull.
She was contemplating the idea of ripping out an enemy's heart and eating it, just to get a greater sense of fear from her audience, or maybe that idea was from a movie.
^
New Special World Quest!
Time to Upgrade!
You need weapons and armor to save the world!
Objective: Defeat an enemy or support a teammate
Quest rewards:
-Equipment upgrade of choice
“Wonderous!” She said as she jumped to the side, dodging a spear throw.
She found her next victim and cocked both bats back to her sides. Exploding forward she slammed the orc low on its left side and high on its right, causing it to flip upside-down in a spin.
^
Special World Quest Complete!
Quest rewards:
-Equipment upgrade of choice
Choose equipment to upgrade
She loved her gloves, but her two glorious bats, which seemed like better companions, she chose to upgrade. She decided they deserved names.
With the bat in her left hand, Ridley smashed the teeth of an orc wearing a crude eye patch, naming the weapon Craving. She brought the other bat down on an orc attempting to block with a spear, crushing his hand and snapping the weapon. This bat she named Ruin. In the corner of her eye, she noticed the runes she had inscribed on the bats begin to glow, the light moving down their lengths. The runes absorbed the blood, casting a red haze that warped the air around Craving and Ruin.
^
You have soaked your weapons in the blood of your enemies!
Your runes have caused your weapons to upgrade as a pair.
Craving and Ruin
+1 to Strength
+1 to Dexterity
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Damage and durability have increased permanently.
Passive ability: When the wielder is enraged Craving and Ruin
will absorb the essence of violence and regenerate their stamina.
Even the gods, it seemed, endorsed her skull-crushing rampage. As the light resolved the bats had maintained some of their mangled dented state, but it looked to be more artistically intentional now. The generic sports branding was gone and they took on a black and red luster. Closer to the ends were metal bands of spikes on Ruin. Craving, on the other hand, had a band of sharp teeth along its length.
“At last a weapon worthy of seeking vengeance.” Pointing her new weapons at the line of orcs she screamed, “Boweth before the Queen of the Iceni!”
Wait, what? Ridley thought, feeling dizzy.
The orcs’ fear was palpable—some limped away in panic, others mustered the courage to face her. The Queen reveled in their terror, knowing she was their end.
The feeling of the battlefield took a noticeable shift as the looks of fear turned into smug excitement. She watched as twisted smiles took over the horde. The mood grew darker as the orcs chanted in an unintelligible tongue. An oppressive presence made her turn to regard the portal, where a towering orc was crossing over. It stood a full head taller than the rest, nearly eight feet. With more decorative armor made from a large animals ribs. Furs wrapped his forearms and he wielded a short spear with a massive sword blade on the end. His hair was crudely braided, with bones interweaved throughout. His giant tusks were easy to see as he smirked at the little girl covered in gore.
“A Queen child? Meeting us upon our first invasion? HONOR TO US!” He shouted as the orcs chanted.
I’m not a Queen.
The orcs continued chanting as they formed circles around the two of them, clearing the area for a duel. The Queen didn’t wait for the circle to finish forming. Driven by the need for violence, she lunged, eager to feed her newborns, Craving and Ruin.
The giant orc sidestepped her blow easily. His forearm smashed into her face, causing her to flip, crashing on her back. Pain surged but quickly receded as Ruin’s essence restored her. Not healing her but driving her forward.
Shaking off the blow, the Queen flipped backwards to her feet and charged. She leaped high, swinging both bats to maximize her attack range. Meat Bag thrust his spear sword into her path, forcing her to shift midair, deflecting with Craving. He anticipated this, redirecting the spear’s butt to strike her stomach, knocking the wind from her. Ruin still managed to land a strike to his chin, but the Queen still fell, gagging, as blood—her own—spilled from her mouth.
“You have struck the Grand Chief. Your name is worthy of being heard little fury. I am Caloom, Chief of the Jaw-tide!” He shouted beating his chest. The rest of the orcs hit their chests in response.
The Queen stood, hurt but still more than willing to fight.
“I am Boudicca, the Flame-Haired Queen.” No, I’m not. “Rune Warden and Queen of the Iceni. Scourge to the Roman armies. Thee has't mine own permission to die…” She said lifting her hand which began to spark with electricity.
Caloom smirked as he lifted his arms to welcome the attack.
Victrius released a canon of lightning that struck Caloom squarely in the chest throwing him past his circle of orcs. Her smile twisting, Victrius basked in the power. A sharp pain in her head caused her to wince.
What the hell is this?
“Quiet child, and vengeance will be at hand.”
What vengeance!? We have never met these orcs! Get the hell out of my head!
“This battle is mine!” Victrius roared aloud.
A chuckle emerged from outside the circle as Caloom pushed himself off the ground.
“Rune witch. That is a thing more familiar to me than this place.” He waved around at the buildings. The scorch marks on his rib cage armor was the only damage she could see.
“A rune witch and her child victim is not to hard to understand.”
“You are ignorant if you claim to understand what I am.” Victrius retorted.
“I have encountered your sort before, powerful, but like a spark. Quickly snuffed out if you know the tricks.” He said, slapping his bone armor. “Before I destroy you I have a question.”
“Speak thine question, war chief.”
“Where is the one who called us, the great Sharon?”
“This name I do not know.” Victrius answered.
“Then what we seek, what is this powerful artifact called a Lexus?”
“A Lexus?” Vicrius asked. Ridley, my child, do you know of this powerful artifact? We could wield it against the enemy.
I am not talking to you numb nuts!
Victrius just shrugged for Caloom.
“It shall remain a mystery then.” Caloom responded shaking his head. “A shame for you.”
Suddenly his form shifted forward in a blink and he grabbed both of Victrius’ wrists. She tried to pull free, but Caloom opened his jaws wide and poisonous smoke spewed from his mouth into her face. Struggling, she coughed, the smoke entering her lungs made her muscles loosen, uncontrollably dropping one of her bats.
Caloom slammed his elbow into her arm, snapping it the wrong direction. Crying out, her other bat flew out of her hand, sending the sound of ringing metal echoing through the air. Caloom dragged Ridley’s slack body forward and grabbed his spear. Dropping her as he turned, he looked down at Victrius and nodded with respect.
“Goodbye little fury.” He said before stabbing her in the chest.
A ting sounded in the air as his spear stopped an inch above Victrius’ chest. A blue hexagonal shield had formed, stopping the edge from moving any further.
Caloom looked confused as Ridley’s motionless body proceeded to levitate over his head and move past his encircled orcs. Her body drifted toward a man hovering in mid-air, wearing a purple hat.
