The World of ONA

Chapter 10

The storm of monsters approached from all directions.

I remembered a warning from Ona, “The end game level is a siege of Castle Bromme.”

The map of the castle was a simplistic outline, but I quickly found an escape route. I slammed the heavy wood door of the Keep and ran to the deepest levels searching for the secret tunnel leading to a drain pipe near the moat. The tunnel was outlined in red on the map, with a pop-up description stating the true owner of Castle Bromme is permitted to know the castle secrets.

Loaf contacted me with a single line of text in the chat messenger. “I rebooted the connection and I’m in the courtyard. Where are you?”

The ground shook with more intensity and the walls shuttered, dust falling with small loose stones. I looked back and the path was blocked. I reached the moat, jumped into the water, reached the rocky edge of the far side and ran toward the forest, intending to hide in the secure tower, and home of the Crystal Breakers. I was hoping to find the red knight at the tower.

I replied, “Sorry, I’m unable to return to the castle. I trust you will defend the caste to the end.”

Loaf replied, “What? I have no fighting skills.”

I replied, “I heard you fought hordes of monsters when you traveled with the Source Aura. Good luck!”

The drop into the moat was treacherous, but I avoided the rocks and rubble and landed safely in the water. I reached level ground and ran to the forest, surprised at not seeing any monsters in view. I tried to question Ona and Onisa with priority messages and received no answers.

Loaf sent an urgent message, “I need help, the attack has begun!” The linked connection showed him fighting off a small Trynn-Ror in the courtyard, a flying creature similar to a dragon.

I soon reached the forest and no monsters were in sight. I ran to the edge of the Eternal pond, and was surprised when the flowers of past adventurers came to life with sudden animated delight, restored to their last known character models with full stats, armor, and levels intact. I realized the characters were saved by the red knight.

The Red Knight raced around the Eternal pond in a blur, striking each flower with a long white staff.

I stood and watched, amused.

The Red Knight paused in front of me and said, “Who should we invite to our wedding?”

I said nothing.

The Red Knight sprung back into action and restored the last of the flowers to character models. She said, “The king of Castle Bromme has an army.”

I said, “Wedding?”

The ground shook and a water Trynn-Ror emerged from the Eternal pond, much larger than the small creature Loaf was battling.

I shouted to the army of characters standing idle in the clearing. “I am the king of Castle Bromme and this is Onisa, the Red Knight. I ask you to follow me to the castle and save the world of Ona from destruction!”

The army of characters bowed as one in the vast open field and I stood tall, feeling like royalty. I heard whispers, “The Right Knight is on our side?”

The Trynn-Ror snaked into full-view then attacked a small group of characters, who defended their position with ease.

I turned to the Red Knight, “How powerful are these characters?”

The Red Knight said, “The best players in the history of the game.”

I said, “Like you?”

The Red Knight blushed and said, “I am simply the Red Knight of the realm.”

I said, “And how are you in more than one place at a time?”

The Red Knight said, “The world is a mysterious place.”

I said, “The guardians of the mountain defeated you?”

The Red Knight said, “I keep loosing against the security programs built into the servers. As you can see, I regenerate in fill armor.”

I said, “Is a palette swap possible, maybe change the color of the armor every couple of days to keep me guessing?”

The Trynn-Ror raised the dragon-like head, a light blue color with large fins, and continued a series of attacks on the fighters, with a fireball splitting the air above the castle.

I looked up and said, “I like the incredible wingspan of the dragons in this world.”

Ona stepped into view, apparently watching from the castle courtyard. “The king of Castle Bromme is asking too many questions.”

The Red Knight disappeared in a sprint toward the main battle.

Ona said, “Congratulations Red Knight on finding the White Staff of Remembering at the mountain fortress of the guardians. The best players are free to join the end game. Level eleven.”

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