2024-12-31 05:07:43Vardy and Luthor rested on hard beds under flickering lights, accompanied by Tracy, who felt safer there than in her dorm.
The nurse, with tired eyes behind a white mask, silently tended to them.
"Where are the others, miss?" Luthor inquired as he sat up, his injuries comparatively light. "Damn, why do they get to be up there while we're stuck down here, huh?"
"The other two are in intensive care," the nurse replied curtly. "You are lucky to be down here. Means you at least have the energy to talk like that."
"Oh," Luthor responded, deflating slightly.
Vardy stared at the cracks in the ceiling wordlessly. He had heard what happened to Frank and Jesse, the Frame students who had fled.
"They had been chased down and mercilessly hunted down by Altanas that smelled their fear," Vardy explained, "and they were savagely beaten again and again as the Altana students tried to fight for who got the knockout points."
Meanwhile, because Dean and his crew had personally dealt with Vardy, Luthor, and Tracy, no other Altanas wanted to compete against Dean and try to claim they had beaten Vardy and his little group.
"In a way, Dean's cruelty had saved them from further harm," Vardy added.
"I doubt they will stay here," the nurse interjected. "White Oak will probably discharge them considering the severity of their injuries, and I doubt they can afford to call in a Restorer."
Vardy and the others nodded in understanding.
It was a known fact that among Altana powers, ones that healed the body were extraordinarily rare.
"Powers that healed the self were not that uncommon, but healing others manifested in such rarity that any Altana that could heal even little cuts on others was guaranteed a lifetime of wealth and employment," Vardy explained.
Altanas capable of this were categorized as Restorers, and their services cost fortunes to hire. Medical technology had advanced to the point where anything short of death could be healed, but recovery still took time and effort neither of which White Oak was willing to spend much on Duds.
And it was a sick joke to even suggest a Frame student hire a proper high-end Restorer to heal their wounds instantly.
The nurse sighed and shook her head before staring at Vardy, Luthor, and Tracy. "You three should consider leaving, too, before this place eats you up and spits you back out in broken pieces."
"Fuck that," Luthor retorted. "I get rich, or I die trying."
"Well, I'm not really here to give life advice, so you do you," the nurse shrugged before she left, walking upstairs to tend to patients upstairs.
After a brief pause, Luthor spoke again.
"You were insane out there, Aldy. You beat the sht out of a couple of those Altana idiots. Did you see how stupid that guy looked before you knocked him out? I could replay that moment in my head a thousand times over."
"Same here," Vardy concurred.
"Why didn't you tell us you could use the Frames?" Tracy interjected. "Why didn't you tell us how to use them earlier?"
Vardy hesitated before responding. "I… I wanted to keep my skills hidden, make sure they underestimated us."
"You wanted to keep your skills hidden, right? Make sure they underestimated you," Luthor surmised.
Vardy raised a brow, surprised that Luthor could parse this despite seeming so dumb.
"Y'know, it's just natural. If you're good at something, you keep it to yourself, especially when you're powerless like us," Luthor explained. "I don't put it against you. It's just the way the world is. Every advantage you can take, you take."
"I suppose," Tracy sighed. "You're right. I just thought that for Frame students like us, all we've got in this academy was each other. I was willing to fight for you two just because you were Duds like me."
"And we can still be allies," Vardy reassured her. "You're right. We need allies here, and no Altana is going to associate with us. In the future, it will be optimal for us to work together.
"If you suspect my trustworthiness, then think about this: how could I have known our first test was going to be a free-for-all bloodbath? If I had known beforehand and had time to piece together a plan, I would have informed everyone and created a strategy that maximized our strengths and covered our weaknesses. But I can't see the future like some Altanas can, can I?"
"Yes, I don't really blame you," Tracy conceded. "It's like Luthor said. When you're a Dud like us where everyone in the world seems to be out to get you, it's just natural to take the advantages you can. I just had a bad gut reaction, but I've thought through it."
"Anyway, considering it looks like we're going to be the last three Frame students left, let's get to know each other," Luthor suggested. "So, what are you all in here for? Why are you guys so desperate you're willing to get your asses kicked ten different ways just for a chance to graduate from this shthole?"
Tracy and Vardy remained silent for several seconds.
"My parents were heroes," Vardy began, "They were killed by the Aegaon. I want to get a license to hunt them down."
"Damn, that's pretty hardcore," Luthor remarked. "I can see why you've got so much drive behind those dead eyes of yours. And you, Tracy?"
