Phoenix Phire

Nix walked into the Gemini temple while his team prepared to move out. The LifeStyle area of the temple was one of his favorite places. He would often chat with his dad or Nansu while he worked on projects for his Tailor shop in Glory. He froze in the doorway and watched the tailor. His father was carefully measuring Vooni. The dragon descendent stood calmly in figure-hugging blue briefs while Rico wrote down her information. He seemed to be taking more time then necessary.

[Whisper: Nix to Rico] Busy dad?

[Whisper: Rico to NIx] Yeah, putting the finishing touches on a project.

Nix's laughter erupted from the doorway, causing both inhabitants to jump. "Making a dress for the Harvest festival?"

Vooni wasn't bothered by his sudden appearance and did nothing to cover up. "He was busy all day doing other things."

Nix nodded while giving her a deadpan look. "I'm sure he was."

Rico coughed once and stood up. "Something up, son?"

"Raine needs a dress for the festival also. I'm not sure if I can fit it in."

Rico waved at his son. "Don't worry about it. I'll talk to her tomorrow."

"Thanks. A group of us are heading out."

Vooni watched the interaction with interest. "Let me know if you need backup."

"Will do." Nix left without speaking further.

[Whisper: Nix to Rico] Make sure to take Raine's measurements over her clothes.

[Whisper: Rico to Nix] What's that supposed to mean?

[Whisper: Nix to Rico] Exactly what it sounds like, you old dog.

****************

Nix dropped off some new products at the tailor shop in Glory. Since it was late, Maye was most likely sleeping upstairs. He left the boxes on the counter with a note and locked up behind himself.

/Alpha: Wind: We are ready, Boss.

/Alpha: Nix: Meet me in front of the Inn.

/Alpha: Semmi: We are in front of the Inn.

Nix waved to the group and exited the dock area. All three of them wore nearly the same armor. The Eidengal set that had been modified with cammo and sound suppression.

/Alpha: Wind: What's our intel say?

/Alpha: Nix: One of our allies are being targeted. It's either Shi or Tharaka.

/Alpha: Semmi: How do you know?

/Alpha: Nix: Gideon's report showed the northern ice region. Those are the only allies we have north of Cyphix.

/Alpha: Semmi: Been forever since I've seen Banz or Wylie.

/Alpha: Wind: Yeah, let's drag that bastard back to Haven. He's shacking up with his girlfriend while I'm doing all the heavy lifting.

************Authors Reminder********

A few characters return to service after being gone a while. [Banzri] A tank that has been supporting the rebuilding efforts at the Gladis Hub. [Wylie] A Knight Captain assigned to Nix. Wylie became Shi's champion upon Nix's recommendation. [Shi] An Ice Nemesis, the original Ice Spirit of Cyphix that Nix has aided on several occasions. We last saw her in chapter 424 when she became a Black Ice Nemesis. [Donri] Donri was one of the first people to group with Nix. Originally he was a tank but switched when the opportunity to learn Necro Fire presented itself. He took on the position of Seneschal to the Festa royal family. He hasn't taken on any Inferno Missions since Chapter 254, [Meeting the Cabal].

*****************

"Nix!" A dark-haired man dressed completely in black stepped out of the Inn.

"Donri?" Nix had to look twice to verify.

Donri's body type altered slightly when he switched from being a tank to a hidden class. He was tall and lean, his dark eyes scanned Alpha team. In all truth, he only really knew Nix, the rest of them hadn't interacted with him much. "I was actually heading to Haven. My services as Seneschal are no longer required."

Donri has joined Alpha.

/Alpha: Semmi: Nice to see you again.

[Whisper: Nix to Donri] Everything okay?

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] Got caught up a bit with a woman. It has created some issues.

[Whisper: Nix to Donri] How big an issue?

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] It was Queen Festa.

[Whisper: Nix to Donri] I see... Perhaps you should join us in Everspire.

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] Those were my thoughts too.

/Alpha: Nix: We are heading to the Gladis Hub. Grab hands.

Nix activated Deep Blue and chose the Gladis Hub.

****************

The group stepped onto the portal platform in the Gladis Hub a moment later. The sounds of violent sparring filled the air.

/Alpha: Chiba: Darkness... I like it.

/Alpha: Wind: Seems like somethings changed, Boss.

/Alpha: Semmi: Weren't you here a few weeks ago?

Nix nodded and stepped off the platform. He watched a few of the spars, the former members of the Brahm harem had grown vicious. Not only that... Every one of them had hair as black as coal.

