Cold Raiders

3 years ago

It was a cold December at the docks. Ale knew the deal. Lock up a case of fifty potions and trade that for credits. He did it often and it was lowkey, due to the fact he stole them. It was a loophole in the alien's system. Nobody was protecting the champion's guilds or shops yet. Security had arrived to most states like New York, Texas, and California. Places that had drop zones for the aliens to come down. Arkenfel City wasn't one of them.

"Just like clockwork, but they're late this time." Ale said.

His wife Violet, stood by him with her hands clutched together for warmth. Next to her were two other champion's, Gregor who was a large green monster with a horn. Tim was a champion who had the body if a gorilla and the face of a bat. Tim had his foot on the crate with an impatient look.

"Honey, I feel like something isn't right." Violet said as her eyes skimmed the area. Her pointed elf ears twitched once, then again. Ale knew she could sense the guys they were selling too.

"Over my dead ass bones. If they try something. We don't hesitate to kill." Ale said. Ale looked like a grim reaper. His followers liked that about him. They'd say he looked like a true villain.

"Yes sir!" Tim and Gregor said simultaniously.

All they could see were storage units. If they were going to arrive. It'd be from the front or back. On their left was the sea, on the left a tower of steel. The sun glittering off its surface.

"Sir. I smell champions! It's an attack!" Gregor shouted as he jumped at Ale and Violet. Pushing them onto the ground. Multiple rod like needles fell from the sky. Ale caught a glimps of the foggy white needles, before it struck him in the eye. In a split second a needle stabbed Violet's arm, another went right through her thigh, hitting the ground. A third into her belly, the fourth into her chest. All entering diagonally.

"Violet!" Ale yelled.

"I'm alright!..my HP is at twenty five percent." She fell to her knees. Ale felt the needle in his skull. His skeleton hand trembling as he put his fingers around it. Then he pulled. Pain burned in his eye and jaws. Luckily he didn't have a brain or eyes. But he felt whatever allowed him to see was damaged. Maybe there was an eyeball all along?

"Ahh!" Ale moaned.

Gregor and Tim were in a similar state. Both somehow managing to endure the shots to the chest. Both of them had a higher defense though.

"This is nothing!" Gregor said as he pulled out the needles one by one. Tim did the same and they drank a potion. The wounds began to close and their hit poings went up too.

"Are you alright, babe?" Ale said as he pulled out a potion. He popped the lid of and put the tiny bottle to her lips. She drank it fast, then frowned as her breathing grew faster. The cuts around the needles weren't healing at all and her HP was dropping slowly.

"We have to pull them out, babe." Ale said as he brushed her hair off her face.

"Oh, God..oh, God." She cried.

"The potion can't heal you otherwise." Ale said.

"We'll defend you boss. You take care of Violet!" Gregor said. He stood by them, ready to deflect any needles. This time they were determined and ready.

"Hey Greg. I see them coming." Tim said.

A team of champions came from around the corner. The first was a monster with spikes on its back, like some kind of puffer fish. The rest were various kind of champions. Turtles, knights, one dragonkin.

"It's the Templars! They've betrayed us!" Tim said.

"It's no use. Ale is busy." Gregor said as he glanced back. They could hear Violet screaming as Ale tended to her. The needles were like fishing hooks. Once inside, they wouldn't come out. At least not without leaving damage on the way out.

"We gotta buy the boss time. At least until he's able to focus again." Gregor said.

"Mr. Fuji gives his regards. He says he can't afford snitches." The draginkin said.

"What do you mean? Snitch to who? Its not illegal to sell potions." Gregor replied.

"It is now. Both Federally and by the aliens. Mr. Fuji wants to erase the evidence." The dragonkin said with a smile full if sharp teeth.

"Fuck…God damn it all." Gregor whispered.

"Greg, Were not going down without a fight. We're stronger than them by ten levels." Tim said.

Tim looked back and saw Ale standing up. Violet was stable and her cuts healed up, but she was asleep.

"We're going to fuck em up. I want them gutted…" Ale said as he turned around.

His empty eye socket lit up blue, but the left didn't light up. It was left as a tiny pit of darkness.

"You really want them gutted?" Gregor asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. I wasn't joking. I wan't them gutted and left for the crows." Ale said.

Present day

It was another day as a champion. Spencer sat at the champions bar again. This time he wasn't buying a drink. It was too early for that. The bartender wiped his mixing utensils with a towel.

"You see, you don't wanna fuck with those guys. Most champions that are undead, have actually joined The Cold Raiders."

"Ok. I'll avoid factions then. So how we can level up faster?" Spencer asked.

Jimmy raised a brow. Then he grinned as he glanced around.

"There's no such thing as fast leveling, but I can give you a hint. A dungeon is about to appear at Astro Tech's call center. It'll appear tonight and Astro has the money to pay big. The only way to get rid of the dungeon is to have champions beat it." He said.

Astro Tech was a well known car company. Everyone knew the building, because its logo was a big red A. It wasn't a small business one could take pity on.

"A zombie circus is supposed to appear there. It kinda shows how fucked up this champions game is. The aliens will step on anyone with no remorse." Jimmy said.

"Wont everyone else know about it?" Spider asked.

"Heh, nope. Nobody will know until tomorrow night. I got exclusive rights to tell lower level champs. So you got one night to clear the dungeon. And you'll probibly get Astro Tech as an official sponser." Jimmy said.

Spencer rubbed his chin where his beard once was. It felt weird feeling the smooth skin versus the prickly chin he remembered.

"We'll clear it and level up. You guys good with clowns?" Spencer asked.

"If anything, I've been saving your ass so far. Are you ready?" Blaze's eyes glowed strongly this time.

"I technically am a clown. Quick and clean, no problems here." Jack said.

Spider covered her mouth in deep thought, then she made a determined look.

"I-I can't guarentee I won't be scared, but…I'll try my best to be brave. I don't wanna hold you all back and I want to get stronger..so I don't…have to see that again." Spider stared at the wall as if in a trance. Probibly remembering the death of her dad.

"It'll be alright. Blaze will save us, right?" Spencer said jokingly.

"Sure thing, but don't ask for help before doing your best."

Spencer smiled.

"See, we'll be fine. Were a team." Spencer said.