"My parents weren't heroes, but they were Altanas," Tracy explained. "When they realized I was a Dud, they disowned me and threw me out to the Wastes."
Vardy felt a twinge of sympathy for her. The Wastes were considered areas ravaged by Vagrant activity where the truly desperate settled, forming ragtag, tiny towns and cities where poverty and desperation filled the air.
"That's fucked," Luthor sympathized. "How old were you?"
"Five, I think," Tracy replied. "It was so long ago, so I don't remember much."
Luthor shook his head in disbelief. "The world hates us, what can I say. I'm the same deal as you. Parents had powers, I had none, so they threw me out. I survived in the Wastes working odd jobs, scrapping for metal and broken tech here and there and, of course, stealing when I could.
"How'd you survive?" Luthor inquired.
"An old Techno took me in," Tracy revealed. "I might not have had powers, but I did have a knack for coding. I helped out at his shop when I could. Tried to earn my keep but keeping drones running."
Technos were a class of Altanas capable of manipulating technology in some enhanced capacity. That Tracy could help out a proper Techno meant the old Techno either pitied her that much or she was just that naturally talented.
"Sweet, so you're smart," Luthor remarked.
Tracy shifted uncomfortably, unused to praise. "I do what I can," she replied, her eyes casting down.
Rumple - that’s the name of the guy that took me in - he's getting old. His memory's fading and his powers don't work for him anymore. I don't want him to die in the Wastes all alone, worked to the bone like that. I want to graduate from here, become a hero, and get him a place to live in a Neo-City where he can spend the rest of his days in quiet. That's the least I owe him."
"You've got a good heart," Luthor complimented.
"But at the end of the day, I also wanted friends," Luthor admitted with a smile directed at his companions. "And what do you know! I've got two friends already. A tech genius and a silent badass. Can't say I'm disappointed."
"You don't have much room to be disappointed," Vardy said with a faint smile. Luthor's positive energy was infectious, Vardy had to admit.
"And friends gotta' stick together," Luthor declared, placing a fist to his heart. "Especially powerless people like us. I got this feeling, but if we stick together, I feel like we'll all make it through this no problem."
"Hope so," Tracy said with a sigh.
"Yeah," Vardy agreed simply, though he couldn't shake the feeling that things might not turn out as smoothly as Luthor hoped.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 4: Fragments of Purpose
"This game's too hard!" Luthor complained, sitting in front of Vardy's gaming setup, a VR helmet snug on his head as he navigated Rune Quest.Playing as a warrior barbarian, Luthor struggled with the character's skill set, leading to his demise against a group of level 20 trolls. "Keep at it, you'll get there," Vardy encouraged from his bed."Yeah, but your character just obliterates everything," Luthor grumbled."That's because I'm a Dark Warlock. My death magic makes short work of them," Vardy explained."Seems overpowered. Should've picked your class," Luthor remarked."You struggle with a few skills, how would you handle managing fifty units?" Vardy retorted.Luthor paused the game and turned on his swivel chair to address the others in the room. Tracy sat at the foot of the bed, absorbed in her Eye-Phone. Although she didn't play Rune Quest due to sharing the copy, she excelled in other games.Reflecting on their year, Luthor expressed disbelief at how quickly time had passed. "A
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 5: The Dark Awakening
The Dark Awakening Lines of glowing bright, Slyly green energy transferred from the book and into Vardy's body, moving up the veins of his arm and lighting them in the dark."Spells: Freeze Bolt, Flame Torch, Raise Rank 1, and Dark Heal Rank 1 learned," Vardy noted.Dark Heal is a passive skill that heals a Warlock. "It's a good thing I have a firm knowledge on how to use my new powers, I can recite the spells mentally. "Freeze... ." He muttered softly as the air around him became cold. "Bolt!" Feeling the energy surge through him, Vardy prepared to face the Essentrias charging from the forest. to his former friend's skull. "But you'll be patched up soon with my "Nega Force". Plus, like you said, it's not like you're missing out with that face of yours."Vardy did not know why he talked to his friends as if they were still alive. He felt a twinge of hurt when he saw them as zombies. He thought he was immune to loss, and though he definitely was cold to it, there was still a pa
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 6: The rise of the Undead
