Adam Drake - Blackout

I looked again at the other group. They were farther ahead of us by at least one section by my guess.

I shook my head. “Maybe their cart’s wheels aren’t as messed up as ours.”

The centaur-samurai pressed his should up against their cart. The other members simply stood back, not attempting to help.

“What are they doing?” I said.

The centaur pushed, and the cart moved down the line with ease.

“That lucky jerk,” Mudhoof said. “He’s got a strength enhancing ability. Must have been saving it all this time because you can only use it for a brief period in a day.”

“Do you have anything like that?” Feign said, hoisting a large chunk of ore into the cart.

Mudhoof raised and arm and flexed a huge muscle. “Pure Bull-Brawn is all I need!” He slammed into the cart and it moved forward while Feign hastened to apply ice to the rails.

After three more arduously cleared sections it became apparent our two groups were neck and neck.

“Nice! Even a man short we’re kicking their butts,” Mudhoof said with a grin.

We had cleared the last section of ore and all that remained was to push the cart to the hopper.

“Okay,” I said, “Last push!”

The moment I touched the cart a loud crash threw me back.

This time, thanks to activating my sure-footed ability minutes earlier, I did not get knocked to the ground, but Feign and Mudhoof weren’t so lucky.

One end of the cart had been kicked off the rails and teetered precariously over to one side, threatening to dump the load of ore.

“What happened?” Feign asked as he picked himself up.

I looked. A shuriken stuck out of the cart. It must have had enough magical punch to nearly upend the heavy cart.

We all turned to glare at the other group.

They were laughing and pointing at us. The blue ninja waved, then bowed deeply. He’d been the one to throw it.

“Those FILTEREDs!” Mudhoof cursed.

Immediately, the centaur pushed on their full ore cart toward the hopper. I looked at our dislodged cart and over to them. They were going to win!

Then I lost my temper.

“Let’s try pushing the cart up… Vee, what are you doing?” Mudhoof said in surprise. He must have seen my expression.

I walked to the ledge. The other group had turned their attention to their impending victory. Their cart was now in position. Even from where I stood I could see how happy they were.

My bow appeared in my hand, and I called forth a special arrow which I snatched from my quiver. Carefully, I aimed, and fired.

The arrow sailed across the gap.

At the last moment, the stone mage noticed and raised a hand to cast a spell, no doubt to block it.

But this arrow was not intended to hit anyone.

The moment it reached the other side, the arrow exploded.

Thousands of multi-colored beams of light shot out from above the other group. There was no sound, only the intense flickering of beams that blinded everyone within range.

The four figures began running around wildly, bumping into the rock wall and each other. The cascade of light didn’t stop. Their cart was all but forgotten.

“A disorientation spell!” Feign said with a wide grin. “Very nice, Miss Valesh.”

“We don’t have much time,” I said. “Let’s get this back on the rails.”

With a lot of effort, and grunting and curses from Mudhoof, we pushed the cart back into position. Then, shoved it down the last of the line in front of the hopper.

I looked over at the other group who were still running around without purpose. Their confusion was total. I could imagine their players swearing and cursing up a storm once they’d lost control of their avatars.

To my surprise and delight, the two ninjas ran full tilt over the ledge and plummeted into the darkness.

“Oh, Vee!” Mudhoof said with a cheer. “Two birds, one stone!”

The centaur and stone mage finally regained their senses and leapt to their cart to push.

“Oops!” I said. “Push! Now!”

We did and tipped the cart over so the ore spilled out into the hopper. Dust and bits of rock kicked up everywhere.

The remaining two members of the other group had done the same thing. It was down to gravity now.

When the cart was empty, the voice spoke again.

’Task Complete.’

I looked across the chasm. They’d finished at about the same time, too.

“A photo finish?” Feign said, looking worried.

“If you want to see me blow a gasket, give the win to those twits,” Mudhoof said with a scowl.

The voice then said, “One group may continue. The other group must find another way.”

Suddenly, on the other side, the rock above their metal door collapsed. Within seconds it was buried.

The door next to us then opened, revealing the tunnel continuing on.

“I’d cheer but I’m too tired,” I said.

“Let’s get through the door before were expected to do another dumb task,” Mudhoof said.

I gave a parting wave to the two remaining players on the other side. They shook their fists again.

Then we passed through into darkness and the door closed behind us.

The rocky tunnel changed to set blocks of stone within a few paces after we walked through the door. Instead of torches, odd rocks glowed along the walls which brightly lit our way.

“This is no longer the mine,” I said. We had moved into a new area.

Soon, we heard a low rumbling sound from further up the passageway. As we moved closer, it became much louder.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” said Mudhoof. “Better not have anything do with ore carts.”

It became hotter and the air thick with the heat. My vision wavered, occasionally.

When we reached the end of the passageway, it terminated at a ledge. A short distance below was a wide river of lava that churned past. On the opposite side of the river was another ledge leading to a passageway. The distance was too far to jump.

“Anyone up for a swim?” I asked. The heat was incredible, and I turned my simulation suit’s settings to its lowest level.

“Perhaps we missed a side tunnel, or a secret door?” Feign said. The ice mage was sweating profusely.

“Can you float across on your magic carpet of ice?” I asked.

Feign shook his head. “Too hot in here. It will evaporate to nothing the moment I create it. I’m afraid none of my magic will be effective with this heat.”

“Maybe we can…” I said and stopped when someone stepped out of the passageway behind us.

A tall, humanoid being now stood blocking the tunnel, and we turned to confront it.

The being was almost taller than Mudhoof, and its frame was wiry. It did not appear to wear any clothes or armor. Its skin looked like a black crust of cracked rock. A prominent brow beetled over a set of yellow, glowing eyes. Since I’d encountered this type of being before the game identified it for me. A Rock Golem.

“Well, you wanted a fight,” I said to Mudhoof as I held up my bow.

“This one will be easy,” the minotaur grinned. “It’s just a bunch of rocks, and I like crushing rocks.”

Mudhoof hollered a war cry, lowered his steel tipped horns and charged.

The Rock Golem did nothing to get out Mudhoof’s way, seeming to watch him with curiosity.

Mudhoof slammed into the Golem. But instead of a shock-wave with the impact, his long horns sunk straight into the Golem’s chest. With his horns buried up to their full length, Mudhoof’s head now rested against the Golem. The creature barely flinched from the attack.

“I’m stuck!” Mudhoof shouted. The Golem raised a long, rocky arm and struck downward.

I moved, bow held up and summoned regular arrows. As I changed my angle, I fired rapidly at the thing’s pitted yellow eyes.