"Nix!" A distinctly male voice called out from the far side of the sparring area, without exception, every head turned to see the new arrivals.

/Inferno: Nix: What's going on here guys? Wylie? Banz?

/Inferno: Wylie: It happened after Shi became a Black Ice Nemesis. All the acolytes started growing in strength, even I've become affected.

Nix led them toward the raised platform that Banz was using to demonstrate combat techniques. Had Wylie not said anything, no one from Inferno would have recognized her.

"Do you hate it, Commander?" Wylie raised a dark brow, her eyes were still ice blue but she radiated power like never before.

"Yes. It's creepy." Nix stared for a moment, Wylie had possessed the water element. "Can you still heal?"

Wylie shrugged slightly. "Just a bit, most of my abilities have become offensive in nature."

Nix swore under his breath. He had hoped to scrounge up a healer. "Where's Shi?"

/Alpha: Semmi: When a female asks that, they don't want the truth.

/Alpha: Nix: Then why ask?

Wylie's pale face colored slightly but she recovered quickly and motioned for the group to follow. "I will take you to her."

[Whisper: Nix to Tharaka] I participated in the tournament at the Tembai Academy and now possess one dragon wildling body. Interested?

[Whisper: Tharaka to Nix] You actually won? Nix...

[Whisper: Nix to Tharaka] Yes, once we deal with Khione I will give it to you.

[Whisper: Tharaka to Nix] Thank you, my friend. In that case, I have something valuable that can be used as payment.

[Whisper: Nix to Tharaka] We'll discuss that another time. Are the Ashobel Clans united?

[Whisper: Tharaka to Nix] Yes. Where are we fighting?

[Whisper: Nix to Tharaka] Shi and her people going to be attacked sometime soon. I'll need you to lend us some fighters. Give me fifty of your best and I'll breach them in.

[Whisper: Tharaka to Nix] Understood.

Wylie led the group to a separate section that used to serve as the rec area for the members of Gladis Hub. Shi was battling a group of three acolytes, including her Chief Acolyte Cyan. When Shi noticed their arrival, the Black Ice Nemesis stopped the spar.

"Nix." Shi smiled at the Inferno Leader and offered him a cool hand. Her change had happened during her promotion to Black Ice Nemesis, so he had already seen it.

"It's good that everyone is preparing. A fight is coming." Nix returned her smile and squeezed her hand. Her black hair glistened in the light, his personal opinion was that she pulled off the look well.

A few minutes later, the members of Inferno sat in a comfortable conference room with the Ice Nemesis and her Chief Acolyte. The hud was zoomed in on the northern ice region, this included both Cyphix and the Ashobel territory.

Shi has joined Alpha.

Wylie has joined Alpha.

Banzri has joined Alpha.

Cyan has joined Alpha.

/Alpha: Nix: Our intel says an attack is imminent. I want to use this knowledge to hit them hard.

/Alpha: Shi: Do you have a timeline.

/Alpha: Nix: Yes, imminent.

Semmi tried to kick him under the table but missed, the blonde officer stared at Nix under he got the message.

/Alpha: Nix: That's all we have. I contacted Tharaka for reinforcements. I want the attackers to be crushed so badly that they return with more people.

/Alpha: Shi: If they are beaten soundly, why would they return?

/Alpha: Nix: The five of use will be using Ashobel puppets that I stored here. I assume you still have them.

/Alpha: Shi: Yes. You don't want them to know that Inferno is here?

/Alpha: Nix: Correct. If they know that, then they definitely won's send reinforcements. If they send more, then we'll drop the puppets and bring in the calvary for the second wave.

/Alpha: Wylie: You brought calvary Commander?

/Alpha: Nix: No. That's just an expression.

[Whisper: Nix to Ducky] Are you in position?

[Whisper: Ducky to Nix] Fey, Leva and I are already in Cyphix.

[Whisper: Nix to Ducky] Perfect. You know what to do.

/Alpha: Nix: There's more... If we hit them hard enough, I want to move you and your people to Haven.

Semmi nodded in agreement. "The final battle is approaching, we cannot afford to leave our allies exposed."

Wind grinned at Banz. "You bastard! Finally you'll have to do some work."

Shi was silent for a long moment while she stared at Nix. "You've saved my life on several occasions. Does Haven have an Ice Region?

Semmi nodded. "To the far south. It's not as awesome as this place, but we'll figure something out."

/Alpha: Wind: We could take another Temple. Gemini can't be the only temple in Oasis.

/Alpha: Nix: You've read my mind.

Shi nodded in agreement. "We will follow your lead."

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