Vardy charged at the Essentria this time, rushing toward it before it could do the same. He figured out that the Essentria's only way out was to charge at him and make him dodge, so he acted first to prevent that. It was risky, but he wanted the EXP and undead from defeating Essentria.When Vardy got close, the Essentria bit his shoulder, causing him a lot of pain. He managed to hold it off while Luthor and Tracy attacked it. They wrestled the Essentria to the ground, and Vardy told them to finish it off.Vardy swiftly delivered a forceful kick to the Essentria's neck, causing it to snap and crumple in defeat. He then turned his attention to Luthor, who had suffered an injury from the attack. With remorse evident on his face, Vardy apologized for the harm inflicted upon him and offered reassurance that he would soon be healed.Afterwards, Vardy took a moment to carefully allocate his stat points, meticulously reviewing each attribute's functionality before making any decisions.- Stre
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 7: The Hunter's Trap
"Stop me here," said Sly from the comfortably cushioned backseat of a commercial hover car. He was the only passenger in a car that had enough seating space to fit six people, and he abused the space by putting his feet on the seat and sprawling out like he was in his own bed. He had ordered a black tier express ride from Carrier, the best and most reliable taxi and rideshare service on the market, and he was damn well going to make the most of his purchase, especially now that he was getting jitters from coming off the high of X."Are you sure, sir? This is still quite a ways from the compound, and there may be Vagrants out and about," said the driver from the front seat. An opaque black plexiglass sheet separated passengers from the driver, but Sly could still see the silhouette of the driver's head cocked in confusion."Did you not hear me?" said Sly, annoyed. "I want out here.""As you wish, sir," said the driver. He halted the sleek black, expensive hover car to a smooth stop. S
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 8: Vengeance Made Flesh
Vardy experienced a peculiar sensation as he gazed down at Sly in this manner. The act of looking down was entirely novel to him, yet it felt undeniably fitting. In fact, it felt just. Yes, it resonated with justice. Justice backed by tangible actions, not mere idealism. This was the justice Vardy intended to enact, a justice sorely lacking in this world.As his eyes met Sly's, a screen materialized before him, presenting a new quest: "VENGEANCE obtained". The interface differed slightly, with the quest details displayed in bold, bloody red font, giving it a sinister appearance."VENGEANCE "ACTIVE"Difficulty: 5Details:Hunt down Dean and his crew. Enact vengeance. Enact judgement.Rewards:-Death of Sly: 200 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Evan Harker: 50 EXP, 50 Coin-Death of Simon Wells: 100 EXP, 100 Coin-Death of Zayn Soldata: 250 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Dean: 1000 EXP, 800 Coin-Bonus EXP gained from absorbing Negative Energy from each individual\"Vardy adjusted his neck, uncertain
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 9: The Immortal Knights Return
Ferah finally released Vardy after what felt like an eternity. Removing her black great helm, she knelt before him on the grass, revealing her deathly pale face, similar to Vardy's, indicating her Undead nature.She was a hybrid of Dullahan and Vampire, evident in her sharp, ferocious eyes with black sclera and glowing crimson red pupils. Her dark black hair was styled in a messy bob cut, partly obscuring her left eye with bangs."You look as good as ever," Vardy remarked, noting Ferah's stunning beauty, even more impressive in real life than in the game's graphics.Vardy's Undead nature prevented him from being distracted by her appearance, focusing solely on his purpose. Risen Undead like them were driven by a single purpose, unlike natural Undead like Vampires or Dullahan, who experienced a wide range of emotions."I-I am grateful, my master," Ferah responded, closing her eyes briefly before meeting Vardy's gaze. "You too look splendid, my master. But I must ask - why have you chan
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 10: Forge of the Future
Vardy stepped onto the Sign, and the teleporting light him and everyone else. In a moment, they arrived in the dim interior of the Apex Realm temple, with its gray stone and tall gothic pillars."The Apex Realm. I never thought I'd be back here with you, master," said Ferah. She seemed happy at first, but then she squinted. "Something feels off about this place.""What do you mean?" asked Vardy."The Apex Realm is supposed to be a safe space created by the twin gods Amara and Sindri. It should have a warmth to it from their powers. But I don't sense it. It feels...dead," said Ferah. "It's like this place is just a copy, lacking the real 'life' but still having its powers.""I noticed that too," said Vardy. "My theory is that this isn't the real Apex Realm. It's just a replica, still holding its powers but lacking the true essence.""Is that so?" Ferah looked around warily. "As long as you trust it, I will too.""So far, it hasn't let me down," said Vardy. He leaped over the Wellspring
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 11: The Forest’s Secret
