Ultimatum: The Proving Grounds (22 page)

One of them had died… but that might have been a loss to escape suspicion.

He tightened his grip on Soulbreaker as he looked about the camp. He would have need of it soon.

“Good evening.” A voice called from outside. Toby glanced back out between the panels. One man was standing ahead of the others. All of them were decked in black armor with bits of black cloth trimmed in yellow.

“My name,” the man held up a hand, “is Bulorn. You can probably deduce why we are here. We only want one thing. Tobin Ironblood.”

Heads in the camp swiveled about, low voices rumbled.

Tim stood beside Toby, spinning a dagger around his finger. “Say when.”

Toby shook his head. “Doubt you can get him in one, and going out there will make you a target. We need a better plan.”

The voice from outside grew louder. “If you send him out, we’ll happily end this nightmare once and for all. Who among you wishes to remain chained to this base system of mortality? We were not meant for this. We were meant to die and rise again. A thousand times if needs be. Who wishes to keep on living like cowards, hiding away behind a shield after every hasty swing? Who would instead prefer to be able to take chances? Risks? To be rewarded for bravery, instead of punished? We can give you that.”

“Yeah,” a voice from inside the camp, one Toby didn’t recognize, “right after you kill us.”

“So what if we do? As long as Ironblood dies, you’ll all get right back up anyway. Right as rain. And we won’t even be able to kill you a second time.”

A different voice. It sounded familiar… Gorin? “This is a unique event. We’ll never see its like again, and you’d end it because you’re lazy? Or a coward?”

Bulorn sighed. “Hardly. I would see my people free to tackle pursuits as they see fit, without all these stupid restrictions.”

Tim’s voice rose beside him. “Oh, I dunno. Looks like you’ve done well for yourselves murdering other players. How are you going to swing that with harsher rules? None of what you’re using comes from mobs. Its all crafted with player only materials.”

Bulorn’s eyes shifted to the panel they hid behind.

“Seems to me,” Tim continued, “that you’re just a glory hound. Perfectly willing to mislead people for your own benefits. You want the title and the rewards for yourself. How many people have you already locked out for the week? Because I can tell you our total. It’s zero.”

“Then let it stay that way. Don’t resist. Send Ironblood out and lets have an end to it.”

18

Tim seemed to ponder it, though with the people outside unable to see him it must have been a gesture meant purely to irritate Toby. “I’m thinking… no.”

“Ranged attackers, if you’re not at the wall, get there.” Paul’s message to the guild appeared before Toby’s eyes. He hadn’t
said
it, so it was for their ears, er, eyes only.

People shifted about, moving quietly and staying low. Those outside couldn’t see within particularly well.

Bulorn’s voice shifted outside. It seemed Tim was angering him… kinda like he did to everyone. “As a secondary goal,” his voice pitched back toward his own instead of toward the walls, “whoever brings me that anonymous hood will be handsomely rewarded. But remember,
I
land the killing blow on Ironblood.”

“Tanks, get ready to block those breaches.” More of Paul’s orders. Toby glanced around as people moved. The people outside were getting restless. They must know those within were taking the time to heal. If they were really interested in negotiating, they would wait it out. But if they weren’t…

Arrows flew over the wall, striking a number of people as they tried to move as ordered. They made it, but health wasn’t exactly abundant anywhere along their line. Healers were working to patch up the worst and remain hidden behind the wall as they did so. Paul’s troops were still moving to get into position. They all needed time.

Toby turned and strode toward the nearest ladder.

Tim turned to follow him. “Whoa, what’s the play here?”

“We need a minute. I can do that.”

“Eh…” Tim rubbed at his chin. “You’re sort of a lose condition, though. You should stay hidden.”

He shook his head. “Think they’re done talking to you, maybe they’ll chat with me.”

“Don’t like this…”

“Just be ready to get me out of harms way, yeah?”

Tim sighed. “I don’t want to get fired.”

Toby climbed the nearest ladder and stomped as his feet landed atop the walls. He wanted them to see him. Tim did nothing of the sort, crouching low and letting his anonymity keep him off the radar. If they couldn’t see him with their eyes, nothing else was going to give him away.

