The clouds parted in patches, and various dragons' heads were just visible, some poking through, others moving about just above.If he was counting right, there were twenty-seven heads in total, and he'd wager there were three greater heads or something just out of sight, making an even thirty—the exact number of days now that the game had been available.One month precisely since he'd woken and this whole war had begun again.
On his screen, he got pings that six of his 'friends' were online.Two of them were mutuals, so they'd start there.He signaled as much to Gwen, and they headed into the fray.
The event was taking place in an enormous field, everyone who attended split into three main groups: Group A was based at castle ruins; Group B was based in a grove to the southeast of the castle; and Group C was based at an outcropping of boulders with a hidden natural well in the center to the southwest.Together, the three groups formed a perfect triangle.No doubt that would be relevant later.Community battles like this always had a finale with some great big flashy moment of might or magic.The last one he'd participated in had required everyone to plug into a giant laser cannon to give it enough power to blast an alien mothership to smithereens.
Power was greatest in threes.No part of this was coincidence.
As friends were faintly, but clearly, highlighted in crowds like this, it was easy to find the pair, already in the heat of battle against the horde of various monsters coming in from the sky and surrounding woods, the first wave of an army of terror serving their multi-headed dragon overlord.Any other day, as an ordinary person again, Lancelot would havelovedthis.
"There," Gwen said.
Lancelot followed where she indicated, looking over the pair they'd been seeking."They're not him.Mark them off."
"How can you be so sure?"Gwen asked, her tone one of pure curiosity, not a trace of doubt.
"A feeling.It's strange how varied it's been.I looked like me and had essentially my own name.Merlin looked exactly the same but had a different name.Dred used an avatar that looked nothing like them and had a different name.Morgan was herself through and through.You and Gawain looked yourselves, but you kept a variation of your name, while Gawain's current legal name is wildly different.If I had to guess, I would say Arthur will be more like Dred: neither the appearance nor the name will resemble his."
"Noted.The next one is this way; looks like we'll have to do quite a bit of fighting to reach them."
"Can we still exit the game if we wanted?"
After a moment of testing, Gwen gave a nod before falling into step a short distance behind him, leaving it to Lancelot to muscle through the throngs of allies and enemies, occasionally using her magic to strengthen his defense or call up vines to slow down an advance.
He marked off the next two just as quickly, wishing he could say what made him so confident but unable to define it.He justknew.
A new, different deafening roar filled the air, followed by another, and then another.Enormous winged monsters came down from the clouds, still crackling with rainbow lightning, hints of the waiting beast visible in holes and shadows.
These monsters must be mini-bosses, or possibly not even that, but something leading up to that.These events were meant to be enormous and ridiculous, after all.
"Lancelot!I can't leave the game anymore!"Guinevere said.
He drew his sword as the monster assigned to their group approached.It had at least a dozen leathery, black and red wings, each one with a hook at the end.A crown of horns jutted from its head, and in place of fingers it had long, oversized talons that glowed at the tips.It was twice the size of an average person, wearing only a long, flowy black tunic, the front of it embroidered with a many-headed dragon.
A quick scan of his bestiary only resulted in a whole bunch of question marks, which was typical.Dismissing it, he called up his shield as well."Where's our next candidate?"
"Far south end of the crowd, on the fringes.Seems to be directing a bunch of people."
"That sounds promising.Stay close and be careful."
"Of course."
Lancelot joined the fray as the angel/demon/whatever drew close enough for the fight to officially begin.Protective magic washed over him, barriers against physical and magical harm, the kinds of spells that a new player shouldn't have yet, unless that player was friends with an enthusiastic hacker who made certain they had all the perk packages he could think up.
The monster—demon?He was pretty sure it was meant to be some sort of demon—threw out a wave of scarlet light.Lancelot lifted his sword and cast out his will, bringing the rain into a solid sheet that disrupted the flow of it, saving countless players, leaving only a smattering with injuries easily recovered from.
He cut down a handful of minor assailants, using the ever-deepening puddles of water to his advantage, dismissing his armor as the deluge brought his scales to the fore.
Onward they went, fighting through the horde and holding back the worst of the demon's attack, giving space for the other players to attack it properly, working through the crowd until—
"That's him," Lancelot said immediately.
Gwen's brows rose, staring at the woman he pointed to."Really?"
Lancelot smiled faintly."Imagine if Morgan and Merlin had a child."
"Oh, my god," Gwen said."You're right.Of course that's his avatar.That absolutely adorable sap.Sending flare now."
She lifted her ye olde flare gun and fired, and for a moment the space right above them was filled with brilliant green light.