The Evil Eye observed a Vagrant approaching Vardy, likely drawn by the scent of blood and death. It stood three meters tall, with smooth white skin and a heavily muscular body. It moved with a hunched back, dragging its knuckles along the ground. Its appearance was almost unsettling, resembling an overly muscled mannequin from a horror movie.This creature was a Geist. Vardy remembered from his research in White Oak that Vagrants were classified into three categories. Natural Vagrants, like the Essentrias, adapted to nature and behaved like wild beasts. Geist Vagrants, on the other hand, were inexplicable monstrosities that were functionally immortal and had a relentless thirst for blood and flesh. Titans were monstrously powerful Vagrants of legendary size."We're leaving," Vardy declared. He wasn't willing to risk a fight with a C-rank monster at the moment. Ferah sensed his hesitation and agreed to follow his lead."Geists hunt living humans," Vardy explained. "So, as undead, we sh
Latest Chapter
Chapter 27: Mysteries Unfold
The five set out to find leverage against Sly and his goons but little did they know it was under their nose the whole time. The group still sat in the War Room late into the night with candle light around the room. Losing hope and as exhaustion overtook their bodies, they sat down around the table with sighs of defeat. Vardy glanced at his staff and felt for the light within. It was dim, more than it had been in recent days. "The light.....seems to be more dim than usual...." Tracy observed. Inside Vardy was in a panic with no idea what to do but outside, he held his face and body in the same loose, confident and poised manner. He nodded. "It is. I don't know how to fix it." His voice came out even as he spoke. Tracy sat there, thinking and mentally Flipping through books she had been reading for research purposes and remembered a particular spell book that had caught her fancy just earlier that day. Scrolls and ancient diaries sat open and scattered across the table making it hard
Chapter 26: Shadows Rising
The calm in Oak Academy was deceptive. Though the city was beginning to rebuild, the team couldn’t ignore the growing tension in the air. The darkness that lingered wasn’t just Sly’s presence,it was something deeper, an under flow of unease that warned them of what was to come, Vardy, Ferah, Luthor, Tracy, and Jesse gathered in the academy’s war room, still looking at the map searching over one maps and ancient texts in the rom. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces, their expressions stood with determination.Jesse leaned over the table, tracing his finger across a map of the region. "Sly’s words weren’t just bravado. He’s not working alone. The Dark Warlocks have been rebuilding their forces in the shadows. If we’re going to stop them, we need to find their stronghold."Luthor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We can’t just charge in blind. Sly’s been one step ahead of us every time. If we’re not careful, we’ll walk straight into a trap."Tracy nodded, her fing
Chapter 25: The Unbelievable Return
Days have passed since Aziel’s fall, and the city began its slow recovery. The people were freed from the darkness that had shadowed them, they all started to rebuild, unite, and see each other once again, and the air was lighter than it had been in years. But Vardy and his team knew better than to think the war was over. The presence of the Dark Warlocks lingered like a shadow on the horizon. Despite Aziel’s defeat, there were whispers of power far greater, a force that had been pulling the strings from the shadows for age's.One evening, as the team gathered in their makeshift headquarters at Oak Academy, the familiar figure of Sly appeared on the horizon. His silhouette was unmistakable,tall, confident, and exuding an aura of pure malevolence. His face was partially concealed by a hood, but his eyes gleamed with the same unyielding determination that had marked his every step since the beginning of this journey up till the moment."Sly," Vardy commanded, his voice filled with a m
Chapter 24: The Light against the Dark
The citadel, once a monument to Aziel’s reign of terror, stood silent in the wake of his fall. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the stone, casting long beams across the ruin. The oppressive darkness that had once hung heavy over the city was gone, but the cost of victory weighed heavily on the survivors. Vardy, Ferah, Tracy, Jesse and Luthor stood at the heart of the shattered citadel, the echoes of the battle still roaming through the air.Vardy’s chest rose and fell in labored breaths, the toll of the final confrontation taking its toll on him. The light within him had faded, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake. He had given everything to defeat Aziel, but in doing so, he felt the last of his strength slip away.Ferah knelt beside him, her gaze soft but unwavering. "You did it, Vardy. We did it. The city is safe because of you."Vardy’s eyes met hers, filled with both gratitude and sorrow. "It doesn’t feel like we are done yet," he admitted, his voice soothing the situatio
Chapter 23: The Confrontation of Vardy against the Dark