Toby stopped when he stood over the center of the wall. He didn’t want them considering circling around. So far, he had moved unchallenged.

All eyes beyond were fixed on him.

“I am Tobin Ironblood.” He tried to pitch his voice lower while making his voice louder. “Is there a
reason
you’ve interrupted my day?”

Bulorn smiled up at him. “Come outside, we’ll talk about it.”

“Hmm.” Toby rubbed at his chin. “You have an unsavory look about you.” Not untrue, his nameplate was visibly red. All of them were. The common mark of hostility, and in player names, one who had recently killed someone without provocation. “If you seek employment, I’d have to dispatch you elsewhere. Have to keep up appearances, and all.”

Bulorn’s smile faded. “I’m not a patient man. I’m only here for your head.”

“A bold claim.” Toby hefted Soulbreaker and made a show of cleaning his fingernails with the point. It wasn’t easy to do. The sword was long. “You are hardly the first.”

“No. But I hope to be the last.”

Toby let out a laugh. “Hope. Only fools hold to hope. Strength and a good sword are all a man has ever needed.”

Tim shook his head and muttered. “More Conan, great. I’m not sure where you’re going with all this.”

Toby couldn’t spare a glance to see what was going on behind him. He didn’t want those outside looking elsewhere.

Bulorn’s face no longer held any humor. “Then come out and show us your strength.”

“Us? That is the claim of a leader? A conquerer? Face me alone. Show me
your
strength. Anything less is the work of a coward.”

Tim shook his head. “No no no. He won’t agree to that, and if he does, he’ll be lying through his teeth. Paul won’t be okay with this.”

Toby ignored him as he kept his eyes on Bulorn. He had challenged him, called him out in front of his murder lackeys. Even if he planned to go back on his word, which he most certainly would, he’d lose face for not agreeing. Besides, they wanted him outside, and agreeing would make that happen.

He would agree to the challenge. He had to.

“I accept.” Bulorn’s face gave away nothing in his mind. He turned slightly. “Back it up. This is my fight.” He nodded and his fingers played across the air for a moment. He gave his guild orders just as Paul had.

Speaking of Paul, his quiet voice sounded from close behind. “What the hell are you doing?”

Tim moved over and shrugged. “Buying time, I think? Get ready to fire on them.”

“Hold.” Toby kept his voice low. “I said I’d go out. I’ll go out. If the leader goes down the rest may rethink fighting.”

Paul shook his head. “Unacceptable. He’ll have healers watching him, and probably an inventory full of health pots. Everything he does revolves around killing other players. Nobody does that on an honor system. He won’t play fair.”

Toby nodded slightly. “I don’t plan to either. If I get below thirty percent throw all the healing available, and start shooting. Our people can’t hit me anyway. I figure by then he will have broken the rules of engagement. For the sake of appearances and future recruiting, I don’t want to be the first one to do so.”

Paul sighed. “I still don’t like this.”

Toby smiled slightly. “No worries. Just keep our people on this side of the wall. I have a plan, but for it to work there can’t be anything friendly out there.”

Paul stared a moment before nodding. “Don’t underestimate him.”

Toby turned and headed back for the stairs. Once he was low enough to be out of sight Paul cast his guard spell on him, blue plate armor appearing and fading away again. As long as Paul remained close enough Toby’s defense would be increased and Paul would take on some of the damage that landed.

The tanks had the breaches in the walls blocked when Toby got there. Claire stopped him for a moment as he approached the wall. She and Jesse topped off his health with a few gestures. They were both close enough to help, if needs be. Claire gave him a nod. Jesse wore and evil grin and let lightning play between her hands.

They would almost certainly have their chance.

The tanks stood aside, though they didn’t seem any more pleased than Paul did.

Bulorn’s people had moved back to leave him alone at the front… though they were still well within arrow and spell range.

Toby was mildly surprised arrows didn’t strike him as soon a she crossed into the open. It would have been foolish, of course, he could always head back to safety, but it seemed like the kind of short sighted thing these people would do.

His sword in hand, Toby walked up to where Bulorn stood. He had a two handed axe. Its head rested on the ground as he waited.

