King
Jake looked at the stupid king. The magic was working because the lamps were lit. Jake fired at the lamp under the circle. The light extinguished. The attack brushed past Junan.
The king immediately got shocked. Until now no one tried to blow up the lamps so he was worry free.
Jake asked the task panel about the third clue of the day. The king could not attack magic without the help of lit lamps in fact he might not be able to save his life in the dark.
Jake hid behind others when the king tried to look who destroyed the lamp. The lamps around the circle were large in numbers and Jake could not shot all of them because of limited numbers of the bullets. He already used up most of them.
The attacks of the king were increasing seeing the runners getting upper hand. Jake silently walked toward the lamps. He picked three and threw out of the near window.
He picked three more and ran toward the door. Till then the team head noticed the actions of the young player. He gestured Orin to provide him cover in order to remain hidden from the king.
During this he noticed the lit tear of Ashmorn and captured it. The tear was sealed in one of the lamp. It was giving bright light instead of golden.
By the time king realized something amiss his face turned pale. The hall was no more lit and bright. He wanted to run outside and stand under the light of moon but it was not enough to save his life. Also he was unable to leave the hall because the runners started to gather around him.
The king desperately wanted to attack with the magic however it was no more active. The runners surrounded.
They were waiting for the team head to give order. Junan wanted to make sure that none of the security men survived.
"Do you have any other skill to test on us?" Junan spoke as if challenging the king. The king was getting pale. He was void of any life. Slowly he was dying without anyone attacking him. The dull dark hall was enough to kill him.
The king fell on his knees. His pale face turned dark. "He is dying?" Albert asked to see his condition. Junan nodded, "Probably we do not need to use weapon."
It turned out truth. They kept staring him and his boy slowly dissolved in the air. "Such a king he wanted to sacrifice the Ashmorn." Clark smashed his hammer on the ground where the body fell last before dissolving.
The second last task got completed. They looked at the team head. It was in the middle of the night and they have still four hours in the day. Others were excited to think that they might kill the first king with the same way.
This anticipation was not going to last longer.
The first king was not alone to protect the Orlenia palace.
As soon as the second king got killed the statues from the entrance disappeared. "Hurry outside before the palace falls." Junan beckoned them.
They left from the door running out of the entrance. Sashi again noticed the empty bottom of the ground where the statues were placed earlier.
The nearest pylon was destroying so they could not stop there and check where the statues disappeared.
After creating enough distance they slowed down their pace. There were still thirty six hours before they reach time limit of second level. They were not in hurry to search the first palace. Team members sat to relax their rush.
Jake handed the tear of Ashmorn to the team head. He was more than glad that the younger player captured it before leaving the palace.
They battled for long time with the security men. It used up half of their hp. It would be better if they took some rest.
They saw their stats in the portal. They noticed the golden bar. It was new addition for them. The bar was completely empty only golden dot appeared at the corner which was indication that this bar got some boost.
"Does anybody know about this golden bar?" Clark asked. He was unable to contain his curiosity.
"We can search the basic guide after the completion of second level. This thing must have been mentioned at some page." Junan answered. Although he read that basic guide but keeping everything in the mind was difficult all of sudden.
The things were slowly opening in the portal so it was natural for them to miss one or two. This rest time let them observe their weapons. The weapons were slowly getting life of their own. The changes were appearing slowly which pointed that their quests were giving ability to the weapons.
Sashi was noting down the palace in the distance when it completely destroyed she could see vague lamp lights at the other side.
"Perhaps we might not need to go and search the first palace." Her deep voice captured their attention. They looked in the direction. Sure enough the first palace was brimming with the lights of several lamps.
"We are not in hurry. Relax and then see what the first king has planned." Orin spoke however they heard the scream of little girl.
The Ashmorn was facing torture. The king was trying to force her to send back the runners. He knew that the runners got the power of tears.
This was not good sign for the success of the king. Only Ashmorn could send the Arena Runners back with her orders.
Clark got shocked. The voice belonged to little girl. He stood up with the anger filled eyes. "I cannot rest here when the little girl is confined in the palace." He was ready to go and smash the head of the king.
They were able to see the palace and the dim lights of the lamps however they could not see the statues standing in the path toward the palace.. The statues were silent but there were something in their hands.