Vardy kept on pushing in, giving all he could to stop all of this, he knew. He was no match for what was ahead of him, but should he just. Give in, after all, No he can't do that, not if it was him alone in this,, but for the precious sake of, the one around him, I'll rather die by my hand than give in to this forsaken darkness lurking inside, I won't accept defeat not so soon,His heart was still pounding, it looked more like the dark could listen to everything he was saying, and with every step they took towards the citadel, the depth would always yawn to park them in, but was not a match for the three skills and what they had encountered so far..The air inside the citadel was thick with the weight of dark power, pressing down on them like an invisible hand. The walls seemed to pulse with energy, their surfaces slick with shadow, as though the very structure of the citadel was alive. The distant echoes of Aziel’s laughter vibrate through the halls, mocking and sticking, but Vardy
Chapter 22: The Heart of Darkness
The air was alive with crackling energy, and the very earth beneath Vardy's feet seemed to hold with a dark, unyielding power. Tendrils of shadow reached out from the cracks in the ground, twisting and writhing like serpents with a mind of their own. Each movement sent a shiver through the city, as though the streets themselves were groaning under the weight of an ancient, forgotten force.Aziel’s figure loomed above them, the faint glow of his eyes illuminating the darkness. He stood unaffected, unrestricted, not to be destroyed, his confidence over shadowing him, his hands raised in a commanding gesture. The dark energy swirled around him like an obedient pet, bending to his will. His smile, cruel and knowing, sent a shiver down Vardy’s spine."You still don’t understand, do you?" Vardy. Aziel’s voice was soft, almost coaxing. "This power, and this darkness,is your inheritance, Vardy. It has been waiting for you. All this time, waiting for your presence just to embrace, you’ve fough
Chapter 21: Eyes of the Dark Storm
Now, dark and cold, tired and weary, the city loomed ahead like a dark stain on the earth surface, its towering spires reaching up to the sky like cracking teeth, sharp and unforgiving. Vardy could feel the oppressive weight of its presence pressing on him, the air thick with a sense of looming danger that seemed to emanate from the very streets.Ferah, Luthor, and Vardy walked in silence, their footsteps muffled by the dirt road beneath them. The wind had picked up, circling dust and debris around them, as if the very world was preparing for something monumental."We’re getting close," Luthor said, his voice low, almost as if speaking too loudly might provoke something hidden in the shadows. "This place… it feels wrong.""I can feel it too," Ferah agreed, her expression tense. "Something's off about this city. It’s like it’s been waiting for us."Vardy said nothing, his mind consumed by the storm of thoughts swirling in him. The darkness within him, the pull of Aziel’s words, the ch
Chapter 20: The Daring Choice
The reality is now and here, a way forward is all I can only think of, I don't care about myself, but for those who have journeyed with me up till now, Vardy spoke to himself in silence, I can't put them down, I can't give up on them, he said to himself.Vardy’s heart raced, the weight of Aziel’s words pressing down on him like a thousand stones. The very idea that the darkness, something he had fought so desperately to escape, was a part of him was too much to comprehend. His mind reeled, struggling to understand how he could possibly be connected to the very force he had always seen as an enemy.Aziel’s gaze held steady, watching him closely, almost as if he were savoring Vardy’s internal conflict. "You’re torn, I can see it. You want to deny it, push it away, but you can’t. You’ll come to understand, eventually. We all do."Vardy shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts. "You’re lying. I’m not like you."Aziel’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You think you’r
Chapter 19: The Depth Unraveling Threads
The Oracle’s words continued striking Vardy as he and his companions began their journey from the mountain. The cold, thin air had stung their limbs, but the weight of the Oracle’s prophecy hung heavily on their hearts. He had expected guidance, a path to follow, but what he had received was a riddle, a cryptic warning that left more questions than answers.Ferah, ever monitoring, noticed Vardy’s troubled expression as they walked. "You’re still thinking about what she said, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice low and steady.Vardy glanced at her, then nodded. "She’s right. It’s all tied together. The darkness... it’s not just some evil force. It’s alive. It grows. And it has a price. But what does that mean? What exactly is the cost?"Luthor, who had been walking ahead, turned to face them, his eyes seen in thought. "The Oracle speaks in riddles. The truth isn't always easy to see, especially when it’s buried in layers of metaphors, unknown words and heart-pounding questions.""True,"