From afar it was difficult to tell just how tall Bulorn was. Toby was barely taller than his shoulder.

The large man smiled down at him. “You don’t look so great to me.”

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. It’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Bulorn’s smile grew into a grin. “Exactly. I like you, Ironblood. Pity you have to die.”

“Happens to the best of us.” Toby stretched his neck and adjusted his grip on Soulbreaker’s hilt. He didn’t know how long Paul’s guard spell would last, or if it only required he stay within a certain range. No time to find out now. It was still active, but he probably wouldn’t want to risk moving much farther away. Bulorn had picked this spot for a reason.

The larger man hefted his axe. “I have slain many foes with this axe, but I think I’ll name it after you when this is over.”

“ ‘Foes’ might be an exaggeration, wouldn’t you say? I mean, if they didn’t fight back, couldn’t, or had no chance at all of winning… is that really a foe? I think ‘victim’ is probably more accurate.”

Bulorn’s face kept a small smile. “But by that definition you’re a victim.”

The axe cleaved the air before Toby so fast he could barely tell what was happening. If he hadn’t had his sword in hand before him he never would have moved it to intercept in time.

Sparks flew as the axe struck the black sword.

Bulorn smiled as he took a step back. “Quick little bunny. I like that sword. I think I’ll keep it.”

“By all means.” Toby backed up a step himself as he hurled Soulbreaker forward.

There were only a few feet between them. Bulorn’s eyes widened but he didn’t have time to do much else as the sword struck him in the chest.

He grabbed at the sword standing out of his ribs, but it disappeared as electricity played over it. The sword reappeared in Toby’s hands, already swinging. The shock wave appeared and disappeared in the same second. The distance between them was just barely enough for it to appear.

All mirth had faded from Bulorn now. He hefted his axe and charged in with a wordless cry.

Toby raised Soulbreaker to stop the high blow form the axe head, but Bulorn twisted the axe haft forward and used the blunt axe handle to strike Toby across the chin.

He stumbled back a step and raised his sword once more. It took a moment for it to move. A stun effect… Toby moved in the real world as he always did, but his character lagged behind.

Letting Bulorn in close was a mistake. He knew killing players. Toby only had experience fighting monsters. He might have been surprised by Soulbreaker’s returning effect, but it hadn’t taken him long to get over it.

And that was Toby’s best trick.

He doubted Bulorn was so limited.

Toby ducked under a strong horizontal swing, an orange arc following the axe.

Not so different from his own then.

He swung low, striking at the man’s legs. His one standing advantage here, no pun intended, seemed to be that the man wasn’t accustomed to fighting someone so short. His swings were high… or he might have been going for head shots. Were head shots a thing here? Rather late for that question.

The axe blade bit into Toby’s shoulder before he even saw the other man swing.

God damn it.

He stabbed Soulbreaker straight ahead. Red and white light surrounded it as it was the second attack in his combo. Bulorn was struck full force and knocked back a step. He had been in too close to avoid the attack.

Toby was fortunate that the blow to his shoulder had been the first in Bulorn’s combo, since he had avoided the previous attack. If he missed his next attack he would have to start over as well. But if he landed it the Trio effect would fire. It might be his best chance…

He tried to watch as Bulorn moved. Toby kept his sword up to make defending easier. Axes were slow… at least they
should
be slower than swords, but this one seemed to defy that rule. He was doing something different, something special. Maybe the axe had some magical effect, or…

Toby stepped to the right just in time to avoid the downward swing. The axe bit into the dirt beside him.

He had barely seen him move. But how…?

Toby swung to the side, the trio effect of bright red fading to white trailed the sword. It struck Bulorn hard in the shoulder, but he shook it off. Toby couldn’t see the other man’s health, but such attacks had dropped powerful mobs. Mobs strong enough to kill him.

And yet Toby had not missed a swing yet. Bulorn was built to deliver punishment and soak it up without any finesse. He had not so much as
tried
to drink a potion yet. He had to have a mountain of hit points. Dumping stat points into stamina would undoubtedly make his life of PVPing easier. It would be the smart thing to do, so Toby would have to move forward assuming he had.